I got stainless steel utensils there for so cheap and replaced all our plastic black utensils like flippers and big spoons and so on. Is there anything else that is so well priced and good quality to buy while we visit this coming week? We have a baby due later this year too. I’d love to furnish most of our home (we just moved to the city) where possible. I know some products are now expensive compared to what they were but I figure there must be still some good bargain finds!
What are the “loss leaders” at IKEA? Things worth buying that are priced so well that it’s there to get you inside the shop?
byu/88r0b1nh00d88 inFrugal
Posted by 88r0b1nh00d88
21 Comments
The problem with “loss leaders”, is that they are not a deal if you do not need them.
Bargain Hunter is the correct term for buying things because they are a deal.
I doubt Ikea has any true loss leaders, but the Oftast white dishes are a dupe for Corelle tempered glass, and are insanely cheap and durable.
Edited to add: I quite like a lot of their textiles, and some are really inexpensive.
I love their round cork trivets. I probably have 4 packs of them around my house. I bring them with me to potlucks, have a few on my dining table and the rest in the kitchen. I use every single one I can find during canning season. Perfect for putting hot, wet jars on until they cool off.
I usually manage to lose one a year. I don’t know where they go, maybe they’re off with my missing socks.
The loss leaders are the food in the cafeteria. The rest of their products are increasing rapidly in price without the quality. I made a huge move a few months ago and needed a lot of things. The only thing worthwhile at IKEA was the Kallax shelving. Kitchen stuff I got at the dollar store and other furniture I got from Amazon or local retailers. It sucks they aren’t the inexpensive shop they used to be.
We got our crib from ikea for $99 and was great! But really for baby items second hand or fb marketplace is the way to go.
SS utensils shouldn’t be used on non-stick pans, so you may need a couple of quality nylon ones. If you have all stainless or cast iron, you’ll be OK.
Ikea sell a really good dish brush that seems to outlast the cheap ones.
The $24.99 ANTILOP high chair (with tray, $18.99 without) that I got when my daughter was small lasted through her high chair days, and was used by two further children (not mine) until it was given by the third set of parents to someone else. I’m sure it’s still floating around somewhere these ten years later.
They have a cushion insert of the same name for $9.99 that helps for comfort when they’re smaller and is easily removed. Oh! I just saw they have a silicone, dishwasher safe tray mat too for $5.00.
The best part is it’s so easy to clean!
Their cafeteria…. I just go with my boyfriend or friends to eat 😀
Honestly idk if it’s a loss leader but man the wooden hangers are the best. We have those exclusively in our house
Cheapest place to get lint rollers. We have lots of pets so I always load up when there.
Swedish meatballs.
There’s a set of 12 cutlery pieces for $2. It’s plastic and meant for kids and they look very durable.
I love their HILDEGUN kitchen towels (99 cents) that we use as dinner napkins.
Also the ANTAGEN dish brushes (79 cents) with the hooked handle that I can hang over the sink to dry. It has an edge you can use to scrape off cooked-on gunk.
They have some of the softest bath mats I’ve ever felt called TOFTBO. They’re $10 but you occasionally find discontinued colors marked down in the register line. I bought four a few years ago and wash them often and they really hold up.
Edit: I always begin my shopping trip in the AS-IS section. There’s always something cheap in there
Big picture frames, comforter sets, they usually have one stuffed animal for like $5,
Glimma tea lights. Half the price and twice the quality of any others I’ve used.
Of course, open flame is probably not a “stock up” item with a baby on the way…
They have the best spatulas in the world. The colorful ones with the two-toned squiggly line down the handle. Used them for a decade and have never found a better one. They’re like $1
This post feels very consumeristic and materialistic for r/frugal
AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. Name : Ladda.
I don’t know if they are a loss leader, but they are exceptional value. People who have tested them suspect them to be Eneloops in white label, without the price.
I’ve replaced some of my Eneloops with them for my radio, which I use everyday. I have bought the 2 450 mAh version (higher charge). They actually store 3 000 mAh, as measured by my charger, which is very good.
Also check the LED bulbs. I haven’t tried them, but they are supposed to be very good value as well.
Seemed like the following were a great deal always:
Cork trivets, wash cloths, dish towels, silverware, glass mugs
Rugs seem to be cheaper at IKEA than at other stores
Billy bookshelf (cheaper than their other bookshelf models, cheaper than bookshelves elsewhere)
Sniglar crib
Sniglar change table
Antilop high chair
Any child’s stuffed animal
Neiden/TARVA bed frame
There’s a section on the IKEA website called “Deals” – look there, and there’s usually one of each kind of thing that is heavily discounted compared to the rest.
I have their heavy glass tumblers that work great for hot beverages as well as cold. Still look great after 10 years of use too
My stainless cutlery is one of their less expensive lines, Dragon, and it has held up well for several years. It’s a simple style that goes with anything.
Their duvet covers are a bargain, and there are many patterns/colors to choose from.