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Ikea comes of age...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Globrix

Yesterday Ikea turned 21, if only one of us really did have the key to the door so we could lock it shut and vow never ever to return there.

Ikea is the only store that I can think of where people will shlep miles to a part of the country they would never normally step foot in to inevitably have a vicious argument with a loved one, lose the list with all the codes on half way round (along with the will to live) and generally have a soul destroying weekend before going back to work the next day. And why have we endured this for 21 years? Because the temptation of a set of drawers for the same price as a Starbucks is just too tempting.

When we walk around the show home section it’s easy to forget that we will have to *make* this furniture ourselves when we finally get the stuff back to our homes, the instructions and pieces being as useful as being given an axe in the middle of a forest and being told in a heavy Swedish accent to make a computer desk. And of course we haven’t planned how we will exactly get all the flat pack boxes back to our homes but that’s another story.

We have literally spilled our blood for this place, all so that our neighbours can come round and go ‘Oh is that from Ikea? We have that in birch’, just as half your street probably has.

If you have ever made a trip to the blue and yellow warehouse then you will enjoy this incredibly accurate article by Matt Rudd from The Times. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who has damaged a vehicle by forcing in one more box of goodies crap.
Ryan Vivo
Gateway Realty - Fairfield, CA
NRBA Realtor Solano County, Gateway Realty 707-384-5894
Personally, I don't mind building stuff, but I agree everyone has the same stuff from ikea.
Apr 13, 2008 08:23 PM
Poppy Dinsey
Globrix - Anaheim, CA
London, UK
I don't really mind building stuff when there are instructions, but deciphering pictures drives me mad! It's just one extra corner cut to have one set of instructions the whole world should understand. But you get what you pay for and if it's going to be so cheap I guess you have to put the effort in....I won't again though! Hehe. 
Apr 13, 2008 08:31 PM
Bo Buchanan
Blue60.com - Oswego, IL
Blue60.com Directory, For Real Estate Pronulls
Popppy - I think they have the cafe at Ikea because people get nauseous from walking around in circles!  I was COMPLETELY OVERWHLEMED on my first visit!  My first visit to Ikea was actually to fill a specific need.  I had about broken my back trying to move a large heavy desk from one apartment to antoher about 10 five years ago.  Because I move so much - I decided buying a desk that easily broke down into pieces was the answer.  Low and Behold - IKEA solved the problem!  I've had the desk ever since and I've moved 4 times.  On another point - I toured some new condos here this past weekend and the whole condo was furnished by IKEA.  They even have a design department that helps you picks stuff out and I think they even come over to setup the whole room for you!  Everything has it's pros and cons ;) 
Apr 13, 2008 09:53 PM
Poppy Dinsey
Globrix - Anaheim, CA
London, UK
Bo - You are absolutely right that there is something useful about being able to take things apart to move. I move a lot as well so it has been useful...as long as you remember to file away those darn instructions! When I reconstructed my desk it never looked the same! Hehe
Apr 13, 2008 10:21 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

I would never take on putting something together again!  Not my cup of tea.  However, to be fair, I'm in the minimalist phase of my life and don't want any furniture except for exactly what I need ... a bed, table, couch, desk and treadmill!


Apr 13, 2008 10:34 PM
Poppy Dinsey
Globrix - Anaheim, CA
London, UK
Susie - I think you have the right idea! 
Apr 13, 2008 10:52 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Poppy -My experience with the store was riding along with my daugter and son-in-law.  I could not get them to leave the place then they stuffed my car with so many boxes I had no idea the car was capable of carrying that much.
Apr 13, 2008 11:41 PM
Poppy Dinsey
Globrix - Anaheim, CA
London, UK
Jennifer - That's similar to my last visit, I was accompanied by my mother and father in two separate cars just so we could cram in as much as possible. In the article I linked to the poor man shattered his windscreen trying to force in just one more box. Ouch!
Apr 13, 2008 11:50 PM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~
Well, there is an Ikea a couple of miles from here.  When I heard how big it was my feet hurt, so I have never been inside.  Are you saying I'm not missing much?  LOL
Apr 14, 2008 09:48 AM