UPDATED 6 p.m. PT: Fitbit's website appears to be running normally after the company apologized to new users for the inconvenience caused by their downed website on Christmas Day.
So you got a new Fitbit for Christmas and want to use it right away? Whoops, you can't.
Fitbit.com has been down for several hours, dampening the spirits of holiday revelers. The fitness-tracking company says it is conducting "planned maintenance."
http://t.co/GI62Jfml4r is currently down. Have no fear, our elves are working to restore service!— Fitbit Support (@FitbitSupport) December 25, 2014
The company has also assured customers who already have Fitbits that their data will resync when the website is back up, but that's no consolation for newcomers.
http://t.co/GI62Jfml4r is down, but don't let that stop you from getting your steps in. Data will sync when we're back online. Stay tuned!— Fitbit Support (@FitbitSupport) December 25, 2014
Many who wanted to fire up their new gifts took to social media to share their disappointment about the maintenance flop, calling out Fitbit for poor planning.
Seriously @fitbit?! You're down for *planned* maintenance on Christmas morning? Major #DevOps CTO #fail pic.twitter.com/nwPeB7evZJ— Jon A. Cruz (@joncruz) December 25, 2014
Sell a product that people give on Xmas. Requires online setup. Then, make sure the site's down for planned maintenance. #fitbit #fitbitfail— rickstarbuck (@rickstarbuck) December 25, 2014
Dear @fitbit why shut your site down on xmas for maintenance when everyone who just got one as a gift would want to set theirs up?? #fail— Brian Breslin (@brianbreslin) December 25, 2014
I got my parents @fitbit for Xmas...and their site is down all day. Horrible 1st impression for mom & dad. They are scared of tech already.— Mike Lawson Diabetes (@MrMikeLawson) December 25, 2014
Some even doubted Fitbit's excuse, speculating that the real cause was a system overwhelmed by new devices.
bad move from @fitbit today. Site went down, likely by traffic from new fitbit owners' Christmas gifts. They claim "planned maintenance".— Thiago Silva (@tafs7) December 25, 2014
Wow either a lot of new Fitbit users this Christmas overloading their system. Or poorly planned maintenance. Fitbit setup site is down :(— Tom Emrich (@tomemrich) December 25, 2014
Lol @fitbit you're joking right? Your set up site is down for "planned maintenance" on Xmas? When everyone wants to setup their new fitbits?— Josh Constine (@JoshConstine) December 25, 2014