IKEA in the ACT – the countdown is on

Today’s the big day.
ACT Government doing its best to promote IKEA with the overhead signs on main arterial roads in Canberra advertising the fact and also suggesting that there may be some traffic congestion.
Phillip Clark on 666 is suggesting (jovially) fumes from the meatball vats could interfere with jet aircraft.

Congratulations Ikea!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/06/choice-shonky-award_n_8254782.html

You’ll do well in Canberra!

David M said :

Raging Tempest said :

David M said :

A few years ago my daughter and I went to Sydney and picked out a new queensize bed for her bed room. She liked it… We assembled the bed. Lo and behold, the bed rails were around 75 centimetres too short for the mattress.!

Given that you pick up each part of the bed separately, it sounds like you picked up the wrong size rails. Problematic when you are a seven hour round trip away, but not the company’s fault. If they were labelled incorrectly, well, that is shit service.
The aren’t for everybody, but they have been around over 60 years, so their model obviously works.

Actually, no, the rails were the correct ones for the bed, and for an Ikea mattress and therefore too short for standard mattresses, it’s something no-one would notice until, as we did, they used a standard mattress.

You do have to be so careful and take measurements, it’s the same in Europe.
Not only the beds, but the quilts and the covers are different dimensions…so an Ikea King is different to a UK King, but i guess they can’t make every countries size.
But then Aussie and UK sizes are also different for how they classify “standard” sizes.

They are on a winner here:
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/migrant-influx-sparks-run-ikea-103315410.html

miz said :

There is a quasi religious fervour about IKEA which is similar to Canberra’s light rail proponents – the primary element of persuasion is not about being rational but about purported ‘look and feel.’
It is fine to check out the possibilities, but you have to engage rationale to avoid being sold a ‘pup’

There is a quasi religious fervour about IKEA which is similar to Canberra’s light rail opponents – the primary element of persuasion is not about being rational but about purported ‘look and feel.’
It is fine to check out the possibilities, but you have to engage rationale to avoid being sold a ‘pup’

miz said :

There is a quasi religious fervour about IKEA which is similar to Canberra’s light rail proponents – the primary element of persuasion is not about being rational but about purported ‘look and feel.’
It is fine to check out the possibilities, but you have to engage rationale to avoid being sold a ‘pup’

There is a commonality that’s for sure. But to me what is common are keyboard warriors with a holier than thou attitude that they know better and everyone else is so stupid.

IKEA is fine I personally wouldn’t buy most of their furniture but can see why others would. They do however have some quite nice homewares no Allen key required.

There is a quasi religious fervour about IKEA which is similar to Canberra’s light rail proponents – the primary element of persuasion is not about being rational but about purported ‘look and feel.’
It is fine to check out the possibilities, but you have to engage rationale to avoid being sold a ‘pup’

rubaiyat said :

dungfungus said :

Interesting:
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/ikea-billionaire-pays-first-swedish-110619725.html

Would have loved to have seen the Swedish Tax Office prying that out of his thin spotty claws.

Wonder if the meek ATO will be so lucky? Let alone the ACT government that drew a rezoning line around IKEA’s patch of gifted land next to Majura Road.

The luck of the ATO will depend on the resolve of both houses of federal parliament in converting all the talk about taxing multinationals.
Locally, there is a rumour that all Volvo drivers will be exempted form parking fines within the ACT effective one week before the next election.

dungfungus said :

Interesting:
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/ikea-billionaire-pays-first-swedish-110619725.html

Would have loved to have seen the Swedish Tax Office prying that out of his thin spotty claws.

Wonder if the meek ATO will be so lucky? Let alone the ACT government that drew a rezoning line around IKEA’s patch of gifted land next to Majura Road.

Flatpack furniture and an allen key? No thanks!

Interesting:
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/ikea-billionaire-pays-first-swedish-110619725.html

Raging Tempest said :

David M said :

A few years ago my daughter and I went to Sydney and picked out a new queensize bed for her bed room. She liked it… We assembled the bed. Lo and behold, the bed rails were around 75 centimetres too short for the mattress.!

Given that you pick up each part of the bed separately, it sounds like you picked up the wrong size rails. Problematic when you are a seven hour round trip away, but not the company’s fault. If they were labelled incorrectly, well, that is shit service.
The aren’t for everybody, but they have been around over 60 years, so their model obviously works.

Actually, no, the rails were the correct ones for the bed, and for an Ikea mattress and therefore too short for standard mattresses, it’s something no-one would notice until, as we did, they used a standard mattress.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

JimCharles said :

watto23 said :

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

MEATBALLS!

Sorry to ruin your day:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/horse-meat-found-in-ikea-meatballs/story-e6frg6so-1226585487864

As someone who has been to a restaurant in Slovenia that actually served horse meat and also ate horse meat in Kyrgyzstan, neither country it is considered exotic or strange, I find the paranoia about things like this amusing. Now I take issue if its labelled as beef, but actually horse meat, but otherwise its meat and i eat meat. I don’t have this western standards system of whats an acceptable meat to eat other than not eating endangered animals or animals that are farmed in a cruel way (ie korean dog farms which are similar to battery hens).

Or even France, where chevaux is very common. My mother fed us burgers from a French campsite bbq many years ago, not knowing what the hell it was until later…..

I’ve often wondered where they get the meat, I know Australia makes its occasional mass Brumby culls self-financing by selling the meat to some market or other. maybe dog food but who knows eh?
Maybe Australian horses are going to Europe?

There are some brumbies about to be culled at Twickenham this weekend.

Are you anti-Australia Dungers?

It was meant to be a joke Rossco but you have got me thinking about what is “Australian” these days, especially when it comes to sport which has been totally ruined by money.
Sport has nothing to do with nationality or regional identity anymore.
Some of us even eat horse-meat as a choice these days – how un-Australian is that?
And before JC chimes in to correct me about the venue for the next rugby matches, I am not sure is at going to be a Twickenham so lets say “in Europe”.

dungfungus said :

JimCharles said :

watto23 said :

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

MEATBALLS!

Sorry to ruin your day:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/horse-meat-found-in-ikea-meatballs/story-e6frg6so-1226585487864

As someone who has been to a restaurant in Slovenia that actually served horse meat and also ate horse meat in Kyrgyzstan, neither country it is considered exotic or strange, I find the paranoia about things like this amusing. Now I take issue if its labelled as beef, but actually horse meat, but otherwise its meat and i eat meat. I don’t have this western standards system of whats an acceptable meat to eat other than not eating endangered animals or animals that are farmed in a cruel way (ie korean dog farms which are similar to battery hens).

Or even France, where chevaux is very common. My mother fed us burgers from a French campsite bbq many years ago, not knowing what the hell it was until later…..

I’ve often wondered where they get the meat, I know Australia makes its occasional mass Brumby culls self-financing by selling the meat to some market or other. maybe dog food but who knows eh?
Maybe Australian horses are going to Europe?

There are some brumbies about to be culled at Twickenham this weekend.

Are you anti-Australia Dungers?

JimCharles said :

watto23 said :

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

MEATBALLS!

Sorry to ruin your day:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/horse-meat-found-in-ikea-meatballs/story-e6frg6so-1226585487864

As someone who has been to a restaurant in Slovenia that actually served horse meat and also ate horse meat in Kyrgyzstan, neither country it is considered exotic or strange, I find the paranoia about things like this amusing. Now I take issue if its labelled as beef, but actually horse meat, but otherwise its meat and i eat meat. I don’t have this western standards system of whats an acceptable meat to eat other than not eating endangered animals or animals that are farmed in a cruel way (ie korean dog farms which are similar to battery hens).

Or even France, where chevaux is very common. My mother fed us burgers from a French campsite bbq many years ago, not knowing what the hell it was until later…..

I’ve often wondered where they get the meat, I know Australia makes its occasional mass Brumby culls self-financing by selling the meat to some market or other. maybe dog food but who knows eh?
Maybe Australian horses are going to Europe?

There are some brumbies about to be culled at Twickenham this weekend.

ungruntled said :

Rubyait, many of your comments may be correct, but I do not think your comments about the quality of Ikea products is correct.

My experience has been quite the opposite. I have put in two Ikea kitchens & forn no problems at all. The pieces were cut to within a millimetre accuracy, they went together easily and lasted well. I am now living in a house where the flooring is Ikea & has been here for 25 years & still looks good – quick mop & it’s sparkling.

They have a mixture, I’ve got a 20 year old large coffee table that’s outstanding quality, you wouldn’t think it was an Ikea and we’ve dragged it to 3 countries now.
But they make a lot of money from the cheap goods they pile high in the marketplaces, and the stuff aimed at students and renters.

watto23 said :

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

MEATBALLS!

Sorry to ruin your day:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/horse-meat-found-in-ikea-meatballs/story-e6frg6so-1226585487864

As someone who has been to a restaurant in Slovenia that actually served horse meat and also ate horse meat in Kyrgyzstan, neither country it is considered exotic or strange, I find the paranoia about things like this amusing. Now I take issue if its labelled as beef, but actually horse meat, but otherwise its meat and i eat meat. I don’t have this western standards system of whats an acceptable meat to eat other than not eating endangered animals or animals that are farmed in a cruel way (ie korean dog farms which are similar to battery hens).

Or even France, where chevaux is very common. My mother fed us burgers from a French campsite bbq many years ago, not knowing what the hell it was until later…..

I’ve often wondered where they get the meat, I know Australia makes its occasional mass Brumby culls self-financing by selling the meat to some market or other. maybe dog food but who knows eh?
Maybe Australian horses are going to Europe?

rubaiyat said :

bd84 said :

Most of the furniture shops in Fyshwick have already closed in the last 2 years. A drive along Gladstone street shows a lot of empty shops that used to be selling furniture.

From what I have seen of their products, the main competitor for IKEA is Fantastic Furniture selling cheap flat packs or more expensive stuff that is of a slightly more better quality. Cheap stuff is reflects the actual low quality, the more expensive stuff is better, but not substantially so. Hours of fun after lugging your purchase home to put it all together. This will suit some people, but not a large number of others.

I don’t really expect there to be another rush of more furniture shops closing, or for the big guys to give up on furniture. It appears to have a niche in the market that could be sustained, and like other new shops, the novelty will wear off after a few months.

The furniture stores are all in what used to be the DFO, they haven’t closed.

It will be hard to compete with a huge international operation that not only avoids paying tax by shifting profits offshore but gets the local government to excise a specific piece of land out of the existing zoning just for them.

To what end I do not know. Large corporations have been playing this game all round the world for decades now to the point that they make the major decisions and the governments simply comply.

Wait till you see what concessions the tram people get.

bd84 said :

Most of the furniture shops in Fyshwick have already closed in the last 2 years. A drive along Gladstone street shows a lot of empty shops that used to be selling furniture.

From what I have seen of their products, the main competitor for IKEA is Fantastic Furniture selling cheap flat packs or more expensive stuff that is of a slightly more better quality. Cheap stuff is reflects the actual low quality, the more expensive stuff is better, but not substantially so. Hours of fun after lugging your purchase home to put it all together. This will suit some people, but not a large number of others.

I don’t really expect there to be another rush of more furniture shops closing, or for the big guys to give up on furniture. It appears to have a niche in the market that could be sustained, and like other new shops, the novelty will wear off after a few months.

The furniture stores are all in what used to be the DFO, they haven’t closed.

It will be hard to compete with a huge international operation that not only avoids paying tax by shifting profits offshore but gets the local government to excise a specific piece of land out of the existing zoning just for them.

To what end I do not know. Large corporations have been playing this game all round the world for decades now to the point that they make the major decisions and the governments simply comply.

Most of the furniture shops in Fyshwick have already closed in the last 2 years. A drive along Gladstone street shows a lot of empty shops that used to be selling furniture.

From what I have seen of their products, the main competitor for IKEA is Fantastic Furniture selling cheap flat packs or more expensive stuff that is of a slightly more better quality. Cheap stuff is reflects the actual low quality, the more expensive stuff is better, but not substantially so. Hours of fun after lugging your purchase home to put it all together. This will suit some people, but not a large number of others.

I don’t really expect there to be another rush of more furniture shops closing, or for the big guys to give up on furniture. It appears to have a niche in the market that could be sustained, and like other new shops, the novelty will wear off after a few months.