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Cheap self assembly flat pack furniture and when I say cheap, I mean poor quality materials and design, not how much the pack actually cost you to buy in the shop! They don't cost a fortune (unlike REAL furniture), but I wouldn't exactly say they are value for money either. These things are actually quite loathsome in my opinion. They are not only made from cheap materials such as chipboard and MDF, but they actually look cheap once they have finally been constructed.
That's another issue I have flat pack furniture, constructing the thing occasionally be complete pain. Self assembly packs are supposedly designed so that they can be put together easily and with minimal tools, yet the instructions are frequently incomprehensible and often consist of poorly translated English.
It is true to some extent I suppose that you get what you pay for. Furniture wasn't always like this. In the good old days it was made from solid wood and built by a craftsman; it was also built to last which isn't something you can really say about today's flat packs. The difference is actually quite striking.
For example, we've moved recently and had to acquire some furniture very quickly for our new home. Certain items such as computer desks and a wardrobe were flat packs, whilst we received (gratefully) a large oak dining table and chairs, and a large mahogany display cabinet from the Freecycle network.
One thing I am certain of is that is the dining table and cabinet will still be around long after the desk and wardrobe have disintegrated and been resigned to the dump. Alas, we can't afford to buy all "proper" furniture, so I guess flat pack furniture has its uses and will do for now. But is it a false economy?
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IKEA is anything from reasonable to excellent depending on the range but I find the majority of problems arise due to incorrect handling of the heavy boxes (stubbed corners, etc), incorrect unpacking (upright as opposed to laying flat, causing pieces to drop out everywhere) and incorrect assembly. Sometimes the assembly is completed as per instructions but screws are over or under tightened etc.
You do need some experience and good tools in order to build this stuff properly, and take your time. Then the end result is much better
This makes furniture sold for about 10 times what it actaully cost to make and import. The junk is now sold in boutiques, instead of warehouses.
So as poor people we are forced to drive to our nearest IKEA. What do we get there? Yet more Swedish junk. Again in IKEA you don't get useful furniture but some pinewood flatpacked Swedish conconction. Oh Norwegian Wood! Isn't is good? Well actually no it isn't.
The fun part comes from trying to put it together. Then it does fit because the furniture was designed in metric, and not feet and inches like your home.
Or phone up the warehouse and ask "do they sell furniture in metric?" Yes sir we do. What's the height of your cupboards/wardrobes? 1872 mm sir!
Try buying a small light folding table which you can stash away and easily bring out to use a laptop on. Such useful furniture just does not exist.
Make your own. Jesus did.
All that colonial or Indian junk is fit for is the bonfire.
When I built them there was a fault with one of the components. I reported it to the store. They asked what the part number was of the assembly. Almost two weeks later a single part arrived by post, damaged. I've taken it all back now and have insisted on a full refund. They say they cannot do that unless the entire goods are faulty and that they have taken all measures they can to rectify the situation.
My solicitor is onto it now and she assures me that a positive result is a certainty.
Unfortunately, because of the legal action, I cannot name them, or hint at their name. Suffice to say that I shall not be going there again.
But for somewhere long term, where the occupants are mature enough to look after the furniture, then yes, a quality craftsman is the place to go.
The aim of the WEEE Regulations is to make producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and to oblige distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.
I understand that furniture will typically have a longer life-cycle than say, a computer but if manufacturers of cheap furniture were governed by a similar regulation then maybe we'd see better quality furniture being produced.
Nick