4 ms·

IKEAs biggest competitor is used IKEA. The downside of selling an incredibly amount of identical items is the eventual saturation of the market. I think it's a

by nikanj 6y ago

IKEAs biggest competitor is used IKEA. The downside of selling an incredibly amount of identical items is the eventual saturation of the market. I think it's a brilliant move to ensure both the seller and the buyer of the furniture now have to stop by IKEA, the promised land of impulse buys. And paying for the furniture in IKEA vouchers means the real re-purchase cost for IKEA is even lower.

echelon 6y ago
> IKEAs biggest competitor is used IKEA. How is that even possible? Ikea furniture is particle board and frequently doesn't survive being moved a single time.
- lotsofpulp 6y ago
  I’ve done it, up and down a few different staircases and across the country in a container. Tighten a few screws and the cabinets and drawers seem to work year after year.
- dagw 6y ago
  That's a fairly recent development. IKEA still has a fair bit of pretty solid furniture, and much of their older stuff will last for decades.
  - the_mitsuhiko 6y ago
    Even the newest IKEA furniture survives moves just fine. We have been selling and buying used IKEA furniture on an Austrian second hand market for the last 5 years and generally no issues. Also the things that often break you can get fixed for free at the store if needed. I think the idea that IKEA furniture does not last is a result of IKEA being very transparent about how the furniture is made.
  - sgift 6y ago
    The myth of all "new" IKEA things being shit is as old as I remember. People said the same thing 20 years ago and when I asked my parents they told me people also said it 40 years ago. Each time IKEA changes to a different production method the old "shit" gets magically elevated to 'very good and far better than their new things'. If that trend was real most new IKEA furniture should fall apart before you assemble it.
- bonoboTP 6y ago
  You need to take it slow, with though and gently. It always survives for me, in Germany. Maybe they are selling worse stuff in the US,or you're handling it quickly, roughly and impatiently so it gets damaged while disassembling, even unknowingly.
  - silly-silly 6y ago
    The cupboards they sell here are -very- poor quality. The laminated chipboard rarely lasts more than 5 years. Ive never seen it survive two moves. I would be guessing, but the difference between countries may be the purchasing habits. Most german houses may already have better/built in X (or just sufficient other types), maybe most US houses do not have X.
    - bonoboTP 6y ago
      People have vastly different definitions of "very poor quality". It all depends on your expectations. If you expect the same quality as expensive robust solid furniture, you will be disappointed. But if you want that type, you'll need to pay for it. There are also people who endlessly complain how uncomfortable it is to fly with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, but you can bet they will pick the cheapest low-cost flight for their next trip as well and complain again. If you want comfort you'll have to pay for it. Otherwise, you get what you pay for. It's still perfectly good for its function. Perhaps it gets a bit crooked or it's kind of moving and warping when you open it, but whatever. It holds my clothes and books just fine. If you want to, you can add further metal parts to strengthen the frame as well.
      - silly-silly 6y ago
        > It all depends on your expectations. This is exactly it. If you've experienced better, you'll compare it to known experiences regardless of cost. > Perhaps it gets a bit crooked or it's kind of moving and > warping when you open it, but whatever. It holds my clothes > and books just fine. If you want to, you can add further > metal parts to strengthen the frame as well. Here in lies the problem, you simply can't have the risk of things 'falling over' when you got kids or people with motor skill issues, which I think is why these expectations exist for those with children. I've been 3d printing all my reinforcements for furniture which seems to solve most problems.
- Broken_Hippo 6y ago
  I've moved particle board furniture many times: Wear and tear does more damage. I've also completely ruined things that aren't particle board. Moving sometimes ruins things.

by nikanj 6y ago

echelon 6y ago

> IKEAs biggest competitor is used IKEA. How is that even possible? Ikea furniture is particle board and frequently doesn't survive being moved a single time.

lotsofpulp 6y ago
I’ve done it, up and down a few different staircases and across the country in a container. Tighten a few screws and the cabinets and drawers seem to work year after year.
dagw 6y ago
That's a fairly recent development. IKEA still has a fair bit of pretty solid furniture, and much of their older stuff will last for decades.
- the_mitsuhiko 6y ago
  Even the newest IKEA furniture survives moves just fine. We have been selling and buying used IKEA furniture on an Austrian second hand market for the last 5 years and generally no issues. Also the things that often break you can get fixed for free at the store if needed. I think the idea that IKEA furniture does not last is a result of IKEA being very transparent about how the furniture is made.
- sgift 6y ago
  The myth of all "new" IKEA things being shit is as old as I remember. People said the same thing 20 years ago and when I asked my parents they told me people also said it 40 years ago. Each time IKEA changes to a different production method the old "shit" gets magically elevated to 'very good and far better than their new things'. If that trend was real most new IKEA furniture should fall apart before you assemble it.
bonoboTP 6y ago
You need to take it slow, with though and gently. It always survives for me, in Germany. Maybe they are selling worse stuff in the US,or you're handling it quickly, roughly and impatiently so it gets damaged while disassembling, even unknowingly.
- silly-silly 6y ago
  The cupboards they sell here are -very- poor quality. The laminated chipboard rarely lasts more than 5 years. Ive never seen it survive two moves. I would be guessing, but the difference between countries may be the purchasing habits. Most german houses may already have better/built in X (or just sufficient other types), maybe most US houses do not have X.
  - bonoboTP 6y ago
    People have vastly different definitions of "very poor quality". It all depends on your expectations. If you expect the same quality as expensive robust solid furniture, you will be disappointed. But if you want that type, you'll need to pay for it. There are also people who endlessly complain how uncomfortable it is to fly with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, but you can bet they will pick the cheapest low-cost flight for their next trip as well and complain again. If you want comfort you'll have to pay for it. Otherwise, you get what you pay for. It's still perfectly good for its function. Perhaps it gets a bit crooked or it's kind of moving and warping when you open it, but whatever. It holds my clothes and books just fine. If you want to, you can add further metal parts to strengthen the frame as well.
    - silly-silly 6y ago
      > It all depends on your expectations. This is exactly it. If you've experienced better, you'll compare it to known experiences regardless of cost. > Perhaps it gets a bit crooked or it's kind of moving and > warping when you open it, but whatever. It holds my clothes > and books just fine. If you want to, you can add further > metal parts to strengthen the frame as well. Here in lies the problem, you simply can't have the risk of things 'falling over' when you got kids or people with motor skill issues, which I think is why these expectations exist for those with children. I've been 3d printing all my reinforcements for furniture which seems to solve most problems.
Broken_Hippo 6y ago
I've moved particle board furniture many times: Wear and tear does more damage. I've also completely ruined things that aren't particle board. Moving sometimes ruins things.