Counterfeit Reformers

As most of you know, there is only one Allegro® 2 Reformer. There are counterfeit Reformers from foreign manufacturers, but they are not Allegro 2 Reformers. They are fakes, and it is illegal to import, export, use or sell counterfeit Allegro 2 Reformers in all countries where Balanced Body holds patents — including the USA, Canada, Europe, China, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Israel, and South Korea. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to protect and serve our customers.

Balanced Body® spent over two years designing the Allegro 2 Reformer. We invested heavily in new technology to ensure the Allegro 2 meets the needs of our most discerning clients. We filed patents and trademarks on the Allegro 2 Reformer in many countries to ensure that you — and we — are protected from imitation machines.

Counterfeiters offer no customer service, no access to replacement parts (including springs), and no access to the global network of Allegro 2 customers that Balanced Body supports. Furthermore, these counterfeiters do not maintain offices or local agents in the countries where they illegally sell. They take no responsibility for their products or customers — leaving the buyer liable for the counterfeiters’ unlawful actions.

Today, Balanced Body is actively pursuing counterfeiters. We prosecute them in foreign courts when they are caught importing, exporting, selling or using fake Allegro 2 Reformers. In 2020, we won a landmark case in the Hangzhou Intermediate Court in China against Elina Sports. Elina appealed the decision — and lost again. We also successfully sued an online US marketer for copying our patented Allegro 2 Reformer design. We are currently pursuing legal action against counterfeiters, their agents, and their customers in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, China, the US, Israel, and India.

Unfortunately, when we are unable to intercept counterfeit equipment during import or export, our only legal option is to take action against studios that purchase these fake Reformers. This is the only way we can protect our trademarks, intellectual property, and the integrity of the Allegro 2 Reformer. It is illegal to import, export, sell or use any counterfeit products. Learn how to identify a fake in our Allegro 2 Reformer: Counterfeit Detection Guide.

You want to invest in equipment that generates revenue, holds its resale value, and provides easy access to customer service, parts, and the assurance that it has been manufactured to the standards of the country in which it’s sold. Sellers of counterfeit products generally don’t produce the equipment themselves and therefore have no genuine interest in a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with you.

Anyone caught with counterfeit Allegro 2 Reformers may be required to destroy the counterfeit products at their own expense — eliminating any perceived savings from purchasing fakes.

See below the outcome of one such action.

We are a nearly 50-year-old, family-run company that supports the Pilates industry, uses sustainable manufacturing practices, and cares about our employees. We produce all Allegro 2 Reformers in Sacramento, California, where we employ over 220 staff and pay competitive wages. Our customers say we provide the best customer service in the business. If you can’t afford the Allegro 2 Reformer, we offer excellent alternatives at lower prices, including the original Allegro® Reformer and the Rialto® Reformer. If those are still out of reach, you can find more affordable Reformers from other brands that are not counterfeit.

We strongly advise against purchasing counterfeit Allegro 2 Reformers. Our extensive network of Pilates studios around the world is the same community that alerts us when a studio in their area buys counterfeit Allegro 2 Reformers. That’s how we know – and why we pursue every manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller, and user of counterfeit Allegro 2 Reformers. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to protect and support our customers, who keep Balanced Body thriving, our team employed, and our brand as the top name in the global Pilates market. We encourage you to make both the smart business choice and the right legal decision.