EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and "Step-On" Technology
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List Price: Our Price: $26.99 You Save: $22.96 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and "Step-On" Technology
Customer Review: Amazing Scale
Summary: 4 Stars
Very awesome scale. I love the large glass platform.
My Old Scale:
I used to own a taylor scale (well I still own it but will probably never use it again!). That scale was actually pretty horrible. In my tests I would weigh myself, pick up a large stuff animal, weigh myself again and be the same weight. After dinner was the same weight as before dinner. In order to change the weight I would add around 3-5 pounds (hold books or other things) before it showed a change. Then I would put the extra weight down and re-weight and it would be significantly different. (probably around half a pound or more). The platform was not glass, it sort of had this plastic thing don't know how to describe it properly. But overtime the thing shifted upwards probably from me stepping on off it! It was held on by some sort of glue and when it moved it left glue residue with attracted dust and made my scale look disgusting and dirty. (Which is why I love the glass platform, I'm imagining it will be a breeze to clean). The taylor scale is now obsolete because every time I step on it it just says error. Once in a blue moon it'll come back but for the most part it just says error. (owned it for a year or two). A huge pain with the taylor was that even if i shifted slightly (like scratch my nose) it'll come up as error. I had to be absolutely still!
The EatSmart Scale:
This scale is great. The readings are so fast, no real need to wait at all. If I move while on the scale it just waits till I'm still again and gives me my reading promptly! The scale is very large but it's no problem for me because I have the room for it. Personally I like how large it is because I think the whole glass looks very pretty. The backlight is a nice blue with black digital numbers. It's easy on my eyes in the dark and the display is large enough so I can see without my glasses (i'm only about 150-160 in each eye though).
A couple of tests:
I wanted to see how much of a weight difference this scale can detect so I did a couple of tests. I weighed myself clothed, then took off my sweater and weighed myself again. The weight drop was about .8 pounds. I think this might just be because this was the very first reading on the scale. I just held the sweater and weighed myself again and did not find any weight change at all from the scale.
I weighed myself before dinner and after and there was a difference of also about .8 pounds. This has been consistent weighing after weighing.
Another test with holding a bunch of pieces of clothing. I tried a shirt, some underwear, and socks (just finished laundry). There was no change. So I added the sweater I mentioned before and the weighing jumped 1 pound. Removing the sweater shirt and underwear (leaving just the socks with me). It dropped some weight but didn't go back to my original weight. So then I put the socks down too. The weight remained the same, about .2 higher than the original weight. So I weighed again and still the same +.2 I even waited for it to turn off and turned it back on and still +.2 To get back to the original weight I had to add more weight and put it all down at once. (Also tried other combinations and it has been able to detect changes of .6lbs also)
All in all I think it's not 100% because it's hard to detect small changes in weight but it is still pretty good at noting changes in weight. It is at least more reliable than the taylor because this will eventually bring me back to the original weight whereas the taylor had different readings every time and I had to guess an approximate.
Pros:
Quick readings & startup (once I am able to tap it right)
Nice backlight that is easy to read.
Fairly Consistent readings (+/-.2 if you weigh- add weight- then reweigh, but one after another without any changes is always the same)
Uses standard AAA batteries, easy to find in any store unlike the cell batteries
Cons:
Only problem I'm having so far is turning it on. I have to tap quite a few times before I can get it on. I use quick taps at various strengths but still takes a while. Long(er) taps do not seem to work.
Delivery:
Waiting for it to ship out took about 2-3 days and estimate arrival date was about 5 days after it shipped, but it arrived 2 days early! So overall not a long wait at all. Came in a giant shipping box with lots of air bag padding.
Customer Review: They fixed the tapping mechanism- It works now and is very NICE
Summary: 5 Stars
In February of 2010 I ordered this scale. The tap technology did not work for me - I had to slam to scale against the floor to get any reaction. The reviews said customer service was great, but I didn't care - I just wanted a scale that worked. I gave the product 1 star.
Since then, customer service contacted me and let me know that there was a problem with the tap technology in some models, and that all new models have step-on technology - no tapping. They sent me one under warrantly - no obligation to update my review. They said this is is the model that now ships, so the model I previously reviewed is not the one being sold anymore.
I already had a scale since I quickly threw my previously purchased eatsmart model away and purchased another brand, but I really do like the eatsmart aesthetic and feel - so I agreed to give the new version a go. The step-on technology seems to have none of the problems of the old tap technology. I tested it against my other scale and the weights were the same. As to "weight memory" - I tried it with my robe and then without, and the weight changed by a pound a half, which seems right. So I don't think it's locking in a weight too close to the same as the last weight.
Overall, I'm quite happy with the replacement. I would not retract that the old model I received was awful, but given the fixes, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the current model being sold and I would give it as a gift. THIS is the scale I was hoping for when I bought the previous version. Beautiful and functional. I would look to see if all the negative reviews were about the tapping mechanism working - because they fixed this. At first glance, it does seem to be true that all the old reviews are complaining about the tap mechanism (and with good cause - it was awful!).
For reference, my old review is below - as you can see, I was quite against the tapping mechanism. But it's no longer relevant. Thank goodness that's been replaced. I guess every company is allowed to ship a dud model now and them. Look at Windows 98! :P. For this scale, now you just step on. It works PERFECTLY. I think people should feel confident buying the scale now.
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I ordered this scale.
When it arrived, it wouldn't turn on. I went out and bought replacement batteries. It still didn't work no matter how hard i tapped. I finally managed to occasionally get it to turn on by lifting the front end of it and letting it fall. And that worked on every third attempt. Then within a day that stopped working. I finally just threw this away.
The company defends itself by assuring us that customer service is great and every bad review is from someone who didn't contact customer service. I will grant them that. I didn't contact them, but I'm rating the scale and whether you should purchase one - and I'm not rating their customer service. I'll even say that I believe 100% that if I had, they would ship out a replacement and an upgraded model overnight and tell me I'm skinny and that my dog is really smart too.
Just think that through .... This is a relatively inexpensive scale. I ordered it. I wanted it to work. It didn't work. Look how many positive reviews basically say "Wow - what great customer service when it didn't work - they really care!!" I read that before purchase and considered that it was a bit scary that so many people received non-working scales, but I bought one anyway taking the bet that mine would work. I don't know why I did that - that was dumb.
Do you want to buy a scale that has a very high failure rate on arrival - but if you take the time to call customer service they'll be super nice and get it right? I sure didn't want that. So I chalk this up as a loss to my own stupidity for buying a scale that failed for so many people.
At the end of the day, I'm rating the scale, not the customer service or the niceness of the family operation. The scale was awful and I didn't agree on purchasae to deal with having to call and get a replacement. Therefore, one star for a wasted purchase and a non-functioning item. Do you want a scale that has failed for so many people? Decide that before ordering. Good luck.
Customer Review: Good for the money
Summary: 4 Stars
I was in the market for a new bathroom scale after my digital weightwatchers one had bitten the dust. I decided upon this model because the average rating was good, the reviews were all good, and the price was definitely right. I didn't want anything too fancy, just something that worked. I also quite liked the sleek clear look of the scale (definitely factored into my decision).
Aesthetics.
When I received my scale, the first thought I had was that it was a lot heavier than I thought it would be... although, that's not such a problem. It is also difficult to move the scale along the floor because the foot pads are very tacky. This is either a benefit or a negative, depending on you personally. It is a good thing if you just want the scale to stay in place... but, for me anyway, I often move my bathroom scale around a lot so the tacky foot pads are a pain in the butt. All in all, not a big deal. I really like the fact that the LED screen lights up bright blue, it's pretty. And, generally, the scale is attractive with the sleek clear frame. I also like the fact it uses normal batteries (AAA) and not some weirdo round medical 5v batteries. That makes things a lot easier to replace them. It takes a big strong "heel tap" to get the scale to turn on, but weirdly, the slightest movement of the scale against the floor will make it turn on. Weird paradox. I tend to just push the scale instead of trying to "tap" it like the instructions recommend, as it's just easier that way.
How does the scale perform?
When I got on the scale, it told me I weighed only 114.6, 116.8, etc and various other weights which are low for me. Granted I hadn't weighed myself in months, and I had suspected I may have lost weight...but I was under the impression my weight was in the 117-120 range. I was expecting the weights to be like 117, 118, 119. So my concern was that the weight was radically off (3 pounds matters a lot to me, and it is an unacceptable weight deviation as I am maintaining significant weight loss). I am a medical professional so what I did was I weighed myself on the scale, fully clothed, after eating/drinking - weight 121. When I got to work, I weighed myself on the scale at my job, under those same conditions - weight 122. So, it seems, the scale actually is REASONABLY accurate, I simply lost more weight than I thought and was thinner than I realized.
The rest of my family also reported that their weights were accurate; my mother used the scale and she weighed 175, which she said is her stable weight. Although my other sister said the scale had her weight lower (145), but she believes she may have lost weight too, putting her in a similar position as myself.
The scale gives really stable weights. It is not very sensitive to changes, IMO. This makes me have doubts the reading is totally accurate. I have never had a scale give me such stable weights, all prior experiences with scales suggest that the weight readings fluctuate a lot day to day, or weight to weight ... this is the first scale where I get on and I am 116.8 no matter how many times I get on... and, I am 116.8 every day for many days in a row. A scale has never done that for me before.
I guess this is a good feature for people who get anxious about weight fluctuations (I don't at all, I expect them... I become suspicious when a scale doesn't give me fluctuations because I consider it a sign that the scale is sensitive and works well).
Would I recommend this product?
All in all, it does the job. Good product, great price, looks nice in your bathroom. I would wish the scale could be a bit lighter and more sensitive to the "heel tap" mechanism, and I also wish it weren't so insensitive/weight stable (although many people may appreciate this feature)... but I can't find any reason why not to buy it. In time I will find out how durable it is. That truly is what makes a product worth the money.
Customer Review: FINALLY -- a consistent scale!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
When my old scale started giving wildly different readings every time I stepped on it recently I decided it was time to get a new scale. I was shocked to find that it is extremely difficult to get a digital scale that gives consistent readings these days. As someone who is trying to lose weight it is very frustrating not to be able to get consistent readings as you can't tell how you are doing since the scale might be wrong. The first scale I tried was the Weight Watchers scale. The reviews were mixed -- some said it was extremely accurate but just as many said it gave wildly different readings every time you stepped on it (variances of as much to 4 pounds!!!) I figured this was a Weight Watchers product and so it had to be accurate so I bought one. When I got it I stepped on it a few times and got totally different readings. In fact, it was next to impossible to get the same reading twice in a row. I liked the fact that the WW scale had body fat and bone mass readings so I returned the WW scale and ordered a Thinner scale that had the same functions. Well, it turned out it was pretty much the same scale as the WW one -- they were both made my ConAir even though they had different brand names. This scale only varied by a pound or two but it was still next to impossible to get the same reading twice. Totally frustrated, I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and tried out a bunch of different scales there. Most of them did not give consistent readings but one did. This one was made by HoMedics and it gave the same reading all 4 times I stepped on it at the store so I bought it and brought it home. I set it up and it gave consistent readings and I was happy for about two weeks until I got on my scale one morning and weighed a hundred pounds less than the night before!!! I figured maybe I had just been using it too much (I'm obsessed with my weight so I check it all the time) and that it just needed a new battery so I went out and got a new one and put it in. Guess what? The scale wouldn't even turn on! I checked the battery installation several times but I had it right and the scale was just plain dead. I returned and got my money back and then I went online in search of something reliable and I found the EatSmart scale. 99.9% of the reviews for this scale were positive and everyone said it gave consistent readings so I decided to order it. It came a few days later and I set it up and gave it a test run. Every single time I stepped on it I got the same reading. Then I drank some water and got on it again just to make sure it wasn't "remembering" my weight and I had gained .4 pounds. This scale has been totally consistent for the month I have had it and I have been able to track my weight loss effectively. A lot of people complained that the scale is hard to turn on and I had the same experience -- I definitely have to stomp on it a bit to get it to turn on but it's not that big of a deal and if that's what it takes to get consistent readings I'm willing to overlook that minor flaw. Another thing I like about this scale is that it uses AAA batteries rather than a Lithium cell. I had a heck of a time finding a replacement for my HoMedics scale when it died and the only place that had one was Radio Shack. I use AAA batteries for other things so I have them around and when my scale tells me it is low on batteries it'll be a quick task to change the batteries and get my scale working again. All in all this is a great product and the EatSmart team stands behind it -- this has a 2 year warranty and they monitor reviews on Amazon and encourage people to write their own reviews so that they know what needs improvement and so that consumers will spread the word about this great product. Buy this scale.... you won't be sorry.Customer Review: EatSmart Scale--A little quirky but pretty good
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to admit I have mixed opinions about this scale. When I first got it, I wanted to return it right away because I thought it was defective. Weights were either TOO consistent or varied by several pounds. Then I re-read the directions that said to disregard the first weight after each time it is moved because the scale needs to calibrate. After I understood that, I was okay with these occasional random weights.
Like other reviewers, I will testify that there must be some feature in this scale to automatically reproduce the previous weight if it hasn't changed over a certain threshold...I found that I could weigh myself then remove my shoes and weigh the same for the next several times. As soon as I held something heavier as I weighed myself, the weight changed as it should have.
Okay, with these quirks, then why did I decide to keep the scale? Before I made a final decision, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and tried several other scales. I actually brought two models home for testing and determined that they, too, had the same feature where weights seemed to be eerily consistent despite small changes in what was being weighed. That must be a common feature in scales these days. Then I did head-to-head testing with the three scales to see which model, if any, was the most consistent and accurate. I set up a chart and weighed myself holding various items such as 2,5, and 10-pound weights, shoes on/off, and various other household items. The key was to weigh each item first on my postal scale to see exactly how much each item weighed. Don't assume that a 5-pound weighs exactly 5 pounds--mine weighed a few ounces more. Each time, when I weighed myself with each item, the EatSmart scale was right on and reflected the additional item weight exactly. The only time I got erroneous weights were when I weighed myself consecutively holding items that were very close in weight--i.e. the "repeat the previous weight" feature seemed to kick in but if I weighed the same items in a different order, the weights were very accurate.
Like the other scales, in spite of the tendency to repeat the previous weight, the HealthSmart scale does occasionally vary by =/- 2-4 ounces if I weigh myself repeatedly, but in my opinion, that's not a big deal. It could be that the original weight was right on the borderline and since the scale is only accurate to =/- .2 lbs, it may have reverted to the higher/lower weight if the way I was standing on the scale and distributed my weight was slightly different than the previous weighing.
As for the appearance, I like the glass top but the rest is a little too plastic-looking for my taste. The silver/chrome is pretty high-tech, and instead of the bright matte gray border I would have preferred more of a natural brushed nickel finish to blend better with my decor. However, I decided I had to buy a scale for accuracy, not looks. (The Bed,Bath,and Beyond scale that looked great in my bathroom didn't perform well, so it had to go back to the store. I even tried a second one of that model and it was just as inaccurate.)
So, here I am with my HealthSmart scale. My head-to-head test convinced me that in this price range, none of the scales are going to be perfect. Read reviews of other scales in this price range and you will see there are issues with all of them. In the end, the HealthSmart scale seemed to give the most consistent and accurate weights, and I feel much more confident in its accuracy having given it such a thorough testing. I decided to give it a chance and it has continued to perform well--so far, so good!