Fitbits not suitable for shipboard life

[Izzymandias]

Right now, I'm using a Surge that is off by an hour. It's been off since my ship left the time zone our last port call was in. In [redacted] days, it will be off two hours. This, of course, is not the state of affairs that I would choose, but for some reason Fitbit has not deemed it useful to allow us to set the time manually. Note that this is a functionality that I could get from a $5 Casio at the checkout stand of Kroger - but for some reason it's too much to ask from a $200+ item of electronic wonder. The root of the problem is that you can't set the time without the app. You can't synch with the app without internet access for my phone or laptop. I can't get internet access for either when I'm sitting in a tin can. Now, Fitbit can't do anything about our internet access out here, but both of the other issues (no synch without internet and no time change without synching) are things that Fitbit has designed into their system. Again - this is a functionality that exists in a disposable watch that comes in a blister pack at your local supermarket. I contacted customer service over the issue and have not received a reply. It's not like I'm asking for something free or special consideration. I bought the tracker and expect it to work unless there's dang good reason for it not to. The fix is fully within their capability - either at the app level or in the firmware in the watch. Until Fitbit decides to fix the problem, if you are in a sea service (Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or NOAA) or are in the merchant marines, I recommend finding another fitness tracker.

[SunsetRunner]

all these facts are known and documented.

I knewn them before i purchased my Surge.

don't blame Fitbit.

blame youself.

in the world of Internet of Things and Connected devices, the main words are Internet and Connected.

[Izzymandias]

I don't recall seeing that on the box in the sporting goods store. Maybe you got a different box than I did. You accept a NEEDLESSLY-subpar product. Don't blame me. Blame yourself.

[SunsetRunner]

i always search before buying something.

i'm not only read the box, not only read the advertizing, not only listen vendors.

so, i'm rarely disappointed.

i was on cruise a little bit than 7 days, i knewn i was not able to sync my Surge, so, my Surge was at home.

[Izzymandias]

I don't know about reviews, but there weren't many salesmen in the Phoenix store where I bought it had been on deployment.

In the end, though, the writing on the box is the company's contract with the buyer.

Again, it's a needless issue.  I can set the time on a five-dollar watch without hooking it up to my phone.  Must be difficult technology to master.

[AlejandraFitbit]

It's great to see you around @Izzymandias and @SunsetRunner thanks for stopping by and for the information provided.  I recommend checking the Automatic timezone feature that actually works request, where you will be able to find some information about this feature, you can vote for it and leave your comment.

See you around!

[Izzymandias]

The problem is, this feature requires my Fitbit to synch with my phone, because y'all didn't see fit to allow us to MANUALLY adjust the time.  If I can't get a signal, I can't synch, and so I can't adjust the time.  This means anyone without reliable cell phone access (such as Sailors on deployment - who will cross many time zones before pulling into a port) are out of luck.

BTW, my new tracker - a Garmin, allows me to set the time manually - despite having one fewer button.