Ikea
23 February 2010, 07:04 PM
#31
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to top it off the mattress as not cheap.
if you want a living room thats similar to everybody else buy Ikea
Last edited by Ray_li; 23 February 2010 at 07:06 PM.
23 February 2010, 07:33 PM
#32
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I can't help laughing out aloud at the foolish 'Pikea'-type comments. This forum is full of people who can barely read and write, vote BNP and think that anything that they either don't like or don't get is 'chav' & 'pikey'.
IKEA tries to be all things to all people, with cheap furniture for those with a small budget and (sometimes) much dearer kit for those with a larger budget / greater aspirations. You can find reasonable value at most of the price points and their quality / value seems to far exceed that of any other chains' products that I have seen.
If you don't like it then shop elsewhere. IKEA give quite long guarantees on a lot of their products (25yrs for mattresses I think) - I suspect that they'll still be there to make good if need be: how many other furniture chains will?
IKEA tries to be all things to all people, with cheap furniture for those with a small budget and (sometimes) much dearer kit for those with a larger budget / greater aspirations. You can find reasonable value at most of the price points and their quality / value seems to far exceed that of any other chains' products that I have seen.
If you don't like it then shop elsewhere. IKEA give quite long guarantees on a lot of their products (25yrs for mattresses I think) - I suspect that they'll still be there to make good if need be: how many other furniture chains will?
23 February 2010, 07:49 PM
#33
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Bought 2 of these about 4 years ago and are in amazing condition still. Really comfortable too.
I tried the usual suspects but they either wanted far too much or they were made of chipboard.
I'm really chuffed to bits with them and I'd go back and buy the same again when these need replacing.
Ektorp brown leather:
I tried the usual suspects but they either wanted far too much or they were made of chipboard.
I'm really chuffed to bits with them and I'd go back and buy the same again when these need replacing.
Ektorp brown leather:
23 February 2010, 08:35 PM
#34
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23 February 2010, 09:03 PM
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I have a leather corner suit from there, as well as a two seater and a foot stool. It was reasonably priced. But it is far better quality than the one I had from DFS a few years ago. We had 12 months interest free, by which time it was paid for anyway, and we have a 10 year guarantee. I couldn't ask for anymore.
http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0093784_PE231377_S4.JPG
http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0093784_PE231377_S4.JPG
23 February 2010, 09:09 PM
#36
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23 February 2010, 09:20 PM
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As others have said their stuff varies, some bits are not bad. I bought a high gloss black horizontal wall mounted CD/DVD cabinet from them and it seems really well built. Even the hinges feel 'german'
I'm happy to have their stuff in my children's den or their bedrooms, but personally wouldn't have it in my living room, dining room or bedroom. Just being a bit snobbish there I suppose, but thats my choice.
The comment above about mainly the middle classes going there has some truth in it. I know quite a few very well paid types who have their whole bedrooms, and even kitchens by Ikea
I'm happy to have their stuff in my children's den or their bedrooms, but personally wouldn't have it in my living room, dining room or bedroom. Just being a bit snobbish there I suppose, but thats my choice.
The comment above about mainly the middle classes going there has some truth in it. I know quite a few very well paid types who have their whole bedrooms, and even kitchens by Ikea
23 February 2010, 09:39 PM
#38
I can't help laughing out aloud at the foolish 'Pikea'-type comments. This forum is full of people who can barely read and write, vote BNP and think that anything that they either don't like or don't get is 'chav' & 'pikey'.
IKEA tries to be all things to all people, with cheap furniture for those with a small budget and (sometimes) much dearer kit for those with a larger budget / greater aspirations. You can find reasonable value at most of the price points and their quality / value seems to far exceed that of any other chains' products that I have seen.
If you don't like it then shop elsewhere. IKEA give quite long guarantees on a lot of their products (25yrs for mattresses I think) - I suspect that they'll still be there to make good if need be: how many other furniture chains will?
IKEA tries to be all things to all people, with cheap furniture for those with a small budget and (sometimes) much dearer kit for those with a larger budget / greater aspirations. You can find reasonable value at most of the price points and their quality / value seems to far exceed that of any other chains' products that I have seen.
If you don't like it then shop elsewhere. IKEA give quite long guarantees on a lot of their products (25yrs for mattresses I think) - I suspect that they'll still be there to make good if need be: how many other furniture chains will?
Anyhow, we bought a bed and mattress from Ikea a few years back and it has been brilliant. Was quite cheap (we're on a tight budget) and nothing fancy but it has served us well. The mattress may need replaced in the not too distant future, not because it's crap, but because I sit on it most of the night tapping away on my laptop so it has put up with some abuse.
I personally think they offer a fair range of products, and from my experience you can get what you want when you're there (not saying that's always the case) rather than having to order something, get it delivered/pick it up etc. I like to just go out and get something, not have to wait.
23 February 2010, 09:40 PM
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Purely for convenience, I can't fault Ikea. You could kit out a whole house with everything you need without having to set foot in another shop! 
Except for the SN members required 52 inch nuclear powered plasma television and associated electronics
Except for the SN members required 52 inch nuclear powered plasma television and associated electronics
23 February 2010, 09:41 PM
#41
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23 February 2010, 09:52 PM
#42
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24 February 2010, 02:12 AM
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Ikea stuff is well designed and up until a few years ago was great value for money.
These days thoiugh you need to be a bit more careful.
I recently bought a table from there for my office to match a similar table bought 3 years ago. Same table, same price, but a completely different standard of finish. One leg hadn't even been varnished properly.
A quick check on the country of manufacture confirmed what I suspected, the original table was made in Sweden, the new one.... China.... where else?
Have subsequently been back for some bedroom furniture and looked more closely at the displays. Sure enough on checking in the warehouse much of the tatty stuff on the displays is stuff made in China now.
So I made sure what I bought was made outside of China and all is well - usual Ikea quality.
These days thoiugh you need to be a bit more careful.
I recently bought a table from there for my office to match a similar table bought 3 years ago. Same table, same price, but a completely different standard of finish. One leg hadn't even been varnished properly.
A quick check on the country of manufacture confirmed what I suspected, the original table was made in Sweden, the new one.... China.... where else?
Have subsequently been back for some bedroom furniture and looked more closely at the displays. Sure enough on checking in the warehouse much of the tatty stuff on the displays is stuff made in China now.
So I made sure what I bought was made outside of China and all is well - usual Ikea quality.
24 February 2010, 07:24 AM
#45
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Because not everyone can afford bespoke oak furniture?
IKEA's stuff is a bit minimalist (which I prefer to the over-decorated stuff for sale in most shops), and the quality can vary. The very cheap stuff is cheap for a reason, but the mid-range stuff is pretty well made and one assembled is pretty solid. I've got IKEA stuff which is over ten years old and has been through two house moves and it's fine.
For all the jokes about Pikea, it's mostly used by the middle classes rather than poor people. I personally shop there simply because I prefer their stuff to almost any other furniture store I've seen which I can afford (and many I can't).
M
IKEA's stuff is a bit minimalist (which I prefer to the over-decorated stuff for sale in most shops), and the quality can vary. The very cheap stuff is cheap for a reason, but the mid-range stuff is pretty well made and one assembled is pretty solid. I've got IKEA stuff which is over ten years old and has been through two house moves and it's fine.
For all the jokes about Pikea, it's mostly used by the middle classes rather than poor people. I personally shop there simply because I prefer their stuff to almost any other furniture store I've seen which I can afford (and many I can't).
M
I've never actually bought anything from there as I always thought they were expensive. Obviously shows the difference in attitude on here.
I've had plenty from Argos (like pine and timber stuff - don't like the coated MDF stuff personally) and it's certainly lasted the test of time.
Maybe one day I can aspire to look down from my castle on a hill and belittle the cheaper end of the market
I'm off to work to earn my £3.17 an hour
24 February 2010, 08:45 AM
#47
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I got a lot of the stuff for my flat from Ikea, it's modern and minimalist and their mid-range stuff suits the flat very well. Just don't buy the black shiny door fronts for the Besta units, it attracts dust from nowhere 
The best thing I bought was the enormous Pax/Komplement wardrobe with double sliding mirrored doors, it actually makes my bedroom look twice the size it is
The best thing I bought was the enormous Pax/Komplement wardrobe with double sliding mirrored doors, it actually makes my bedroom look twice the size it is
24 February 2010, 08:55 AM
#48
That thing took me about 5 hours to put together. When we split up I couldnt be arsed with trying to take it apart, so just gave it to the woman buying our old place.
24 February 2010, 09:23 AM
#49
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Did anyone ever go to the Dreamscape parties at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes in the early 90s?
Do you know what they've done to the place? Knocked it down and built an Ikea
Theres a Dreamscape reunion on youtube in the Ikea itself - most amusing.
Another good point of Ikea is that the nearest for us is Cardiff and if the wife hassles to take a trip I don't complain too much because theres a great little railway shop close by so I can drop her off at Ikea and go spend the budget on my trains
Do you know what they've done to the place? Knocked it down and built an Ikea
Theres a Dreamscape reunion on youtube in the Ikea itself - most amusing.
Another good point of Ikea is that the nearest for us is Cardiff and if the wife hassles to take a trip I don't complain too much because theres a great little railway shop close by so I can drop her off at Ikea and go spend the budget on my trains
24 February 2010, 11:40 AM
#50
Did anyone ever go to the Dreamscape parties at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes in the early 90s?
Do you know what they've done to the place? Knocked it down and built an Ikea
Theres a Dreamscape reunion on youtube in the Ikea itself - most amusing.
Another good point of Ikea is that the nearest for us is Cardiff and if the wife hassles to take a trip I don't complain too much because theres a great little railway shop close by so I can drop her off at Ikea and go spend the budget on my trains
Do you know what they've done to the place? Knocked it down and built an Ikea
Theres a Dreamscape reunion on youtube in the Ikea itself - most amusing.
Another good point of Ikea is that the nearest for us is Cardiff and if the wife hassles to take a trip I don't complain too much because theres a great little railway shop close by so I can drop her off at Ikea and go spend the budget on my trains
Yes i did go and i knew what happened to it which was a bit of a **** as it was quite close (I live in Dorset) and easy to get to,this shut down and all the large events moved up north
24 February 2010, 12:26 PM
#51
As far as laminated chipboard flatpack furniture goes, its ok. It bolts together ok (if you can build lego, you can build Ikea furniture), and sold in packs that will usually go into the average estate car (he says after getting 2 full height PAX wardrobes, full PAX chest of drawers and a large BILLY into a BMW 325 estate ).
BUT it is just coated chipboard - recycled wood shavings, glued together, coated in a melamine foil and then held together with dowels and metal/plastic fixings. Taking that into consideration, it is expensive for the materials you are buying; what you are actually paying for is convienience and flexibility. You can get solid pine cheaper (although I can't stand pine - the colour and the fact cheap pine warps more than the starship enterprise), and proper wood furniture for a little more. But it won't be as functional or flexible (flexible in terms of options).
Furnishings are ok, if overpriced. Although some bits and bobs are cheap (had a small LCD TV bracket for £10 - bargain! ).
After saying all that, I hate the place. Its the only store that has given me palpitations. Walking round a lab-rat maze with only one escape route, shed loads of feejits, a illogical product numbering system, and a even more illogical and confusing layout for locating any chosen items in the warehouse.
Be thankful if you walk out without bruises on your ankles from some feejit with a overloaded trolley hitting you - repeatedly.
).BUT it is just coated chipboard - recycled wood shavings, glued together, coated in a melamine foil and then held together with dowels and metal/plastic fixings. Taking that into consideration, it is expensive for the materials you are buying; what you are actually paying for is convienience and flexibility. You can get solid pine cheaper (although I can't stand pine - the colour and the fact cheap pine warps more than the starship enterprise), and proper wood furniture for a little more. But it won't be as functional or flexible (flexible in terms of options).
Furnishings are ok, if overpriced. Although some bits and bobs are cheap (had a small LCD TV bracket for £10 - bargain! ).
After saying all that, I hate the place. Its the only store that has given me palpitations. Walking round a lab-rat maze with only one escape route, shed loads of feejits, a illogical product numbering system, and a even more illogical and confusing layout for locating any chosen items in the warehouse.
Be thankful if you walk out without bruises on your ankles from some feejit with a overloaded trolley hitting you - repeatedly.
24 February 2010, 12:57 PM
#52
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