Charge 3 screen too dim

[747pilot]

My Charge 3 screen is excessively dim, even with a full charge.  I've tried restarting it with no result. It will occasionally come on bright but after a few seconds it's dim again and I can't get it back. This is indoors and is still difficult to read. Outside with any amount of sunlight, it's impossible to read.

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[Kauaistyle]

My wife got a replacement. The emails were bots but the guy on the phone
was actually nice. I'll revise my ratings accordingly when the replacement
comes and if it works

[GrandOak]

time to write purchasing company to explain what's going on and what they are getting into if they buy Fitbit...


Very Best Regards,
Del

[Marcove3]

My fitbit just got this problem a few days ago. It's hard to read indoors and impossible to read outdoors.

I contacted support and the guy insisted that its a software problem. He also confirmed that I cannot get a replacement device or a refund.

I excercise outdoors a lot and the device is basically useless so at this point I basically wasted 120 dollars because that software update is most likely never coming.

[TheGrumps]

In the EU items are sold with a warranty of 2 years and must conform to directive 1999/44/EC. That directive states as part of the guarantee "if they do not meet the specifications set out in the guarantee statement or in the relevant advertising." Fitbit's relevant advertising can be seen on their website "With a large touchscreen and backlit display that automatically adjusts to lighting conditions, it’s easier to see stats, notifications or the time in sunlight or at night."

So, if the display brightness does not automatically adjust, or you cannot see it in sunlight, then the product is defective.

How this relates to your purchase, or how much time you have to pursue it, I don't know. Best of luck!

[GrandOak]

I'm in the Exact same boat here. But Fitbit has Lost me as a customer, and the 5 others  I purchased for family too. But it looks like Fitbit is alright with loosing more market share to others, like Samsung which I've found that their Galaxy Gear Fit2 Problows Charge 3 out of the water on everything but battery charge.  But I'm OK with it as other functions, including color AMOLED display which is magnitudes brighter than Charge 3's AOLED, easily out weighs the UNUSEABLE piece of Charge 3 dung I now have.  Maybe I can sell to someone on Craig's List or eBay to try and recool the $129 I paid Sams Club....

[GrandOak]

BTW, here's a comparison pic of Charge3 to Gear Fit2 Pro, for which Charge3 screen has gotten dimmer since and is nearly unusable INDOORS now too.

 

[stephanievogt]

i spoke to fitbit and they didnt offer a replacement 😞 and i can not see my charge 3 AT ALL

[TheGrumps]

Did they say what they would do to remedy the problem?

Where (country) and when did you buy it?

[stephanievogt]

my Screen is BLACK but it still tracks after seeing numerous complaints  going back to 3/2019 i called fitbit back (I had called them 2 days ago and they said they were aware of the problem and working on it with no ETA yet, which let me to believe it was a new problem) once i realised it was a very old problem i called fitbit back and complained again ..they are sending me a replacement but I had to ask..it is great they are sending one but if I didnt ask and didnt call a 2nd time they would have done nothing 

[TheGrumps]

Give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they misunderstood you the 1st time you called.

They're also probably running low on replacements.

[stephanievogt]

ha ha no I was very nice on both calls.. the 1st call was very clear what my problem was and knew my screen was BLACK and just said yes it is a known problem they are working on it ..it is a software thing and they will be fixing it with a firmware update ... ETA of that is unknown.. she knew what was going on but didnt offer a replacement ..the 2nd person went right to a replacement option which was acceptable to me ..it just bothers me that it was never offered in the 1st call 

[Marcove3]

Got it in the US about 6 months ago. They said there'll be a software update but they don't have a expected date for the fix.

[Gentlereiner]

I bought mine in the US direct from Fitbit 30 April 2019; the problem began in July. Over two months, I requested replacement three times. Like so many others here, I was told it was a known issue, they were working on it, and that I would have to wait for a firmware update...sometime in the future. That was not acceptable, so I filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau in San Francisco (where Fitbit's headquarters are), with the US Federal Trade Commission, sent a nasty email to the customer service contact I had, and posted several complaints on social media. SOMEthing got their attention, as they offered a refund of my purchase price after I sent the device back. I did so, they acknowledged receipt, but I have not yet received the refund.

[Kauaistyle]

Do wait, call and get a replacement asap. Don't buy that update jive,
tell them it doesn't work and you need a replacement. My wife suffered
through months of not being able to see her watch

[GrandOak]

https://www.patientpower.info/video/advice-for-managing-myeloma-related-fatigue?autoplay=1Sadly, I'm going through months of the SAME struggle myself!!

Any suggestions on getting Fitbit to honor their own Warranty with a replacement?

[GrandOak]

OH, I asked, several times actually. Even after Several screenshots, some here with last being just tonight inside a dimly lit room, demonstrating decaying defect in my Charge 3, Fitbit refuses to honor their Warranty by providing a replacement.

 

 

 

[Carolke]

When I try to go to brightness on charge 3 it just jumps off so no chance of changing this also it is on normal but can hardly see it

[Kauaistyle]

Get it replaced before the warranty is up

[chandraireng]

Same with my Charge 3. In 'normal' or 'auto' setting for brightnes very dim... Can't see anything in daylight / outdoor.

[Gentlereiner]

Update:

Fitbit DID finally refund the purchase price, without any notification; had to scour the monthly statement to find it. Going to try the Samsung....