A couple of days ago, I went to give the Ramadan buffet at IKEA a try. Nothing extraordinary for RM 15.90 plus tax, but at least they had plenty of drinks and some ice-cream. But that was not what this post is about. Halfway through our meal, a couple sat down at the table next to us. Within minutes of sitting down, there was a sudden CRASH!!! and we saw the lady on the floor with the chair broken under her. The fall was quite severe as she knocked her head on the chair behind her. But NO ONE went over to help her. In fact, the nearest IKEA employee was "busy" watching the queue. Can't believe he didn't even hear the loud crash. Later, someone from IKEA came to apologize to her, but I don't think they even bothered to pay for their meal. I'm pretty sure IKEA would have been sued right there and then if this were to happen in the US. But here in Malaysia, you would be lucky to get a sorry. Anyway, the lady was a petite little thing and weighed less than 50 kg for sure. Yet the IKEA chair was torn in two. The front two legs were ripped off the chair actually. That was quite surprising as the chairs were pretty new. I've only seen them being in use recently. Fortunately, it was not someone heavy who sat down and fell. I'm pretty sure they would have said it was due to their weight. With the victim being a small, light lady, I don't think they can squirm their way out of this one. I really wonder how they intend to explain away the destruction of a new chair during what I can only say is "light use".
The strange fact is, we put a lot of trust and pay a little bit extra more for the good services in IKEA. But, they didn't even bother to compensate at all when one of the stuff got broken and got a bump! In other countries, if the company did the same thing, they could be prepared to get a huge sue from the victim.
Wow. Furniture broke down at a supposedly-reputable furniture outlet. Hmm. Anyway, those kind of chairs don't look tough at all. I'd say probably a really heavy person had been sitting on it which damaged its structure but not enough to bring it down yet, and then when this small girl sat, it was the limit already.
Actually, the chair looked pretty solid. If I'm not mistaken, the legs broke at the screw points. I saw them jutting out.
AFAIK, Ikea furniture is mostly crap (sorry to say). Some of their chairs are good (the one that is like suspended with a long bent leg). Others are shitty pure and simple. I've used a few before (dresser, tables, chairs).
It's the branding, nothing beats a good marketing team. One can sell you shit if they have a good marketing strategy.
lol, ikea quality isnt there, they just look simple and nice. but quality control isnt there!.. haha ...
The products are halfway between crap and good. Well, some of them are very tough and sturdy, like my dining table my parents bought in late '99. Only thing is the table and the chair gets dirty and we have to wash and wipe it every year. The crappy one is the shoe rack I bought and it's very shaky. The resting armchair (I think the name's Pello) has the metal frame snapped out and almost I fell down sitting on it. Luckily my pa is also a welder, and successfully welded the broken part. Now I'm still sitting on it! Other thing like the jug, cups and all the small stuff are pretty okay too, there's not much grouses about them. But... but... I must share with you something - working in IKEA isn't pleasent. Low pay is one of them, and often overworked workers. And there's no seats on the cashier too. Also, there are many customers in IKEA, mostly from the rich and the richer.
Heh.. Well, I go there quite often. Not everything is crappy at IKEA though. But their furnitures are generally overpriced. Perhaps only 5% is reasonably-priced, even considering design and all. That's the 5% I buy. LOL! Anyway, I'm just surprised to see that chair break. It was not only new, it actually looked sturdy. I guess looks are deceiving... but for it to break under light weight is really something. When I think about it, what's really astounding is that it wasn't one leg that broke off. Both of the front legs broke off together with front bar (attaching both legs together). So, I guess the screws I saw were really those attaching that bar to the chair seat?
Some IKEA chairs has been thoroughly tested, but not sure for the cheaper ones. And the shelves are sturdy too - but they are freaking overpriced! And when they have discounts, you better be prepared for the flooding of humans in the complex - that's from an experience from an IKEA worker (it wasn't me). And usually, tempers flare when there's a huge queue, impatient customers, finicky customers, strange customers, anything. Some rich folks usually dump a huge load of cash and purchase/walloped many stuff for RM20,000, and paying on the counter. Or otherwise, some people fumbled madly in their wallets/handbags for the parking rebates, and even insisted on it eventhough it's RM3 off, while the queue is piling up every minute by minute. and worse, young inquisitive kiddies, when they are uncontrolled,they never stop poking at the cashier's terminals. Sheesh. I never go there too often except when they have dirt cheap stuff sold there (I bought a simple computer table for RM99). Or either the festive sale, where I don't even bother to buy anything but see because of the queue. The cafeteria serves nice food too, and it's pretty clean. But it's often overcrowded in weekends, so all I got myself is the chips and the ice-cream and some soft drinks. Maybe on Christmas season, I'll go there and buy those mini Christmas trees and those battery-operated christmas lights. They look cute, and cheap.
My friend works there, not me. But quite a tiring experience working there - sometimes at very late hours during festive seasons. And counting cash... not to mention that too. But strangely, 2 years back, just on the day of Christmas, he got back early because not much people were shopping at that time, so some of the workers were dismissed earlier. Maybe the folks are celebrating Christmas at home.
Uh, yes, but a small discount and the employee gotta fill in a form first. Strange... and also, do you know what are those transparent tubes (which headed towards somewhere in the complex) that are on every each cashier terminals?
Oh, those are air-pneumatic tubes. Used to quickly and securely transfer stuff like documents, money, etc. Used in hospitals, casinos.. and IKEA.
The only thing I'd complain in IKEA is the restaurant staffs. They are always unhappy.... As for the furnitures, sad that most of the made in china ones have bad QC. But why I support IKEA so much is their environmental and social responsibility. Yea yea... tree hugger
Eh, really?? I always thought the restaurant counter staff were quite friendly. Never had a tough time with them.
Pssht. /me stomps on moss. OT: We have greenpeace people handing out leaflets on saving trees. However, those leaflets weren't made using recycled paper. Consistency. If not, its called hypocrisy... Not pointing at anyone in particular. Like me? I'm a consistent social minded waster. I minimize my usage of paper napkins and throwing stuff but I don't go out of my way to save a tree (neither do I condone wanton wasting).