Why are there no replacement-parts available for several hundred dollar devices?

[Leander_S]

Dear Fitbit Team, dear members of the Community,

I own a Versa 3 Smartwatch I use daily just as most users likely do as well.

Living in Germany I grew up with the knowledge on how to live a sustainable life, so future generations will also be able to enjoy this planet in the way we do today.

One important Step towards this goal is to make products that are repairable and serviceable instead of disposing the whole appliance if just a single part needs a replacement.

So many of your customers are totally unsatisfied with your way of handling user inflicted or damage from just extended usage, like for example broken screens, dead batteries, faulty buttons, etc!

You leave your customers completely alone in those cases, despite those defects being part of every single product's lifecycle. 

Each and every customer in this situation will be literally forced to discard their predominantly working device just because a minority e.g. their screen or button won't work anymore and isn't available as a replacement part from Fitbit!

They are fully responsible for deliberately wasting valuable and limited ressources like copper, aluminium, silicon, etc...

I am really frustrated that Fitbit turns a blind eye on this whole issue of sustainability and serviceability of their products, likely in order to increase the amount of sales of whole new devices!

Instead they should really leave the decision on whether to repair their watch for less money and fewer environmental impact or to purchase a new one (maybe also upgrading to the latest model), to the owner!

Something really has to change - we all now that!

Kind regards

Leander

[SunsetRunner]

This has been discussed time and again. Bottom line, Fitbit is not going to change this. Trackers are assembled and then provided to Fitbit. Fitbit does not want to get into the business of repairing trackers. If you have a warranty claim, they send you another tracker. There are no parts distribution channels available. This is how Fitbit wants to do business and it is their right to do so whether you agree with it or not.

[Leander_S]

I'm sorry to tell you sir, but have you heard something about "right to repair"?

Or have you realized that in the EU all manufacturers of larger appliances are required to offer replacement parts and to have them in Stock for at least a decade?

This will eventually hit most tech brands out there. And I honestly doubt you would not appreciate the option to have your beloved personal smatwatch fixed for much less and save the environment just by the way.

Someone bringing a product to the market should be held liable to offer support in any case - and not just within a Year of purchase. 1 Year is not even legal here in Germany! By law you have 2 Years over here, and that should be the bare minimum in my humble opinoin.

I'm from the field of electrical engineering amd know very well how long those products are able to function, if manufacturers would just pay a hew cents more in production. For real!

Also, you didn't actually reply to my questions but rather told me that they are allowed to do that "by law". But Laws change...

[Guy_]

You can source some parts for watches to repair it yourself and there are a few good posts on how to do this.

However if you are not adept at doing precision repairs yourself and ensuring getting the right pieces, the cost of paying someone else to do it, with postage and parts is likely to exceed the cost of a new watch, with no guarantee that it will work and be waterproof, and could be a wasted expense.

So buying a new watch with a 2 year warranty seems like a better choice, even if it is environmentally not the best option.