Fitbit fiasco

februarysgirl

I bought a Fitbit Charge from K & Co in May of 2015 and all was well for a while but then the wristband started to peel away from the unit. I contacted Fitbit and they sent me a replacement (in a smaller size upon request). The same problem happened with the replacement last year but they no longer had any of that model so offered me a Fitbit Alta (which is actually £30 less than what I paid for my original) which I accepted. I am now having wristband problems AGAIN, this time the whole band is coming away from the unit (and not in the way it's supposed to). I wear it everywhere except around water and it doesn't get banged about. I can only assume that the adhesive they use to stick the wristband to the unit is just rubbish. At this stage, I'm about done with the whole thing but I have no idea what to do. At best I can only see Fitbit going so far as to send me another wristband but I have no confidence that the same won't happen again. It's getting a bit ridiculous, I don't want to be contacting them every year to get replacements but neither do I want to just write off £130. K and Co no longer exist as they were bought by Littlewoods and this isn't the model I bought from them anyway. I don't see any way to get anything resembling a refund from Fitbit since I didn't buy it from them.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do next?

marliepanda

You've had use of it for almost two years.

That's it. You're not gonna get a full refund.

Yes Fitbit have issues, I've gone through about 5 myself. However they replace them quickly with no fuss. That's all they have to do at this point. Any refund you did claims under the SOGA would be reduced due to age to practically nothing after two years.

Geodark

Mine has just started to do the same - I have had it just over a year, I didnt realise it was a common problem, I just thought I must have got it wet at some point and not noticed.

februarysgirl

If I'm understanding you correctly (and I apologise if I'm not), when it comes to resolving issues with my current Fitbit, I'm legally considered to have had use of it for two years, even though it's only seven months old, because it's the replacement of the broken replacment of the broken Fitbit I bought back in 2015?

I can't believe you've been through five of them, this is my third and I'm fed up with the whole thing. It doesn't seem to be an uncommon issue, it must be costing them a fortune to replace so many.

wealdroam

februarysgirl wrote: »

If I'm understanding you correctly (and I apologise if I'm not), when it comes to resolving issues with my current Fitbit, I'm legally considered to have had use of it for two years, even though it's only seven months old, because it's the replacement of the broken replacment of the broken Fitbit I bought back in 2015?

Let's put it another way...

You bought a fitbit two years ago.

In May 2015 the applicable legislation was the Sale of Goods Act.

The Sale of Goods Act (and the current Consumer Rights Act) specify remedies if the sale contract is broken - such as the goods not being durable or fit for purpose.

It is the date of the sale that is significant.
That is when you entered into the contract.

Since the purchase, you have now had use of a fitbit for nearly two years.

Edited to add:
Anyway, I've just realised that all that is irrelevant since you didn't buy anything from Fitbit.

Fitbit appear to be supplying the remedy under their guarantee or in goodwill.
Both of those are in addition to your statutory rights and as such can include any reasonable terms.