Whoop Angers Users Over Reneged Free Upgrade Promises (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0177410131
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/05/09/2026235/whoop-angers-users-over-reneged-free-upgrade-promises
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/news/664111/whoop-5-0-upgrade-anger-wearables
> Previously, Whoop said people who had been members for at least six months would get free upgrades to next-generation hardware. Now, the company says that members hoping to upgrade from a Whoop 4.0 to 5.0 will have to pay up.
>
> Whoop is a bit different from other fitness trackers in that it runs entirely on a subscription membership model. Most wearable makers that have subscriptions will charge you for the hardware, and then customers have the option of subscribing to get extra data or features. A good example is the Oura Ring, where you buy the ring and then have the option of paying a monthly $6 subscription. Whoop, however, has until now said that you get the hardware for "free" while paying a heftier annual subscription.
Previously, Whoop promised users that whenever new hardware was released, existing members would be able to upgrade free of charge so long as they'd been a member for at least six months.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/news/664111/whoop-5-0-upgrade-anger-wearables
I'm shocked, shocked...well not that shocked... (Score:4, Funny)
I am altering the deal... pray I do not alter it any further.
Re: (Score:3)
What do you expect when you buy something you see advertised on YouTube?
Re: (Score:2)
You know that's actually a good point. One of the absolute best ways to know if something is a scam is to go on youtube, browse around for a little bit and see if you get an ad for it. If you do then you know you've got to scam on your hands.
Hell is a small cottage industry of YouTube channels that exist solely to buy those scams and go over all the ways they are scams in detail and videos.
Honestly at this point if you're buying a wearable (Score:2)
You kind of have to expect to get screwed over and to have the things stop working in a year or two. I mean I read one of these stories here at least once sometimes two or three times a month.
That's the definition (Score:1)
There's an expectation of "enshittification" amongst consumers but this? This is plain "lying".
Re: (Score:2)
Actually, I think the legal term might be "latches", but I haven't seen the original promise.
Still, if anyone feels like suing Whoop, they've probably got a good case.
Re: (Score:2)
Actually I think this would be promissory estoppel. but the principle is that a promise without consideration (not a contract) is legally binding only when it has been reasonably relied upon, and if that reliance causes harm. I'm not sure if it the principle applies when the "reliance" is buying a product. Perhaps there is harm, i.e., you could have a different and better product but you don't. Or perhaps the bar for "harm" is higher, for instance you have a debt to pay as a result of a promise that was bro
Fraud System (Score:3)
Our current system allows criminal fraud by corporate actors. A class action suit will cost less than the profit made from intentional fraud and Courts love to claim that a corporate shield protects these actions.
Perhaps it shouldn't.
Until it does don't trust any corporate promises without preagreed consequences.
That's something Gaël Duval would do. (Score:2)
He pulled similar shit with promises of Sun StarOffice with Mandrake if you bought any of the 3 subscription levels. He lied. Hate that guy. Hate that guy so much it hurts.
Re: (Score:2)
Look on the bright side, we all have it now
Whoop! Whoop! (Score:2)
Whoop! Whoop! And the CEO will say that they are "sorry" "we apologize" and just pay for it. Sorry and apologies are free, free upgrades eat profits.
I'm waiting for Whoopie Goldberg to sue over the name. :) or the cushion.
JoshK.
Uh oh (Score:5, Funny)
Whoops.
Re: (Score:2)
In this case it means, "Whoops, that was a company"...
Re: (Score:1)
Whoomp, there it was.