Heaven save me from Ikea
I mentioned earlier about my quest for drawer slides. My second-hand dresser had one drawer slide that didn't extend all the way open, plus two more that had come apart. So, I've been on a quest for three replacement drawer slides ever since.
The problem is that the particular size that I need is a custom part that only Ikea uses. So I emailed them:
I bought second-hand what I was told was an Ikea dresser. Several of the drawer slides are broken. I tried to buy replacements, but I cannot find anyone who carries replacements of that size. They are about 17" long by just over .5" wide. Would it be possible to purchase replacement ones? I would need at least four.
The reply:
IKEA does carry replacement parts for a majority of our products. In order to obtain spare parts, we recommend returning to the store location in which the purchase was originally made, along with your receipt, any damaged pieces, and the assembly instructions (to show which pieces are needed). At that time, a Customer Service Representative will be more than happy to assist you.
No good. There's no Ikea store near me. I have no receipt, nor assembly instructions. In fact, I couldn't even tell you what model it is (it's not up on their site).
So I replied:
I bought the dresser used, so I have no idea where [the purchase location] is. I don't have a receipt. I don't have any instructions.
I'm willing to pay for any replacement parts necessary. I just need some assistance in determining what the part is and who to send the money to.
And got:
Unfortunately IKEA store locations do not sell parts in the manner you suggest. In order to determine availability of spare parts for your unit, you would need to travel to an IKEA store location.
To avoid travelling to an IKEA store location, you would need to identify the unit you have. Once identified, you can contact your local IKEA store location and place a request for spare parts. Unfortunately, without an original purchase receipt, there is no guarantee of spare part availability.
At which point I gave up.
Yesterday, I left my apartment to go to Aish. Monday night is trash collection, so there was a collection of junk along the curb. As I walked along, I saw the remnants of a dresser in pieces. I looked at the drawers, but there were no slides on them. So I went to the shell, and found that only the inner pieces of the slides were left, as someone didn't bother disassembling it properly. Except...
Of the eight or so drawer slides, there were exactly three that were intact. I dashed back to my apartment, grabbed a screwdriver, and immediately set to work removing the slides. I dropped them off in my bedroom, then went off to my appointment.
Later on that evening, I tried the slides out. A perfect fit. I replaced the three broken slides, and now things are great.
Only in the city can Divine Grace manifest itself in Ikea spare parts. But I'm grateful. And I hope that someday I can be deserving of bigger things.
Comments
Hashgacha Pratis at work! I have no doubt that you will be deserving of bigger and better things. Ask and ye shall receive.
Posted by: Shira | April 5, 2005 7:17 PM
You rock... That's frickin' amazing. You must be doing something right to find a dresser on trash day, have that dresser have slides, have the slides be the right size, be able to run back and get your screwdriver, and be able to replace your slides so they work.
I second what Shira said - ask and ye shall receive...
(Idea: Ask big. You deserve it.)
:)
Posted by: Talya | April 7, 2005 12:45 AM
Oh Avi, but there is an IKEA nearby, with a free shuttle too!
Posted by: Noel Jackson | April 7, 2005 1:05 AM
Schock Metal America, Inc. (www.shockmetal.com) has 310mm Mini Slides (item # 017.16587) that will replace these slides with a slight modification. Only two holes will be used to mount the slide with the same IKEA screws, and the drawer hold screws will be replaced with a 6/32 x 1/2 screw and nut. The head of the screw will mount on the outside of the slide (first hole), and the nut will be on the inside of the drawer using the existing drawer side hole. No additional drilling is required and the drawers work like new.
Posted by: Alan | September 15, 2007 9:49 AM
Correct and incorrect, the companies name is Schock Metal Inc, the URL is (schockmetal.com). Thanks for the tip! Now lets hope someone invents a better slide for our Ikea junk.
Posted by: re:Alan | July 21, 2009 12:32 PM
Had the same problem, here's a quick and easy solution requiring no additional money:
Remove the half of the slides that are attached to the drawer itself, be it with force or pliers etc. Toss them away, along with the plastic insert and the bearings. Now put your drawers back in. Result: the drawers, which have a groove in them, now rest directly on the remaining portion of the slide bolted to inside the chest. They certainly do not move as easily, but they well enough, and they remain supported. This is the cost-free solution.
(The schockmetal.com site has slides for $10/pair. With our 3 drawer example, some $30 to replace them all, plus shipping, making the total repair cost $40. The entire chest was only $40, so what's the point? Plus, schockmetal's version is the indentical flimsy design, so you'll soon have jacked up drawer slides again.)
Lesson learned: Ikea furninture with drawers is doomed to fail. Don't buy it.
Posted by: Intelliegensia | August 3, 2009 2:06 PM
As a slight modification to the method of taking off the metallic slide from the drawer and just sliding the drawer in, what I did was take the removed metallic drawer slide and use a hammer and pliers to bend the edges in slightly. Then I placed the slide over the metallic part on the inside of the dresser (from which all the the plastic and ball bearings were removed already) and used the pliers again to stabilize it so that it would not move. Finally I was able to slide the drawer in place.
Posted by: tc | September 27, 2009 10:40 PM
Need a spare shae for a floor lamp made by Ikea - i have had it several months so no longer have recipt - any ideas where i can get one - ikea not very helpful
Posted by: william32 | January 6, 2010 6:18 PM