Because of the recalling, Fitbit will difficulty a refund of $299 (roughly Rs. 22,700) as soon as homeowners will return their Ionic watch to the corporate. It would additionally present customers with a reduction code to supply 40 p.c off on choose Fitbit gadgets, the US Client Product Security Fee noted in its announcement.
Fitbit acquired not less than 174 reviews of the watch’s overheating, with 118 reviews of burn accidents that embrace two circumstances of third-degree burns and 4 of second-degree burns, the US fee mentioned.
“We acquired a really restricted variety of reviews — the totals within the US regulator announcement characterize lower than 0.01 p.c of items bought — of the battery in Fitbit Ionic smartwatches overheating, posing a burn hazard,” Fitbit mentioned in a press release emailed to Devices 360.
The corporate said that the recall didn’t impression different Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.
Fitbit stopped the manufacturing of Ionic in 2020. The smartwatch was launched in India at Rs. 22,990 in January 2018.
Devices 360 requested Fitbit to verify how Indian customers can avail the refund, and the corporate responded by saying that the customers impacted exterior the US ought to go to help.fitbit.com/ionic for info on methods to obtain a refund.
“The refund will probably be equal to USD $299 in native foreign money. We urge all Ionic customers to take part,” the corporate mentioned.
The recall is restricted to 4 variants of the Fitbit Ionic which have the next mannequin numbers: FB503CPBU, FB503GYBK, FB503WTGY, and FB503WTNV.
Eligible customers within the US can proceed for the refund by contacting Fitbit helpline at 888-925-1764 or visiting the assistance part on the corporate’s web site.
Person reviews on the Fitbit Neighborhood boards suggest that the overheating points with the Ionic watch started to emerge shortly after its launch in 2017.
“Right this moment my Fitbit Ionic burnt my wrist. I seen I had a stinging feeling,” one of many affected customers said in a discussion board publish.
That is notably not the primary time when Fitbit is recalling one in all its standard wearables. In 2014, the corporate recalled its Force wristband after dealing with complaints of pores and skin rashes and irritation. Fitbit additionally avoided recalling the Flex wristband regardless of getting related pores and skin irritation reviews and mentioned that it made some changes and put a warning that it may trigger allergic reactions because of nickel.
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