CUTTING CORNERS IS NOT GREEN. IT’S JUST CRAPPY.

06.30.09

I’m still mad at Ikea. And it’s about my fifty-nine cents.

Yes, my fifty-nine cents.

Yesterday, I spent three hours in Ikea looking, oohing, aahing, generally being inspired, adding items to my cart with abandon, and loving life. My cart was overflowing with lovely products.

And then I got to the checkout, where I found out: there are no bags. Yes, that’s right, no bags. A bag will cost fifty-nine cents. And I went blind with rage.

Ikea says this is eco-friendly and green because their bags, which cost $.59, are reusable. I say this is highway robbery — Ikea is cutting costs by nickeling and diming its customers, despite the average sale at Ikea being hundreds upon hundreds of dollars.

This would be completely and utterly un-get-away-with-able in a less-than-behemoth corporation. If, as an artist, I just throw a bunch of prints your way and say packaging is extra, you would never use my services again. If your clients order items from you and have to pay separately for shipping and pay again, separately, FOR THE BOX IT GETS SHIPPED IN, clients would have a hissy fit.

If you are selling enjoyable, quality products and experiences to your clients, don’t insult them by charging that last fifty-nine cents. (If you must, raise the price of your products by fifty-nine cents, and throw the bag in for free. )

And for the love of Pete, DON’T tell me your practices are eco-friendly when they’re merely cutting corners.

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brandcampblog - May 19, 2010 - 11:45 am

It was more about spending a grand and not getting a bag, which I reuse to death…bringing my own bag wasn’t an option, as everything was bulky. I have and use eco-friendly bags at the grocery store…but lamps don’t fit in them…

I heart your perspective, Jeanette.

Jeanette - May 19, 2010 - 11:32 am

Just hitting your archives for a moment this morning and this actually made me smile ’cause it shows a tad bit of American-centric thinking….

You’re used to bags, so you expect ‘em. Not providing them must be based on economics. But Ikea is not an American company.

Lots of places in Canada it’s normal for stores to not provide bags…paper or plastic. You bring your own, or you have none. Other stores, you want bags, you have to pay. Of course, it’s also normal to see garbage areas in mall food courts or on the street separated into garbage, recycling and compost. And both compost and recycling are mandatory along with your city garbage…in some places garbage placed on curb for pickup must be in clear bags so you can tell it does not contain compost-able or recyclable goods. Other countries take environmental stuff WAY more seriously than the US – and the onus is placed on the consumer to step up.

I was thrilled to see Ikea take that step. If they pussy-footed around it, most people would still use the non-biodegradable, one time use, end up in landfill bags. Yes, a few people might bring their own bags or purchase the ones from ikea – but even with a discount, most people won’t.

I realize this is not about the environment, but actually about how we service our clients…but it all ties back in. I think there are cases where, if my clients wanted an option that was way more environmentally costly (say they purchased digital files that could be delivered electronically but wanted them mailed on DVD…the environmental cost is the DVD+ the packaging -fancy or utilitarian- + the fossil fuels for delivery to post office and then clients home, etc, etc). Is their a way to help my client choose the greener option…or make it the only one available?

Just food for thought, and a different perspective.

Alicia - June 30, 2009 - 11:19 pm

Most places here that do the bag thing give you a 20 cent bonus per bag for bringing in your own bags- but I have never heard of anyone not offering bags at all- only bags that you pay for! Ridiculous