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Posts: 2878

Shifu

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Q: Why all the Ikea hate?

I noticed in any article on expat sites where Ikea is brought up, theres always a rabid group of people that immediately starts hating on everything about the place.

 

I agree it's a pain in the ass to shop there in China with all the bums hanging around, but the actual Ikea merchandise is pretty OK. I mean what's wrong with it? Ive had an ikea couch for a couple years now perfectly comfy. 

 

I can't afford fancy custom installations (which dont make sense for me as a renter either) and i'm not having any of that stupid cheap wooden crap in my house...i think ikea stuff is pretty sensible.

 

Some of these comments are like "ikea is just white trash crap!" Isn't that a little extreme for something as mundane as mid-range furniture? What awesome furniture must these people have in their apartments to be able to immediately dismiss anyone with any ikea crap as being trashy? 

 

Why all the hate?  It's OK furniture...nothing to really get too emotional about either way.

9 years 37 weeks ago in  Health & Safety - China

 
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Posts: 132

Governor

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Haha it's more the experience- I hate Ikea in any country a) because it's a huge windowless hellscape and b) everyone around the world now has the same furniture- it's so souless. Sure it's pretty handy for some things but I think Ikea just brings back bad memories for people 

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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Really ? Back home, Ikea is considered as good enough if you don't want to spend a lot on a furniture. For instance, you are students, on low income or you need a new furniture just when you are a bit under pressure financially.

I never been to Ikea in China. It have the reputation of being a dormitory for obnoxious ... people ... If it's really like that, well, okay, that's the kind of sight that will just remind me the stuffs I don't like about the life here. I would blame the people, not Ikea.

RiriRiri:

"It has the reputation of being a dormitory for obnoxious ... people ..."

 

That's not IKEA, that's China :D

9 years 37 weeks ago
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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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9 years 37 weeks ago
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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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@DrMonkey

yes, for simple affordable furniture IKEA has a good variety to choose from.

some people seem to be hung-up on brand snobbery, for everything

expatlife26:

I kno it's not the best but for me its just what's the better alternative?

 

That uncomfortable wooden stuff?

 

What kinda super-furniture do these snobs have that they feel they can disparage ikea?

9 years 37 weeks ago
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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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sorrel:

IKEA with Chinese characteristics

9 years 37 weeks ago
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I like IKEA's design style.  That whole Scandinavian flavor has it goin' on.  But it's cheap and I hate cheap.  That being said, I have an IKEA rug now on my living room floor.  Also IKEA curtain panels in living room, dining room and parlor. And IKEA dinnerware.  Carried them all the way from Shanghai.  I dig the style, just have to choose carefully what I buy.  Would never buy a sofa for my main room.  But, if you're young and don't have much money, they are a good buy.

 

I'm a designer, so perhaps I'm a little snobbish.  But I only snob on cheap quality things, not cheap price.

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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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I am a big IKEA fan (for obvious reasons) and back home, we had pretty much an entire apartment filled with IKEA stuff, their slightly pricier things. 

Here in China, as an activity, we have a couple of time ventured to IKEA in the big cities, we have some furniture from there and one thing.... It doesn't handle humidity well. 

 

Anyway. I'd always recommend people going to IKEA in China, not for the furniture, but for seeing how the locals behave there. 

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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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It's junk.

expatlife26:

Yeah but my point is what can you get here thats not junk or doesnt cost a fortune?

9 years 37 weeks ago
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Spiderboenz:

Junk is still junk, doesnt matter if it's cheap.

9 years 37 weeks ago
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9 years 37 weeks ago
 
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I love IKEA

 

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I go for the meatballs, and stay for the free cola refills.

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i have encountered this back home but not here. Ikea is the mcdonalds of furniture. i dont get it either. it seems fine to me and its a godsend in china. but i dont appreciate the maze layout. im a 3 minute in and out shopper so i only go there if i know i have at least an hour to get forced to walk through every sqaure inch of the place cursing out the chinese that are sleeping in the beds. I cant imagine how they dont feel embaressed.

expatlife26:

yeah i dont get how you can not feel like kind of a loser going to si on comfortable things at a store. your average local has the values of a homeless person.

9 years 37 weeks ago
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