Why you shouldn’t buy a secondhand Oura ring
Buy cheap, pay twice.
Disconnected Oura smart ring. Image by Cybernews
- Some buyers say used Oura rings were disabled after previous owners received replacements.
- Oura says replaced, lost, fraudulent, unsafe, or unsupported rings may be blocked or disabled.
- The company tells users not to sell, gift, or transfer an original ring after receiving a replacement.
- Oura’s one-year warranty protects the original purchaser, not necessarily someone who buys the device secondhand.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Users who bought a used Oura smart ring report that their device was disabled after a while. Is it a scam or a part of the company’s policy?
Many people tend to buy secondhand tech hoping to get a better deal. However, not all deals turn out to be a success.
“If buying a used ring, make sure the previous owner did not ask for a replacement,” wrote one Reddit user after purchasing an Oura smart ring from its previous owner and getting it disabled soon after.
After contacting Oura’s customer service, the user learned that the ring was disabled because it had been replaced with a new one. The company didn’t specify when the device is disabled after the replacement takes place.
The netizen shared that they got the ring only to track their temperature changes and thus didn’t want to spend $350 on a new device.
The user noticed that the deactivation doesn’t work as intended.
“The ring still seems to deliver data, though it requires restarting the app and turning Bluetooth off/on in weird combinations,” wrote the Redditor.
“I do understand the intention of Oura, but it's still frustrating,” concluded the user.
Is it really a scam?
The post sparked a debate among other users who seemed to already be familiar with such situations, calling it a scam.
If their ring is damaged, Oura customers can get a replacement. After they get a new ring, the user is also left with their old one, which they may decide to sell.
“Best to not buy used at all because then you won't be eligible for free replacements, and once Oura approves a replacement, the ring doesn't have much of a lifespan anyway,” shared one user.
The original poster reported that the device worked properly for a month before it was disabled, but it’s not clear when the company shuts down the device after the replacement.
“Mine got replaced, and they told me I can give the one that doesn’t work well to a friend, so it seems very weird,” noted another user.
What may add to this confusion is a statement found on Oura’s support page:
“Please do not sell, gift, or transfer your original Oura Ring after receiving a replacement. You can recycle it through the Oura Device Recycling Program.”
“I've had 4 replacements, first 2 all worked and went to my boyfriend with no issue, the third one got disabled,” another Redditor shared their experience.
Some users debated whether a situation like this one could be considered a scam. The original poster also defended the person they bought the ring from, saying it seems they didn’t know the ring would be locked, and revealed that the seller had bought it from someone else.
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Why does the Oura Ring get disabled?
According to the company’s support page, which was recently updated, the device may be disabled for several reasons.
As noted by several Reddit users, the primary reason for deactivation is whether the customer received a warranty replacement.
The device may also be disabled if it was reported lost or shipped but didn’t reach its owner.
The ring may also be deactivated if there’s an issue with its hardware or if there’s a safety concern.
The company also noted that replacement processes are only valid for rings purchased from Oura or authorized retail partners.
“Oura Ring devices purchased from unauthorized resellers may be stolen, previously reported as lost, associated with payment fraud, or otherwise ineligible for activation, warranty service, support, or continued use,” stated the company.
It was also stated that Oura may block or disable a device if the company finds it “associated with fraud, theft, account misuse, or other activity that violates [Oura’s] terms.”
Does the warranty cover the buyer or the product?
Regarding re-purchased Oura rings, some users on Reddit also questioned the device’s warranty.
Does it cover the device or the original buyer? If a person bought a used device with a valid warranty, can they use it?
According to Oura, the company grants a 1-year warranty that “protects the original end user purchaser.” It also noted that the warranty period may vary by the country where the user bought the device.
The support page also stated that a warranty is granted for products purchased from the Oura online store or authorized retailers, adding that “some warranty replacements are verified by Oura but fulfilled by a local retailer or distributor.”
Cybernews has contacted Oura Health for additional comment.
