Versa 2 charge contacts got damaged

[theyoungsavage]

Both myself and my wife have had the Versa 2 for 26 months now (2 months past 😞 the Costco electronics warranty). We both used the same charger, approximately the same number of times, and yet one of the gold charging contacts on my wife's Versa 2 has 'crumbled' so badly that it no longer takes a charge. The other three contacts on her watch are a little 'pitted' as are all four on mine, but this looks like normal wear and tear. Clearly one of the contacts on her Versa 2 has been poor quality or faulty? Does anyone know of a fix for this problem? Is there a recommended conductive glue or paint (or even solder) that can be used to rebuild the contact?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @theyoungsavage. Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for taking the time to troubleshoot the issue with your wife's Versa 2. I understand how you two must be feeling. 

The best way to get help for this problem is to chat with us online or give us a call. Click here to get connected.

We hope your issue is solved soon. 

[theyoungsavage]

Thanks for the reply, I am trying the Chat option now. I'm hoping that there will be a fix as it's an expensive watch if it only lasts >2yrs...

Sadly I do not have a good outcome as the watch is out of warranty. I was hoping for a practical fix for the Versa 2 crumbled contact as I have searched online and unfortunately I can find no suggestions there - having looked through these forums I can see that this problem is not a one-off and so this makes buying another Versa 2 an unattractive option. I was kindly offered a discount, but I can buy a Versa 3 locally for only £10 more than if I bought one online using the discount, and so it was not incentive enough. I had considered upgrading my wife's watch to the Versa 3 but not if it only lasts for 2 years; her Versa 2 is now a child's expensive bracelet...

Moderator Edit: Merged posts

[MarreFitbit]

@theyoungsavage Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post and image attached. We‘re taking into consideration your comments and sentiments with regards to our products and services. 

Thanks for your question about why we offered a discount towards a new Fitbit product instead of a replacement of your existing Fitbit product. Our limited warranty provides repair or replacement of products that have a defect while still in the warranty period. Your device is out of the warranty period, and therefore is not eligible for repair or replacement, but we want to offer you a discount to thank you for your loyalty to Fitbit.

For more information about our warranty, see fitbit.com/legal/returns-and-warranty or please feel free to contact our team back so they can clarify any doubt. 

[theyoungsavage]

Thank you for your kind reply. I have received an email asking me if I have had 'the answer I needed' but there is nowhere for me to reply in the negative? My initial question was that I was looking to find a fix for a deteriorated charge contact. I had made it clear that the watch was out of warranty. I expected no repair or replacement. I just hoped for a useful suggestion to fix the problem. I had searched the forums before posting and had seen other people have had the same issue, and so I was hopeful that there would be something I could do to get a charge into the watch. I was kindly offered a discount, but buying another Versa 2 would not be wise if it would end up in the same situation in a year or two. Buying a Versa 3 is an option as the charger is now magnetic and less reliant on charge pins 'pushing' against the watch contacts (incidentally this was the system used on my Pebble watches previously - it's a shame that Fitbit didn't adopt this when they took over the technology), and I will give this some consideration.  At no time did I question 'why' a discount towards a new fitbit was offered, and I expected no repair or replacement; I only hoped for some suggestions from the community as how to repair the contact damage. Alas it appears my wife's 2 year old Versa 2 is now scrap. No need to reply, thanks anyway.

[kwillmert · Accepted solution]

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@theyoungsavage wrote:

I just hoped for a useful suggestion to fix the problem.

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That was your mistake right there (other than surrendering money for a Fitbit device in the first place, of course). 

Fitbit support has only three answers to any support ticket:
1. Restart the device

2. Well it's under warranty, so here's a new one

3. Sorry it's not under warranty, here's a coupon for another one

While #2 is very nice, #3 leaves a LOT of customers to find their own solutions, which is unfortunate.  Fitbit is a big contributor to tech waste, at least in my experience.  About 1 of every 10 devices actually lasts more than a couple years.  A while back I got a barely-used versa from someone that was out of warranty and after 6 months and a software update, it would instantly turn off when removed from the charger.  It looks brand new and works perfectly when docked, and would be a great device if it would realize the battery isn't being drained instantly.

We have also been through a handful of Charge 2's and a Flex.  Only one of these is still functioning, and I have vowed never to spend money on Fitbit devices again--they're just not worth it for how long they last.  I had hoped things might get better with their acquisition by Google, but your post here tells me that things are not much different. 

I wish you all the best in finding a long-lasting fitness tracker!

[theyoungsavage]

Thanks for that, I thought it was just me being a bit cynical, but a watch at that price should last a good few years. A mechanical watch would likely last a lifetime...  My own is now on it's last legs too, the battery is down to ~48hrs and a few days ago all I could get was 'interference' on the screen. I'll be looking around for another manufacturer for my next one - I so wish Pebble hadn't sold out, I still have both generation watches and they still work (shame the tech is so dated though).