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Consumers are lashing out at fitness technology company Whoop after it backtracked on promises of a free upgrade.
Whoop promoted itself and its products.
fitness trackers
With a rather distinctive subscription model, users pay an annual fee ranging from $199 to $359, and they get complimentary hardware upgrades whenever newer versions come out. Nonetheless, following the latest release of the
Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG
The firm mandates that users either pay an upgrade fee ranging from $49 to $79 or prolong their subscription for 12 months to obtain a new piece of equipment, as stated by the corporation.
FAQ page
.
This seems to contradict a
now-deleted blog post
On the company’s website, it stated, “Whoop members get the advanced device at no cost once they have maintained their membership for six months or longer.” The posting was removed in late March.
Bloomberg reports
.
Whoop stated in a press release that “similar to any business, we occasionally revise our commercial strategies.”
The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG come with enhancements such as female hormone monitoring, detection of abnormal cardiac activity, and improved sleep tracking capabilities.
On Reddit, Whoop customers
dubbed the move
an abrupt awakening.
What’s the purpose of this subscription model if you can’t enjoy the advantages of the newest gadgets?” one user questioned. Another person, claiming to have subscribed for four years, commented on X that the recent change “seems like blackmail.
Other users on social media are
calling
Encourage Whoop’s customers to inform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or similar organizations in other nations about the incident.
We have witnessed instances where community-led efforts have achieved success.
Music-streaming
giant Spotify received
a significant amount of criticism
In late 2024, following their announcement that they would disable their “Car Thing” device—a gadget designed for an effortless music listening experience irrespective of the car’s age or make—users were affected.
were ultimately successful in obtaining refunds
.
