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That is strange. Even as a Swede I would probably value a Billy more if it came pre assambled, so I was not made actively aware of low quality materials and hol
by wowtip 9y ago
That is strange. Even as a Swede I would probably value a Billy more if it came pre assambled, so I was not made actively aware of low quality materials and holes drilled in not-quite-the-right places.
Maybe a cultural thing. I always got the impression IKEA is more respected in other countries, while in Sweden it is seen as cheap furniture owned by everyone.
- hvidgaard 9y agoIt is cheap, and it do not hold up well - but that is why it is cheap.
- tonyedgecombe 9y agoIt's not all rubbish, I've got a solid wood kitchen table from them which is already quite a few years old and looks like it will last a long time.
- hvidgaard 9y agoTheir solid wood and better-than-usual-finish furniture are not cheap though. So that goes out the window.
- rsynnott 9y agoI think it's certainly seen as cheap elsewhere, but usually of better quality than comparably cheap furniture.
- ghaff 9y agoI think that's true. But, in addition, in the US going to an Ikea is usually a bit of an expedition as there aren't that many stores. The stores themselves make things a bit of an event because they're different from the norm, have a fairly nice cafeteria, etc. Add it up and there's a certain aura to Ikea furniture that wouldn't exist if you picked up the exact same box at the local Walmart.
- unsigner 9y agoA standard of living thing, you Swedes are richer than almost everyone else. At some point, McDonalds here (ass end of Eastern Europe) was a place where well-dressed grandparents took their well-dressed kids on Sunday lunches. Right now Ikea is something people aspire to, as a mark of getting into the middle class. There's A LOT of cheaper, crapier local stuff, with bleached pine wood you can leave a visible dent on if you drop a plate on. (Funny thing is, many of the same furniture factories also work for Ikea.)