![]() If you just watched the Apple event last night and you can't wait to check out watchOS 10 (and new Snoopy watch faces), you need this watch. Normally priced at $249, it's down to $219 for a limited time only. You shouldn’t need an accountant to buy a new fitness trackerĪmazon Halo View launches alongside new nutrition and fitness featuresĪmazon is frequently a great destination for Apple deals and we're particularly keen to see a sweet discount on the latest Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) right now. Because, unfortunately, we’ve no idea what the future holds. The death of Amazon Halo should be another warning sign we should be extremely wary about paying a subscription for a health and fitness tracker. Subscription packages of all types aren’t exactly getting the best press at the moment just look at what’s happening at Twitter for evidence, and the end of Halo isn’t going to help. ![]() It’s obviously not easy to do, but another aspect of Halo’s closure has highlighted the downsides of tech subscription models. Instead of accepting this, think about whether that company would be able to match Amazon’s promise of refunds and further support should it decide to not support a product any longer for some reason. Obviously, businesses can’t see into the future, and any making sweeping commitments about the long-term would not only be empty promises - but also pretty reckless. If you don’t see it, then it’s probably better to buy upfront, and one time only, for your next piece of health tech. People already want and rightly expect value, and now we should be extra mindful about putting additional emphasis on commitment too. We’re committing to use and pay monthly or annually for a product, and in return for that financial support and data, it’d be nice for the company to continue existing and regularly deliver new features. It’s time to remember commitment is a two-way street. I wonder how many Halo owners will go on to choose another subscription-based alternative. If you’ve spent the last years with a Halo tracker, you’re now forced to start again, but not voluntarily. ![]() Why is thinking about commitment so important? Who wants to spend all that time, money, and effort investing in a fitness product, only to find out it suddenly becomes worthless through no fault of your own? When you add a subscription into the mix, and a product that then has no ongoing use, it’s even more galling. The most recent Amazon Halo product, the Halo Rise, came out in November 2022, giving buyers a mere five months of “reassurance” at most. In return, it’s not unreasonable to expect commitment from the company, whether that’s ongoing features and support … or simply for the company to still be there in a year’s time. You need to commit to using them in order to get the most benefit, and you must financially commit to making full use of the sensors and software. At the very least, Halo’s destruction should be a warning to anyone thinking about buying a Whoop fitness band, the Oura Ring smart ring, or even a Fitbit.Īll of them require commitment. When a company with Amazon’s resources is forced to do that, it doesn’t bode well for other, far smaller companies with similar products. There are no promisesĪmazon’s Halo isn’t the only subscription-based health and fitness product out there, but it is one of the few that has entirely closed down its operations. The subscription fee absolutely wasn’t a lifeline for Halo and provided no protection to you as a consumer at all. But Amazon isn’t going to discontinue successful product lines that make it money - it’s going to get rid of the ones that do the opposite. The Halo products weren’t the best of their type you could get, but Amazon’s massive reach, brand recognition, and willingness of its core customers to pay a subscription for its services should have helped mitigate at least some of that issue. Halo is now a failure, and regardless of why it has happened, it’s one that the subscription model couldn’t help save. The decision to kill Halo is speculated to be part of Amazon’s ongoing cost reduction, as it deals with changes in how people spend and global financial situations. There are also ways to download collected health data, so not everything will be lost after the shutdown date. Those who have paid the $4 per month subscription fee, or have recently purchased a Halo product, may be entitled to a refund, and it’s also providing a way to return and recycle Halo products, which are obviously now completely useless. ![]() However, Amazon is doing something for its customers. ![]() Why fitness tracker subscriptions are a rip-off (and how to avoid them) ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |