Anyone know why Ikea doesn't deliver in China?

[vellocet]

I got sick of sitting on my uncomfortable couch last night, so I pulled out my laptop and found a new one on Ikea's Chinese website.  It's in stock at the next city down the bullet train line, so I tried to order.  Nothing...you can't order online.  In 2015.  Called them today and even if I take all the trouble to go to their store, they won't ship it unless I spend more than 5000.  WTF?  Please please please tell me this isn't Ikea's Apple-like "screw you, jump through hoops if you want our products" attitude.  It's got to be some oddity of Chinese law. 

[skylee]

“they won't ship it unless I spend more than 5000. ”

This does not sound unreasonable.

[vellocet]

Metro, which is just down the street from Ikea, will deliver if you just give them an address.  You pay, of course, but it's a service they offer because they know well that customers will be buying large bulky merchandise.  Furniture is very bulky.  I really, really hope that this is some weirdness of law and not a "screw you, consumer" attitude.  I was just floored I couldn't order online. 

[edelweis]

Well, I thought the whole point of Ikea is that customers do everything by themselves...

I just checked, Ikea does deliver in France. Mildly surprised.

[dwq]

Are you sure they won't ship it if you pay shipping?

http://www.ikea.com/ms/zh_CN/customer_service/faq/index.html

3、宜家提供送货服务吗？

在宜家，运费从未被加进您购买家具的售价中。宜家家具都采用平板包装的形式，方便运输，您完全可以自己运送产品回家，即刻享受它们。但如果您有需要，我们也提供市内外送货服务。与宜家合作的第三方服务商为您送货上门，只收取合理费用。关于送货时间和相关收费，请咨询当地宜家商场送货处或拨打客服热线。

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_CN/customer_service/faq/index.html

3. Do you deliver?

We never put delivery charge into product price in IKEA. Most of our products are flat packed and designed in such a way that they are easy for you to take home yourself. However, we also have home delivery service. The service will be provided by an IKEA cooperative third-party provider with a reasonable charge. To inquire about delivery standard, please contact the local store delivery service or our hotline.

[eion_padraig]

The one in Guangzhou does deliver within the city. However, they lack of ordering online is rather obnoxious. I've had problems when stuff is out of stock and you can't reserve it when it comes in. They always say to just check back in.

 

I do remember the days in China, when finding a comfortable mattress was all but impossible. I spent about a month's salary on an American made mattress back in 2003. It was well worth the cost and when I left two years later I sold it to another foreigner for about 75% of what I paid for it.

 

Eion

[ChTTay]

IKEA deliver in Beijing. It can be fairly expensive but there wasn't a minimum order when I looked. Obviously it makes sense just to have some very big delivered as otherwise you can just hop in a taxi. The taxi's all come to IKEA and queue in the taxi rank so obviously expect some people with a boat load of stuff... I've found them to be pretty good about having their cars loaded with stuff.

 

I know you're talking about just ordering online and not going to the store... but I can't see why delivery is any different whether you go there or order online.

 

Otherwise, Beijing also has a bunch of 'black taxi' type guys who roam the stores offering delivery for a reduced fee. I think most of them will also assemble whatever you bought too.

[roddy]

Yeah, I wager if you ask a couple of home-owning friends they'll tell you what to do - either there'll be a 代购 service of some kind, or the store will be surrounded by delivery companies and guys with trucks, or...

 

As for why they don't deliver to your city - given the rate IKEA are expanding, I'd imagine their main worry is keeping up with demand, rather than increasing it. 

[imron]

Chinese mattresses are great! I wish I could find something similar back in Australia, but they're all super soft or memory foam stuff. Once you get used to a nice firm mattress it's hard to go back.

[vellocet]

Well, I've checked and evidently there are Taobao sellers who sell Ikea...at list price.  How do they make any money?  Pad the shipping charges?  I thought Taobao was pretty good about not allowing that, it's Ebay sellers who inflate the shipping for extra profits. 

[889]

I haven't done a trial purchase to track the fees, but one of the seller reviews says "还有代购费."

[dwq]

I think you missed the giant 温馨提示 at the top of that Taobao page.

温馨提示：本店所售商品均为宜家商场价，代购费另计，运费也因重量及地区等原因而不同，所以肯请亲们拍下商品后联系客服修改价格，直接拍下付款的买家，一律不给发货，多谢配合！