Nothing pains me more than writing a bad review about Nike which usually exhibits extremely high product quality and customer service.

I’ve been fooling around with my Nike+ system for two and a half weeks now. I’ve probably walked 15-20 miles and got credit for 4 or 5 miles.

Here’s the story:

1. 15 months ago bought original Nike+ Sport Kit to go with my iPod Nano.
2. Worked great for 1600 miles except for the constant need to buy new sensors at $20 a pop.
3. Might be nice if they sold them in bulk. A bag of 5 for $15 per sensor.
4. Had a pair a Nike+ running shoes which have a special slot built into shoe.
5. But ended up switching to MBT’s shoes to get more of a workout.
6. Been through 6-7 sensors in 15 month not including those mentioned in this story. I walk long distances on the weekends so I figured I was burning through the sensors because of the long time period measuring my walks.
7. November 11, 2008 bought the Nike Sport Band for Nike+ system.
8. Because I got the Apple iPhone and didn’t want to carry two devices and the iPhone doesn’t work with the Nike+ system. Phone and iPod.
9. How strange is it that the iPhone doesn’t work with the Nike+ system but the iPod Touch does? Both products are “almost” the same size.
10. Sport Band worked fine for one sensor cycle. A new linked sensor comes with the each Sport Band kit.
11. Sensor got weak and died after three months or approximately 370 miles.
12. Bought a new sensor and my problems got really “wacked”.
13. My mileage and pace was totally off.
14. Called Nike+ Support - call routine included sensor should be worn tight, sensor and watch same side and so on.
15. Couldn’t get it to again work properly with a new sensor.
16. Called Nike+ Support - said try calibration and same old stuff.
17. And learned this call that Nike+ Sport Band and sensor don’t work well in temps below 20 degrees.
18. Sorry to tell Nike+ but walked with it the cold for over two months.
19. Bought another sensor wouldn’t work. Mileage and pace wrong!
20. Called Nike+ Support - same stuff as the first two CSRs.
21. Calibrated second sensor still was “wacked”. Mileage and pace wrong!
22. Exchanged original Nike+ Sport Band last week.
23. Again Nike+ Sport Band  comes completes with a new linked sensor.
24. Called Nike+ Support before going to calibrate and then the “stuff” hit the fan.
25. First the usual Nike+ Support routine , then the kicker, “sorry, sir that product was recalled in Dec 2008 because of these same type issues.
26. What the heck was he, alex, talking about? 
27. This is the first I heard about any recall of the Nike+ Sport Band in four calls to Nike+ Support.
28. Returned second Nike+ Sport Band to the running shop that I bought it.
29. Switched back to my Nike+ Kit that goes with my iPod Nano.
30. And first thing, went to my local track, again, (please say like Forrest Gump) to calibrate for both walking and running.
31. Because sometimes I run the uphill parts of my walks.
32. Went walking and enjoyed another “wacked” session, this time with my Nike+ Kit and iPod Nano
33. Walked .37 miles in a blazing 22-24 minutes unfortunately I had probably walked 1.75 to 2.00 miles.
34. You ask, “how do you know the  distance and all that other stuff?”
35. I’ve walked this route 100s of times over the last 15 months.
36. Stopped walking, switched Nike+ sensor and iPod to other side and walked home.
37. This time seemed to work.
38. Looking forward to walking tomorrow on my day off. 
39. Hope it works this time.
40. Won’t be surprised if I get the “wacked” results.
41. Wrong mileage and pace!

Sorry for the product “rant” but this one is courtesy of Nike and Nike+.

I’ve been very satisfied with Nike products in the past but this time Nike has not been up to it’s usually high standards in all regards.

Anyone else had these problems with the Nike++ Sport Band System?

MikeZ - “bummed about not getting my electronic results buzz” 

PS - The new iPod Nano has a Nike+ receiver built into it.
Will this make a difference, having the receiver built into the iPod?

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