Activity meters are the new fitness gadget to beat. Unfortunately, the new-ish UP from Jawbone may have been beaten. However the company is making strides to remedy the situation and keep its users happy. Even if making its users happy means giving them the device for free.
The Jawbone UP, which we covered here and here, is a wristband that tracks your activity, food intake, sleep and general well being. It then reports all those findings to an iPhone App for review and reporting to friends (and Jawbone). The company quickly identified issues with the UP wristband that the band was having trouble holding a charge due to an issue with two specific capacitors in the power system. Jawbone addressed these and other complaints — mainly in sign-up and social features such as finding friends — and is willing to offer a full refund for the UP wristband through the end of the year. Users don’t actually have to send the unit back and can continue using the device, as much as they can get it to hold a charge.
Details of the Jawbone UP refund are available in a letter from the CEO to its users, and a separate page set up by Jawbone that states “The UP No Questions Asked Guarantee.” Refunds are to be issued between December 9 – December 31, 2011.
While the Jawbone UP is available for $99.99, the company will issue refunds in excess of the purchase price to cover the product, shipping, and frustration. Users who opt for cash will receive $109.43 (US) and those who opt for a credit will receive $150 (US) for other Jawbone products.
It’s unfortunate that the UP device has presented such a huge issue. The device is still in a new category of activity monitors and a few glitches are to be expected. Jawbone is acting quickly to address the concerns of its customers. We’re looking forward to second generation UP wristbands, which will hopefully have some of the kinks worked out.
[via TechCrunch: Jawbone Cancels All Pending Up Orders, Refunds Unhappy Owners (Even If They Keep It)]