- IKEA may be "crazy about low prices," but their prices really aren't that great. Sure, $4 is a wonderful price for a single flat sheet, but, when you add $10 for the pillow cases, $10 for the fitted sheet, and however much more for the ruffle, you are paying as much for your sheets as you would pay at a higher-end store. Furthermore, the sheets are terribly uncomfortable. I'm not kidding.
- IKEA's return policy is absolutely unbearable. I opened something partway and didn't use it at all, realizing that I had accidentally purchased the wrong size, and they would not take it back. Yeah, I should have been more careful in my purchase, but in my defense, I swear I checked the package at least ten times before I bought it. I think it had been placed in the area of the size I was looking for and I somehow just grabbed the wrong one. But what happens if you buy a table hoping it will look good and it doesn't? Are you just stuck with it?
- While handy and slick, a lot of IKEA products are good looking and low quality. Sorry, but, it's true.
I do, however, have some nice things to say about IKEA:
- While the everything-sold-separately thing can be rather annoying, it is also brilliant. If you just need two pillow cases, it's really nice to be able to buy them without ending up with sheets you don't need.
- I'm pretty sure 75% of the products in IKEA can be matched together in one way or another. This is especially true with the somewhat eclectic feel contemporary design tends to have. I love that I can have the same bed spread as someone I know and still have a room that looks totally different.
- The show room maze they practically force you through is pretty brilliant, inspiring, and sells a ton.
- I feel happy walking around there, and sometimes anxious because I want everything.
All in all I actually like the store. I just don't think it's quite as tremendous as it's hyped up to be in the end.
Also, please check out this SNL spoof of High School Musical 4 that Natalie showed me. It makes my insides hurt it's so funny.