Rip Off Ikea
#31
Re: Rip Off Ikea
It is always good to see a business start from scratch and become global. I have never been to any branch but people at work were very polarised, they either loved it or hated it. We were lucky in having a lot of small furniture manufacturers close by us in the UK so did not need to do the 100 mile round trip to the nearest Ikea.
Different prices are a fact of life even within the same company,Tescos on the south coast were considerably more expensive than Tescos in Sheffield or they certainly used to be.
Do not complain Mitzy, if you have to queue that is what your Kindle is for.
Graham
Different prices are a fact of life even within the same company,Tescos on the south coast were considerably more expensive than Tescos in Sheffield or they certainly used to be.
Do not complain Mitzy, if you have to queue that is what your Kindle is for.
Graham
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Re: Rip Off Ikea
Me neither ... UK size 12/14 in Marks and Spencers = doomed in Zara. Our 'local' in Portal de las Marinas, Ondara is usually sold out of anything size M (medium) or above ... which makes me think the expat Brits, Germans, Dutch etc. in the area have more disposable income than the local Spanish ...
#34
Re: Rip Off Ikea
My experience of Ikea is that there's some good stuff at good prices but it just ain't worth shopping there because the quite awful* shopping experience takes years off your life. I mean that market thing you can wander around is just a glorified Chinese bazaar but with inflated prices and much less choice.
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez -
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez -
#36
Re: Rip Off Ikea
My experience of Ikea is that there's some good stuff at good prices but it just ain't worth shopping there because the quite awful* shopping experience takes years off your life. I mean that market thing you can wander around is just a glorified Chinese bazaar but with inflated prices and much less choice.
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez - :blink:
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez - :blink:
#37
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: Rip Off Ikea
Most of my furniture is from IKEA. Easily transportable and cheap. Our house looks like an IKEA showroom.
Or as my friends call it, 'Swedish Modern'.
I would not like having expensive furniture that I worried about whether it got marks on. My husband got paint all over a coffee table (£8), so he just sanded down the top and it was as good as new.
Or as my friends call it, 'Swedish Modern'.
I would not like having expensive furniture that I worried about whether it got marks on. My husband got paint all over a coffee table (£8), so he just sanded down the top and it was as good as new.
#38
Re: Rip Off Ikea
I hate IKEA
Ever since I went to the Wednesbury shop and I had to queue to get in the car park
Then I had to queue to get in the shop as they let us in 20 at a time
Then I had to walk around like a sardine being crushed by other shoppers
At the tills to get out they were in a real mess ..... and of course I had to queue for ages
I dont like queueing
The restaurant is good though
Ever since I went to the Wednesbury shop and I had to queue to get in the car park
Then I had to queue to get in the shop as they let us in 20 at a time
Then I had to walk around like a sardine being crushed by other shoppers
At the tills to get out they were in a real mess ..... and of course I had to queue for ages
I dont like queueing
The restaurant is good though
Even after you describe the horrors you experienced, try getting home after a 3 hour drive and finding the thing you bought doesn't have all the bits. Their customer service centre doesn't give a shit - get back in your car and drive again if you want any chance of satisfaction.
Crunts.
#39
Re: Rip Off Ikea
I had a run in with Ikea at Malaga
I ordered some furniture and was told that they could deliver to my home in the next few days . I duly paid for the furniture and delivery charge, only to be told that the delivery people were in fact not connected with IKEA. ..... Plus have an argument to get my delivery charges back.
I ordered some furniture and was told that they could deliver to my home in the next few days . I duly paid for the furniture and delivery charge, only to be told that the delivery people were in fact not connected with IKEA. ..... Plus have an argument to get my delivery charges back.
So I did that ... with my massive laden trolley. Service desk said delivery would be €45 and NEXT DAY! - a little on the pricey side but great, next day, I was thinking UNTIL he said they charge €30 a day for storage !!!!
After a MASSIVE ARGUMENT along the lines of "I just took this bloodly lot off a shelf and you want me to pay you to put a back on the shelf again FOR 1 DAY !!"
... the guy, probably through being scared for his life, caved in and didn't charge me.
#40
Re: Rip Off Ikea
My experience of Ikea is that there's some good stuff at good prices but it just ain't worth shopping there because the quite awful* shopping experience takes years off your life. I mean that market thing you can wander around is just a glorified Chinese bazaar but with inflated prices and much less choice.
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez -
*I mean seriously stressful, dreadful, quite appalling, to be avoided at all costs. I'd rather have a root canal job with no anaesthetic than set foot in one of those blue torture chambers ever again. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to such a nasty experience.
And the names of the products "Jerker" desk, "Fukta" plant spray and "Fartfull" workbench - jeez -
Graham
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: Rip Off Ikea
I take your point but Ikea is about the last place I would use for things like a dishwasher.
That said, I recently bough a bar stool in Ikea Malaga - as you say, there was a big difference in price compared to the UK price.
Ikea are very very clever at marketing - you've only got to look at the store design. They probably have a good reason for differential pricing although I can't imagine what it might be!
That said, I recently bough a bar stool in Ikea Malaga - as you say, there was a big difference in price compared to the UK price.
Ikea are very very clever at marketing - you've only got to look at the store design. They probably have a good reason for differential pricing although I can't imagine what it might be!
Ikea is a Swedish brand, so has always calculated prices in Euros. So at one time the prices were on a par with the pound hovering around1.50 to the euro prices in thye UK were bound to be 'smaller numbers'. When the pound fell catastrophically many european companies were forced to take the loss of continuing to supply at the same prices in pounds rather than to put the goods up so dramatically and risk losing their customers long term.
the fact is that the companies will still be struggling with that drop and you shouldn't think of it as a rip off in Spain. More as a bargain in England!
Maybe, with the high delivery charges here as well, someone should get a group of friends, a shopping list and a van together and pop over to pick up a few bargains!
#42
Re: Rip Off Ikea
I think this is fairly easy to answer!
Ikea is a Swedish brand, so has always calculated prices in Euros. So at one time the prices were on a par with the pound hovering around1.50 to the euro prices in thye UK were bound to be 'smaller numbers'. When the pound fell catastrophically many european companies were forced to take the loss of continuing to supply at the same prices in pounds rather than to put the goods up so dramatically and risk losing their customers long term.
the fact is that the companies will still be struggling with that drop and you shouldn't think of it as a rip off in Spain. More as a bargain in England!
Maybe, with the high delivery charges here as well, someone should get a group of friends, a shopping list and a van together and pop over to pick up a few bargains!
Ikea is a Swedish brand, so has always calculated prices in Euros. So at one time the prices were on a par with the pound hovering around1.50 to the euro prices in thye UK were bound to be 'smaller numbers'. When the pound fell catastrophically many european companies were forced to take the loss of continuing to supply at the same prices in pounds rather than to put the goods up so dramatically and risk losing their customers long term.
the fact is that the companies will still be struggling with that drop and you shouldn't think of it as a rip off in Spain. More as a bargain in England!
Maybe, with the high delivery charges here as well, someone should get a group of friends, a shopping list and a van together and pop over to pick up a few bargains!
I also ought to add that the wife has been piling on the pressure to go to Ikea Murcia now for years, and I just cant pluck up the courage
#43
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Chiclana
Posts: 3,327
Re: Rip Off Ikea
If we ran a straw poll, I bet that the women would go for a day at Ikea whereas the men would run in the opposite direction!
#44
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: Rip Off Ikea
When we are in the UK, myself and my husband frequently go for our breakfast at IKEA (99p and unlimited drinks, with a Family card) as our house is not too far from the Wednesbury store.
We see other regulars there too.
Sad, isn't it.
Edited to add: We can use our British Family card in Spain too (or get a Spanish Familia one), but the Malaga store is too far away to go frequently and the breakfasts are not as nice.
Last edited by scampicat; May 16th 2011 at 8:43 am.
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: Rip Off Ikea
Fair enough ....... and I'd just like to say that I hold nothing against the multi millionaire owner who spends all his days playing golf whilst some of his stores clearly have a few issues that they haven't addressed yet
I also ought to add that the wife has been piling on the pressure to go to Ikea Murcia now for years, and I just cant pluck up the courage
I also ought to add that the wife has been piling on the pressure to go to Ikea Murcia now for years, and I just cant pluck up the courage