The Ikea in Paramus is closed on Sunday (I helped open that store), because of blue laws. So the next day is Monday. Makes sense.

That seems really shady. I never really liked Ikea furniture from a design standpoint, but they have some good general housewares. But BS like this makes me not want to even buy non-furniture stuff from them. Is this an Ikea Corporate thing? I didn't think Ikea was franchised like fast food chains (see also: KFC giveaway debacle), so all Ikeas would have to participate. Anyone have inside info on all the pro-Ikea loopholes in the advert/sale?

@AlteredBeast: Thanks for providing info that the writer obviously was too lazy to look up.

We love IKEA but yes, their ads can be annoying. We are in Austin and shop at the Round Rock store, which opens later on Sundays, meaning the breakfast deals never apply at that store on Sundays yet there's no exclusion listen on the ad.

When we lived in Vegas and wanted to order online, aside from the craptacular website and very limited selection, we encountered a more significant problem: frequent connection problems between the website and their actual internal ordering system. We ordered a high chair and then heard nothing for weeks, so I phoned and talked to a very nice, helpful, and apologetic rep who looked into it and found that the website had completed the order but not sent it to Ikea for processing. He said it happens a lot and advised me to never use their website for ordering, but to order by phone instead so a human could make sure it was right. He said, "Our site is pretty much broken all the time and useless. It's garbage."

That was in 2006. I don't know if it has improved or not, but when we had our kitchen redone by Ikea a few months ago, their own contractor had to take the computer design, print out a parts list, which we had to take to the store, which then had to be manually entered by staff first into the ordering system, then again into the cashier system so we could pay, and later again into the delivery system. Hello, integration, anyone?

We love the products enough to put up with it, but it's all very silly and a waste of time/money on their end.

Never really liked Ikea that much. I thought it was cool the first few times I went but the luster has definitely faded over the years.

The Houston store is a franchise. I wonder if any of the other exempt Ikeas are? I thought Houston was the only one, but maybe not.

Ikea is a unique store with unique merchandise; stuff like this doesn't faze me the way it would if it were, say, Target.

How about a story on how it is better to pay a bit more for quality furnishings that will last 15 years, instead of buying particle board Ikea junk that falls apart?

Nearly all IKEA ads say that offers aren't valid at the Houston and ___ (can't remember which) stores. They've said that as far back as I can remember. Do those two stores have a different corporate status? IKEA doesn't franchise, does it?

We found a outdoor furniture set that we LOVED online. It was at the Stoughton, MA store, but we put off going down for a few weeks. Now, it's out of stock there, but they had plenty in New Haven.

I tried calling New Haven to see if they can transfer from store to store, which they can't. They have "discontinued" the piece in the Stoughton store, but the inventory at New Haven has been piling up for a week.

I don't get it.

No confusing holiday shopping for me, as there isn't an IKEA anywhere in Indiana.

Oh, do you want to use that breakfast coupon? It's not valid at ... IKEA Direct.

They sell breakfast online?

@1234tu: My Ikea furniture has actually managed to do very well in the several years I've had it. My desk (the jerker) is quite possibly the best desk I've ever seen. It's made of powder coated metal, and finished very nicely, with a surface that has withstood several moves already with no damage.

There is NOTHING worse in life than Ikea on a Saturday.

The Ikea in Tampa just opened up this month, and they've had special "Grand Opening" hours set for pretty much the whole month of May. Maybe they've got different promotions entirely since the store is so new?

@AlteredBeast:

"Oh, do you want to use that breakfast coupon? It's not valid at the Charlotte...as well as at IKEA Direct."

Also, it seems to make sense to me that breakfast isn't available through IKEA Direct.

@1234tu: I have this great Ikea coffee table I paid $10 for 5 years ago (was on clearance from over $50) and has handled two moves, and is still very solid. Not to mention a great mattress, several desks, and closets.

The thing is, there is the cheap Ikea stuff, and the good Ikea stuff. Anything that is solid wood (which is a good percent of stuff there) is a great buy. The particle board stuff is good if you plan on building it once, and leaving it where it is. It is also much cheaper than anything you'd find elswhere, so you get what you pay for. Pay more, get better, even at Ikea.

I just don't like their textiles. I have sheets and blankets that wore out WAY too soon, and were pricey.

Charlotte and Tampa aren't participating because they are the newest stores, and stores open less than 6 months usually don't participate in these sales (though Charlotte DID do the kitchens, and IS doing the living room sale). Houston is a full-blown franchise and does its own thing. As for the others, each IKEA is is own little fiefdom, and they are able to make the decision whether to participate or not.

All I can say is Thank Goodness I'm off this weekend! I don't wanna be there when people come up screaming because they were too stupid to read the fine print in the ads.

I think the biggest sham is the fact that IKEA masquerades as a non profit in the biggest tax evasion scheme in plain sight.

i wish we had an ikea in delaware. they're in the neighboring states, but i want sales-tax-free furniture dammit

@AnonyLawyer: Wal-Mart on a Saturday.

@liz.lemonade: Has to do with a bit of Ikea history: [en.wikipedia.org]

@AlteredBeast: Wow, I had to just look up blue laws to see what it meant, I have never encountered a store that was closed on Sunday. Interesting to note.

@ajlei: Er, I mean, closed for religiously inclined reasons. But really, around here (Portland), if a place is going to be closed for a day of the week, it's usually closed on Monday. I guess so no one has to have a case of the Mondays. (groooan)

No breakfast sale in Pittsburgh? That's because they got rid of breakfast a few years ago.

Also, the last time I tried to call Ikea I got a call center that flatly refused to transfer me to the local store.

@AlteredBeast:

You must have found the one good mattress they sell because every time I sit/lay on one in the store it feels like it is stuffed with balled up socks.

@sockrockinbeats: Come to Oregon! :)

Uhh...ok. I actually work at an Ikea as a salesperson, and the reason why the curtains are on sale for one day only is simple: the way we did it before caused a ton of fights and other issues. When we first started the "Seize the Days" events ( which I think are really stupid btw and don't work) people would just come in, buy the stuff that was on sale, and leave. We eventually decided to space the stuff out over days to give people a fair shot at getting said sale items, rather than getting bumrushed at 10 A.M on a Friday. Ikea direct is the phone order store, so yeah, no sales there. As for transferring stock from one store to another, the reason we don't do it is because it is really expensive since a lot of the stores aren't close to each other. There is a way to get around it, but it involves the customer calling the store and trying to set something up with their Home Furnishing Consultant (who works for free!) Yeah. The breakfast is terrible anyways, so no loss there. Powdered eggs = ugh.

@1234tu: i have an ikea bed that i love. sorry i'm not rich and can't afford fancy furniture!

@ajlei: Well, Paramus is in Bergen County, New Jersey (the northeasternmost county in the state). Never really fond of Blue Laws, but I suppose it gives them its own unique character.

@hicks: +1

@ajlei: If you ever visited that town, you'd see that it has some very large malls all within a few minutes of each other, connected by highways littered with more stores. So it does help aleviate the congestion and crowds on the roads in that area to have one day a week everything shut down.

What is interesting is going to a CVS or Rite Aid, and certain items can't be sold because of the law.

@Radi0logy: I love all the stuff there, but can't actual bring myself to buy any of it. It's just pretty to look at.

I actually wish the Tempe location wasn't doing the breakfast. People come out of the woodwork for free food, and I really want to grab one of those Expedit bookcases tomorrow morning.

@RogerTheAlien: it may relate to length of time the store has been open. the charlotte location is closest to me and it's so new that the land around it is still a scar of raw earth - hasn't even started growing weeds yet.
as far as i have seen they haven't participated in a single sale or promotion yet. [but if you buy a coffe AND a cinnamon roll together at the bakery it's an unadvertised combo and saves you $0.25!]
i'm desperately stalking the charlotte store for when the sales will start because my parents intend to get me an ikea gift card for a housewarming present and i really need need some basic furniture.

Their semi-annual sale is usually just a close out of last year's stuff, scratch and dent, etc. Not really a store-wide sale, rather disappointing (notwithstanding the VW loaded 20 feet high with boxes). Got suckered down there once, not going back.

OTOH, I like shopping at Ikea, I ususally find something I've been wanting, price is good and I love eating at the cafeteria, some meatballs and lignonberries... yum! Oh and and some pie too.

Don't forget to pick up a six pack of cinnamon rolls on the way out, either.

And NO I don't just go for the food...although it certainly is a strong incentive!

@AlteredBeast: But I don't understand. Those Ritva curtains are green.

@blue_streak: IKEA USA is one big franchise. Every country has one franchisee as far as I know.

@AlteredBeast: Exactly.
IKEA has a variety of product lines, some requiring less assembly, some more. Some cheaper but less durable, and others higher-value but more expensive.
People whining that their $40 shelf isn't as well made as their $120 one need to be stoned using those gravy-dripping meatballs until they know every ABBA song by heart.

@1234tu:

I bought an amazing TV stand there. It was a little pricey by IKEA standards, but I love it. Every time someone enters my house they mention how nice it is.

I also have a room full of Billy bookcases that are very nice.

@post_break: As far as I know, Stichting INGKA and Inter IKEA Group are technically two separate companies. Or something like that.

@MadameX:
This is the IKEA I shop in as well.

I've learned with IKEA to ignore the ads and just go shop for the deals.

[www.ikea.com]
[franchisor.ikea.com]

It would seem ALL IKEAs are franchises. Which would explain the vast inconsistencies in hours, inventory, and promotional participation, especially across wider geographic areas. There is one particularly large franchisor with close ties to the corporate entity, which probably gives the appearance of consistency across their properties.

@nakedscience: What makes me weep a little is that since I'm moving, I keep getting, "isn't it time to grow out of Ikea and Craig's List?" from various people and it's like, "Sure! Just give me that $700."

I don't get why people don't understand. If you buy within your means and your means are Craig's List and Ikea, kudos to you. There's no shame in that. Craig's List is a fine way of getting fancy furniture at a much lower cost. I don't get how not having Ikea furniture means you're an adult. I'm an adult and I'd rather spend a lot of time and effort hunting down a $100 Pottery Barn coffee table from Craig's List than go out and spend $600 on one at Pottery Barn. Heck, I love my Ikea bookcase, and it's built just as well as the fancy stuff made for adults who have goals and ambitions in life. I'm not ashamed that my home is full of nice furniture that I purchased second hand, got from my parents, and at Ikea and Target. I wouldn't have had much furniture otherwise, if it meant paying full price.

@tbax929: High five on the Billy bookcases! I have two of them that have survived two moves, and will undergo a third soon.

@Canino: I wonder if they also sell lunch online. I'd like a plate of meatballs shipped to my desk.

@1234tu: I've got a bunch of Ikea furniture from our younger, "po days", which is all real wood, no particle board. It's holding up as well as the more expensive stuff that we've purchased since.

"Enjuy your affurdable Svedish crep!"

Actually we have a great IKEA coffee table that's quite sturdy, bought second-hand even. It's super-badass - folds open to be twice as big, and still cheerfully stores our Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and 80's Vintage Kool-Aid Trivia game..

The coffee table cannot be destroyed.

@pecan 3.14159265: "I don't get why people don't understand. If you buy within your means and your means are Craig's List and Ikea, kudos to you. There's no shame in that."

EXACTLY!!! Everyone here CONSTANTLY tells everyone "buy within your means!" but as soon as someone does, it's not "good enough and it's "crappy" and why don't we go for more expensive stuff?! Um, because I can't afford it?

For the record, my Ikea bed was actually given to me by a friend who no longer needed it (it was practically new!) due to a move. It is awesome and I love it.

Most of my furniture is hand-me-downs. Except my fancy computer chair, which was a birthday gift.

I'm not ashamed at all. I spent well within my means and I'm happy with that!

@1234tu: Sounds like you could have written a post on your live journal article with no research and not even clicked into this article. Instead you decided to follow a post that people will find relevant and made a comment that is completely irrelevant, uninformed and quite useless.

You win the prize!