Fitness tracker Whoop faces unhappy customers over upgrade policy

Tech Crunch - May 11th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Whoop has adjusted its upgrade policy for the Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker following customer backlash. Initially, the company required users to either extend their subscriptions by 12 months or pay a fee to upgrade, contradicting its promise of free upgrades for long-term members. Responding to complaints, Whoop announced that anyone with over 12 months left on their subscription can now upgrade to Whoop 5.0 for free, or get a refund if they've already paid. Additionally, those with less than 12 months can extend their subscription to receive the upgrade without extra cost.

The controversy highlights the challenges companies face during transitions, as Whoop shifts its model to focus on 12- and 24-month subscriptions. While Whoop claims the policy change is due to feedback, the community's response has been mixed, with some viewing it as a positive step and others remaining skeptical. The incident underscores the importance of clear communication and consistency in customer policies, as many users felt misled by the company's previous statements.

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RATING

7.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a thorough and accurate account of Whoop's controversial upgrade policy and the subsequent customer backlash. It effectively balances the perspectives of the company and its customers, presenting a well-rounded view of the situation. The use of credible sources and clear language enhances the article's reliability and readability. While the article could benefit from a broader range of sources and more context for readers unfamiliar with Whoop, it remains a timely and relevant piece that addresses important consumer issues. Overall, the article successfully informs readers about the latest developments in Whoop's policy and the implications for its customers.

RATING DETAILS

9
Accuracy

The news story accurately reflects Whoop’s controversial upgrade policy and the subsequent backlash from customers. The initial claims about Whoop's policy requiring customers to either extend their subscriptions or pay a fee for the new Whoop 5.0 are consistent with the company's announcements. Additionally, the story correctly identifies the inconsistency with Whoop’s previous promise of free hardware upgrades for members with at least six months of membership. The company’s response to customer complaints, including the expanded upgrade policy and acknowledgment of a previous incorrect blog post, is also accurately reported. The details about the mixed community response on Reddit are supported by the evidence of user comments and reactions. Overall, the story's claims are well-supported by Whoop’s official statements and community feedback, with no significant inaccuracies detected.

8
Balance

The article provides a balanced view by presenting both the company's perspective and the reactions from its customer base. It includes Whoop’s justification for the policy change, citing the shift to longer subscription plans, and acknowledges the company's response to feedback. Additionally, it highlights the mixed reactions on Reddit, with some users viewing the change as a positive outcome while others remain skeptical. However, the article could have included more perspectives from industry experts or consumer advocacy groups to provide a broader context. Overall, the story manages to present multiple viewpoints without showing overt favoritism towards Whoop or its critics.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and presents information in a logical flow, making it easy for readers to follow the narrative. The language is clear and concise, with a neutral tone that avoids sensationalism. Key points are effectively highlighted, such as the initial policy announcement, customer backlash, and the company's response. However, the article could improve clarity by providing more detailed explanations of technical terms or concepts, such as the significance of EKG sensors in the Whoop 5.0 model. Overall, the article is accessible and comprehensible to a general audience.

7
Source quality

The story relies on credible sources, including Whoop's official statements and user feedback from Reddit. The use of direct quotes from the company and the community enhances the reliability of the reporting. However, the article could benefit from referencing additional authoritative sources, such as industry analysts or independent consumer reviews, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. While the sources used are appropriate for the content, a broader range of sources would strengthen the overall credibility of the article.

7
Transparency

The article clearly explains the basis for its claims, referencing Whoop’s official announcements and customer reactions. It provides context for the company's policy changes and the resulting customer dissatisfaction. However, the article could improve transparency by explicitly stating the methods used to gather information, such as whether the author directly accessed Reddit discussions or relied on secondary reports. Additionally, any potential conflicts of interest, such as the author's relationship with Whoop or its competitors, should be disclosed to ensure full transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.whoop.com/ie/en/thelocker/clarifying-and-updating-our-upgrade-policy/
  2. https://techcrunch.com