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Bulge in watch strap - should I be concerned?

Former Member
Former Member over 5 years ago

I've had my vivosmart since May 2019. A month or so ago, I noticed a slight bulge in the strap where it connects to the body of the watch on one side. At first I thought it was just wear and tear from tightening the strap (I have small wrists). But it recently occurred to me that the bulge is on the side where the charging port is, and I started to worry that the battery might be bulging. The device still functions and charges fine.

Has anyone had anything like this happen? I've tried to get some photos of it:

This is what the unaffected side of the strap looks like, for comparison:

Here is a side on view:

And here is the entire device from the side, so you can see how the two sides of the strap look different, although admittedly it doesn't look like much; the difference is more obvious in person:

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    hello! i just noticed today that my vivosmart4 has the same exact bulge as yours. did you get a response from any Garmin rep?

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Mines also has this and today when I touched it ,it burst releasing a golden  colored liquid. Have not put watch back on since and washed any of the substance off fingers but cant enlighten you to what it is . 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Same happened to mine, as it also died on battery under warranty, Garmin sent me a new one.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to shawnito

    Sadly mines is out of warranty Slight frown

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to yawwei

    they asked for proof of purchase so I've sent that, haven't heard back yet...

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    Hi! Not sure if it was resolved for you, but I have the same issue. I opened a chat with Garmin support, had to provide the serial number of the device. After stating the issue Andrew, by support rep immediately wrote that the device has to be exchanged. Seamless process.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Hah, I contacted support, they told me they advised not to wear it anymore (but it was my own choice, of course!) and they could give me a 30%-discounted vivosmart 4 or a 30% discount for anything on the Garmin site. Mine was bought in Oct 2018. So out of warranty you get nothing for this pretty evident design flaw - which might be dangerous! Thanks Garmin!

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to poekie

    Strange. There is another thread on this forum on the same problem. For some reason that has been locked for further replies after customer support contacted the people that responded to the thread. I had the impression they were lenient towards watches being out of warranty. 
    in Europe the Gamin warranty is 2 years. You are not living in Europe?

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to PeterOo

    Am in Europe. I think the service reps just did a standard response. When I complained they suddenly did want to do a return. Will see if they really do give me a refurbished one back or that they will complain that the fall I had last autumn which loosened the metal edge of the screen is somehow the reason for the bubble and that I do have to pay. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    update, I have sent the watch back and am waiting to receive a replacement (there's a parcel waiting in my PO box, maybe that's it!)