No after-warranty replacement

[SunsetRunner]

So I have had my Fitbit over a year. Let me give you exact dates. Original purchase July 15th, 2016 from Amazon. This one only lasted until December. I was mailed a replacement, from Fitbit, Jan 9th. This one lasted until June. Fitbit once again shipped me a new one June 10, 2016. I am now having issues with this one. Unfortunately, I have been told I can not get a replacement cause I am out of warranty from original purchase! Really! I spent over $150 on a product that had to be replaced twice. This one now has only lasted from June till now. Apparently, I would have to spend over another $150 to repeat this whole process again! 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[PureEvil]

Hello @SunsetRunner,

Welcome to the community, though I'm sorry it's under these circumstances.

While it hasn't happened to me, most other folks have reported that when this occurs, Fitbit offers them a 25% discount on the purchase of a new product.  I imagine that it was offered to you as well.  So while I understand that you're frustrated, the claim that you'd have to "spend over another $150 to REPEAT..." is a bit misleading, isn't it?

Out of curiosity, when your Charge HR has broken, what was the nature of the problem?  You don't mention it on your post.  The reason I ask is because if it has more to do with the band, rather than the tracker itself, then the Charge 2 is an updated version of the Charge HR and it has replaceable bands.  So if one happens to wear out (or you just want to accessorize) you can swap them out as you'd like.  In other words, there's no reason to believe that if you were to get a new tracker, it would continue to break the way your past trackers have.  If they do break eventually, a replacement band is only $30; I'd just chalk it up to wear and tear.

Next, check the fine print on your credit card.  For instance, if you purchased your Fitbit with an American Express card, they typically extend the warranty of your purchases by a full year.  I believe they'd just reimburse you.

In other words, between the 25% discount and the potential warranty coverage, you may be able to upgrade to the Charge 2 and pocket the difference from the original purchase.

I hope this helps.

[snuglbunie]

I totally agree with you.  I've had he same problem in not even a year.  Bought mine in December 2015.  Still don't have a working Fitbit.  Bands also are useless on the Charge and charge HR.  I want the Alta as a replacement and it better work and synch.  Otherwise, moving to another brand and will make sure no one buys fitbit even though I've been a customer of theirs since 2012 when they were much smaller and new.

[SunsetRunner]

Unfortunately, you would be wrong in thinking that FITBIT offered me a 25% discount. Nothing was offered!

The nature of the issues I have had with my FITBITS have been technical issues. The current issue is it's registering steps without me even walking. Please don't send me to the page https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1143. Yes, I've read it! Yes, I know it's NOT 100% accurate. I was also on the Live Chat with FITBIT in trying to resolve the issue as well. In trying to resolve my issues it came down to being out of warranty. By the way, the FITBITS I've had, the band has NEVER been a problem.

Also, I did NOT pay with a credit card, but thanks for the information. So, with ALL that said, there will be NO "pocketing a difference" .

My question to you: Do you think it's okay to purchase a product to have it REPLACED twice - having it now be your third one? 

Yes, it is VERY frustrating! Especially, because this one has ONLY been working for 3 months! 

[SunsetRunner]

Wow, I got a moderator (MatthewFitbit) who edited my title! 

My title went from 

ONE YEARS TIME 3 FITBITS LATER - THIS ONE LASTS ONLY 3 MONTHS to  No after-warranty replacement

[PureEvil]

@SunsetRunner,

Okay, I hate to point this out...  but, by the letter of the community guidelines, you're in violation.  One of the very first things that it mentions is not to post in all capitals.  I understand that you're frustrated, but really, I was close to flagging this post myself.  Moderators have every right to edit your post when it violates the guidelines, independent of the content of the thread.

Also, keep in mind that folks here in the community have a history.  When I first started here, I too was a frustrated user who was trying to figure out how these devices worked.  It's through many very good interactions with helpful folks in the community where things changed.

Let's put things in perspective.  Your first post was about the out-of-warranty issue.  Trust me, I looked at the history of your posts and there was no mention of what was wrong and why or how your Fitbit was 'broken'.  The vast majority of complaints about devices out of warranty on this forum is the fact that folks are expecting a replacement and "only" got a 25% discount.  This is why I assumed that it was offered to you.  I imagine that they would still offer it to you, provided that you are civil and rational in your conversations with them.  Remember, they're people too.

You had mentioned on your first post that you had originally purchased at Amazon (on July 15th and they don't take cash).  I assumed that it was a credit card purchase, though I suppose now that it may also be a gift card purchase...  For over $150, which makes someone very generous to you.  I think this is a reasonable assumption to make.

If you happen to be in a position where you move your hands a lot without moving your feet (chef, cashier, barista, etc.) then you'll register more steps than you actually took.  I have the converse problem, I have a desk treadmill and my wrists don't move while I walk.  This is the reason why my main tracker is the Fitbit One.

That said, you might've posted about the discrepancy in steps and maybe other helpful folks might've made a suggestion...  putting it in your pocket while you work...  some folks suggests wearing it on their ankle during some activities...  restarting the tracker often clears out any weirdness...

Do I think that it's okay to have a product replaced twice during the warranty period?  Probably not, but I also know that I've personally gotten mine (and my friends') Fitbits back in working order after most conventional remedies have failed...  Yes, even some things that calling support didn't resolve.

I don't know the nature of your device failures, but having no information (your only posts have been complaining about the expired warranty), to put it bluntly, I'm not convinced that those other devices are really broken.

Just my 2¢.

[SunsetRunner]

Well, to make myself a bit more clear, my frustration is the number of times I've had issues. I bought a product that has to keep being replaced. I understand products having a warranty, but seriously should a product really have to be replaced multiple times. 

I spent my time with support on each case doing exactly what was asked in trying to fix the issues I was having.

No, I am not in a positon where my hands move a lot. I am just talking about simple stuff...waving my hand, doing my hair,  washing a plate, etc...A restart was done, thanks for the advice.

I guess going right to the source, Fitbit support, rather than the community may not have been the best choice from your perspective. However, they are the ones who offered  the replacements after spending time with them trying to fix the devices.  

Please note: no caps. used 🙂 

[cousinVlad]

In your defense of the moderator's title change you've ignored that not only the form of the title was changed, so was the substance -- significantly. Even if OP's issues were more user error than device issues, changing the title like that doesn't give confidence in a transparent discussion.

If the OP's issues are their fault or not will be revealed though crowd-sourcing (i.e. we'll see many people having the same complaints). I've also had generally great customer-service experience though their devices can be technically problematic.

I'm sure you're a great contributor to the community so please try and avoid the "apple" trap of blaming user error when you don't have enough information and always giving the benefit of the doubt to the company. OP's issues may have been genuine and they may not have been offered the 25% discount even when being polite.

[WendyB]

This post is 3 years old @cousinVlad Why bring it up?

[cousinVlad]

Because I just came across it and as far as I'm aware there's no time limit on posting.

What time frame is appropriate for posting in a thread?

[JA135]

Because it's still an issue?

[Magica]

I have the same issue with Fitbit charge 3! I got a replacement device and they mention that they offer me a year's warranty. 8 months later the replacement device got the same issue. I am not sure they really sent me a new device or sth they fixed as it was not in a box. I am very disappointed by the support. They just mention I am not eligible for a replacement (even if I am still in the year's warranty from when the replacement was sent to me) and they offered me 35% off. It is very annoying.