5 ms·

> My parents are in their 70's and they still have furniture that was (second hand) given to them when they got married. Can you imagine an piece of IKEA furnit

> My parents are in their 70's and they still have furniture that was (second hand) given to them when they got married. Can you imagine an piece of IKEA furniture being used daily and lasting for >40 years? Two answers: 1) Yes. Very, very easily. For at least some IKEA furniture. 2) I somehow doubt that second hand furniture was from the 'IKEA of that day'.

Macha 5y ago
> I somehow doubt that second hand furniture was from the 'IKEA of that day'. I think that's the parent poster's point. Presumably his parents are not significantly wealthier in relative terms than he was, but they could afford more premium furniture than most people today do.
- joshuamorton 5y ago
  Well no they couldn't, it was given to them.
  - vladvasiliu 5y ago
    You don't know that. Maybe someone didn't need it any more for whatever reason. I'm typing this on a computer that was given to me by a company that didn't need it any more. I could afford to buy a new one. But since the one I have is more than enough for my needs, I don't need a new computer, so I don't buy one.
- jimkleiber 5y ago
  I wonder if another reason for that is that there were fewer types of things one would buy back in the day. If I didn't have a phone or computer or earbuds or flights to other parts of the US or other countries, etc., then I might spend more on a premium furniture. I definitely don't think that tells the whole story, but do think it could play a part in it.
heinrichhartman 5y ago
Ad 2) There were no alternatives to local carpenters 100 years back. If you wanted a wardrobe, you would get one built for you. You can still do that today, and get a wardrobe for 8K, that lasts 40years. But now we do have "cheaper alternatives". His point exactly.
- RHSeeger 5y ago
  Not to distract from your overall point, but Sears was around 100 years ago. You could buy a kit house from their catalog in 1920.
- djrogers 5y ago
  > There were no alternatives to local carpenters 100 years back. That's ridiculous - of course there were. Sears & Roebuck were selling furniture out of their catalog well over 100 years ago, and that was far from the only option.

Macha 5y ago

> I somehow doubt that second hand furniture was from the 'IKEA of that day'. I think that's the parent poster's point. Presumably his parents are not significantly wealthier in relative terms than he was, but they could afford more premium furniture than most people today do.

joshuamorton 5y ago
Well no they couldn't, it was given to them.
- vladvasiliu 5y ago
  You don't know that. Maybe someone didn't need it any more for whatever reason. I'm typing this on a computer that was given to me by a company that didn't need it any more. I could afford to buy a new one. But since the one I have is more than enough for my needs, I don't need a new computer, so I don't buy one.
jimkleiber 5y ago
I wonder if another reason for that is that there were fewer types of things one would buy back in the day. If I didn't have a phone or computer or earbuds or flights to other parts of the US or other countries, etc., then I might spend more on a premium furniture. I definitely don't think that tells the whole story, but do think it could play a part in it.

heinrichhartman 5y ago

Ad 2) There were no alternatives to local carpenters 100 years back. If you wanted a wardrobe, you would get one built for you. You can still do that today, and get a wardrobe for 8K, that lasts 40years. But now we do have "cheaper alternatives". His point exactly.

RHSeeger 5y ago
Not to distract from your overall point, but Sears was around 100 years ago. You could buy a kit house from their catalog in 1920.
djrogers 5y ago
> There were no alternatives to local carpenters 100 years back. That's ridiculous - of course there were. Sears & Roebuck were selling furniture out of their catalog well over 100 years ago, and that was far from the only option.