Bubbling Band

[DebzOz]

Disgusted! With Ongoing Band problem! My daughter in law and I both had our Surge Fitbits replaced easily due to bubbling of the band about a year ago. Both have subsequently done the same thing but Fitbit will not replace due to being outside the original warranty! Seriously...this is an ongoing manufacture and or material defect that we the consumer are being asked to ignore!! Sorry Fitbit....my Surge is going in the bin. 

Moderator edit: Format. Word Choice.

[eamsey]

John
Many thanks for your help.

Regards
Steve

[VF31AE3]

@eamsey Amazon sells replacement bands for the Surge. YouTube has videos on "How to." Check out the video first to see if it's something you or a friend are are up to. Good Luck!

[DLNothy]

My band also developed the bubble.  My former surge band cracked and it was replaced no charge.  But now less than a year it bubbled and all that was offered was 25% off my next purchase.  I like the fit bit program so I bought a replacement.  I hope this purchase is better (Hope!!!!!) If not I will spread the word with my experience,  

[AlejandraFitbit]

A warm welcome to the Community @affs27. I am glad to hear that you are satisfied with our support team. Regarding to your wristband inquiry, I have had my Blaze for more than a yer and that wristband is fine, I haven't changed it during this time. My recommendation here in to follow the tips provided in our wear and care article to take a better care of your wristband.

I hope this helps, let me know if you need anything else. 

[pandey]

I purchased surge one year back..the strap has developed bubbles and looking very ugly.. contacted the customer support but they say it is no longer in warranty .. but I want to submit that is the material and quality so poor that it is surviving only the warranty period.. then the cost is absolutely worthless if item  has only one year life and then starts giving way..  please do not buy this stuff..very unhappy 

[autr30]

I have exactly the same issue. Sadly Surge also passed warranty month or two ago.

[VF31AE3]

@autr30; @pandey You may be able to extend the use of your Surge by getting a replacement band from Amazon. YouTube has videos showing how to do it. Good luck.

[VF31AE3]

@affs27 Amazon sells replacement bands for the Surge. They're about $20 USD. YouTube has videos showing how to. The original bands appear to fail no matter what you do. You may have better luck with the aftermarket.

[VF31AE3]

@DLNothy You may still be able to use your Surge with the defective band. Amazon sells replacement bands for the Surge. They're about $20 USD. YouTube has videos showing how to. The original bands appear to fail no matter what you do. You may have better luck with the aftermarket.

[DMRiske]

New twist on my efforts to solve my defective Fitbit Surge issues.  I opted for the replacement option since my Surge was having some battery and other issues in addition to the bubbling band.  I just received an offer that left me shaking my head.  Apparently the Surge is being discontinued (presumably due to the multiple issues it has) but Fitbit is trying to offload the remaining units in stock which does not include the one that I bought with a black band.  So I am supposed to pick  a replacement between one that will not fit  (small) or one that I cannot wear on a daily basis in my professional life (bright orange).  You have got to be kidding me!  I would rather wait to see what they replace the Surge with in their line up and get that as a replacement or have them replace my defective unit with a Charge 2 even though it is of less value currently by $70 and does not have the built in GPS.  Will see what they say.

[Johnellingwood]

Buy the band at amazon for 15.00 - the battery issue is annoying. You have to plug the cord in and twist the surge over and over until the battery light appears on the screen then slowly set the surge down. If the battery display stays lit, the surge will charge fine. If it's not lit up, it doesn't charge. I've been through a couple of cords that temp fix it, but it keeps coming back.There is another watch coming out in 2018 that may or not be better. My wife and I are looking into other options as Fitbit does not want to help us with the issues.

John Ellingwood

[SunsetRunner]

I can only agree with the large number of Surge users that the product has a number of basic design faults.  I have had 3 different Surges and each has not lasted anywhere near a year.  Each of them has had multiple problems with a number of common issues across each.  My most recent Surge has

1. the bubbling band issue which i have attempted to limit by super gluing the band.the bubble is still there, the band now sticks out to the side but hopefully it should limit more bubbling,
2. battery lasting just a day.  I can never wear the watch overnight as the battery will not last and have to charge every night.  Before any moderator says switch off notifications, backlight etc, they are all switched off with the exception of bluetooth which i can't tun off even though it doesn't work because it crashes the Surge every time i try to switch it off.
3. bluetooth does not work and i can only sync via the dongle on my laptop 

It is out of warranty so nothing will be done.  My other 2 surges had a number of the above issues but different ones ie band split etc.

It is very clear that Fitbit understand that the product has a number of basic design faults (as within warranty there is no issue with replacing) but the cost of replacing them with a product that is actually fit for purpose is cost prohibitive.  The fact that Fitbit also appear to have stopped making more shows that the basic product is not good enough as with technology today there should be no issue in providing ongoing firmware updates that would keep the product up with the competition.  The fact that very little has been provided to Surge users over the last couple of years emphasizes to me that the basic watch design is not suitable for the task that most of us customers want and expect to be able to use the product for.

Really disappointing as initially i was so excited by the product.

Agree with other comments, how can this problem be solved, it is a basic design fault.

[Johnellingwood]

I'll let you know how the new band works - I wish they would step up as I like the software but will be looking for other brands next time

John Ellingwood

[Johnellingwood]

THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH THE SITUATION

[Cristinef]

I have had 2 replacements with the Fitbit Charge HR. I decided to not replace and apply a credit to a new style Charge2.  I am having the same issue again 

[Cristinef]

My band was bubbling after 4 months 

[eamsey]

Thank you

[LarryBirch]

I've the same problem, logged a case (20784235), provided all requested information and proof, and have heard nothing back in three weeks.

Is this lack of response normal for this company?  This is my first experience with Fitbit and unfortunately is looking to be my last.

[Ragebe]

For those owners in the UK, it may be of use to know that the Consumer Rights Act covers goods up to 6-years. 

Although the burden of proof lies with the purchaser after 6-months, there is plenty of web evidence to show this is a known defect and that the watches are shipped with a known fault. 

Right-clicking on a web page, allows you the ability to save that page with all the comments about the strap problems, including the FitBit staff comments.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act#six-months-or-more

[Elby]

I am having the same problem. I initially had the Charge but when the band bubbled so badly I had to replace it. I now have the Charge 2 which I purchased on 01 March 2017 and exactly the same thing is happening to this one after only 7 months. 

FitBit you need to come up with a long term solution for this problem. I am very happy with the product except for the band issue.