Dearest Ikea,
We love you. We really do. But yesterday you exploited that relationship and I just can’t bite my tongue this time. Just because “some assembly required” is one of the terms of our relationship, it does not mean that we want to put together every single thing that we buy from you. This means you Kassett storage box.
Sure, putting together your furniture is often part of the Ikea fun. Not only do we gain an affordable and stylish item for our home, but it comes with a guaranteed sense of accomplishment. But there’s no pride in having to assemble my own cardboard box. None at all. Need I remind you that an item like this comes free (and fully assembled!) with the purchase of simple things like shoes and cereal? So why must each of yours require multi-page instructions, a dozen screws and 15 minutes of my life that I’ll never get back?
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a break from all that allen wrench action. But having to punch out 24 holes by hand was a bit ridiculous. You even went as far as to perforate the holes, but stopped short of removing them completely. Really? Or was that a bonus gift. I get a storage box AND complimentary confetti?
In summary, it took me nearly an hour (and 48 screws!) to put together the four Kassett boxes that we bought this weekend. That’s more time than it took me to assemble the Expedit bookcase that houses them. They do look pretty darn good in the end. And I can’t complain about the $6/box price tag. But please, charge me the extra buck or two that it takes you to ship a pre-assembled box (I know shipping things flat saves me money, but a flat bookcase or bed is a lot more of a space saver than a 11.5″ box). I’m begging you. Help me help you help me. And I’m sure that loving feeling will come a-floodin’ right back.
Sincerely, John Petersik
PS: Thank goodness the top of the box came pre-assembled. That, my friend, could’ve really been a deal breaker.
Viv says
How do you say “Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha” in Swedish? I think they have some people in product development who think we are all evil geniuses.
I was feeling sorry for myself because the plastic boxes that I put in the Expedit in my laundry room were so hard to click together. The instructions even had a triumphant “Click!” at the end of every stage. Now I realize they were a breeze compared to the other boxes.
erin says
Your box assembly comments made me smile…we just took a trip to Ikea this weekend, as well and came back with some Kassett boxes (a big trip for us since we live in Birmingham, AL and the closest one is in Atlanta about 2 1/2 hours away + traffic!)
Did you use a flat-head screwdriver to pop those holes out? Since I had it out from folding down the backs of he “label holders”, I used those and they came out in a cinch. But you’re right–it does take a little while (still haven’t finished all mine)! And the little dots everywhere would have made me nuts if it weren’t for the dust-buster! ;-)
Madelaine says
I love these boxes! I can’t tell you how many I have, in multiple sizes. I agree they are a bit of a pain to put together, but having to assemble them yourself insures no damaged corners in shipping or getting them home. I’m sure I will buy more as needs expand and I’ll just deal with the time it takes to put them together.
Amber M says
I sincerely hope that you sent them this letter. I would enjoy reading this if I worked for Ikea! And this made my night! Hahaha.
Elizabeth L says
Funny! My floor looked just like that last picture a few months ago. I own 16 assembled – took about an hour – and 4 more still in the box of these in various sizes and, good lord what a pain. If they would just punch those stupid holes out all the way and if those screws weren’t so hard to turn.
But, I do love the boxes and for the price, I guess the pain is worth it.
Rosie says
See, I don’t mind that these ones come flat packed. It’s a pretty big space saver, when you see how much room they take up, just on that picture. Imagine thousands of them on a ship. Thats a lotta resources (fuel etc) to ship a whole lotta air!
Jen says
Wow, I JUST put these boxes together for myself last night. It was such a pain that I wish I had just covered a shoe box! I feel your pain!
EXGF2009 says
Totally understand… I’ve owned my home for nearly 5 years and I love IKEA but some things you have to do to enjoy said IKEA purchases and RIDICULOUS!!!
http://confessionsofanexgirlfriend.wordpress.com/
nicole says
i hear you loud and clear.
Ashley says
Wow. I have those exact same boxes from Ikea on top of my kitchen cabinets. After begging the boyfriend to go on a trip to Ikea, we came home with those (and a few other purchases).
After investing far too much time into putting them together, he has vowed to never return to that “European garbage store” again!
I still love that sense of accomplishment… but it’s something he is no longer willing to try 100% because of those boxes!
Grace Hester Designs says
I have those boxes from aeons ago and they did not require this level of assembly. I totally get your frustration but I am tickled with joy that IKEA has not stopped trying to improve on something as simple and as cheap already as the KASSETT boxes. Pass those savings on to me baby! Yes, obviously this good-intentioned attempt did not quite turn out as well and I hope they take heed to the feedback they have probably received by now. “Make it work.”
(I mean, where else can you decorate an entire room for under $300 buckeroos INCLUDING furniture??)
Pamela says
best. post. EVER!
veda says
I absolutely understand what you written in that letter! I badly wanted those boxes but my husband said “girl u buy the boxes and i have to assemble them???”no way! buy something else :-) he wanted a floor lamp and i wanted it too…its looks gorgeous in my living room! and oh i love IKEA! wIsh they started in India too!
by the way you have an awesome site here! njoy reading all ur posts!
regards,
Veda
Lis A says
HA! Cracks me up. Oh IKEA, how we all love you so! Today I tackle 2 Billy bookcases! Your furniture pix are oh-so-right in the basement.
Carrie says
Ohhhhhh, the evils of the KASSETT boxes. I put together 12 of those silly things last summer. Punching through the tiny holes (and cleaning up the subsequent MESS) nearly drove me crazy. If they just came with the stupid dots already removed from the middle of the holes…
Bethany at Emmy Lu says
Amen, brother!!
Jane @ the Borrowed Abode says
Same here. Bought some boxes, cursed at the assembly process. Similar complaints about assembling the Fira mini chests. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80073304 PAIN IN THE REAR! Would have gladly paid a bit more to have it pre-assembled. Sigh.
Amanda S. says
I have sooooo been there. I hated putting those darn boxes together! Never again!!!
Rebecca says
I’m ROLLING, DYING with laughter!! this post has made my day
TheBellaLife says
WHAT A MESS! I would have thrown that away or returned it pronto. I have no patience for that. You are a better person than I am.
Keighely
Sarah says
I feel your pain – but I love these boxes anyway! They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. At the end of each assembly the tips of my fingers do hurt though…Basement looks great!
Melissa says
I have the older model of those boxes, except the ones that I have fold open instead of having to be assembled. I don’t know why they changed the design, it is just a cardboard box.
Susan F. says
So True! My husband I bought those pesky little boxes and were so frustrated about how much energy and time we put in to assemble them! Who would have thought!? We very much agree with and enjoyed your shoutout!
Colleen in MA says
Love this letter! Can’t argue with your logic.
Shanen says
My husband and I bought an Expedit Shelf from IKEA last weekend for our TV. It took us about 15 minutes to put together a stand that holds a 100lb TV… however, the little box insert that goes in the stand took me about 40 minutes to assemble. The TV stand required only wood pegs that slip in to holes… seems sturdy enough (let’s hope!)But for this odd box that goes in the shelf, it actually required 2 different types of screwdrivers, 3 different types of screws and bolts (equaling about 35 different items), and a PHD to understand the instructions!
Avoid this guy at all costs:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90115756
:)
Oonafey says
While I cannot argue with the logic of your rant, I do think it is funny cause I actually enjoyed putting these boxes together. After a month of putting together large, unwieldy IKEA furniture, these boxes are like a vacation. I can kick back, watch some TV in an actual chair (instead of on the floor amidst hundreds of pounds of particle board), and drink a beer while I mindlessly put together boxes.
The “confetti” is a hassle though. I am still finding dots three weeks later!
Holly Marie Gibbs says
I have to admit, I actually enjoyed assembling these boxes. Yeah, sometimes IKEA is a pain like that, but I put these together while watching a movie and it was actually kind of soothing for me. I also happen to be a big organizational freak, so that probably played a role in my enjoyment.
Here’s a pic of my boxes/bookshelf project: http://twitpic.com/gvs54
Candi Rodgers says
A to the men…..
These boxes took forever…but they are stylish and functional.
Nicole RJ says
We recently picked some of those darn boxes up as well… not to mention an in-box system I also had to put together. The flat packing does indeed go a bit far sometimes… but the instructions (with the Ikea man on the help-phone) make me giggle everytime (and tempted me to actually call for assistance with my in-box system! *lol*)
Kajsa says
I did put together about 24 of those for my last apartement. Got a bit tiresome after a while. :)
Christiana says
I did the SAME thing. With 24 of them. The big ones were a little easier than the shoebox sized ones. Eeek.
Sophie says
I have four of these boxes, and like you I have two white and two green.
When I got them, it took me ten minutes alone to try and figure out which part was which and then punch out all the holes. I found it more than a little ridiculous.
Self assembly furniture is fair enough. It’s big and bulky, but you get a lot of enjoyment and change for minimal effort.
It’s BOXES. They’re small and can be packaged and carried easily. Although you get use out of them, they’re hardly a new table or dresser.
This is the one thing about my beloved Ikea that annoys me.
Sarah K says
I laughed so hard I cried. I was just assembling some of these boxes earlier this afternoon – one is actually still lying on the living room floor unassembled…