Yes, and the horrendous returns policy at Linens 'N Things is one major reason that they didn't survive IMHO. They required you to return things to the same store where you bought them and then they issued you a refund 'gift' card that was then only good at the one store. They also would not take anything back without a receipt (I thought we were in the electronic age now). Talk about not very customer friendly!
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Rant on IKEA (or rant in general)
- Thread starter danny_w
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I have to admit that at least Ikea's product quality has risen the last couple years; it used to be quite crappy but now the it seems to have risen to a range of "crappy to okay".
Perhaps their service never kept pace to their product quality.
Perhaps their service never kept pace to their product quality.
And I always thought comforters were things Americans used in their Restrooms.
Uhhh what? I don't understand.
I Googled my spelling of it and I still don't get it!
I've been steadily impressed with Ikea, with my daughter moving into a new apartment in 2026, we'll be looking to Ikea for some of the furniture needs.
I bought a futon for my spare bedroom, and found the quality to be exceptional, its big, heavy and metal - heaven help me when its time to get rid of it. The mattress quality of the futon is excellent. I've had family members stay with for an extended period of time this summer and they were quite impressed. I've spent a night or two on it as well, when an ill timed quip directed to my wife, did not have the desire effect
I bought a futon for my spare bedroom, and found the quality to be exceptional, its big, heavy and metal - heaven help me when its time to get rid of it. The mattress quality of the futon is excellent. I've had family members stay with for an extended period of time this summer and they were quite impressed. I've spent a night or two on it as well, when an ill timed quip directed to my wife, did not have the desire effect
I just have to note that this was a 16 year thread bump. Very impressive!
We do still find some decent things at Ikea every now and then. If I shopped there more frequently, I'd be more intimately acquainted with the shortcuts so I didn't waste time walking through sections I wasn't interested in.
We do still find some decent things at Ikea every now and then. If I shopped there more frequently, I'd be more intimately acquainted with the shortcuts so I didn't waste time walking through sections I wasn't interested in.
Most of my office furniture is from Ikea. Same for Mrs AFB craft room.
All very easy to assemble and lasts for years. Highly recommend.
All very easy to assemble and lasts for years. Highly recommend.
Well, you did have the forethought to put Ikea in your doghouseI've been steadily impressed with Ikea, with my daughter moving into a new apartment in 2026, we'll be looking to Ikea for some of the furniture needs.
I bought a futon for my spare bedroom, and found the quality to be exceptional, its big, heavy and metal - heaven help me when its time to get rid of it. The mattress quality of the futon is excellent. I've had family members stay with for an extended period of time this summer and they were quite impressed. I've spent a night or two on it as well, when an ill timed quip directed to my wife, did not have the desire effect
Ikea is from Europe, where even large stores are usually less accommodating than in North America. This said, if Ikea wants to succeed stateside, it will have to adapt and show more flexibility.
My experience with ikea has been the exact opposite. Nearly 10 years ago I had to furnish a whole apartment and ikea was the only place I could do it at without breaking the bank, and the quality is great for what you pay. When I moused out 6 years later, everything was still in one piece! Heck, even their mattresses are, according to my back, one of the best out there.
Their customer service is also top notch. A few months ago we bought an office chair, and about 6 months later we concluded it wasn’t the right size for my partner. We went to ikea with the intent to sell it back as a second hand item, and instead they fully refund it, even though it had been clearly used. YMMV obviously. This was my experience in Portugal.
I’m now quite curious about their upcoming new line of home smart products
Their customer service is also top notch. A few months ago we bought an office chair, and about 6 months later we concluded it wasn’t the right size for my partner. We went to ikea with the intent to sell it back as a second hand item, and instead they fully refund it, even though it had been clearly used. YMMV obviously. This was my experience in Portugal.
I’m now quite curious about their upcoming new line of home smart products
Yup! That and the way they have the products laid out. The display area has all the expensive products, so once you get to the small products area everything seems cheap in comparison and you’re more likely to purchase something you weren’t there to buy in the first place! Plenty of times I went there only to buy €20~€30 of things I actually needed and leave with €200+ worth of stuff
Personally, I think the concept that you can unpack something and use it, and then take it back for a full refund, is entirely absurd.
Apple must get millions of iPhones back every year that the buyers never had any intention of paying for.
Why?
Allowing consumers to return items is at the core of a pro consumer stance by retailers and manufacturers.
This is Ikeas very own return policy.
holy smokes!
right now I am looking at a dresser that is tall and Ikea™ is my only option.
they have a nice wooden sling chair and computer desk that still functions after 3 years!
added: then I opted to get another style, material on amazon for $150 less.
right now I am looking at a dresser that is tall and Ikea™ is my only option.
they have a nice wooden sling chair and computer desk that still functions after 3 years!
added: then I opted to get another style, material on amazon for $150 less.
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Because it is a sustainability catastrophe.
(Retailer and manufacturer management of returned goods is an entirely different matter. The fact that Apple replaces all parts of a unit that someone may potentially have touched and then sells it as refurbished, even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with the product, is beyond absurd. At least they do something with it, many retailers just throw everything that gets returned in a landfill.)
I completely agree.
I'm very much in the camp that thinks we should have, at the minimum, some restocking fees across the board simply as a disincentive.
I know people who buy x/y/z variants of products on Amazon just to try them all and maybe keep one of them (or not).
Society & businesses normalizing this behavior is really depressing.
So you're advocating that I spend my hard earned money on a product (doesn't matter what), only to find out that its doesn't fit my needs as promised. I need to eat that cost, buy a competiting product in the hopes that will fit - thus spending 2x or 3x money that I don't have, all because we shouldn't be allowed to have returns
That's ludicrous
Truth be told, I avoid any retailers that have anti-consumer policies.
The problem isn't someone in your position, but the way these policies get HIDEOUSLY abused by so so many people.
Is there abuse, yes, hideously - I don't know and personally I don't care. The point is, with every day products getting more and more expensive, its absolutely insane to promote a all sales final mentality. If that did occur, how do you think the abuses from retailers, there will be no checks/balances on their side. They can make all sorts of outlandish claims simply because they know every sale is final.
I'm also a person who doesn't believe the innocent should be punished for the guilty and a no returns policy because some people abused it, does just that.
Did I say that? (no)
While I understand and share your feelings and frustration, I think it's pretty well demonstrated that folks behaving poorly ruin things for the rest of us (sadly). ☹️
you completely agreed with Arctic Moose and he seems to take the position that its not good to allow consumers to return products. I did see you mentioned putting on a restocking fee as a qualifier.
My point was not calling out a specific person on the return policy but the idea of not having any return policy is absolutely insane.
Its a moot point however and not worth beating simply because we live in a world where much of the consumer products for sale are able to be returned. I personally shop with my wallet by avoiding places that have anti-consumer policies. Others are free to do what they wish.