Versa hr and tattoo issues?

[Deadpancake]

I just received my Versa I had a blaze prior for I want to say two years no issues. I have a ton of tattoos I’ve noticed if I don’t have the sensor directly over an open area during a workout it will not register that I do in fact have a pulse. This is depressing! I had gotten the Apple Watch around Christmas time and it wouldn’t work at all over my tattoos. Apple said that was a normal issue with their sensors. So I returned it and went back to my trusty Fitbit. Now this! Tell me I’m not alone here 😭😭 did they change the sensors that much ? 

[jbrinker23]

Got my versa on Monday night and am having same problem. I have a wrist tattoo on my left wrist where I want to wear the watch and unless I put it a little higher than the tattoo (which is not where I like to wear watches) does register HR. Move it to my right wrist and immediately picks up HR, so I'm guessing it is our tattoos that are the issue. I have had several fitbits in past and had no issues w this. I have talked to customer service twice and they are supposed to be calling me back tomorrow. Besides foe that issue (which is a big issue) the watch is amazing, so hopefully this will be taken care of and soon. 

[Deadpancake]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

Just chiming in to say I'm fully sleeved both arms and my Apple Watch in the past had no issues and my Alta HR had no issues but I've been having a hell of a time with the HR on the Versa.. Starting to wonder if its the tattoos... I don't know if it matters but my Alta had 2 green lights and the Versa only has one.. I don't know if thats a contributing factor for not..  This Versa has been nothing but a headache since receiving it.. Back to the Alta it's looking like.. 

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I believe it has 1 that I saw I had the blaze which has 2 maybe that is a difference... I tried the Apple Watch but their customer service told me that sometimes with different inks their hr monitor doesn’t work... so returned that, then I found these epoxy stickers that made the hr work on the Apple Watch (tested on a friends) so I tried it on the Versa but failed. 

[princesscrisw]

Yeah I THOUGHT is was an awesome upgrade instead of getting an apple watch but so far it's almost impossible to the the HR to work through my tattoos

[Ishrogh]

Same problem. Switched arms, Works fine.

[ltmm]

Thank you, I have them on both wrists. 

[SandraD14]

Same here! I had the Charge 2 prior to the Versa. Never had a problem with it not picking up my heart rate over my tattoo. It's one word, in black ink. Had I not put on the lock screen which locks when you take it off your wrist, I wouldn't of known for awhile. But everytime I look at the Versa, I have to enter my key code like I've taken it off. If I move the light below or above the word, it works, but like stated previously, it's not a comfortable spot or becomes to loose. 

[ltmm]

Thanks, I have to wear mine backwards when I sleep because there is an area with no ink. I don’t know if I should keep it or not at this point.

[jbrinker23]

So after 2 weeks of hearing nothing from fitbit and me contacting them numerous times I finally hear back from them regurding my issue w my fitbit and my tattoo. I am right handed dominant so I wear the watch on left wrist... I have had several fitbits in the past and never had this issue with my tattoo and heart rate. So their solution is for me to just wear it on my right wrist!! Ok I get technically the watch is working.... But is it though??? What is different w their design that it won't register the heart rate because of a tattoo?? Am I wrong for not accepting this solution bc honestly I really do think that it is crap that they won't do anything else for me

[SunsetRunner]

Same thing here. Alta HR had no problems on my tattoos but the versa just isn’t having it. You’re lucky you actually have the option to switch wrists. I don’t. Either wrist is covered in tattoos. 

[jbrinker23]

I get that.. But again what is different w their design that this is an issue w the versa, and if that is their solution, maybe some sort of compensation 

[Angelsunshine]

Well you had better luck than I did. When I told them switching was an issue, they suggested I wear a regular watch and the versa on the same wrist. They wanted me to move the versa to the inside of my wrist.. I told them that would look stupid and they told me to wear another watch on top then..

[SunsetRunner]

Wow. Great customer service haha. 

I really think this has something to do with them switching to one HR light (where my Alta had 2) It must not get as good of a reading. 

[Angelsunshine]

Right, you would think that they would try to do better  to solve the problem but instead we just keep getting the run around.

[Shattycakes]

It was a bummer for me too! I have a full sleeve and had to start contemplating returning the versa, which I really didn’t want to do. So I started adjusting it on my left arm. I found a spot that works perfect, not super comfortable, but just a little higher than were I like to wear it. I have had to make the sacrifice when sleeping and working out to wear it on my right arm. At the end of the day wearing it on my right arm for those two things and finding a spot on my left arm that works for all day wear is worth it. Hope this helps for ideas! 

[ltmm]

Thanks yes I wear it backwards when I sleep and workout 

[ltmm]

Ha ha that’s stupid. I do wear it backwards when I sleep 

[jbrinker23]

You're all probably right just deal w it... It's just frustrating bc everything else about the watch is amazing, but this one thing... 

[LadyFitKit]

I just got the Versa today and did a workout and got really frustrated on why it's not reading my HR. I had the Blaze before and no problems. I have tattoo on my left wrist and now I'm glad I'm not the only one. I guess I'll try switching wrists and it's just something I'll have to get use to. Or at least when I'm working out.

[SunsetRunner]

Same issue. All Fitbit told me was that they're working on a resolution. My charge 2 had no issues! I'll be returning to the retailer if I don't see that they're working on a resolution. 

[SunsetRunner]

Did a new versa fix the issue?