Fitbit does not fulfill warranty for unauthorized sellers, but still allows unauthorized sellers.

[kathyek]

Last year, I purchased a versa 3 thru Amazon. I've done so before.  Unbeknownst to me, the seller was unauthorized. Now, the watch face broke off the versa 3, and Fitibt tells me "tough luck", they wont replace it. Isnt it Fitbit's responsibility to make sure their products are not being sold unauthorized? Clearly they know Amazon does this, and yet no warning to customers? Maybe they are trying to get around fulfilling the warranty? Why doesnt Fitbit take care that their customers arent ripped off?  

[Guy_]

Hi @kathyek - have you tried taking this up with Amazon, they may well replace it.

[kathyek]

Thats a great idea. First I contacted fitbit as I didnt know it was unauthorized seller. BUT.. have a hard time believing that Fitbit can not better monitor unauthorized sales on Amazon. They SELL WITH Amazon. In addition, after looking at reviews for versa 3, I see many many complaints about the same issue I had- the face fell off my versa 3. So we have a company that wont improve the product to deal with this issue, and does not monitor the places it sells to for unauthorized sales. A double whammy of poor quality and customer service.  Its so disappointing and im out $170 probably.

[Stillworking]

Hi, I would get in touch with Amazon also.  It is too late for you at this point but when I purchased my Versa 2 from Amazon they offerred insurance on it....thru Assurion I think. It was not very expensive and covered alot. I Haven't had to use it but glad I have it.

[kathyek]

No one should need insurance on a product like this.  I can understand a computer, a smart TV, or larger purchases. But on a smart watch? I have had 3 fitbit versas. All 3 died within 13 mos of purchase. Does that seem right? Fit bit loves planned obsolescence. They make the watches so they last just over the warranty period, or they allow unauthorized sales so they dont have to cover the warranty. What a scam. You can bet garmin and Apple create products that last longer than 1 year. 

[LZeeW]

@kathyek   Amazon is a marketplace site.  The identical item can be sold by Amazon or a third party vendor.  An item must be listed as Sold by Amazon to be covered by Fitbit’s warranty.  Using Amazon's Versa 4 page as an example, you can buy from Amazon or about 10 different third party vendors.  The fact that they are "unauthorized" from Fitbit's point of view doesn't mean they are illegitimate businesses.

I'm sorry that you learned this the hard way.  Like I wrote, Amazon is a marketplace.  These days, more than 60% of the merchandise sold on Amazon is sold by third party vendors.

[kathyek]

Actually, I totally disagree.  You dont know the whole story as I didnt go into excessive details. I didnt share all of it here, so........ Selling items as an unauthorized seller with a "supposed" warranty that  then is not applicable, without disclosing that to the customer, is fraudulent.  I came here as a buyer beware- and also to complain about  the horrible quality of the versa 2 and 3.  By the way- I called Digital Village-  the third party seller- which also has 2 other names- so legitimate- and was told to f*** off by the third party seller. Third party sellers that are unauthorized to sell a product should DISCLOSE that a warranty is not available. That seems pretty basic. It is estimated that a large amount of products sold on amazon are counterfeit- and its growing. So hopefully people will take heed and make sure a supposed warranty- as expressed by the manufacturer- is available. Its obviously intentional. And its fraud. And fraud is illegal , at least in this country. YOu can not misrepresent your product, even on Amazon.