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Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

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Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#161

Post by breadmaster »

mikestew wrote: post #79
justboxing wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IKEA is almost always cheaper, but the service is horrible. They outsource the build service to local contractors and it's a hit or miss, mostly miss. I bought a closet from IKEA and arranged the service through them. They sent 3 dudes who couldn't speak a word of english. On top of that, the 3 dudes got mad that there was no parking in San Francisco and left. So I had to call IKEA again and get them to come on a Sun…

I looked up youtube videos on how to fix door screw holes (you use glue and wood chips) As an aside for anyone else that wants to try this next time they strip a screw hole, I find it easier to cram a bunch of toothpicks in the hole, with wood glue, then snap the toothpicks off flush with the surface.

I use wooden dowels that I get for free from Ikea. Drill a hole large enough in the stripped area or the dowel, use a bit of wood glue and then hammer the dowel in.

It's perfect.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#162

Post by dmix »

rsynnott wrote: post #158
kuschku wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, lots of stores are removing self-checkouts nowadays. They tend to be a lot slower than cashiers, lead to more theft, and few people like to use them anyway.

Huh, that's surprising. Two of the three supermarkets near me have phased out cashiers almost entirely.

Same, my local grocery store added more machines after an initial phase and there are disproportionately bigger lineups to use them than the cashiers.

Not to mentioned Ontario, where I'm from, just passed new minimum wage laws ($15CAD/hr) and a bunch of retailers are responding by investing in self checkout for the first time.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#163

Post by dmix »

kuschku wrote: post #105
dmix wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any idea why? I've never seen a store add them and then remove them.

Actually, lots of stores are removing self-checkouts nowadays. They tend to be a lot slower than cashiers, lead to more theft, and few people like to use them anyway.

Source? I've heard quite the opposite...

Edit: according to an international study theft increased from 1-2% to 4% but 60% of the people polled said they only stole it because the item wouldn't scan. This seems to be a technical and UX problem. There is a lot of room for improvement with the machines and from my experience it varies by store.

Otherwise 75% of people said it made their experience faster.

I wasn't able to find any evidence of 'lots of stores removing them' though...

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/bryanpearso...

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#164

Post by ghaff »

rsynnott wrote: post #157
wowtip wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is strange. Even as a Swede I would probably value a Billy more if it came pre assambled, so I was not made actively aware of low quality materials and holes drilled in not-quite-the-right places. Maybe a cultural thing. I always got the impression IKEA is more respected in other countries, while in Sweden it is seen as cheap furniture owned by everyone.

I think it's certainly seen as cheap elsewhere, but usually of better quality than comparably cheap furniture.

I think that's true. But, in addition, in the US going to an Ikea is usually a bit of an expedition as there aren't that many stores. The stores themselves make things a bit of an event because they're different from the norm, have a fairly nice cafeteria, etc. Add it up and there's a certain aura to Ikea furniture that wouldn't exist if you picked up the exact same box at the local Walmart.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#165

Post by ghaff »

rsynnott wrote: post #158
kuschku wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, lots of stores are removing self-checkouts nowadays. They tend to be a lot slower than cashiers, lead to more theft, and few people like to use them anyway.

Huh, that's surprising. Two of the three supermarkets near me have phased out cashiers almost entirely.

Around where I live, beside Walmart Superstores, those supermarkets that added some self-checkout have since removed them. Self-checkout is such an abysmal experience in supermarkets especially if you buy things like produce that I'll actively avoid any store that uses them extensively.

I have less of a problem in convenience-type stores but I'm usually not buying much stuff and rarely produce.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#166

Post by seppin »

DanHulton wrote: post #136
PakG1 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are people who don't care to build their own Ikea furniture? How strange! I've always enjoyed building my own Ikea furniture! :)

Whoof, can't stand it, myself. I don't know what it is about the activity, but it just bores/frustrates me silly. It's not hard! It's perfectly within the realm of accomplishment! I have already built my IKEA desk, bed, table, and bookshelves. I just really disliked every minute of it.

> I just really disliked every minute of it.

Reminds me of a marathon I ran. Did it give me a feeling of accomplishment afterwards? No, just really, really disliked the whole experience. Every min.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#167

Post by tonyedgecombe »

hvidgaard wrote: post #153
wowtip wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is strange. Even as a Swede I would probably value a Billy more if it came pre assambled, so I was not made actively aware of low quality materials and holes drilled in not-quite-the-right places. Maybe a cultural thing. I always got the impression IKEA is more respected in other countries, while in Sweden it is seen as cheap furniture owned by everyone.

It is cheap, and it do not hold up well - but that is why it is cheap.

It's not all rubbish, I've got a solid wood kitchen table from them which is already quite a few years old and looks like it will last a long time.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#168

Post by WillReplyfFood »

PakG1 wrote: post #97
robterrell wrote: post #12

This is hilarious/perfect to me personally, because I have only ever used TaskRabbit to hire someone to build Ikea furniture.

There are people who don't care to build their own Ikea furniture? How strange! I've always enjoyed building my own Ikea furniture! :)

The Do-it-yourself part is what protects Ikea from all complaints on this earth. Why would they punnish themselves.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#169

Post by kuschku »

dmix wrote: post #163
kuschku wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, lots of stores are removing self-checkouts nowadays. They tend to be a lot slower than cashiers, lead to more theft, and few people like to use them anyway.

Source? I've heard quite the opposite... Edit: according to an international study theft increased from 1-2% to 4% but 60% of the people polled said they only stole it because the item wouldn't scan. This seems to be a technical and UX problem. There is a lot of room for improvement with the machines and from my experience it varies by store. Otherwise 75% of people said it made their experience faster. I wasn't able…

> I wasn't able to find any evidence of 'lots of stores removing them' though...

IKEA is phasing them out in Germany, and all German store chains that had self-checkout have since removed them, or are in the process. There is not a single chain that is actively deploying new ones, or keeping them.

Re: Ikea has bought TaskRabbit

#170

Post by kuschku »

dmix wrote: post #162
rsynnott wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh, that's surprising. Two of the three supermarkets near me have phased out cashiers almost entirely.

Same, my local grocery store added more machines after an initial phase and there are disproportionately bigger lineups to use them than the cashiers. Not to mentioned Ontario, where I'm from, just passed new minimum wage laws ($15CAD/hr) and a bunch of retailers are responding by investing in self checkout for the first time.

That was the motivation as well when the 9€ minimum wage was passed here, too, but they've removed all of them since.

Cashiers are much faster than self checkout, and you still need to employ one person for every 4 self checkouts to prevent theft.

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