Ikea - who are they kidding with their switching out products to keep prices at a certain level

[Aintnosupermum]

This isn’t an AIBU at all because I know we are fortunate to have ikea in our lives and they do a good job generally of keeping a range of furniture going for years. I’m frustrated because I have used ikea furniture, as we all have, for years. First they changed their kitchens…I get it. It was one change globally and I think their product improved.

What I am noticing is that they are discontinuing items all the time now and bring something back which is lower quality and more expensive. Meanwhile, I can’t then add on to what I’ve got without a mix and match thing going on. 365+ plates are now different than they were 5 years ago. The set on the table now doesn’t match because they are a slightly different shape. The 365+ cutlery is lighter. My children have autism so they notice these things and then have favorite items from the cutlery drawer.

What I love about ikea is that it’s the McDonald’s of furniture. You buy a malm chest of drawers in Dallas, New York, Delhi or Warrington and you get exactly the same product with exactly the same instructions and two extra screws you have no idea what to do with.

Is anyone else noticing this? Only me who finds it irksome?

You can’t expect things to stay the same forever 🫤

I haven’t noticed that, but I can understand it’s frustrating.

I’ve been waiting for what seems like years for some nice coloured/pattered drona boxes. Two new ones came out this week, but they’re not great. I think Kallax’s are a staple in most childrens rooms or playrooms, so why don’t they sell brightly coloured Drona boxes to fit anymore?

I'm still cross that the stopped my favourite sheets. 😡

Bring back Gaspa sheets, IKEA!

I agree. I have a couple of kitchen gadgets I bought there over twenty years ago and still going strong. They still do them but the material they are made from is so much lighter and flimsier. I hope my existing ones don't break.

You can paint the boxes with emulsion paint, it looks awesome :)

OP "I know we are fortunate to have ikea in our lives"

this is quite full on, even for a brand ambassador!

I get you.

We bought two sofas back in 2020 - I know when it was because I got my bonus just as lockdown started and obviously it was then months before we could buy them.

Went back to buy a matching chair. Discontinued. Except, they’re not. Just in the fabric that we bought ours in. I wish that had been clear when we bought them.

Not really the same as your story I know but it felt personal!

I get what you mean about furniture. So you’ve bought a bookcase, want to add another one exactly the same but they are actually slightly different.

However, you really can’t complain that they’ve changed the plates they are selling form 5 years ago. I don’t know ANY company that is still selling the exact same product form 5 years ago. Simply because it’s likely that in 5 years they will have switched to a different supplier which will do things very slightly differently.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy would you have expected any other sofa company to still have the exact same pattern for the chairs for months or years?

I mean it usually changes every season anyway…..

Yes, I have the navy blue dinner set. Only bought last year. I broke two side plates so bought replacements on line. They're a slightly different size and a slightly different colour. Both noticable when used with the rest of the service. Plus you used to be able to buy them individually but now they're only in sets of 4.

Expecting a product to be available or the same 5 years (or even 5 months) later is unreasonable. Where does it end - should I still be able to buy the identical matching chairs for my parents IKEA dining table circa 1985 because one broke and I want it to match?! It’s not like some china pattern firms that advertise about continuity and buying pieces as an ongoing collection - it’s a cheap furniture warehouse.

Specifications and recipes change, yes in part to accommodate rising costs. That’s how it is.

Well I’m glad it’s not just me! I don’t expect furniture to change each season. I also don’t care if we all have kallax storage units or billy bookcases in our homes.

@EmmaH2022 I remember as a child when ikea in Warrington opened for the first time. Furniture used to be very expensive, arrived assembled and ikea changed that. They made nice furnishings available at a price we can all afford.

Lots of companies are selling the exact same products for years. Malaga wine nail polish by OPI has been going for at least 10 years. The color hasn’t changed but the price is up. Lots of my kitchen items are also more expensive for me to replace.

I have moved for work twice in 2 years so I’m really seeing the price vs quality shift.

Ikea have always offered a mixture of qualities and prices. The bookshelves I bought from IKEA 15 years ago still look great, and weren’t cheap but I was happy to pay a sensible price for good solid design. It’s a shame if it’s all going downhill. The last thing we need is to increase the amount of stuff going to landfill because it doesn’t last.

Yeah. They changed the wine glasses. Bought IKEA because we could replace one of it got smashed. Now we have 5 glasses because changing 1 would mean changing 12 (we have red and white glasses). So annoying. And the new design isn’t for us.

We were on a 15 year expat placement. I think I’m noticing the quality decline because of the time lapse.

When it comes to landfill, the new ikea plan of them buying back furniture will hopefully work out. So many people are moving for work or buy something and it doesn’t work. It was interesting that in Denmark the charity shop wouldn’t take ikea furniture. Totally ridiculous if you ask me. The husband just gave it all away because he said it can’t be worth much. I was floored he could be so stupid. Bloody sell it you moron!

@PurBal The wine glasses…yes same issue. I ended up getting an eclectic selection from a charity shop for the local hospice. Some older people had a beautiful selection of glasses which I really enjoy. The serving size is much smaller which helps stretch the wine a bit further.