This device is not fit for purpose! [Update]

[Baggy1]

[Update] : after posting the below, the mods changed the subject of my post to "need help with my versa", and the post is no longer showing on the forum... Hmm... 

I have to say that's honestly the worst customer service I've ever experienced. Hiding issues from the public doesn't make them go away. Original post below... 

---

I've had my versa for three odd weeks now, and I've spent far more time trying to get it working than actually using it. Problems include (but are absolutely not bloody limited to):

• "Clock Error" message (even with fitbit developed clocks)
• Clock showing the wrong time
• Watch face showing negative steps / calories / distance etc.
• Some data not syncing (sleep, activities)
• Registering steps when on desk, or charging
• Registering stairs arbitrarily
• Not syncing at all, for many days at a time
• (versa) Random freezing and restarts <- constantly, but especially when trying to sync (what kind of sketchy bluetooth implementation causes a full device crash...)
  
• (app) Random freezing and restarts
• Notifications not coming through (I must have had about 3 in the whole time I've owned the thing)
• Music control does not work correctly, even when paired with BT classic
• (versa & app) Random battery drain

Once again: This device is not fit for purpose. It's just not ready.

You only need to take a look at these forums to see the large number of people experiencing issues with the Versa, and we need some kind of assurances here.

Now for the love of god *please* don’t tell me to restart my watch, versa, bluetooth, GPS, enable/disable any one of the "all day sync", "always connected", "keep alive widget", options, enabling all permissions in android settings, etc. etc. etc. I've literally tried it all, and so has everybody else. It doesn't work. Factory reset? Tried it - fixes issues for maximum of a day.

And even if any of that did work - how can a company even begin to think that asking their users to constantly restart or factory reset their devices is an acceptable way to use a product?

These issues are just unacceptable for a £200+ device. The basic functionality doesn't work, let alone the advanced features (such as live notifications) that convince you to stretch for the higher end device such as this.

Claiming Android support and hiding behind a minimal device list is not good enough, and it's certainly not made clear when you purchase the device in a retail store that Android support will be limited (no, it's also not acceptable to expect users to sync with their desktops, the whole point in a smartwatch is live notifications). I have no issues with any of my other bluetooth devices, but the versa just does not work. I've tried multiple ROMs on my Android device, (with different bluetooth stacks - including stock Android) with similar results.

I don’t want to be told to restart stuff, or enable config options.

I don't want to be told to 'try a supported device'

I DO want Fitbit to just acknowledge the issues - telling us 'everything is fine' and ignoring the problem is not acceptable

I DO want some commitment from Fitbit that these issues are going to be resolved, and that you're at least working on it

Hell, make the Android app and the watch firmware open source so the community can have a go at fixing the issues ourselves. Please, that would honestly be great.

Give me some kind of reason to hang onto this device and not just return it. I want to love this device, I really do. But it doesn't work!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[bcbakerun]

I gotta say, I'm looking forward to the Apple Sept 2018 WWDC.  If the new Apple watch has a better battery life than their current model, then I'm totally dumping the Versa.

---

@Baggy1 wrote:

Long post warning. tl;dr: This device is not fit for purpose. Fitbit - c'mon guys be cool.

Ok, I'm gonna come right out and say it: This device is simply not fit for purpose. It's not ready, and certainly should never have been released in its current state  - I hope for all of our sake that this is a firmware issue and not a hardware issue….

I've had my versa for three odd weeks now, and I've spent far more time trying to get it working than actually using it. Problems include (but are absolutely not bloody limited to):

• "Clock Error" message (even with fitbit developed clocks)
• Clock showing the wrong time
• Watch face showing negative steps / calories / distance etc.
• Some data not syncing (sleep, activities)
• Registering steps when on desk, or charging
• Registering stairs arbitrarily
• Not syncing at all, for many days at a time
• (versa) Random freezing and restarts <- constantly, but especially when trying to sync (what kind of sketchy bluetooth implementation causes a full device crash...)
  
• (app) Random freezing and restarts
• Notifications not coming through (I must have had about 3 in the whole time I've owned the thing)
• Music control does not work correctly, even when paired with BT classic
• (versa & app) Random battery drain

Once again: This device is not fit for purpose. It's just not ready.

You only need to take a look at these forums to see the large number of people experiencing issues with the Versa, and we need some kind of assurances here.

Now for the love of god *please* don’t tell me to restart my watch, versa, bluetooth, GPS, enable/disable any one of the "all day sync", "always connected", "keep alive widget", options, enabling all permissions in android settings, etc. etc. etc. I've literally tried it all, and so has everybody else. It doesn't work. Factory reset? Tried it - fixes issues for maximum of a day.

And even if any of that did work - how can a company even begin to think that asking their users to constantly restart or factory reset their devices is an acceptable way to use a product?

These issues are just unacceptable for a £200+ device. The basic functionality doesn't work, let alone the advanced features (such as live notifications) that convince you to stretch for the higher end device such as this.

Claiming Android support and hiding behind a minimal device list is not good enough, and it's certainly not made clear when you purchase the device in a retail store that Android support will be limited (no, it's also not acceptable to expect users to sync with their desktops, the whole point in a smartwatch is live notifications). I have no issues with any of my other bluetooth devices, but the versa just does not work. I've tried multiple ROMs on my Android device, (with different bluetooth stacks - including stock Android) with similar results.

I don’t want to be told to restart stuff, or enable config options.

I don't want to be told to 'try a supported device'

I DO want Fitbit to just acknowledge the issues - telling us 'everything is fine' and ignoring the problem is not acceptable

I DO want some commitment from Fitbit that these issues are going to be resolved, and that you're at least working on it

Hell, make the Android app and the watch firmware open source so the community can have a go at fixing the issues ourselves. Please, that would honestly be great.

Give me some kind of reason to hang onto this device and not just return it. I want to love this device, I really do. But it doesn't work!

---

I'm totally dumping the Versa unless a fix comes through before then. 

[Baggy1]

Bump bump bump

[keely289]

well said

[Vickey9]

I concur with all that you have stated!  This device is in need of a fix!  And the customer service is aweful.  I am so done with fitbit😡.

[4T1A1E]

I agree completely and deeply regret not returning mine when I could. This device just does not work. 

[Baggy1]

Final update:

I've returned the device for a refund, and won't be buying another fitbit device.

Its a real shame, I love the design look and feel of the versa, but the issues are too many and can't be ignored. More than that, fitbits handling of the whole situation is pretty poor - I wish they would just admit the issues and assure users that they are working on it, instead of just pretending the issues don't exist.

Sorry for the fuss fitbit, but you're misleading people and letting your users down.

Hope this all gets sorted for everyone else 🙂 

[Elysee7]

Ditto, same experience. I have a feeling some watches in the first batch that were produced are faulty, but Fitbit is not acknowledging this. I too have owned several Fitbits over the years, but I too am now returning my Versa as it is faulty. 

[jmess]

I'd only say it seems like a quality control issue as your list of items is not universal, I've had mine since April and other then some sync issues w/ new Android phone that took awhile to figure out the watch has been great.  Support I agree is lacking, especially technically when dealing w/ software issues, but I always find them trying to be helpful.  Given ratings of the product on Amazon etc I'd say seems like 80-90% are produced as designed, but they have quality control issues w/ the rest....maybe rowing pains as this device seems to be fairly popular.

[GailAng]

I totally agree with your comments. This is so disappointing and the timescale for a solution is not specified. If I'd known there were so many issues, I wouldn't have purchased this expensive tracker.

I was also under the impression that multi-tracking features allowed for the connection of more than one device and apparently, this is now causing further syncing issues.

Please sort this out asap!. This is not a good service.

[SunsetRunner]

i cant return mine. .my 30 days is up.. 

i should have learned after i exchange the first watch and just not take another one.. 

sad really.. now.. i am looking at other make for my wife... 

[andrea444]

Agree with all you've said. 

My Versa is completely useless. It doesn't work. I've been a FitBit customer since day one. 

I can't return my Versa because I TRIED to make it work  

I was a tester for FitBit software  We'd still be reporting problems and get an email saying don't report anything more, software was approved .. And it would be released. They KNEW they were releasing things with problems  They don't care. 

My post will be deleted soon. 

Dishonest company. I'm going to file a claim with BBB

[GailAng]

Sorry to hear that many people have the same issues. Fitbit. How do you propose to solve this? 

[aux]

You've got a faulty one. Why would you think they're all broken like this? They're not.

[GailAng]

Possibly because Fitbit have admitted there are issues!