On Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:39:18 +0000, David.WE.Roberts wrote:

Ikea always seems to go together right - unless, of course, you don't
follow the instructions correctly.

We have put a lot of Ikea stuff together over the years.

It just works.

I've just spent a frustrating (well, it felt like at least an hour)
trying to put a B&Q circular garden table together.

Should be simple. Two metal frames at right angles, held in place by a
metal loop with welded brackets.

Turns out after much pushing and grunting and removing and refitting
that the frame is bent to f*ck and/or not welded up correctly.

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/outdoo...iture/tables/-
specificproducttype-dining_tables/Lavezzi-Dining-Table-12718771?
noCookies=false

or

http://tinyurl.com/odtd7f3

is what is should look like.

Now trying to ring them up to ask them to hold a replacement for us.

Friday evening is not a good time to get customer service.

It is a shame that there isn't an Ikea anywhere near us. Nearest is
about 1.5 hours drive each way.

So how can Ikea do it and remain cheap, and B&Q just can't?


Well, got the replacement and put that together O.K. (ish).

General design is very good, both for looks and for self assembly.

The manufacturing is crap.

The frame almost fits together although a couple of the captive bolts (or
tapped whatever) are banjaxed but at least it sits firmly on the deck, and
the composite top is very nice indeed.

So good engineering and style in the design.

Rubbish production.

But I guess that is the way of business these days - cheaper to order
goods with a 10% or more failure rate and just throw away the rejects than
to pay a bit more for quality control at the point of manufacture.

So we pay the price of returning goods for the reduction in overall price.

Cheers

Dave R