Consumerist
frugality
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recalls
Recall Roundup: Extra Scary Edition
It's Halloween, and what's scarier than exploding DVD player batteries and killer flatware? Or dairy lurking in an innocent-looking tortilla? What about a zombie ATV that accelerates on its own? More » -
ikea
IKEA Starts Checking Receipts
Party time is over at the Red Hook IKEA where, taking a cue from their big-box brethren Walmart and Home Depot, the Swedish maker of flat-packed furniture has instituted some intense receipt checking procedures.
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window shopping
IKEA In Beijing Is More Like A Giant Public Living Room
On our last visit to IKEA earlier this summer, we noted with sadness how there was a certain GAP-like feeling about a lot of the merchandise, by which we mean it seemed dull and forgettable. But maybe we've been approaching shopping at IKEA the wrong way. More » -
breastfeeding
IKEA Sends Mother And Infant To Bathroom To Breastfeed
The IKEA in Red Hook, Brooklyn is the latest retail establishment that needs reminding: Yes, women have the right to breastfeed their infants in public. No, you cannot banish them to the restroom. Yes, people will get angry when word gets out. More » -
particleboard
Why You Shouldn't Buy From Ikea
Ikea. The four-letter word we love to use. It's cheap, it's cool, there's a bus, they have products named after onomatopoeic bodily functions, and where else can you eat lingonberries?! Well, this month's issue of The Atlantic More » -
evasive
IKEA's Memorial Day Deals Sound Nice If You Can Find Them
One thing we've always hated about shopping at IKEA is how their inventory varies so much from website to store to store, making it hard to track down something you wanted to purchase. Their big Memorial Day sale is no better. Tracy was checking out the website and flyers for the sale and noticed some fine print at the bottom. More » -
above and beyond
IKEA Flies Your Sofa Cover From Philly To LA In Their Luggage
IKEA isn't really known for their customer service, but apparently one location in LA is trying to change that. More » -
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credit reports
FTC Launches Own Singing Credit Report Commercials
As we've said repeatedly, AnnualCreditReport.com is the good website to go to when you need to pull a credit report, because it's actually free. The others, including freecreditreport.com, use the promise of free the way an angler fish uses its forehead-worm-thing to trap dumb little fish. The FTC has decided to fight fire with fire by releasing its own jingles. To be honest, we're not 100% sold on them—they have kind of a squaresville, PBS vibe, which is gonna really hamper their viral power. Check them out below. More » -
ikea
Disguised As Dishcloths Pile, Man Hides Inside IKEA
Some German's art project is to engage in "urban camouflage" by creating three different ghillie suits made of bulk IKEA items: piles of dishcloths, boxes, and shopping bags. Then he goes and "hides" out in the open inside the IKEA, blending in with his surroundings and only disturbing shoppers when he moves. Hilarious, brilliant! Here are the videos so you get the full effect: More » -
It looks like Ikea is stepping up where Denny's failed; breakfast will be served for free in many Ikea locations starting today, before 10:30. It expires on the 16th, so grab as much of the free Swedish grub as you can! [MainStreet]
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call center scams
IKEA Employee Steals $400,000 In Less Than A Year
An IKEA employee who worked in a Baltimore-area call center has plead guilty to stealing almost $400,000 in less than a year. His motivation? "Pure greed," according to his confession. More » -
ikea
EECB Cures Ikea Phone Loop, Induces Mass Customer Service
All reader Scott wanted to do was get his daughter a 'Big Girl Bed'. After a nearly 6-hour trek to a nearly empty Ikea, Scott had to grab the name of the bed and attempt to pick it up himself at the 'furniture pick-up'. However, when he arrived home, he was not happy to learn that it didn't come with all the pieces he needed to build it. Stuck in a robot-phone loop, Scott turned to the tried-and-true EECB. See Scott's letter, as well as Ikea's response, inside. More » -
ikea
Top 10 Geeky IKEA Hacks
Lifehacker has 10 neat IKEA hacks. That's right, toss the manual and start making your own cool Scandinavian-infused furniture mods. In particular, I enjoy the tutorials on making an Allen wrench drill bit and embedding scrap bowls into your counter top. I remember reading one time on the IKEA hacker blog about how you could "make" a couch by binding together a series of the same chairs with plastic ties. That was pushing the bounds a bit, but most of these are straight-up useful, especially if you're a nerd.
Top 10 IKEA Furniture Mods [Lifehacker] (Photo: joelgoodman)
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ikea
Leaving IKEA Empty-Handed
I was in IKEA last night to replace a file cabinet. They didn't have the right one but I picked out a close approximation. While I was waiting in line I thought, what the hell am I doing dropping $160 on a stupid box just to hold my hanging folders? So I got out of line and abandoned my flat-packed box and resolved to see what the nearby STAPLES has to offer tomorrow. Have you found yourself abandoning stuff in the checkout line more often? Or otherwise reevaluating and cutting back on certain kinds of purchases lately that in the past you might have made without thinking?
(Photo: Ben Popken)
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ikea
Help! IKEA's Delivery Guys Smashed My iPod!
Reader Belinda's iPod and a few accessories were smashed by some delivery guys contracted by IKEA. When she tried to file a claim for the $500 worth of damage they did, she got the runaround until she eventually gave up and wrote to us. More » -
wii fit
Morning Deals
- Newegg: Wii Fit with Balance Board, We Ski, and Hori Wii mat for $149.99
- Apple: Buy a Mac, get an iPod touch for free after rebate
- IKEA: Labor Day Sale, up to 50% off (in-store only)
- Eastern Mountain Sports: Labor Day Sale Save up to 70% off
- Amazon: Up to 50%+ off High Sierra Backpacks & Messenger Bags
- Geeks: Kodak EasyShare V1003 10MP Digital Camera $90
- Arbor Day Foundation: 10 trees for $10
- Arby's: BOGO free Super Roast Beef Sandwich, more coupons
- The Fruit Company: 25% off everything coupon
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ikea
IKEA Delivers Couch With Missing Cushion, Insists On Replacing Entire Couch
We've all received IKEA furniture missing screws, but Marc received a couch missing an entire seat cushion. He figured IKEA would quickly hand over a replacement once he pointed out their obvious mistake. Nope! Several employees helpfully explained that the cushion "comes with the couch," and that finding a replacement was "impossible." A resourcefully inept manager finally resolved the situation by insisting that they replace the entire couch. More »
