Aldi‘s reformer Pilates machines, which went viral last week amongst fitness fanatics, are being returned by disappointed shoppers.
The discount supermarket chain launched its cut-price version of the cult workout bench for £1,750 cheaper than the Original Fold Reformer, which costs £1,899.99.
The bargain fitness gadget sparked chaos in stores across the UK as customers battled to get one.
The reformer mimics the equipment used in high-end Pilates classes favoured by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Margot Robbie and Hailey Bieber, where sessions can cost upwards of £35 each.
Shoppers queued around the corner at Aldi stores that reportedly opened early, with some sales even being ticketed.
Customers revealed three-hour waits at stores and 5.30am wake-ups for keen wannabe buyers.
But the frenzy has since turned to frustration, as TikTok users complain that key components are failing.
What began as a bargain hunter’s dream has quickly spiralled into a consumer nightmare, as reports emerge of faulty machines being returned just days after purchase.
One video shared on TikTok had the title ‘It’s return time’ as a video showed the machine’s box being brought into an Aldi store
Customers were heard expressing their disbelief amid the rush to get hold of the products
The reformer Pilates exercise routine has celebrity fans but can cost followers hundreds of pounds in weekly sessions
Users explained that the rubber wheels have snapped or detached entirely, rendering the machine unusable.
In one viral clip, a disgruntled shopper films herself bringing the reformer back to the store.
Viewers flooded the comments, eager to know what went wrong. She explains: ‘The rubber kept coming off the wheels. Back to the mat I go.’
Another chimed in with a grim update: ‘It is faulty. Loads are being returned, apparently.’
A fellow buyer replied with mixed feelings: ‘Heart heart!! I should probably return mine but it’s so heavy and hard to dismantle all over again.’
Another user replied: ‘Took mine back yesterday too. Rubber came off the wheels the first time I used it.’
Another reported the same issue, saying: ‘Yep, mine was a nightmare’.
A frustrated shopper shared her update online, saying: ‘Won the war getting the Aldi Pilate reformer, but why do the rubber bits keep flying off the wheels? Someone help a girlie out.’
Following the frenzy, one of London’s top personal trainers, Aimee Victoria Long, said the bed has its pros, including the low price point.
‘It’s significantly less expensive than premium reformers, making it accessible for beginners or those on a budget,’ she told Femail.
‘However, the bed is lower quality and perhaps not as durable as high-end reformers.
Users have reported that the machine can feel ‘slightly wobbly’ during vigorous movements, and the resistance bands may lack the smoothness of traditional springs, she added.
‘Also I assume the strength of these bands doesn’t match that of springs’.
Users sharing their frustration with their new Pilates machine
A user appealed for help on social media after their fitness machine began to show damage
Aldi previously said of criticisms levelled at the bargain workout aid: ‘Our reformer Pilates machine is independently tested to meet relevant safety standards and is designed to provide a reliable at-home workout solution.
‘Customer safety is always our priority, and we understand the growing interest in home-based fitness so are pleased to be able to offer accessible options that don’t compromise on quality.’
Aimee, who teaches Pilates, barre, strength & conditioning, and functional training to various celebrity clients, also said that the bed is a struggle for taller users.
‘The reformer’s size may not comfortably accommodate users taller than 5’9’, potentially limiting the range of exercises – however, the machine folds for easy storage and includes transport wheels, ideal for home use in limited space.
‘The bed’s features are also adjustable and claim to cater for anyone up to 6ft 3in.’
MailOnline has approached Aldi for further comment.
After the chaotic scenes last week, shoppers who had missed out on the bargain were outraged when they spotted the coveted Pilates machines later surfaced on eBay, with some being resold for more than double the original in-store price.
Listings were spotted for as much as £394.32, whilst they were being bought for only £150.
That did not stop people from bidding on some listings, attracting as many as 10 to 20 watchers each.
The commotion came after Aldi launched its news £150 version of exercise equipment
The reformer Pilates products have sold out within minutes in some Aldi stores
The opportunistic reselling ignited fury among genuine fitness enthusiasts who had hoped to snap up the reformer for their own use, not to see it flipped for profit.
One incensed shopper took to X to unleash their frustration: ‘People who got the #Aldi Pilates Reformer and are selling them on Vinted for over double the price are scum, sub-human scum @AldiUK arrest them!’
Scenes of retail chaos continued to circulate online, with a TikTok video capturing the mayhem inside an Aldi store in London.
Shoppers can be seen shouting, scrambling, and physically battling to seize the limited stock of the now-infamous Pilates machines.
In the clip, one onlooker is heard muttering, ‘This is not happening’, while another remarks on the madness: ‘This is f***** ridiculous.’
The footage shows customers grappling for boxes, some even sitting on top of the machines to stake their claim.
Tensions ran high, with exasperated voices shouting: ‘You were at the back of the queue’, ‘I was holding it before you’, and ‘People have queued up, wasted their morning queuing.’
An Aldi spokesperson previously said it understood the disappointment from customers who weren’t able to get hold of the product, but said it had been exceptionally high.
