Remember like two weeks ago when someone posted a question asking why IKEA was in business when good quality wood furniture was basically the same price? Hilarious.
Used flat pack shit that lasts maybe 10 years in optimal conditions goes used for only half the price, bad lean and all.
Anything solid wood you might as well buy new, cuz it’s nearly the same price, like damn.
I now go to habitat for humanity restore locations or goodwill, because they -can’t afford to charge a lot for big stuff- because they don’t have the space to store it. It’s not great stuff, but refurbishable.
My local reStore wants $100 for a 20 year old washing machine with a tag that says “we don’t know if it works”. They want $50 for a shitty old door ripped off your parents house. I used to love that place, now it’s not even worth looking.
Fair. I live in a LCOL area, mine don’t touch appliances, outdoor stuff, etc., can’t even donate to them, so it’s really just a place for cheaper remodeling stuff.
They have furniture, cabinetry, and building supplies. That’s about it. Limited plumbing fixtures, limited lighting, some “extra” paint and carpet tiles in mostly neutral colors.
Doors (no frame) are like $5-10, same with window sashes. Doors with frame are iirc $25, I never looked at windows with frame.
An entire very nice kitchen cabinet set ripped out of a newer condo is like $600.
Shit, there is an upscale consignment shop near me where they have “vintage” flat pack furniture straight from Wayfair marked above list price. I know because I have the same fucking table. The whole midcentury modern revival has gotten completely out of hand.
No offense to your flat pack, but it was garbage then and it’s not better now (you have apparently taken good care of it to not have it fall apart since)
I have had a lot of flat pack stuff because poverty, including a full wood coffee table that sat in a box for 20 years (mom bought it) before I used it. Took 6 months before that one started to wobble from normal use.
It’s never been good. I’d almost argue they are better now than 20 years ago, because people can’t afford legacy furniture and everything is flat-pack. And that is not saying much.
Put some thread locker on those shitty table leg bolts. That’ll keep it sturdy until the bolts rip themselves out of the pressboard garbage they’re glued to
This usually depends on the country/region. For example in India ikea is obscenely expensive for what they are selling when you can get a miles better product at a similar price.
At least in Delhi you can get really really good furniture at a fair price.
IDK maybe it varies by area and what you a re looking for but almost all my furniture is thrifted/scavenged and I think the most I paid for a single thing was a 100 bucks. I go to a local thift store not one of the big chains. I also don’t have to buy with any sort of time pressure.
E: the idea that it invalidates IKEAs existence is crazy though.
Thrifting gets pricey nowadays. I’ve had better luck scouring FB Marketplace and Craigslist for curb alerts, if not trawling around the neighborhood looking for stuff to pluck up and take home myself. For free, even!
Remember like two weeks ago when someone posted a question asking why IKEA was in business when good quality wood furniture was basically the same price? Hilarious.
Even the used furniture market is obscene.
Used flat pack shit that lasts maybe 10 years in optimal conditions goes used for only half the price, bad lean and all.
Anything solid wood you might as well buy new, cuz it’s nearly the same price, like damn.
I now go to habitat for humanity restore locations or goodwill, because they -can’t afford to charge a lot for big stuff- because they don’t have the space to store it. It’s not great stuff, but refurbishable.
My local reStore wants $100 for a 20 year old washing machine with a tag that says “we don’t know if it works”. They want $50 for a shitty old door ripped off your parents house. I used to love that place, now it’s not even worth looking.
*Edit: grammar
Has anyone made a !ThriftGrift community?
I subbed :)
I appreciate you.
Fair. I live in a LCOL area, mine don’t touch appliances, outdoor stuff, etc., can’t even donate to them, so it’s really just a place for cheaper remodeling stuff.
They have furniture, cabinetry, and building supplies. That’s about it. Limited plumbing fixtures, limited lighting, some “extra” paint and carpet tiles in mostly neutral colors.
Doors (no frame) are like $5-10, same with window sashes. Doors with frame are iirc $25, I never looked at windows with frame.
An entire very nice kitchen cabinet set ripped out of a newer condo is like $600.
Shit, there is an upscale consignment shop near me where they have “vintage” flat pack furniture straight from Wayfair marked above list price. I know because I have the same fucking table. The whole midcentury modern revival has gotten completely out of hand.
-.-
No offense to your flat pack, but it was garbage then and it’s not better now (you have apparently taken good care of it to not have it fall apart since)
I have had a lot of flat pack stuff because poverty, including a full wood coffee table that sat in a box for 20 years (mom bought it) before I used it. Took 6 months before that one started to wobble from normal use.
It’s never been good. I’d almost argue they are better now than 20 years ago, because people can’t afford legacy furniture and everything is flat-pack. And that is not saying much.
Put some thread locker on those shitty table leg bolts. That’ll keep it sturdy until the bolts rip themselves out of the pressboard garbage they’re glued to
This usually depends on the country/region. For example in India ikea is obscenely expensive for what they are selling when you can get a miles better product at a similar price.
At least in Delhi you can get really really good furniture at a fair price.
IKEA is just a western conformist fad for the rich Indians, especially Mumbaikars.
IDK maybe it varies by area and what you a re looking for but almost all my furniture is thrifted/scavenged and I think the most I paid for a single thing was a 100 bucks. I go to a local thift store not one of the big chains. I also don’t have to buy with any sort of time pressure.
E: the idea that it invalidates IKEAs existence is crazy though.
Thrifting gets pricey nowadays. I’ve had better luck scouring FB Marketplace and Craigslist for curb alerts, if not trawling around the neighborhood looking for stuff to pluck up and take home myself. For free, even!
Hell even making wood furniture yourself is expensive as hell with lumber prices as they are right now
But most Ikea furniture isn’t wood tho
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