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How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

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Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#41

Post by jen729w »

mc32 wrote: post #30
michaelvoz wrote: post #2

I dislike IKEA furniture - It never seems to go well, and always in a different, hard-to-plan-for kind of way. Either the bed frame slats will crack at an odd place, or the bookshelf will bend under the weight of too many books, or perhaps a layer of plastic-ish(?) faux-wood will peel off revealing the flimsy glue pressed wood-ish material inside. I understand the appeal of well designed, flatpacked, self assembled f…

I don't like any compressed wood (engineered wood) furniture, it's got too many fillers and (toxic) adhesives and they don't have the same rigidity of solid wood.

When I moved house, the removalists (in Australia) specifically pointed out the "our guarantee doesn't apply to IKEA" clause in the contract.

"It's basically compressed cardboard," they told me.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#42

Post by WillyOnWheels »

huac wrote: post #3

> Ingvar Kamprad "is said to fly economy and drive an old Volvo. This frugality may help to explain why he is the world's eighth-richest man - although the four decades he spent living in Switzerland to avoid Swedish taxes may also have something to do with it."

Kamprad structures his business as a charity.

https://www.fastcodesign.com/3035734/infographic-of-the-day/...

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#43

Post by bitmapbrother »

michaelvoz wrote: post #2

I dislike IKEA furniture - It never seems to go well, and always in a different, hard-to-plan-for kind of way. Either the bed frame slats will crack at an odd place, or the bookshelf will bend under the weight of too many books, or perhaps a layer of plastic-ish(?) faux-wood will peel off revealing the flimsy glue pressed wood-ish material inside. I understand the appeal of well designed, flatpacked, self assembled f…

These blanket statements are silly. How can you dislike all IKEA furniture when you probably haven't even used 99.9% of it? I have an IKEA Galant desk and it's been the best desk I've ever owned. I've also had it for over 10 years and it still looks as good as the day I bought it.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#44

Post by DashRattlesnake »

unethical_ban wrote: post #5
michaelvoz wrote: post #2

I dislike IKEA furniture - It never seems to go well, and always in a different, hard-to-plan-for kind of way. Either the bed frame slats will crack at an odd place, or the bookshelf will bend under the weight of too many books, or perhaps a layer of plastic-ish(?) faux-wood will peel off revealing the flimsy glue pressed wood-ish material inside. I understand the appeal of well designed, flatpacked, self assembled f…

I have had exactly the opposite experience as yours. You describe every flat pack furniture brand except Ikea. The only thing Ikea doesn't do superbly (for the price) is padded furniture. Their chairs and couches are terrible, in my opinion. Their cabinets, though? Their desks? Great look, and reliable for years. I am proud of my Billy bookshelf and the books on it in the living room.

I think you're both a little bit correct. Ikea probably sells the best quality flat-pack furniture out there, but I think it's pretty fair to expect their stuff to fail in some way within 5 years of normal use. Keep in mind the failure may or may not be catastrophic, and the item may still be usable for some time. They're definitely a good value, but only if you're OK with eventually needing to buy replacements.

Some personal anecdotes:

Lack coffee tables: utter trash, fell apart quickly (in a way reminiscent of what the grandparent post described)

Galant desk: still going strong after 12 years and 3 moves.

Aneboda dresser(s): Got three, 100% track failure after a few years and no longer suitable for daily use.

Billy bookcase: re-shelving books pushed the backing loose, and the thing looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa until emergency repairs were undertaken. Will be junked in the next move.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#45

Post by tyre »

hackuser wrote: post #14
huac wrote: post #3

> Ingvar Kamprad "is said to fly economy and drive an old Volvo. This frugality may help to explain why he is the world's eighth-richest man - although the four decades he spent living in Switzerland to avoid Swedish taxes may also have something to do with it."

That struck me too: Are there leading modern entrepreneurs who are as non-materialistic? I recall hearing of several in prior generations. (Also, sometimes those stories are merely marketing, and they have a personal chef and private jet too.)

The founder of Patagonia is a great example

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/19/patagonias-phil...

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#46

Post by detaro »

DashRattlesnake wrote: post #44
unethical_ban wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have had exactly the opposite experience as yours. You describe every flat pack furniture brand except Ikea. The only thing Ikea doesn't do superbly (for the price) is padded furniture. Their chairs and couches are terrible, in my opinion. Their cabinets, though? Their desks? Great look, and reliable for years. I am proud of my Billy bookshelf and the books on it in the living room.

I think you're both a little bit correct. Ikea probably sells the best quality flat-pack furniture out there, but I think it's pretty fair to expect their stuff to fail in some way within 5 years of normal use. Keep in mind the failure may or may not be catastrophic, and the item may still be usable for some time. They're definitely a good value, but only if you're OK with eventually needing to buy replacements. Some…

> Lack coffee tables: utter trash, fall apart quickly

But perfect width between the legs to mount 19" rack gear.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#48

Post by mc32 »

hackuser wrote: post #31
mc32 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not like was the only car he owned. I mean, one could say Jay Leno drives some very old cars, and someone not knowing he's a car enthusiast collector could think he's frugal.

> It's not like was the only car he owned Is that known?

At one point in his life he drove a Porsche[1]. In fairness, he did drive the Volvo nearly 20 years --before he was advised to replace it because it was "dangerous" as he put it.

[1]http://blog.trejdify.com/2012/08/lessons-learned-ikea-startu...

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#50

Post by DashRattlesnake »

detaro wrote: post #46
DashRattlesnake wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're both a little bit correct. Ikea probably sells the best quality flat-pack furniture out there, but I think it's pretty fair to expect their stuff to fail in some way within 5 years of normal use. Keep in mind the failure may or may not be catastrophic, and the item may still be usable for some time. They're definitely a good value, but only if you're OK with eventually needing to buy replacements. Some…

> Lack coffee tables: utter trash, fall apart quickly But perfect width between the legs to mount 19" rack gear.

From what I saw, they're made out of a tiny amount of laminated cardboard. I personally wouldn't trust it, but maybe it would work if all lateral stress was avoided.
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