Ikea: What's the verdict on their goods?

[johne]

I never have bought anything from Ikea in my previous country. My only experience was seeing some of the furniture when my tenants moved from their apartments and I wasn't impressed by the quality. Not one bit, but I'm attracted now to their designs for a new project.

Opinions from members that have bought home furnishing and furniture appreciated. TIA.

 

[chico bill]

It's a step above cheap Chinese crap, but it is not something you would call quality

 

[CristoRey]

Years ago ikea produced quality goods.
Immediately after (the founder) Ingvar Kamprad passed away they started having most of their more well-known products manufactured in China using very poor quality particle boards and plastics. Poor fella must be rolling over in his grave.

Last time I purchased anything from Ikea was back in 2021 from their Santiago location. The service was excellent but the quality (rug and media stand) was mediocre.

Note: Their prices have almost tripled since 2020.

 

[FGUnsworth1]

I never have bought anything from Ikea in my previous country. My only experience was seeing some of the furniture when my tenants moved from their apartments and I wasn't impressed by the quality. Not one bit, but I'm attracted now to their designs for a new project.

Opinions from members that have bought home furnishing and furniture appreciated. TIA.

Humidity destroys the furniture in about a year. MDF starts to split and warp, veneers start to curl, paint starts to peel., glue looses its grip etc.
Good for students, first-time home owners/renters.
Unless you are a handyman, quality furniture it is not.

 

[jd426]

Do not sleep in Ikea . esp for Kitchens . Which are a major Ripoff everywhere else , And Iikea gives you 15" Top Cabinets STANDARD, instead of the 12"which most others then UP charge you ( double the price) to the 15" .. and Ikeas Cabinet Warranty is insanely good.
Not everything they sell is " cheap" as people claim .. they seem to have upped their game in some areas .

 

[Pikobello]

When you're born Europe, Ikea is part of your live. In Germany you'll find ikea items in allmost every household. I've purchased my first stuff from them when I'm rented my first apartment at the age of 18. And yes, I've bought many things here in SD too. Not all things from ikea are crap. The sofas for example are really good, the wood they used inside is not that cheap like the DR manufacturer. I've upholstered many furniture over the years here and and have seen how those furnitures are made off.
I sleep on a ikea mattress and those ones are very confortable, the material they use aren't avaible in the DR. I've allso furniture like a TV sideboard, after 10 years of using it, there are no complaints with it.
Yes the Bed furniture isn't durable. one of my SIL bought the line called "Malm" and after 2 years the upper layer dissolves. It's way better you'll find a carpenter who made this from caoba or andiroba.

 

[johne]

Thanks all. You have confirmed for the most part what I thought about the quality. I'm gong to write them off.

 

[Kricke87]

Years ago ikea produced quality goods.
Immediately after (the founder) Ingvar Kamprad passed away they started having most of their more well-known products manufactured in China using very poor quality particle boards and plastics. Poor fella must be rolling over in his grave.

Last time I purchased anything from Ikea was back in 2021 from their Santiago location. The service was excellent but the quality (rug and media stand) was mediocre.

Note: Their prices have almost tripled since 2020

They've manufactured their products in China for a LOOONG time, not just for the past few years.... In Sweden EVERYONE has something from Ikea, if not the majority of their furnitures. Basically because there it's very affordable. Don't really understand how the same things can be like 2-5 times more expensive here than over there.
I have a couple of things from Ikea, that all have lasted for a long time. I've got a office chair that I bought 11 years ago, and although it's very worn out, I still use. Also have a furniture for our shoes that I've had for like 6-7 years that's still very usable. So it's not all that bad. It's not high quality, but it's enough to last at least a decade.
I've not bought more things from Ikea, because it's a bit far from Sosúa to SD, and it's a bit to expensive. Like chairs for 10k pesos per chair, when the same chair in Sweden is like 2500-3000 pesos (obviously in Swedish currency).

 

[JD Jones]

I bought a really nice expandable dining room set. Had a water leak one day with 1/4" of water on the floor and now the table has elephant feet but not the chairs. The cat loves the elephant feet.

 

[Aguaita29]

We've bought a few office chairs in and a couple of white book shelves in Santo Domingo, and they're still good. Some of the chairs we used them every day, during the pandemic for work, also for virtual classes. Can't complain.

 

[Fulano2]

When you're born Europe, Ikea is part of your live.

Speak for your self Pikobello. Yes of course there are a lot of IKEA stores but a lot of people with a little bit of refined taste won’t enter there.

 

[CristoRey]

They've manufactured their products in China for a LOOONG time, not just for the past few years.... In Sweden EVERYONE has something from Ikea, if not the majority of their furnitures. Basically because there it's very affordable. Don't really understand how the same things can be like 2-5 times more expensive here than over there.

Probably the import fees.

 

[bob saunders]

When you're born Europe, Ikea is part of your live. In Germany you'll find ikea items in allmost every household. I've purchased my first stuff from them when I'm rented my first apartment at the age of 18. And yes, I've bought many things here in SD too. Not all things from ikea are crap. The sofas for example are really good, the wood they used inside is not that cheap like the DR manufacturer. I've upholstered many furniture over the years here and and have seen how those furnitures are made off.
I sleep on a ikea mattress and those ones are very confortable, the material they use aren't avaible in the DR. I've allso furniture like a TV sideboard, after 10 years of using it, there are no complaints with it.
Yes the Bed furniture isn't durable. one of my SIL bought the line called "Malm" and after 2 years the upper layer dissolves. It's way better you'll find a carpenter who made this from caoba or andiroba.

yes, IKEA beds and mattresses are good. My son still has a water buffalo chair that I bought in IKEA in Edmonton in 1987. We buy a lot of their storage containers for the school.

 

[JD Jones]

We've bought a few office chairs in and a couple of white book shelves in Santo Domingo, and they're still good. Some of the chairs we used them every day, during the pandemic for work, also for virtual classes. Can't complain.

Now that you mentioned shelves, I've bought a few of their metal shelves for my kitchen and pantry. Dirt cheap and fits my application perfectly.
I was so happy with them that I went back to buy 6 more, and they're no longer in stock.

 

[irishpaddy]

i bought a set of chairs for my balcony about 7 years ago ...they are as good today as they were when i bought them ...i am actually surprised

 

[RDKNIGHT]

I brought a king size mattresses and pillows with bed sheets I'm sleeping fine no backaches or regrets.

 

[JD Jones]

I brought a king size mattresses and pillows with bed sheets I'm sleeping fine no backaches or regrets.

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