Versa screen separates from body of the watch

[Cartref]

I purchase my wife a new Versa, to replace her lost Charge 2.  It lasted about two weeks, until the screen fell off the body of the watch.

She was not doing anything energetic, just standing in a queue, when the screen separated.

Now about a month later, it has happened again. No strenuous activity just getting out of the car with handbags etc. Screen just fell off the body of the watch.

The first incident we just put down to bad luck and we were able to get it replaced by the Retail Seller (who said they had never heard the like before).  But to have it again within a month with nothing that my wiffe was doing to explain why the Versa would fall apart.  It wasn’t bumped, hit or otherwise rough handling.

This quality issue is a major concern and she is worried about wearing it least it should happen again and she doesn’t notice until way to late.

Apart from the unexplained trend for the Versa to fall apart on her, my wife was very happy with it, its features, battery life and all.

Would anyone else have experienced something like this

David

[Cartref]

@LisaHumph ,

Lisa, your Versa suffer damage because the screen came off and exposed the mechanism to the water.
The water damage was not because because it was in the water, but because the fundamental flaw that Fitbit is not addressing is that the screen came apart from the body of the watch.

This happened to my wife6 times before we gave up and went to the Charge 3.

I have’s heard if the Versa 2 has the same issue as the original Versa, but I wouldn’t spend money on it until I had heard evidence that they corrected the flaw.

Cheers

[Nargis]

Since Google has now purchased Fitbit I hope they address this issue concerning the Versa whereby the face separates from the body. It happened to 2 of mine. Please don’t waste your time purchasing the Versa it is a piece of junk!
Sent from my iPad

[Cartref]

@Nargis ,

I have no cause to love Fitbit as my wife's Versa failed six times in the warranty period before we elected to switch to the Charge 3, but let us be clear on this, we are talking about the original Versa, not the current models.

So far as I know, no one has reported an issue with the Versa 2 model, so it maybe that the screen issue has been fixed in the later version

[LisaHumph]

I contacted them and it still under warranty so they are assessing and will hopefully provide me with a new one. 
Thanks 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[bluenadas]

Had a similar issue on my original Versa. Unit was less than 24 months old. The screen just lifted up the other day without any noticeable reason (bumping it, etc.). Glue around the edge of the screen was rather soft and seemed to have lost its ability to hold on. Of course Fitbit says it is out of warranty and would only offer a 25% discount on a new device. Right.....because I want to again give a company $200 for a device that isn't likely to to last more than a year or two. 

To repair the issue I used "sensor safe" RTV and put a very small bead around the case lip (toothpick), wiped the excess from the screen and then placed a heavy book over the screen over night to allow it to seal. About 24 hours after the repair and everything is going well so far with 100% functionality. I can't be 100% certain the RTV has a complete water seal so I'll play it safe with water exposure.

As for the general concern that the Versa has a known defect with this, Fitbit knows it. But they are the leader in fitness devices and know that they can just ignore the issue and it will go away. It is the same reason they took over Pebble and instead of using the abilities of that platform they just killed it and kept making their standard junk.

IMPORTANT: Do not use anything but sensor safe RTV, regular RTV releases chemicals during the curing process that will destroy electronics. Given this will be right next to your phones guts and an enclosed space, regular RTV will destroy your watch.

[bluenadas]

One additional comment:

My single biggest complaint with the Versa has always been the absolute junk response the devices have to wrist movement. They even sent me a second unit because of this within a month of buying the Versa back in May 2018. The replacement was just as useless.

But I notice with the repair using sensor safe RTV that the response is much better. I wouldn't say it is operating like you would expect, but it far better than the original functionality. It seems to me that the issue could be related to their glue method on the screen?

[Nargis]

Hi😀, well Fitbit provided me with a replacement for the first one because
it was within warranty range. The same thing happened to the replacement
after 4 months of receiving it; however, Fitbit refused to replace it. I
was
gifted with the Ionic which is much better and so far I had no issues with
it.

[bluenadas]

As an update after a day's worth of use, it seems the screen brightness is not adjustable. Not a show stopper but in bright sunlight the screen is unreadable. 

I'm thinking about a Ticwatch Pro 2020 as a replacement and maybe I'll give this Fitbit Versa P.O.S. a go at testing. I'm pretty certain I can get the face back off to see why the brightness is failing. And if I kill it, it was a piece of junk when they sent it to me originally so no harm, no foul.

[Cartref]

My wife went through 6 Versa’s in the warranty period before we gave up on the Versa and changed to a Charge 3

[Clairebella]

Thank you for that idea . Will definitely try that. 

Sent from Sky Yahoo Mail on Android

[LisaHumph]

Hiya.  I've just received the replacement head only, which is better than nothing I guess but I cant get it to set up? Any suggestions please.  And if this one doesn't work I'll suggest the ionic too. Thanls Lisa

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[LisaHumph]

Wow 6 of them!? That's shocking.. did fitbit give you the charge as an alternative then? Also I have received a replacement versa head but cant get it to set up? Any suggestions please. Thanks Lisa

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[Cartref]

@LisaHumph ,

Sorry Lisa can you give some more details.  You San that you received the head only, is this the body of the Versa watch without the bands.

You should be setting up the replacement device as a new Versa and start by deleting the existing Versa from your account, then set up the new device from the start.

Does this help?

Cheers

[Cartref]

 ,

No Lisa, they were all replaced by the under Australian Consumer Law.

we did approach Customer Service for the last one to see what they would do, but they wanted us to send the Versa back to them and then they would replace it. But that would take nearly a month plus they wouldn’t extend the warranty even though it was pretty obvious that they were failing within a few months.

So we went back to the retailer and replaced it with a Charge 3 which has been fine.

Cheers

[LisaHumph]

Yes that's what I have tried but it's not working. I'll delete the fitbit app and reinstall it and maybe that will help? Thanks 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[Atiramisu]

This EXACT issue happened on my FitBit Versa about a month ago.  This is the 4th FitBit product I've purchased and each time I've had an issue within the warranty timeframe.  Also, each time, I was extended a 50% off of a new unit -- so I've always upgraded.  The FitBit Versa was more expensive and I chose to upgrade with the discount.  My warranty expired about 4 months ago and the face of the unit separated from the rest of the watch.  I am more than disappointed and feel this is deceptive to offer a product that can't live beyond normal wear.  I was just standing still when face popped away from the unit!  Unbelievable.

[Cartref]

@Atiramisu 

Was this the original Versa or the Versa 2?

you will find that most people who post here have had the same incident and got less help from Fitbit than you did.

[bluenadas]

I happened across my Pebble Time and installed Rebble.io. Back to the best smart watch ever.

Versa 2 is turned off and in the drawer now. Best decision ever. Fitbit can shove it.

[Atiramisu]

it was for a FitBit Versa.  

[Cp6617]

Absolutely disgusted with this company. So much so, I signed up to write this. 

I bought my girlfriend a Versa a little over a year ago.

Today she woke up with the screen dangling away from the base. She immediately reached out to chat with Fitbit and received absolutely no help whatsoever...well...apart from 25% off a new watch. That is a bigger kick in the teeth than just being told 'Sorry, goodbye'.

The watch is in immaculate condition. This wasn't from impact or misuse. I then search here and see many instances. 

They don't have a repair service, just zero help. Which normal member of society has the money to buy a new watch every year??

I'm livid and disgusted as much with the awful customer service as the watches lifespan.

Edit: just been told I can't label this with 'terrible customer service'