Fitbit bollocks

[Nunka]

I've had my Charge 3 since May 2020. It never counted steps accurately so they replaced it in Feb 2021. The strap broke in August 2021 and I paid for a new one. So basically it's only 2 years old really and already both parts have been replaced.

The screen was dim for weeks so I spoke to a rep last week and did loads of resets etc. However since then not only is the screen still dim but it hasn't synced since, it's 10 minutes slow, doesn't track active minutes or sleep, shows 12 hour clock instead of 24 hour clock. Basically it's useless as a watch and an activity tracker.

I've had numerous conversations with customer service reps over the last week and I've been told to expect a higher support email. However none has arrived.

Should I expect my expensive watch to die after only 2 years? Should I expect the 'help' to actually make my watch worse?

Obviously I'll be getting a new watch and NOT a Fitbit but this is super shit in my opinion.

You have horrible luck with your Fitbit.
Mine is 4 years old and I cracked the screen last year and it still works great and the time is accurate. I did replace the strap though you can get them cheap on eBay.

Next one I get will be an Apple Watch.

I’ve had two Fitbit charge 3’s. The first one stopped working after 11 months, I put it on charge one evening, took it off charge and it had a smiley face on the screen, wouldn’t do anything, tried resetting it but nothing worked. Got sent a replacement and that lasted 18 months before it packed in.
I won’t buy another

I've moved to garmin as the watch face on mine became so dim it was unreadable

I’ve given up after years of Fitbits. The charging docking is shit, the little pins are fragile and you end up spending ages making micro adjustments to get them to charge.

I'm not forking out for an Apple Watch as they are too expensive and too big as I always wear a conventional watch my mum gave me. I’m just sulking.

I still use the App to track my weight. I liked the functions and size but they aren’t robust enough.

I found Fitbit to be crap and have stopped using them some time ago. I now use Huaweii and Xiaomi. Much cheaper, more functions, more reliable and more accurate.

Seems I am not alone!

My moan is the Versa 3, bought specifically for the swim function. As soon as it’s set it starts recording the swim but it won’t let me end the workout and I have to wait for the battery to die before I can reboot the thing.
I like the rest of it though.

I've got the Huwaeii watch fit 2. Cost me £100 and does loads of things and does then accurately with a large clear screen and a 14 day battery life.

garmin watches are great if you’re looking for a new one.

My fitbit charge 3 also died after 2yrs. And I had to replace the strap too! Like you, the screen faded until there was nothing. I threw it in the bin last year and haven't bothered to replace it because they are obviously crap.

My charge 5 died after 6 months. I got the black screen of death. Spent ages on the phone to fitbit support but nothing they suggested got it working again. Luckily I bought it from amazon and they replaced it for free as it was only 6 months old.

Never understood the point in counting steps anyway. What does it achieve? Do some proper exercise.

A decent fitness tracker does a lot more than counting steps. Mine does that, measures my heart rate, O2 levels, stress levels & sleep duration and quality. It plays music, has GPS to show how far I've run and where, shows messages, takes and receives calls, shows the weather forecast, the time, notifies me when I've been sat too long, does breathing exercises and... Counts Steps 😘

You don't NEED any of that, but if it helps motivate you then why not?

As for the step counting, that's because someone somewhere said you should aim for certain number of steps a day and then you can tell yourself that you're fit. Obviously people who go down the gym three times a week are fitter (and wealthier and have more time) , but those who "only" do their 8,000 steps are fitter than those who sit in front of the telly all day.

Taking of which, I've zero steps, so I better move my ass.😉

My experience with fitbit has been really good- I wear mine 24/7 so it gets a lot of use, but over the 7ish years since I had the first charge, they have replaced every strap or broken unit- I lost one once and had to buy a replacement; and my last charge 3 gave up the ghost after 2 years (so out of guarantee) and I got 50% off a new charge 5, so pretty good! They don't have a shelf life like a real watch though,more like a mobile phone.

I have also only had positive experiences with Fitbit, and have just bought a Charge 5.

The last one I had (Inspire HR) for just under a year when it went wrong and was replaced free of charge, that was 3 years ago. I have only replaced it because I wanted more features

It is an excellent tool to use alongside 'proper exercise'.

Counting steps is about the only thing I don't use my Fitbit for!

I also had a charge 3, it was shit. One went dim after 9 months, got replaced and the second one went dim after a year. Swapped to garmin

Today the replacement strap I bought broke so it's now officially useless!

They're awful, completely unfit for purpose (oh, the irony), I would never ever recommend.
My first one lasted a day before pixels died, it went downhill from there. I use huawei now, brilliant watch and it works with my phone and smart scales.

The soft straps don't last long.
I do find these sort of straps last longer than other types.
I'm impressed if anyone has an accurate step counter.

I like my Charge 3, but I only paid £15 for it (nearly new condition).

DD is happily using the Charge 2 I bought off friend for £12 in 2019.

Yet again my Fitbit has given up , it's less than a year old and bought as I apparently could swim with it ....
Fitbit are sending a replacement .
What is as good as it as an alternative please ?
Sleep monitor / heart rate etc
Always got on well with the magnetic metal straps though !

I'm a little bit at the price of Apple Watches so looking at my options ?