I ordered a chair from IKEA online on 27/01/2009 and took delivery on 03/02/2009 to find the height/rake levers snapped. As I needed a chair urgently I put it together never the less. Then requested a replacement be sent out. Then advised delivery/collection on 17/02/2009. I attempted to dismantle chair and found a bolt has cross threaded so I can't dismantle for the courier to accept it. They now want to send a truck to collect as assembled on 04/03/2009. What rights do I have? Do I have to go through all this? Can't I just dispose of the faulty chair? Does anyone have experience of taking this further due to inconvenience caused?

I have a4-part wardrobe with mirrored sliding doors that I purchased from IKEA several years ago. The closet has buckled and is collapsing. I called today to find out if someone would come to take a look at it and see if it can be repaired and if not, assist in dismantling it. The response was "We don't carry that line any more so there's no warranty." To make sure I heard right I said, "In other words if you purchase an item today, and tomorrow you don't carry it, you have no recourse?" The rep said "yes." They gave me the name of a set-up service which I called and was told that their workers don't know this piece so they can't help me. As an aside I asked how much they charged for a visit to set up and was told $300. I will not purchase anything from IKEA again and advise anyone thinking of purchasing from them, to be aware of this policy.

About a year or so ago we bought a 2-pack of 24-hr. light timers at IKEA in Stoughton, MA.

The cost was less than $5.00 for both, so we tossed the package (and the receipt). Who keeps a receipt for a $5.00 item?

Last week one of the timers failed, so we took it to IKEA expecting a quick exchange or credit.

Instead, we got "How do we know you didn't buy this at a flea market?"

My God, what presumptiveness! My wife and I are 60-ish and grey-haired, and we drove a half-hour in rotten weather to return a $2 timer, and the clerk responds as if we're thieves.

So already a bit irate, I asked to see the manager.

What seemed like an inordinate amount of time later -- we were all ready to give up and leave -- the manager appeared.

His line was the same.

I told him that IKEA had lost us as customers, and turned to leave. But then, beginning to steam, I turned back and asked for his and the original clerk's name.

Instead of identifying themselves, they threw us out of the store.

I'd like to note that this IKEA store is essentially empty. Apparently other customers have been treated similarly, and have learned their lesson and now shop elsewhere.

IKEA management should be treating its employees well enough, and hiring employees with sufficient intelligent and self-respect, to treat customers with respect. No customer should ever be accused of being a thief (or the equivalent -- buying a broken component at a flea market and trying to return it).

If IKEA management can't manage to believe that the customer is always right, then they are not going to succeed. All they need do is look to General Motors and Chrysler for a view of their future.

The problem with the timer is a built-in inherent design defect. One of the AC line plug prongs is mounted weakly, and breaks away from contact inside the timer. This will happen to people who use the timer intermittently and thus plug and unplug it often, because each re-insertion puts pressure on the defective internal component. This timer is made in China, and it is distributed exclusively by IKEA. Obviously, IKEA is not going to repair the problem, because they weren't interested in replacing the defective product -- or even hearing of the problem.

today I watched a commercial about a woman putting a red dresser together with and elderly woman making comments while she was putting it together. At the end the elderly woman commented about the money that was saved could buy her clothes. Or she could go out with that special man or" woman". She said it was not her place to judge.
I will no longer be shopping at your store and as I have told every body I know about your commercial, they too have decided to ban your store. I agree it is not anyone's place to judge, but that is a personal matter and should not be broadcast on the television. I have grand children and do not wish for them to be exposed to commercials like yours.
I used to like your store, but have now changed my mind.
Sorry, Linda Guthrie

So I took the advice of my friends and family to give Ikea a try (a lot of them are from California and they swear by the place) so I figured I would brave the big blue and yellow monstrosity with bravery in mind and an appetite for a good deal when I was in the market for a new desk. I'll let the uber-hip sheik interior pass without reprimand as the real problem was when I bought my desk and finally carted it back home, it was missing half the screws. So I carted the darned thing back to the store and the customer service simply shrugged their shoulders. Literally, it was nothing more than that. So I've written to corporate. This is truly unacceptable.

What am I going to do with a half allotment of wonky screws, a few pieces of polished wood and an Allen wrench? Good riddance. If you do shop there make sure you check that everything is in the package as promised.