Oh man, if you’re one of the millions who thought they were getting swole with BowFlex gear from Costco, it might be time to pump the brakes — literally.
“An urgent recall has been issued” for BowFlex’s wildly popular adjustable dumbbells — the 552 and 1090 models — and it’s not just a precautionary move. We’re talking nearly 350 reports of the “weight plates flying off mid-lift”. That’s not just bad form, that’s a broken toe or a concussion waiting to happen — and in “at least” 111 reported cases, that’s exactly what happened.
The “Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)” dropped the alert on Thursday, announcing the voluntary recall in partnership with the new product owner, “Johnson Health Tech Trading”. The message?
If you bought these dumbbells anytime before May 2024 — and especially from “Costco, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods”, or online from Amazon or BowFlex’s own site — “check your gear immediately”.
And let’s talk numbers: this isn’t a limited batch. Oh no. “Four million units”. That’s four “million” opportunities for a weight plate to go rogue and turn your living room into a low-budget action movie scene.
If you picked these up at “Costco”, you’re in luck — just march back to any store and get a full refund. But if you went through another retailer, you’ll need to reach out to “Johnson Health Tech’s customer support” directly. And for folks who got them from BowFlex before the bankruptcy? You’ll get a “prorated voucher” plus a “one-year digital JRNY fitness membership” — which, let’s be honest, isn’t quite the same as working biceps that aren’t bruised or concussed, but hey, it’s something.
Speaking of bankruptcy, yeah — “BowFlex filed Chapter 11 in March”, which is how Johnson Health Tech ended up holding the dumbbell bag.
To their credit, they’re owning it, footing the bill, and promising to “enhance customer protection” because they care about your fitness journey. Let’s just hope that journey doesn’t include a trip to urgent care.
This recall is also another one in a “string” of Costco product nightmares. Just recently, “Igloo coolers” were pulled for posing “actual finger-chopping hazards”, and before that? “Salmon cans” that might’ve given people “botulism”. Not great vibes for a big-box store that prides itself on bulk and reliability.
Bottom line? If your BowFlex dumbbells are part of your home gym arsenal, put them down now and check those serial numbers. Gains are great. But safety? “That’s the real flex.”
