EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and "Step-On" Technology
|
List Price: Our Price: $26.90 You Save: $23.05 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days Buy 3rd Party: from $26.85 (click here) Category: Health Care See more product details |
|---|
Customer Reviews of EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and "Step-On" Technology
Customer Review: Not so accurate...
Summary: 2 Stars
I got this scale because I felt that my current bathroom scale was giving confusing results, differing by how I stood on it. This thing appeared to work great at first. I tried standing on it at different places (feet centered, feet at the edges, toward the front, toward the back) and it appeared to measure the same weight each time. Having used it for over a month now I have been less satisfied. My biggest gripe is that the way the fancy step-on technology (where you don't have to tap and wait 3 seconds for it to calibrate before getting on) appears to work is that it does its calibration after you get off the scale after your first results after having significantly moved the scale. It then stays at this calibration point. Unfortunately over time small movements, temperature/moisture changes, and uses that don't trigger the recalibration sensors can cause it to read differently. Knowing this I can force it to recalibrate by picking it up and turning it over, and putting back down. Unfortunately the time from when I decide to do this to when I can get on again is much much longer than the 3 seconds most other scales take each time. This undermines the mfr's claim that their "step-on" technology is easier to use.
Use Case 1 -- and how to recalibrate.
1. Get on scale - reads 152.7
2. Step off
3. While its still on and reading 0.0, pick up scale and turn it upside down.
4. Put it back on the floor.
It reads 4.8 or something until it times out (10 seconds or so), then you see a C for another 5 seconds meaning its calibrating.
5. step on again - reads 153.1
Thats a difference of 0.4 pounds. Not much, but considering how so many reviews and the mfr tout its accuracy, 0.4 is unacceptable.
Another problem is that it appears to "guess" your weight if its close to a weight it just measured. I don't have proof of this, this is just from observation while playing with it.
Use Case 2 - after not using it for a while
1. find something that you know weighs between 0.1 and 0.5 pounds and hold on to it.
2. step on the scale
... numbers change as you steady yourself and flash a few times and then stop
read your weight - 152.8
3. step off the scale and put your .1-.5 lb test weight aside.
4. step back on the scale
152.8 immediately appears on the scale, flashes a few times and stops.
If this scale is so accurate, then why doesn't it detect the nearly half-pound change? This is more surprising than a real functionality problem, I expect the first measurement it took is correct, while subsequent measurements are some engineer trying to be clever, though I can't see a real advantage to not taking a measurement each time its used.
Given these two problems, this makes it a step down (pardon the pun) from my older and less consistent scale. I can't decide if I would give it more stars if the mgr hadn't made misleading claims, or if I should give it less now because of that fact. In either case I wouldn't have bought this scale... and if I had discovered these problems within the 30 day return period I would have returned the scale.
Customer Review: Wildly inaccurate, difficult to use
Summary: 1 Stars
I normally don't write reviews. I tell friends about good things and chalk bad things up to karma and experience. You've written me twice for a review, however. Besides, I've used products as poorly designed, difficult to use, and inaccurate as this only several times in my 52 year life.
I weighed myself this morning six times, with six different results, with a variance of over 20 pounds. Since no instructions were included with the scale, I assumed it must be fairly idiot-proof, and I've figured things out as I've used it over the past few weeks:
1. Don't just turn on the scale, wait until it zeros itself out and then step on. Oh, no. Wait until it turns itself off, then turn it back on, then step on. And don't expect a quick result--it will blink at you for 8 to 10 seconds (I timed it) before it gives you the wrong weight.
2. Don't use the scale on a terrazzo, quarry tile, granite, marble, or mosaic tile floor. Any type of floor texture or variance in height between tiles will throw off the results.
3. Don't use the scale on carpet. This will give you the "best" results of all: My weight went from 217.8 pounds (too high) to 197.2 pounds (!!!) 20 seconds later just by moving the scale from the bathroom to the bedroom.
4. Try as you might, you'll not find a place on the oversize platform (which is really not oversized) which will give you consistent results. After I turned the scale on twice to reset it this morning, it showed 213.3 pounds. I stepped off, let the scale shut off, turned it back on and stepped on exactly the same place on the scale and it showed 209.6.
5. Don't even hope to understand what "ST" means. You can switch the scale from pounds to kilograms, but there's a third setting, ST, which makes no sense at all. Since there are no instructions included, there is no way to figure out how to use this feature.
So: If you use this scale, follow this simple procedure: Find a piece of linoleum, hardwood, vinyl tile, or some other surface that is perfectly level, with no variance or texture (not carpet, remember). Turn the scale on. It will change from 888.8 to 00.0. That doesn't mean it's ready to use. Wait until it shuts off, turn it on, wait until it zeros, then step on. Wait a minimum of 5 seconds; more if you happen to shift a little. Get your weight; marvel at how much you've gained--or lost--in just 24 hours. Once the scale shuts off, turn it on again, weigh yourself again, and remember these results. The difference won't be in tenths--not 213.4 to 213.6. The variance will be at least two pounds. Then, out of curiosity, go through the procedures again and again, weighing yourself a few more times. Take out the weird ones (the twenty pound variance was truly an anomaly, usually the variance is only about 6 1/2 pounds). If you have two which are within .2 to .4 pounds of each other, assume that's pretty much it. To make sure, though, go into the other bathroom, get out the old balance scale which you've been using for 25 years, and check with that.
I'm glad it was on sale--I lost $20 less than I normally would have, so I guess I am a winner!!
Customer Review: Can't use it if it won't turn on. Doesn't do its job.
Summary: 1 Stars
The instructions that come with this scale are: 1)tap here, 2)wait until you
see zero, 3) stand on scale.
The trouble comes at step 1. You can "tap here" all day long and the scale will
not turn itself on. The way to actually turn it on is to pick it up, reach
underneath, and wiggle one or more of its feet. It's hard to imagine a more
fundamental failure of design. Even the crappiest scales on the market can be
used without bending over and picking them up.
I thought I couldn't possibly go wrong after I saw so many glowing reviews.
Turns out I should have read the 1-star and 2-star reviews better. Other
people have had this exact problem. The minority was SO RIGHT.
I've only had this scale for an hour, but I'm sending it back TODAY.
UPDATE:
It is now several weeks later. I received several emails and even
a phone call from the company's customer service rep. He wanted to explain
a technique for tapping on the scale, and offered to send a replacement unit
if that still didn't work. That's really excellent service, right? How many
companies would even care?
Ultimately, though, trying to correct a product this bad with service that
good is just putting makeup on a pig. Look at the guy who left a video
review. He practically slams the thing with his heel. Is that a good idea
on a piece of GLASS? Should the product be so hard to turn on that you have
to have a video to explain how to do it?
It didn't take many exchanges until it became apparent what this
customer service rep's real agenda was. He asked me straight out,
repeatedly, to change my review because "we're a small company, and
negative reviews can hurt us."
I have also looked more carefully since then at why there are so many
positive reviews, and I am suspicous. When I first posted this review,
it was marked "not helpful" by one person within hours. Who would have
done that? I started looking at the other reviews.
It looks like a very few people are VERY interested in leaving positive
reviews about this product and the same people like to leave comments
on the negative reviews that suggest calling the company. One commenter
criticizes a reviewer with the comment: "how about calling the company
instead of being negative?" The person who wrote that has only ever
reviewed three products on amazon -- all three are scales sold by EatSmart.
Who cares so much about a bathroom scale that they would hover over
the reviews day after day? Who would be so concerned about whether
customers call the company or not?
This company is clearly manipulating their rating by directly asking
for better reviews, and it's possible they are doing more than that.
Customer Review: Great Customer Service, Great Product
Summary: 4 Stars
UPDATE: After I wrote my original 1-star review, I was contacted by the company directly. They shipped me a new scale. The customer service department informed me that the reason for the different weights was as follows:
"Every time you lift or move the scale it will auto-calibrate and show 4.6 lbs
When you put the scale down after moving it, it will calibrate the weight of the glass.
If you do not move it, it will not do this after the initial calibration.
So when you receive the new scale, place it on a flat surface, tap it on and let it time out. Basically disregard the first reading since this is a calibration."
I upgraded my review to 4 stars because (a) customer service is so good that even if you have a problem with the scale, they are happy to work with you; (b) they shipped me a new scale and (c) the scale is indeed accurate. I have none of the problems that I had with the original scale mentioned in the original review.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I feel somewhat betrayed by my fellow reviewers. I bought this scale because of all the rave reviews but I am here to tell you: don't believe the hype.
This scale is pretty and that's about it. Soon as I got it out of the box, I set it down on my newly leveled tile floors. The scale gave me 5 DIFFERENT measurements in a span of 5 minutes, about 2 pounds apart. Unbelievable. I didn't eat, drink or have any bowel movements (sorry for the detail!) in those 5 minutes. I just stood there watching the scale with incredulity!
Over the next week or so, every morning I would get on the scale and get one measurement, then step off, wait till it reset, get back on, get a different measurement, and so on, until I had at least 5 different measurements. Yes, I waited till the scale reset itself each time. No, I did not move it. Yes, it sat on a tile floor.
This went on for 3 weeks, except that I stopped measuring myself daily after about a week and switched to weekly measurements. Every time I got my different measurements, I said, "I hate this ***ing scale."
The packing box sat in my room for the whole 3 weeks but I just didn't have the energy and motivation to send it back. My old Homedics scale was equally inaccurate (although that was on carpet so maybe THAT was the reason.) I have given up on the accuracy of digital scales. So now this one sits in my bathroom and I just accept the first measurement I get with it, instead of making myself crazy by asking it a few times, "Scale, scale, on the floor, how much do I REALLY weigh?"
Bottom line: If you want to release yourself from the tyranny of pounds and learn to accept how you FEEL as a better gauge of your health, then buy this scale. But if you need to measure yourself within an inch of your life, this is not the instrument.
Customer Review: It's Great - period.
Summary: 5 Stars
UPDATE: I have to be fair and update my comments below. I was contacted, like many others have mentioned, about my less than stellar review. After a brief email exchange, the individual told me they are sending me a new updated version of the scale, which I promptly received three business days later. I can't tell you the difference, it works perfectly just as soon as I step on, it has my weight. Love how it looks and now how it works, and have none of the same complaints as before.
ANd I just have to say that I am so impressed that a company stood behind its product enough to take the time and contact me, to fix it. Outstanding. Didn't think that existed still in today's online shopping environment. Kudos to this company and their great product. I take back anything negative I said below.
BTW, for those wondering, I must have gotten a dud... when I got on the new scale, right away it gave me my weight (which was 1.2lbs heavier than the old scale for both me and my wife). I'm just glad to see that even though I got a dud, they took care of me. I definitely recommend this scale for anyone looking, it looks and works great, and its cheap! Thanks again.
END UPDATE
Original problem: (doesn't matter!)
Alright, so I've had this thing for a month, here are my impressions:
Right out of the box, it worked fairly well, it was easy to see, and I didn't have any problems with turning it on/tapping it like others have had. However, the first week I had it, it started to act a little weird. By weird, I mean when I would tap to turn it on, it would go to the 8888, then proceed to the 0.0. I would step on, and it would start to flash the 0.0 while it processed my weight. However, it would sometimes go back to 8888. So I would step off. It would go back to 0.0. So I would let it turn off completely and try again. But when I would try again, it would do the 8888, go to 0.0, I'd step on, and the screen would go blank. So I'd step off, thinking that it would reset to 8888, and then go back to 0. I was mistaken. It would just be a lit up blank screen, and would stay that way for over 20 minutes, or until I took the batteries out.
So, I figured, hey it might be those batteries it comes with running low. So I replaced them with some lithium batteries, figuring I wouldn't have to replace them in a long time. However, the problem persisted. It wasn't every time I got on the scale, but as the month has gone on, it has continued to get worse and worse. Last night, after my workout, I went to get my weight, and it took me 10 minutes and multiple battery pulls in order to finally get a weight. And, to boot, This morning I got a "LOW" message for the batteries.
I have no doubt this product is great - when it works. Seems like I got a dud or something...