Connect +

@Moomop. Don't you understand that your data is already being used? How do you think the Insights feature works, for example? Yes, you have to click yes to start it, but really, do any of us really think our data is truely private and not mined and used by Garmin?

In Germany Garmin Connect + costs 8,99€ which is 9,77 in dollars. So almost 10 bucks. This is insane and a real cheek

it’s completely different giving permission to use my data to provide something for my benefit (e.g. make a graph of my workout) and using that data to improve their product. I can only trust what they say. Garmin specifically told me unless I selected that option my data wouldn’t be used to train their AI. In my duristriction, I indeed have the right to object to that use, even with ‘hungry’ people like Meta. What Garmin have is considered even more sensitive so hence I actually have even more right. 

Specifically re the insight feature, you do have to agree to AI uses when you turn it on, which of course I won’t be. 

There has been a lot said about the premium device price, the belief the app features will always be available, and that the AI extra “insights” can be simply guessed or found somewhere else instead = therefore useless and not worth paying for them.

I’ll take the more emotional view and that’s the one that often decides on customer’s brand loyalty.

If I were Garmin, I’d be very careful.

The reason why they do so well in fitness sector is that Fitbit customers moved to Garmin once Fitbit (now Google) started being greedy, messed up with the up and limited free features available on their app.

I’m one of the angry ex-Fitbit customers and I have been watching closely Garmin share price and Fitbit and Garmin performance since October 2023 when it all started.

I was with Garmin before, but returned to Fitbit, because they - at the time - had better app and automatically recognised exercise feature, that Garmin sadly hasn’t got (Move IQ is not good enough).

Then Fitbit app overhaul that destroyed my device - I can’t believe they have not been taken to court yet for bricking thousands of devices! - annoyed me so much that every now and then I still check on their forums and their performance. I’m not a person who usually holds the grudge, but I am so annoyed with Fitbit that simply can’t let go. There are hundreds of thousands of very angry people there and they have enormous purchasing power, that can either elevate or ruin a company.

I work in fitness industry and since the Fitbit app overhaul none of my clients bought a Fitbit. Most are now proud owners of a Garmin (guess why?), and a few use Apple Watch.

Garmin, don’t follow that path. I am prepared to ditch fitness devices altogether, because the more upset I get about the ridiculous “not-worth-it” prices, app overhauls etc, the less I want to deal with it in my life. I exercised before fitness devices and I will continue to exercise without one too.

People pay for the device and expect it to be usable for no extra charge. If the device you sell requires the app, you provide the app free of charge (the app is included in the physical product price). I have Fenix 7 Solar and I believe the price tag was enough to give me a basic summary of what data the watch collects and a few challenges to make it more fun.

There are too many apps and subscriptions we, people, pay for. If you write down the summary of how many “tiny” charges you pay monthly, you’ll be shocked. I am, prompted by the paid connect +, just preparing a complete list of subscriptions I am going to cancel from my life. 
It’s not about not having the money - it’s about not throwing the money away! 

Connect + means nothing more that pure greed, thinking of us, customers, less than we really are, and overconfidence as your fitness market grew significantly. It hasn’t grown because Garmin did that well - it grew because Fitbit people moved to Garmin. Understand that, Garmin, before you follow Fitbit trails. 

Interestingly enough Garmin can detect automatically activities such as runs and walks and start an activity. They just have it on vivo/venu lines and do not even include it on the pricy Fenix line

Oh, that’s a shame. I had a Forerunner before and, like Fenix, it didn’t have that option.

I work physically outdoors and cycle to and between work places. I don’t have the time to press start and stop on my watch when I rush on my bike at 7am to work, do a warm up with the client, then stop to explain exercises, then cycle again, run an exhausting cardio class, but stop half way to explain things, and so on - it’s not the time and place to fiddle with my watch. But I lose on the watch 2-3 hours of physical activity every day. And even though I do my own training afterwards and I’m physically exhausted, the watch says I don’t move enough and my calorie burn sits at 1700kcal/day 

This is incredibly disappointing coming from Garmin, a brand that I've always seen as better than the rest because they don't paywall features.

I got rid of my Fitbit fitness watch because subscriptions to make use of your data is just ethically wrong.

If Garmin paywalls features, then my next bike computer, smartwatch, fitness sensor, bike radar, and bike trainer will NOT be Garmin devices.

Suunto watches sure look nice, especially for the features and price.  I wonder if they have a ridiculous subscription?