I Just Went To IKEA For The First Time - WOW!!!

[aprilgail2]

Thanks so much for those of you who posted about the quality of the IKEA furniture. We have a new store about 1 hour from us, but I've been hesitant to travel there only to find out the quality is not good. We recently turned an old, attached garage room into a "teen hangout", and are trying to furnish it cheaply, but with some funky decor. It looks like IKEA may be the perfect solution! I think I'll try to go during the week, though....I'm sure the weekend crowds are insane!

I personally think the quality of most of their things are junk. None of it that I have seen was decent enough quality to furnish my home. Perhaps a college kids dorm or first apartment but it really was not well made at all.

 

[rhanditresmom]

Hi, I'm Keri and I am an Ikeaholic! I go every chance I get. I always find some cool little item for the house. I like the lighting, throws, duvets, kitchen stuff.....haven't purchased any furniture, but I wish we had gone there for my son's bedroom furniture. It's not expensive, so you don't feel bad if it gets scratched or smashed! I think their loft beds are fab.

I grew up overseas and Ikea was pretty big there. I even love their food! I always buy swedish meatballs, gravy mix, and lingenberry jam when I go as well. I have also found cute little items to use at school...finger puppets, markers, etc.

(i just went on monday of last week....it takes forever to get there...wish i could go today!)

 

[Cindy B]

The crowds never die down... seriously. We had IKEA a few minutes from us and it was busy... for the 10 years or so that it was there. They opened a new bigger location a couple miles away a few years ago and I still haven't gone. The traffic is insane.

The Conshohocken Ikea is much better than the previous Plymouth Meeting store. There is TONS more parking, some even in a enclosed garage.

I personally find the S. Philly one easier to get to from S. Jersey, but I don't like driving down the trashy end of Columbus Blvd to get there.. the strip clubs give me skeeves!

 

[amy4bruce]

I grew up in New York City, where there are two Ikeas - one on Long Island, and one in New Jersey, on the banks of the Hudson. What Ikea specializes in is space saving furniture for small areas - perfect for New York. In fact, the Port Authority Bus Terminal ran shuttles to the Jersey Ikea.

When DW and I moved to Pittsburgh in 1997, we discoverd an Ikea there. We went and bought stuff, but found that it was almost empty - not popular in an area with large houses and a lot of room. That was almost ten years ago. Now, it's mobbed. It finally caught on here a few years back.

Someone said that the quality is junk. Well, it depends on what you buy. We've had problems with some stuff, but, for the most part, the quality has been excellent, especially when you consider the price. Of course, you also have to be able to put the stuff together, which can be tough (an excellent TV cabinet we bought almost drove me crazy). All in all, we like Ikea.

 

[Miller1412]

I personally think the quality of most of their things are junk. None of it that I have seen was decent enough quality to furnish my home. Perhaps a college kids dorm or first apartment but it really was not well made at all.

I totally agree!! Once upon a time when DH and I first got married, we thought it was great too. But the furniture is crap. Soft pine, scratches easily, drawer fronts fall off, wood splits plus you have to put it all together, and it falls apart where you put it together.

If you are looking for short term stuff, then IKEA's your place, but if you want anything to last...you're better off buying used good stuff from the paper.

The smaller housewares are ok...it's just the furniture that stinks.

 

[Magickndm]

I must be in the minority here, I really don't care for their furniture.

 

[Poohnatic]

I love IKEA. I don't do the furniture so much as all the knick knack, kitchen and home decor stuff. We have THREE of them within a 1 hour radius.

Kimya

I'm missing having them right now. I need more bookcases for the DVDs. A year to go, then I'll be tooling down I4 for some goodies and an occasional swedish meatball and lingonberry lunch!

We'd always go to Potomac Mills until College Park opened, then it was there. But we had one fabulous day where we were at Potomac Mills, found something that was out of stock, went up to College Park-they were out as well. Finally, someone took pity on us and called White Marsh and had them hold the item (which they don't do) until we got there. Fortunately, it wasn't a bad mixing bowl day!

Suzanne

 

[antmaril]

I agree that IKEA furniture is not "heirloom" quality. I wouldn't furnish my main living areas with this furniture, but, as I said in my original post, it's perfect for young people furnishing their first apartment or if you are on a very tight budget. I think IKEA would also be perfect if you were furnishing a finished basement or a spare room that isn't used a lot.

Obviously, there is a market for IKEA. People come to this place in droves. We thought it was fun and enjoyed just walking around and looking at all the "stuff". We bought some great wood hangers for $5.00 - great price.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We have a lot of IKEA down comforters and covers and they have held up well. Also have some smaller things like the TV stand in DS's room for his game systems. I like IKEA.

Do they still have the kids room? My 2 kids are 17 and 20 now but when the IKEA in White Marsh opened and they were little, they loved to go there. We signed them into the play room and then browsed in peace while they played.

Now we go to the one in College Park where the kids go to college.

 

[TinkInPink]

I LOVE IKEA! and i LOVE their food!

 

[paigevz]

Don't you know why they camp out? The first person in line gets a huge gift certificate and the next couple get them also. I cannot remember the amounts but it is enough to furnish a few rooms or get cabinets at Ikea.

Yeah, I said that. I wasn't opposed to her camping out, just conversatin'!

 

[Planogirl]

My son's first bed was from IKEA and it lasted a few years with him jumping up and down on it. Now my brother has it for his kids and it's holding up fine years later.

We have bookcases from thre and they are at least 15 years old with no sign of damage or sagging. I've also heard from some people that their kitchen counters and cabinets, and their better couches hold up quite well too.

Like any store, it depends what you buy. Some of it is cheaply made and none of it is luxury stuff but to label it all "crap" is unfair IMO.

 

[WDWfan36]

I've never been their but it sounds great

 

[azgal81]

I love ikea I usually go once a month. I wouldn't buy my couch/chairs from ikea you can get better quality for the same price elsewhere. I do have a red peanut desk from there it's great! I also have some shelves, lights, kitchen things, magazine racks, vases, etc. Last weekend I went to purchases a white cubby hole bookcase for my yarn it's perfect!

The crowds will never die down. Normally you can cut through and skip some sections instead of walking through the maze.

 

[pixiemomma]

My son's first bed was from IKEA and it lasted a few years with him jumping up and down on it. Now my brother has it for his kids and it's holding up fine years later.

That is good news. My boys are getting Ikea beds and dressers for their new rooms.

The one near us (Baltimore) isn't that crowded. I guess we a re lucky.