ᐅ Ikea Visit and Purchase – More Frustration Than Enjoyment This Time
Created on: 22 Oct 2017 18:25
Y
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Yesterday we went to IKEA. Something felt 'different' compared to our last visit. I didn’t feel the usual excitement. Even today, assembling the furniture was rather unsatisfying.
But starting from the beginning: I’m used to IKEA introducing many new designs and changes in their showroom after the new catalog is released. Yes, some “rooms” were new, but the sofa, bed, and table sections seemed unchanged. There was no eye-catching display. Worst of all: the dining tables and sofas looked more like clearance sale items. Nothing was decorated or nicely arranged [emoji33]. I barely noticed the kitchens. Just around the corner was the appliance and planning section – normally there are two large standout kitchens set up where you can see various cabinets and get inspired. Well, this time I wasn’t motivated at all to buy anything not on my list [emoji1].
We needed LED bulbs for our outdoor wall lights: both the lamps and the LED bulbs are from IKEA. One of the bulbs is defective. We needed 7W with 260 lumens to match the brightness of the other bulbs, but those are no longer available! They only had 5W bulbs with different lumen outputs. Where have the outdoor lights gone? Are they discontinued??? Every corner had these 5-watt bulbs, but no 7-watt ones... so we ended up buying four 5W bulbs instead of one or two to fit all our outdoor lights [emoji36].
Then I had an idea to buy under-cabinet lights, meaning light strips to go under our new bedside consoles. This would save us the indirect cozy lighting from two floor lamps by the bed. Here they seem to have drastically reduced the selection: in a small area, you need to figure out the difference between task lighting, indirect lighting, cabinet lighting, and strip lighting. It’s not easy when products are mixed up on the shelves as other customers pick up items and don’t put them back properly. Fortunately, my husband noticed that I was about to buy a cabinet light while I realized he was holding an expensive task light. In the end, we found what we were looking for… hopefully [emoji6].
Originally, I wanted two white Besta units, 30cm (12 inches) high with doors to serve as bedside tables. Nicely wall-mounted, as I mentioned, like console tables. They cost about €30 each. My husband liked the drawer version of Eket much better. Well, we swallowed that: those cost about €85 each. Ok, we’ll go with it. I’ve been looking for bedside tables for 3 years, know the prices, and know what else is missing from the market [emoji6]. Unfortunately, there were no shelf or compartment info cards on the furniture anymore [emoji35]. Since when is that a thing??? We had to rely on the computers in the warehouse. We didn’t remember “Eklet” at first, so we flipped through the catalog, then on the PC had to choose between storage, shelving systems, drawer units, and eventually bedside tables, which barely appear. My husband wisely went to a separate PC to search directly for Eklet. I wouldn’t have been surprised if only one item was left in the compartment (that always seems to happen to us), but there were still plenty available. Then we went to the bargain corner where almost nothing was advertised. That is also very rare at IKEA.
-> And my husband asked if the wall rail for mounting was included. I said: at that price everything should be included... of course it wasn’t, which we only discovered during assembly [emoji20]. After assembling the first cabinet, we started the second one. And what do we see? A nasty air bubble worked into the top surface: I’ve never seen this before, never had this, and tomorrow it will send me into a traffic jam on the A1 – but oh well: I still have to buy wall rails anyway [emoji14].
Then I looked closer: the other cabinet has the same issue, just a smaller air bubble inside. For €85, I really find this unsatisfactory [emoji20].
But starting from the beginning: I’m used to IKEA introducing many new designs and changes in their showroom after the new catalog is released. Yes, some “rooms” were new, but the sofa, bed, and table sections seemed unchanged. There was no eye-catching display. Worst of all: the dining tables and sofas looked more like clearance sale items. Nothing was decorated or nicely arranged [emoji33]. I barely noticed the kitchens. Just around the corner was the appliance and planning section – normally there are two large standout kitchens set up where you can see various cabinets and get inspired. Well, this time I wasn’t motivated at all to buy anything not on my list [emoji1].
We needed LED bulbs for our outdoor wall lights: both the lamps and the LED bulbs are from IKEA. One of the bulbs is defective. We needed 7W with 260 lumens to match the brightness of the other bulbs, but those are no longer available! They only had 5W bulbs with different lumen outputs. Where have the outdoor lights gone? Are they discontinued??? Every corner had these 5-watt bulbs, but no 7-watt ones... so we ended up buying four 5W bulbs instead of one or two to fit all our outdoor lights [emoji36].
Then I had an idea to buy under-cabinet lights, meaning light strips to go under our new bedside consoles. This would save us the indirect cozy lighting from two floor lamps by the bed. Here they seem to have drastically reduced the selection: in a small area, you need to figure out the difference between task lighting, indirect lighting, cabinet lighting, and strip lighting. It’s not easy when products are mixed up on the shelves as other customers pick up items and don’t put them back properly. Fortunately, my husband noticed that I was about to buy a cabinet light while I realized he was holding an expensive task light. In the end, we found what we were looking for… hopefully [emoji6].
Originally, I wanted two white Besta units, 30cm (12 inches) high with doors to serve as bedside tables. Nicely wall-mounted, as I mentioned, like console tables. They cost about €30 each. My husband liked the drawer version of Eket much better. Well, we swallowed that: those cost about €85 each. Ok, we’ll go with it. I’ve been looking for bedside tables for 3 years, know the prices, and know what else is missing from the market [emoji6]. Unfortunately, there were no shelf or compartment info cards on the furniture anymore [emoji35]. Since when is that a thing??? We had to rely on the computers in the warehouse. We didn’t remember “Eklet” at first, so we flipped through the catalog, then on the PC had to choose between storage, shelving systems, drawer units, and eventually bedside tables, which barely appear. My husband wisely went to a separate PC to search directly for Eklet. I wouldn’t have been surprised if only one item was left in the compartment (that always seems to happen to us), but there were still plenty available. Then we went to the bargain corner where almost nothing was advertised. That is also very rare at IKEA.
-> And my husband asked if the wall rail for mounting was included. I said: at that price everything should be included... of course it wasn’t, which we only discovered during assembly [emoji20]. After assembling the first cabinet, we started the second one. And what do we see? A nasty air bubble worked into the top surface: I’ve never seen this before, never had this, and tomorrow it will send me into a traffic jam on the A1 – but oh well: I still have to buy wall rails anyway [emoji14].
Then I looked closer: the other cabinet has the same issue, just a smaller air bubble inside. For €85, I really find this unsatisfactory [emoji20].
Müllerin schrieb:
...We only want the built-in wall unit to be neutral and white in between – so I don’t need real wood under the lacquer there.I also always find white elegant. However, in our home all the walls are white. I would be worried that it would be too white for me.Müllerin schrieb:
Besides, we’re not poor, but definitely far from rich, and it’s just not enough to always go for the best and most expensive option. Although you should also ask yourself whether expensive always means better, and whether you want something for its function, its appearance, or its brand name.That’s how we feel too. And no, especially with furniture, salespeople complain that they don’t even know how to explain the price differences anymore. German manufacturers are going bankrupt one after another because they can’t compete with the cheap providers from abroad. So they reduce quality again and again, and it keeps going downhill. That’s very unfortunate.
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Benutzer1923 Oct 2017 09:15IKEA on a Saturday, preferably in bad weather – you really have to have a special interest for that, right?
Our wardrobe is also from IKEA. After comparing with various other furniture stores, we ultimately chose IKEA. It was among the most affordable options, very flexible, so we could configure it exactly how we wanted (sliding doors, soft-close hinges, pull-out shelves, etc.), and the quality was comparable to all the others.
We planned back and forth online, printed the final version of the parts list, handed it to my wife, sent her to IKEA, ordered there, and had it delivered. The only thing we skimped on was the assembly service. Next time probably not, since assembly took two days...
Our wardrobe is also from IKEA. After comparing with various other furniture stores, we ultimately chose IKEA. It was among the most affordable options, very flexible, so we could configure it exactly how we wanted (sliding doors, soft-close hinges, pull-out shelves, etc.), and the quality was comparable to all the others.
We planned back and forth online, printed the final version of the parts list, handed it to my wife, sent her to IKEA, ordered there, and had it delivered. The only thing we skimped on was the assembly service. Next time probably not, since assembly took two days...
As long as Hermes handles the assembly service, you can forget about it. Don’t do it.
IKEA on a rainy Saturday is truly an adventure called "crowds." Especially the pub where the women park the men.
Quality: Well, IKEA furniture can handle one or two moves. And if you’re building a new house, you don’t want to move again right away.
Great thing about IKEA: You can find furniture that isn’t so bulky. And a Hülsta shelf for 1300,- in Lübeck compared to IKEA’s 179,-. That’s a difference. I’m not going to pay that there. White is white.
About the CDs: Besta baskets made of felt are perfect for that. Just put them in the Valje shelf. The compartment widths and depths fit as if made for Valje.
Real wood: I’m a fan. We own some solid wood furniture. But we combine it with white because just solid wood alone can sometimes look too much like an eco-conscious teacher style. I used to love teak, but a whole interior in teak feels a bit too nautical for my current taste. It has also become very expensive and is hardly available anymore. However, in Lübeck, I still know a shop that carries it: Scan Möbel, at Gleisdreieck, HL-Wesloe. It’s a paradise for wood lovers. But the prices are different from IKEA’s.
That said, I won’t pay extra for particleboard from Nolte/Rauch/Hülsta. That’s not acceptable to me.
Karsten
IKEA on a rainy Saturday is truly an adventure called "crowds." Especially the pub where the women park the men.
Quality: Well, IKEA furniture can handle one or two moves. And if you’re building a new house, you don’t want to move again right away.
Great thing about IKEA: You can find furniture that isn’t so bulky. And a Hülsta shelf for 1300,- in Lübeck compared to IKEA’s 179,-. That’s a difference. I’m not going to pay that there. White is white.
About the CDs: Besta baskets made of felt are perfect for that. Just put them in the Valje shelf. The compartment widths and depths fit as if made for Valje.
Real wood: I’m a fan. We own some solid wood furniture. But we combine it with white because just solid wood alone can sometimes look too much like an eco-conscious teacher style. I used to love teak, but a whole interior in teak feels a bit too nautical for my current taste. It has also become very expensive and is hardly available anymore. However, in Lübeck, I still know a shop that carries it: Scan Möbel, at Gleisdreieck, HL-Wesloe. It’s a paradise for wood lovers. But the prices are different from IKEA’s.
That said, I won’t pay extra for particleboard from Nolte/Rauch/Hülsta. That’s not acceptable to me.
Karsten
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Bau-Schmidt23 Oct 2017 11:17SchleswigBau schrieb:
IKEA on a Saturday, especially in bad weather, you really have to have a special inclination for that, right? Yes, a slight tendency toward masochism.I don’t understand what you’re all worried about: Ikea last Saturday wasn’t that crowded. Okay, the restaurant was full, but the rest wasn’t. Everything was well organized despite the rain.
Today I’m more worried about getting stuck in traffic. Please keep your fingers crossed for me [emoji1364])
Today I’m more worried about getting stuck in traffic. Please keep your fingers crossed for me [emoji1364])
T
toxicmolotof23 Oct 2017 11:20We visited the newest and most environmentally friendly Ikea in the world last Saturday...
Considering that there were basically no parking spaces left, it was very, very empty apart from the restaurant and bistro. Well, it wasn’t truly empty; the crowds were just spread out enough so that it didn’t feel “crowded.”
At the checkout, we didn’t even have to wait for a customer ahead of us. When we arrived, a self-service checkout became available.
The only downside: there are no more meatballs in the bistro.
Considering that there were basically no parking spaces left, it was very, very empty apart from the restaurant and bistro. Well, it wasn’t truly empty; the crowds were just spread out enough so that it didn’t feel “crowded.”
At the checkout, we didn’t even have to wait for a customer ahead of us. When we arrived, a self-service checkout became available.
The only downside: there are no more meatballs in the bistro.
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