ᐅ After recent purchase: KALLAX shelves slightly warped, return possible?

Created on: 20 Sep 2018 10:03
C
Claas
Hello everyone,

I recently bought a KALLAX shelving unit and noticed during assembly that some of the shelves were slightly warped. The distortion isn’t extreme, but it is definitely noticeable and visible, which concerns me regarding stability and appearance. My question is: Should I return the shelving unit or the shelves, or is this slight warping common for KALLAX furniture and does it settle with use? Are there any experiences about when this is a valid reason for return and how IKEA usually handles such cases? Thanks for your opinions and advice!
C
Claas
20 Sep 2018 14:16
BLAKEO schrieb:
Does IKEA officially specify a dimensional tolerance for deformation?

That was one of my questions as well, since I couldn’t find clear information on “normal” warping either on the cards or the website.
LANICOLE schrieb:
Try storing the shelves flat with a light load and observe them over two or three days.
I will definitely try that. However, I’m already concerned that the shelving unit doesn’t seem very stable overall, especially when placing something heavy on it.

Thank you very much for the helpful contributions so far!
B
BARSAN
20 Sep 2018 15:09
If stability is compromised by warping, return the item.

Otherwise, try to adjust the floors.

IKEA accepts returns much more generously than many other retailers.
P
PERON
20 Sep 2018 16:45
I asked some friends about their KALLAX shelves – none of them have warped at all, even under full load. So it could be an isolated case.

My opinion: If it bothers you, return it. IKEA is really hassle-free about that. And who wants a crooked shelf that ruins the look every time? 🙂
K
keole
20 Sep 2018 17:32
Warping is generally considered a defect if it is clearly visible.

Return or exchange is justified in such cases.
C
Claas
21 Sep 2018 09:21
Good morning,

I followed LANICOLE’s advice and stored the shelves flat for a few days with a light load on them. Unfortunately, the warping hardly improved.

So today I contacted IKEA customer service. They said that minor deformations are acceptable, but a replacement is possible if there are visible defects.

I will return the shelving unit tomorrow and try to get it exchanged. Thanks for the input so far; it helped me better understand the issue.
E
elliot
21 Sep 2018 10:08
Claas schrieb:
They said that slight deformations are acceptable, but an exchange is possible if there are visible defects.

That roughly matches my understanding. It’s good that you spoke with customer service. Your approach was correct.