How many more ways can Fitbit mess up the customer experience?

[GrumpyKen]

So, here is an update on my several previous postings about the saga of the defective Versa3.

I originally ordered and received a Versa3 in the Gold/Aluminum color scheme as shown with the grey band on the product pages. Other than the color of the band (which didn't matter much to me), that's what I got.

HOWEVER, the device lasted roughly 6 hours before refusing to do anything except show some little worthless calculator and a single watch face. I took 2+ hours to go through the ~90 page PDF manual, forums, and YouTube to try to reset the device. That was followed by another hour+ with telephone support going through those same reset attempts. I was ultimately issued an RMA and emailed a prepaid return shipping label.
I placed the Fitbit back into the factory box that it had just come out of earlier that day, applied the label and returned the defective product in the factory box along with everything else contained in that factory container.

Today - 22 days and 18 hours later - the warrantied replacement was delivered. BUT, only the watch "biscuit" was replaced. No charger, no bands - nothing but the "biscuit - and even that was the wrong color in spite of what their tracking system claims. This one is all plain aluminum in color (not a huge deal in my mind, but significant when evaluating Fitbit's processes).

So, the original Versa3 came with a 12-month warranty. After 22 days of trying to secure a warranty replacement for the out of the box defective product, it appears it will be AT LEAST another 7+ days to get the missing charger and bands. Assuming - a dangerous assumption to be sure - the Versa3 is functional, it would be roughly one full month to get a functional product. That leaves me with an 11-month warranty for the brand-new device versus the 12 months advertised. Frankly, I doubt if this Versa3 will last even 11 months, based on observations in reading this forum.
I must also point out the other issue of the time limited "free trial" of some service providing some additional biometric tweaks or monitoring services. I assume that "free trial" will also be backdated to have started when the original Versa3 was received, so that "free trial" will be non-existent.
I must regrettably repeat my advice to any consumers browsing these forums before making a purchase: forget the Fitbit brand! Go with the less than half price knock-off. The quality couldn't be any worse, and customer service couldn't be more flawed. OR, get with 10 friends &/or do your Christmas shopping by buying what looks like the exact same product from Alibaba for under $20 each in lots of 10 or more.
I have never seen a more disgusting excuse of corporate irresponsibility in my long adult life.

[Odyssey13]

Hi @GrumpyKen the warranty goes from the time of purchase of the original device, not any replacements per this article - click to read.

[GrumpyKen]

Yup, I've noted that. Pretty disgusting considering that the new Versa3 lasted less than 6 hours out of the factory box and after nearly a month they still have not replaced it.