Chaos erupted at Aldi this weekend as shoppers fought over the retailer’s new £149.99 Reformer Pilates Machines, which sold out within minutes of going on sale.
With professional Pilates classes being notoriously expensive, fitness enthusiasts across the UK were eager to get their hands on Aldi’s budget-friendly alternative, leading to tense scenes.
A TikTok video documenting the mayhem in one London location has gone viral.
In the footage posted by @LV_shz, shoppers were seen standing in a long queue outside the supermarket.
Reformer Pilates enthusiasts flocked to a London Aldi to secure a £149.99 machine
TikTok/@LV_shz
Onlookers couldn’t believe the commotion: ‘This is not happening’
TikTok/LV_shz
While the queue remained orderly, the same certainly could not be said for inside the store.
Here, shoppers were seen grappling for boxes and even sitting on them to claim ownership.
As customers scrambled to secure the coveted Pilates machines, various arguments broke out.
Heated exchanges were captured, including remarks such as, “You were at the back of the queue”, “I was holding it before you” and “People have queued up, wasted their morning queuing”.
Stunned onlookers were heard commenting, “This is not happening,” and “This is ridiculous”.
The frenzy has led to opportunistic reselling, with many of the machines now appearing on eBay at inflated prices.
According to MailOnline, some sellers are charging more than triple the original cost, with listings of up to £465.72.
Aldi’s £149.99 Reformer Pilates Machine offers professional-grade workouts at home with five resistance bands and adjustable height settings.
It features smooth gliding functionality, transport wheels, and can be folded for storage.
The product took Australia by storm last year, and with Reformer Pilates on the rise in the UK, Aldi forecasted high demand.
Indeed, the supermarket reported that Reformer Pilates “has never been more popular” with searches, sign-ups and studio spaces continuing to “soar” across the country.
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Aldi’s Reformer Pilates Machine caused a frenzy today
Aldi
Aldi’s Reformer Pilates Machine joined a whole host of fitness “must-haves”, starting at just £3.
Among these were a Protein Shaker/Smoothie Cup (£2.99), Yoga Mat (£5.99), and Foldable Fitness Mat (£19.99).
At the time of launch, the supermarket did warn customers that they’d have to be quick to secure the products.
As is the case with Aldi Specialbuys, these are only available for a limited time, and “once they’re gone, they’re gone”.
