'It's Like a Nets Game, Only Yellower!'

No interest in IKEA 'til the hoopla ends but I just did a big Fairway shopping so I can stay the hell away from Van Brundt for a while.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:08 AM

Yeah, it looks like every other Ikea in the world and the traffic is a mess, as predicted. Congratulations to Ikea and it's Nazi owner.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:11 AM

Ikea, Wal-mart, Target, K-mart, I don't shop at any of them, so it doesn't matter. They sell sub-standard products made for a disposable society. Not only do you get what you pay for, you get to throw it out shortly and pay for it all over again.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:22 AM

We shopped there this morning. It was great and the waterfront park was lovely. If you don't like it, don't shop there--its pretty simple. However, it offers many attractive and affordable furniture and kitchen choices for most people.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:29 AM

Give me a break 11:22. Just because you don't shop there doesn't mean that "it doesn't matter." Obviously it matters to the hundreds of thousands of people who do shop there. Most of the furniture in my first home came from Ikea. As my income increased, so did the budget for my furniture but I was able to pass my Ikea furniture on to others who appreciated it. Having a nice place to come home to was important to me back in those days because I couldn't afford to eat out much. Although had ther been an Ikea in Brooklyn back then, it would have surely been a dining option for me.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:37 AM

forget about Ikea – THE PARK IS AMAZING!!!

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:38 AM

Ikea is also a very green company, for those who care. Flat packing and little off gassing in their products. Check treehugger.com.

Also good looking modern furniture. Will be in the need of new kitchen cabinets soon. Ikea will be where I will shop.

Those without a lot of money can get good looking stuff at affordable prices.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:43 AM

Give you a break 11:37. What for. I believe I was expressing my own opinion and yes, it doesn't matter to "ME". It won't and I beleived I used the word "I" and maybe I should have included "ME" and "Myself" also so you wouldn't have to guess that I wasn't speaking on your behalf in the first place. So blow me now. But don't get offended when you upgrade your kitchens with those IKEA cabinets and then put your place on the market expecting some sort of return from that. Are you also one of those people commenting how cheap and shoddy some of these condo developments (i.e. Novo) have finished off their units with?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:17 PM

Yes Ikea may be green....but what about the thousands of cars driving to and from shopping at Ikea...what is green about that?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:20 PM

It never ceases to amaze me how Ikea has managed to bill itself as a green company. I would really love it if someone did a study on the amount of Ikea furniture that ends up in land fills. I'm pretty sure that most of it ends up in a landfills within ten years of being manufactured. As for off gassing. I bought a few Ikea kitchen cabinets over a year ago and I can still smell the off gassing everytime I open one of the cabinets. Furthermore the number of miles shoppers drive to Ikea every year is absolutely staggering. On average across the country shoppers drive over thirty miles to get to Ikea. Doesn't sound like a very green business model to me.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:24 PM

Heather, Ikea has still yet to release the number of people they have employed from the Red Hook projects. And they do not offer health insurance to all the employees. Only full time employees, which most are not.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:27 PM

Where are all the Red Hook retards (all ten of them) mourning the loss of their beloved contaminated brownfield?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:30 PM

Re IKEA and landfills.

1) Some IKEA stuff is of good quality (kitchens come to mind); office furniture too. Other things I wouldn't purchase. Like many other chains that started at lower price points, there seems to be a gradual "upmarketing." (I may be wrong).

2) 7 years ago I bought a bedroom set (headboard, armoire, dresser and night table from THOMASVILLE, when I was sick of mismatched bedroom furniture. BIG COAST. BIG MISTAKE. A number of wrong drawers were delivered, the tops of some of the pieces were scored and had worm holes, and there were other quality issues. Customer service sucked. Concerned about the quality from the start, I tried to return it BUT COULD NOT.

Flash forward seven years: the screws on a number of drawer pulls have stripped; the pull-out mechanisms have failed on 5 of 10 drawers on one of the dressers, and 1 drawer on the armoire has also failed. It's embarrassing to look at this crappy furniture, but having spent all that money, I can't justify replacing it yet.

At the same time I bought an Ikea office grade desk unit. I still love it.

AND if there had been a problem, they would have taken it back with a minimum of questions.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:41 PM

Ikea's customer service is the absolute worst. Accept for right now, with the big opening of Ikea Red Hook, their customer service will be great for about half a year or less. Seriously. If you have anything to return, do it now, because they will take anything. Take a crap on the return desk and demand your money back.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:49 PM

"...shoppers drive over thirty miles to get to Ikea. Doesn't sound like a very green business model to me."

As opposed to getting your furniture how? Cutting down trees in Prospect Park and building it yourself?

Rememeber: think first, then type.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:51 PM

I have had my Ikea kitchen cabinets for less than 2 years, and although I agree that the hardware is all very good for the money, the doors, which were expensive, all have noticeable and unfixable dings in them. I am sure that I will have to replace them in the next few years. I am not particularly klutzy but I do cook in my kitchen and the occasional pot does run into a door. These doors will be going to a landfill in way less than 10 years.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:53 PM

"As opposed to getting your furniture how? Cutting down trees in Prospect Park and building it yourself?"

No, as opposed to buying at a local furniture store instead of a big box store that counts on people driving from as far as 90 miles away.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:56 PM

12:41 again: I don't think Customer service "is the absolute worst." It does take TIME (but they have a numbering system, benches to wait on, and the food shop nearby), and they have tightened their guidelines since a few years ago, but I've seen worse MUCH WORSE. Like the designer clothing store in Soho that would give me $12 for a pricy Christmas present I returned 1 day after their deadline. "But it was purchased on December 7th."--Last I looked Christmas STILL is 12/25.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:57 PM

If people are driving 90 miles to Ikea, odds are that there aren't any affordable local furniture stores.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 12:58 PM

I like the shuttle bus from Boro Hall.
Really a nice public service.
Bravo IKEA!

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:06 PM

Yes, by all means, I hope everyone takes advantage of the free shuttle bus to get to Red Hook. As well as the free water taxi to and from Manhattan. I have no plan on shopping at Ikea but will def take advantage of their free services. BTW, i'm sure these services will not be free forever. Just Ikea trying to make themselves out to be this all-good company.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:12 PM

Where can you get the water taxi in Manhattan? How cool is that?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:31 PM

12:56 that is not ikea problem, it's the consumers that should drive hybrid cars or take more public transportation rather than driving SUV's just like I suppose you do!

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:32 PM

I had the same problem with my Thomasville furniture when I upgraded from Ikea. I purchased the Kent Park bedroom Armoire, Headboard, dresser and mirror. The mahogany veneers are starting to peel and crack and when I informed Thomasville, I was told that it was no longer under warranty. $8000 down the drain. From what I hear Drexel Heritage and Bernhardt aren't much better. BTW, 11:22 you are an ass.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:38 PM

So wait, the shuttle bus and water taxi are free? what is stopping a red hook resident from using this to commute to work?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:42 PM

IKEA is NOT green...it's colors are blue and yellow! How obvious.

(lighten up people...many are dying in Iraq every day for no reason, and all of you are concerned about where we should buy furniture. Some people in the world don't even own any furniture...and I can assure you that they are not obsessing about where IKEA builds another store. They are just trying to figure out how to make it to the next day.)

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:45 PM

12:56 - except the local store had to get the furniture shipped to their store - generally a regional distribution center, and you still will likely need a car/truck to get the furniture into your home - unless you live literally right next door.

Plus Ikea offers one stop shopping so it is also more likely that your 30mi car trip (this ignores that Ikea is now less than 20mi from 8M people and is offering free public transportation and furniture delivery) will result in buying more of your furniture needs - thereby potentially reducing the overall number of trips.

Look we get it - you do not like big box stores and Ikea - thats fine - but your ridiculous environmental analysis is not well thought out and totally simplistic. Just b/c the place has a parking lot and/or it isnt in walkable distance - doesnt necessarily mean it is environmentally unfriendly - we are talking about Furniture here not milk - sometimes car/truck transport can be environmentally the greenest way to go - it all depends - but letting your built in bias determine the 'facts' undermines your credibility.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 1:57 PM

All I'm saying is that, if you live in Manhattan, going to Newark can actually be closer/aster, and actually becomes cheaper because you will not pay taxes on your items. I don't think it will wind up being packed after a while in the way Newark is. We shall see.

Too bad it wasn't turned into a beautiful waterfront with small businesses, locally owned and the like.
But, if the people want, they want.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:16 PM

Aw I miss being the only one on the water taxis. There goes my good time.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:20 PM

FYI-you are still responsible for the sales tax on items bought in NJ and NY State now makes you swear that you payed all the sales tax on your State Return.

Just saying....

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:23 PM

Thank you 1:58 - you said exactly what I wanted to say...

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:26 PM

No you are not responsible to pay taxes, on items in NJ that do not have tax.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:26 PM

I sit corrected it is 3.5% sales tax at the jersey store

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:30 PM

Here's another example of Ikea not being green. They place their big box store on waterfront property with views of New York Harbor and then they truck all their furniture into the store from New Jersey. How laughable is that? How green is that?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:32 PM

Boy, a lot of people defending Ikea today. Makes me think the Ikea PR machine is out in full force on the blogs today.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:34 PM

2:16...get real. Locally owned small businesses? For any new commercial developments, Landlords are looking for leasing commitments prior to construction. And do you really think they would be able to pay the rents needed to justify building such a commercial complex anyway? Unfortunately, that's business.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:37 PM

Has Nokilissa been run over by a Ikea-bound SUV yet?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:44 PM

2:26 - what are you talking about - if you buy something out of state to be brought into NY - and it is subject to NY Sales Tax (like furniture) - then under the law - you owe the 8.75% sales tax to NY State.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 2:51 PM

2:32 - the issue isnt if they are "green" - since the term "green" has no meaningful definition and virtually every human activity can be done in a more environmentally friendly way (if cost and effort were not considered) - the issue is - "green" compared to the alternatives.

While there are many reasons to criticize Ikea, I simply do not see any alternatives that (at least at the sales and distribution end) are obviously 'greener'. It is simply silly to criticize a furniture store (large purchases - generally requiring delivery - done infrequently over a lifetime) simply because it is a "big box store" - since most of the criticism of 'big boxes', doesnt apply to this type of purchase.

I also find it funny how the same people who scoff at the environmental benefits of building dense communities (ie 4th Ave, Atlantic Yards, Downtown Brooklyn etc....) love to [falsely and simplistically] scream the same concerns when it suits them (i.e. anti-Ikea)

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 3:00 PM

Forget Ikea, my afternoon was spent on the Brooklyn Bridge watching "the Waterfall" that is on the Brooklyn Piers. It was on for a test run was pretty impressive. Can't wait till they're all on at once! I believe that happens next week.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 3:41 PM

Is it true they are turning the Brooklyn Piers into a giant Slip-n-Slide?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 4:16 PM

Oh that Waterfall project looks nifty
http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/index.cfm?objectid=C77E8795-FF00-454A-64222BE30BB4D7A0

Can we get the IKEA ferry to pass by and give out bright yellow rain slickers (a la Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls)?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 4:44 PM

May be a little late in this conversation-- but I live in Prospect Heights and if someone can inform me about all these local furniture stores that sell affordable high quality furniture, I would love to shop there. Really though. Where are they? All the detractors seem to know about a bunch of them.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 4:56 PM

And what's the deal with, they drive it in from NJ arguments? Where do you think EVERYTHING in Manhattan/ Brooklyn comes from?

Ever notice how there are virtually zero docks in NYC and tons of them in NJ?

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 4:58 PM

11:43 AM,

as stated above in several posts, IKEA is probably one of the least green companies imaginable. the fact that they have duped anyone into advertising that falseness is inexplicable. they churn out garbage furniture that has short life span, half of which is made with plastic laminates (and plastic itself), and it's all made as cheaply as possible by cheap labor in far away places. not only is it junk that fills landfills, but its embodied energy is massive. enjoy your "green" furniture. i imagine Walmart is now green too, as are all stores, it sells don't you know.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 5:17 PM

4:56 PM,

full furniture sets cheap at goodwill in Clinton Hill on Downing street. some are quite nice. also kitchen cabs (very nice ones) at build it green in queens. these are just two off the top of my head. take a minute and look around.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 5:21 PM

Most of the so-called local furniture stores sell low-quality laminate crap that was made overseas.

Gothic Cabinet Craft makes real wood furniture at a decent price. Not as cheap as Ikea, certainly, and nothing particularly modern if that's the look you're after.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 6:11 PM

Sorry Denton but not all of us are multi-millionares who can afford E.J.Audi - I almost have to believe your post is supposed to be ironic, otherwise you definitely win the award for most out of touch poster of the day.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 8:51 PM

Are all four of my family members supposed to sit on the one stool that I can afford to buy from E.J. Audi? Or maybe I could just save up 5000K to purchase a rug there and we can use it as living room furniture, bedroom furniture and the dining room table.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 9:10 PM

I just want Brooklyn to stay exactly the way I'm used to, forever.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 9:30 PM

i think the park was a shit dove handed over to the community b/c they agreed to it. minimal plantings and asphalt pavement with a generic lawn? come on people, this was an afterthought! go back there and look at the details of construction...complete crap. ikea could have done so much more for the community. it's evident that they only did it mask the big yellow and blue box in the sky.

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 10:31 PM

Yeah, the toxic pile of debris that was in that spot was so much better!

Posted by: guest at June 18, 2008 11:39 PM

To poster 12:27 statement about health insurance....you are mis-informed!! I have been an IKEA coworker for over 10 years on the west coast. IKEA offers some of the best benefits within the retail world. IKEA offers medical, dental and vision insurance to all coworkers...full or part time! They offer a great benefits package which not only includes insurance, but also paid vacations, personal days, flexible holidays, 401K matching program, discount programs to top retailers, discounted lunch programs...I could go on and on.

Maybe you are thinking of seasonal coworkers...which are rarely hired, but do not receive benefits.

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 2:35 AM

11:39, i wasn't comparing it to anything before. i was making the point that they obviously did not care that much to put $ and effort into making a nice park. i mean it's OK, but kind of a slap in the face to the community, since this was supposed to be the olive branch of public relations. but alas, it is true ikea form that they provide something the sounds/looks good on the surface, but when you look at the details of construction, it's complete crap.

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 9:45 AM

I dont get it - if the park looks and sounds good - who cares how it was "constructed"?

Its a nice park - gives waterfront access where there was none and i nicely insulated from the Ikea shopping experience - what else do you want? What were you expecting?

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 10:47 AM

I had to go to Red Hook yesterday after work. So, I decided to take the IKEA water taxi. It was a very pleasant experience, but I didn't go into the store.

Thanks, IKEA. I plan to do it again next week.

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 11:00 AM

As teachers, we've had to furnish our home(s) creatively rather than having much cash to throw at the problem, but we've tried to avoid buying cheap, disposable junk. If you look carefully, there are good values to be found at Ikea.

My husband and I have lots of heavy books (two graduate programs's worth). We bought Ikea's Billy bookcases 15+ years ago and have been really happy with them. They have held up beautifully through 6 moves, including overseas and back: no sagging shelves, no cracks, no dings. Short ones, tall ones, they are all super sturdy; not landfill candidates at all.

We also discovered Stickley when we were graduate students (their factory is still in upstate NY, and is open for tours.) The value for money is amazing. For some strange reason, Stickley is much less expensive then the other brands in the EJ Audi stores, even though it is beautifully handcrafted solid wood. On a good sale, with a coupon on top, you'll get better quality at a lower price than mid-tier brands like Thomasville or Ethan Allen, and you'll get something solid that lasts for generations.

We are also fans of reuse: check out the used kitchens at Build it Green or Green Demolitions.org. Our new (used) kitchen was much less expensive than Ikea's, easier to install, kept a lot of material from the landfill, and the proceeds go to a good charity.

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 1:28 PM

There must be something to IKEA. It's the only furniture store I know of that has a loyal, devoted following: www.ikeafans.com. Over 54,000 members!

Posted by: guest at June 19, 2008 1:30 PM

Per http://www.mainstreet.com/video-when-big-store-goes-small-town?puc=msgoogle&cm_ven=MSGoogle

"It must have something to do with the benefits. IKEA employees receive full medical and dental insurance, even if they only work 20-hour weeks – and domestic partners and children are included in the plan. Paid maternity leave, tuition assistance, flexible work schedules and a 401(k) plan all round out the perks of being employed by the corporation. "

Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 10:12 AM