waterproof versa... not really

[trewee]

I have had my Versa for about a month now and was diligent about taking it off for showering and water related activities despite it being advertised as 'waterproof' up to 50 meters.  While splashing in the water yesterday on a 90+ degree day I neglected to remove the watch.  It seemed to be tolerating the water just fine.  A couple of hours later when I attempted to check the time - the device was completely dead.  I have been in touch with customer service who had me do all sorts of things in attempt to revive the very dead Versa but it still remains very dead.  I placed it in a bowl of rice overnight (old cell phone trick) but even with that there is no sign of life.  I submitted a video of my attempt to 'factory reset' the device and now am waiting for a response.  Lesson learned here folks, VERSA IS NOT WATERPROOF!! From what I gathered, they will assess the video I sent and then provide me with further instruction on how to proceed.  All that said, I believe I will be without my watch for a couple of weeks at a minimum.  Pretty disappointed in Fitbit at the moment.

[Amy8]

Water-proof or water-resistant whatever it is, it says it's swim proof up to 50m. It's not like we swam with it in the ocean. I'm soo frustrated with them. They approved my replacement on 7th Jan. Sent me a tracking 2 weeks later and fedex's site shows "Scheduled delivery=pending". I called Fedex and they said they haven't received the parcel. I checked with Fitbit agent yesterday and she said it's shipped and i should check fedex awb again in 24 hours. So, here i am checking and it still shows pending! I checked with Fitbit live agent again and she said "please expect 2 months for delivery". 2 more months?! That's 3 months of warranty gone! it's ridiculous!

[Jtadajewski78]

Same thing happened to me yesterday. Fit-bit support said they will send me a new one. We will see how quickly this gets resolved. Seemed pretty quick and simple on chat support, but I haven't received any type of confirmation email yet.

[jjohnso]

Same here - annoyed that you really can't swim with it.  Have had mine for less than two months and, like everyone else posting on these forums about Fitbit Versa not waterproof, mine died today after a pool lap swim.  They are sending a replacement yet after reading all of these comments that replacement will not go in the pool with me.  

[jjohnso]

Don't write - go to the help section of their website, there is a number for you to call for customer service.

[Rcaper]

After mine was replaced last year I continue to swim and do water aerobics several times a week and it’s been fine. Read somewhere that it’s important not to use the buttons in the water, only the touchscreen.

[jjohnso]

Hi. Thank you. I didn't use the buttons in the water. The touch screen wouldn't work then the thing just shut down. One of the reasons why I bought the thing is because it track different sports,  I just wonder how long the warrant is for the replacement device. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy , an AT&T LTE smartphone

[Lmercado]

I have been swimming with my versa for about 6 months.  I’m on vacation standing in pool, not even swimming, and my Versa totally completely dead. I’m so disappointed. As soon as I get home I’m going to call the company.   Lorraine 

[jjohnso]

Good luck. The process was very smooth for me.  It is disappointing that it can't go in the water though.  

[Kadahh]

Yes and that's was the point of me buying that one

[Parkersspace]

Seriously they are not really waterproof?  i was going to upgrade my alta to a waterproof version to swim with.  First I got the Inspire HR but it has been so buggy (maybe cause i was doing swim laps) the auto track is crazy on the inspire, my alta hr worked flawlessly on the auto-track for two years now but the iNspire was tracking non existant swims, three sports for my single bike rides (I was wearing Alta and INspire) Alta continued to track flawlessly the start and stop times and type of exercise but not the inspire. So I took my buggy inspire back to Target, and now I'm researching which works well but it looks like none of the fitbit models actually work in the water to track the swimming.  Guess it's time to look for a brand that not only has the ability to track swimming but it swim proof enough to use when you swim to track it.  Glad I read this.

[jjohnso]

Yes. I'm disappointed to. Someone on a post said they were going to get a Garmin (spelling?) Instead because that is more reliable. I'm going to look around as well for my next tracker. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy , an AT&T LTE smartphone

[Rcaper]

To be fair I’ve been using my replacement versa in the pool at least three times a week, plus lake and ocean swimming, and never had another problem. It might just be that some had flaws—my original was an early production batch, as I preordered it.

[jjohnso]

How long have you been swimming with it?  I bought my original one I March, 2019, this year. I could try it with the replacement watch yet so many people say not to. On a side note I went on a 20 mile bike ride today. It recorded that I road .38 miles. It got the time right yet with the short distance I road made the mph so slow it was less than a snail could crawl the distance. This watch is a sham. It records the time and footsteps, that's all. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy , an AT&T LTE smartphone

[Parkersspace]

Did you leave it just to auto track the bike ride?  If it auto tracks it does not do distance and my Alta HR usually just shows 0 distance for the autotrack outdoor bike.  Unless you track and it uses GPS the fitbit doesn't know distance for the bike ride.  It doesn't put distance for me on any auto tracked activity.  

[jjohnso]

Yes the GPS is on. And it show a very short ,38 mile route. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy , an AT&T LTE smartphone

[32elyse]

Same thing happened to me!!!! I was so scared to wear it even when i was washing my face. I triple checked all of the reviews that it would be fine in the pool. So I splash in the kiddie pool for about an hour and it was doing fine. I later realized it was completely dead even though it had a full charge. I had to fight with it to turn on and charge but now it will not read my heart rate or track my sleep and will not keep a full charge for more than an hour!!!!

[allabellina]

My versa is about 8 months old and I am having a similar issue that I am wondering if it is related to heat damage instead of water?? 

Last week with warmer weather (it has been in the high 90s where I live) I started going to the pool and the over the weekend after an afternoon in the sun with the Fitbit on I noticed that the screen was not rendering properly, green lines were across much of the screen and screen was dim. Charged it overnight and while it still vibrates and syncs with my phone (and app says battery is at 100%) the screen is now dead. I have tried the factory reset many times today holding down all 3 buttons, but the screen just remains black 😞 I have been swimming with previously, but this is most likely the first time it has been exposed to such heat???

[TAZ0725]

This just happened to a 2nd Fitbit Versa and they refused to replace the 2nd one. I am so upset with their horrible customer service right now and failure to have a product do what they claim does. Very frustrating!!

[jjohnso]

Thats ridiculous.  How long did your replacement watch last?  I just started putting my replacement watch in the water.  Have done three swims now.  I don't expect it to last long.  Yet now I know from your post that they won't replace the replacement watch.  I've heard Garmens are good watches and I think they are less expensive than fitbits.

[TAZ0725]

I have had it almost a year now and they said that April was when the warranty was up.. I told them I don't normally swim in April because we have snow. I was hesitant too and then decided to take a chance. I'm really disappointed that they would not even replace. I just might try the Garmin if they do not change their mind. It would be nice to use a swim app and not worry about the watch not working the next day.