[Seanna]

Target has some nice furniture sometimes too :)

I have a rave of sorts. I helped the sweetest lady today with changes on a memorial ad for her husband. She thanked me for my help, and then said "I hope your boss realizes what an asset you are young lady." I just smiled to myself lol

[faeriegal713]

Congrats for getting the item(s) you wanted.
However, what's so great that everyone loves IKEA? It certainly can't be the prices; Wal-Mart and other similar places have similar prices and similar merchandise.
I did a case analysis on IKEA when I was in school so I understand the marketing machine quite well from the business side; however, I would like a perspective from the consumer side for a comparison.

My main problems with Wal-Mart are the selection, and product quality. There are far fewer options available and the ones that I would consider are on par with Ikea prices. I can use items from Wal-Mart for 1-3 years, maybe, before they break or become somehow dysfunctional. Equivalent items from Ikea seem to have a longer life, regardless of how many times I put them together and tear them apart. Not to mention, the items from Ikea tend to be better designed for small/tight spaces, which is more my style anyway. A cluttered or clumsy appearance for my home is a no-go, and that is how I feel the clunkier and heavier pieces I find at Wal-Mart influence my place. Lastly, there are far more style changes from Ikea's selection, so I know that if I can't find something I like this season, I'll likely find something in a few months.

[nosilla]

I'd say it's name-brand recognition. IKEA is the student's Crate and Barrel. Cheaper, not as fancy, but decent bang for buck. One stop shop for all your furniture and bookshelf needs. But if Walmart's cheaper, I may stop by there some time if I have the means of carrying back anything I buy back to my place.

It's definitely about the name-brand recognition. Everyone in my area (so San Joaquin Valley in CA) is always "OMG" about Ikea... especially my mom (Lol). I think it's just all about the "warehouse" idea of shopping... Costco is a really big thing around here too. It's also a big deal because the closest Ikea is in LA... so I always hear about student/family trips with big trucks and they go to Ikea and buy furniture.

The only reason I wanted the Poang chair is because I've sat in them numerous times, so I know they are comfy, and I always hear from people I know about how long they last/the durability of the chair. So now I know I at least have a good chair for when I move out of here (hopefully will be within a year!) Plus now I have a great place to study and get a LOT of summer reading done. Summer reading list- you are going DOWN. :D

[Stephen]

My main problems with Wal-Mart are the selection, and product quality. There are far fewer options available and the ones that I would consider are on par with Ikea prices. I can use items from Wal-Mart for 1-3 years, maybe, before they break or become somehow dysfunctional.

Also,

[Skadi]

Another thing,
I don't think I've mention this but: I don't like text talking - I don't understand it, it's like trying to learn another language for me! I stare at it until I don't recognize it some more, trying to work it out, then send a message back saying "what?"

[Sela]

Really? Walmart has it all cheaper? Damn.

I'd say it's name-brand recognition. IKEA is the student's Crate and Barrel. Cheaper, not as fancy, but decent bang for buck. One stop shop for all your furniture and bookshelf needs. But if Walmart's cheaper, I may stop by there some time if I have the means of carrying back anything I buy back to my place.

I didn't say that Wal-Mart was cheaper. My original statement read:
"Wal-Mart and other similar places have similar prices and similar merchandise. "

[Sela]

For the people that answered the IKEA question with 'Brand Recognition' (i.e., OMG it's IKEA!) would you all still be keen on it if the prices were to approach traditional furniture store prices, or do the low(er) prices factor in to this?

[nosilla]

For the people that answered the IKEA question with 'Brand Recognition' (i.e., OMG it's IKEA!) would you all still be keen on it if the prices were to approach traditional furniture store prices, or do the low(er) prices factor in to this?

I think they go hand in hand... when you hear "Ikea," you think low prices and durable furniture. So the brand recognition only exists because Ikea has low prices. If the prices went up, then I don't think it would be as popular as it is in the middle/lower class, but it would still be popular.
For me personally, if the prices went up a little bit- I would still buy things there. But if it got to be higher than Target prices, then I would not buy there.

[Seanna]

What's an IKEA?

*from BFE*

Try not having an alternative to Walmart... well I guess we do have K-Mart, and they actually have better furniture than Walmart IMO. We don't even have a Target :( *melodramatic weeping*

[Stephen]

I think they go hand in hand... when you hear "Ikea," you think low prices and durable furniture.

It's a crapshoot whether IKEA furniture will be good or not. I have a dresser from IKEA which falls apart if I try to move it, and the bottoms of the drawers can't support even a moderate amount of weight without falling out. I have a standing pantry in my kitchen from IKEA with a cracked shelf, because it couldn't support the weight of canned goods. It also has one crooked leg because the bottom panel was drilled incorrectly while manufacturing. Still, I have a great TV stand/cabinet from IKEA, though one of the doors doesn't hang straight because of a manufacturing defect in one of the hinges. Hardly noticeable.

What I really think about is furniture with ridiculous sounding names that requires assembly and somehow comes in tiny boxes. Funny story: my ex-wife and I used to come up with IKEA-style names for regular daily objects and then use them in conversation. When my daughter was still in diapers, we called the diapers BLOMPF.