[climber_grrl]

My friendly Ikean just provided me w/some insider info.

Starting next month the So Cal stores will be a test bed for new Corian, Zodiac, and granite products proprietary to Ikea. You won't be able to find these specific products any where else those brands are sold and it will be priced about 10% less than the standard products. No word on colors. I was told to check back soon. Of course since it's only a test to see how well they sell tell all your friends and neighbors to go buy them.

A memo came out regarding Nexus Black-Brown. As we guessed/knew there have been quality issues. According to the memo the quality issues are being resolved and Black-Brown is expected to once again be available in the April/May time frame. Yay!

That's all the info I got, but hopefully it's enough to get some of you excited about future prospects.

[ikeafan60657]

I got different information from the Schaumburg store on Friday night...seems that on Tuesday, they were notified that Nexus Black-Brown Oak will NOT be coming back any time soon (as is evidenced by the fact that it's nowhere to be found on their website). Their supplier rushed trying to catch up with orders and the quality was so bad that they've essentially given up the notion of offering it for new orders in the forseeable future. I was told that people who purchased kitchens during the 'we're backordered' timeperiod but didn't order doors at all or who ordered Black Brown can bring in their receipts and receive 20% off new doors.

My comment to her was that I couldn't imagine them not trying to sell what was so clearly a popular style and she said that they would probably keep working on finding a new supplier, but I for sure shouldn't count on this style being back before January of 2008, at best. I'm beyond myself...It took me for ever to make a decision about the style of my kitchen and home, and now not only have I lived without doors for ages now, but I've decorated my entire home around the style of those darn Nexus BB doors.

Has anyone heard a different story? Are there other locations which are offering it? I'm at the point where I'm willing to travel far and wide to get these! I'm not sure I can even imagine any of the other styles fitting into my home, now.

Does anyone know what styles are coming out in the new catalog in July? When do new styles start showing up?

Thanks everyone!

[greenie227]

Ikea Direct just told me June for Nexus Brown Black. When I told her the word on the street was a recent memo saying not this year, she said she hadn't heard that, and what was in the computer was June 2007.

[GardenOfDarwin]

I'm starting to wonder if it isn't an East Coast vs. West Coast thing. It may be that if supply was the problem, that they'd be reopening the line in one area at a time, until the production could get back up to speed. It seems like most folks who are saying they've heard the definitive NO are on the eastern half of the North American continent, where there's been some hope alive on the western half.

Of course, I haven't read as extensively on the subject as those of you who are in the thick of it and my head's kind of thick today, so I could be just making this up.

Oh, and we usually start hearing forward word of what's coming for the new catalog year sometime in March. New styles may show up in stores as early as May/June, but the new catalog doesn't come out until July/August. Many times, new styles aren't available until Sept/Oct. So, it could be any time between May and November. Sorry I don't have more definitive good news.

Susan

P.S. Welcome ikeafan60657 - sorry it's under such disappointing circumstances, but we do hope we can see you through this!

[ikeafan60657]

Susan, thanks for the warm welcome.

I also just called IKEA direct, and I don't get the sense that they know any more than what their computers tell them, and I don't think their computers are up to date...he kept saying I should be able to order the doors now at Schaumburg, though they're saying they're discontinued.

For kicks, I called two IKEAs out west and they weren't aware of any memo. I wonder if Schaumburg is just telling people not to bother with Nexus Brown Black to get backordered people off their back and be able to process payment for other doors now versus waiting several more months. IKEAs are franchised, right? To me that means that each store may just adopt a different policy for things like this. I left a message for Bolingbrook...it'll be interesting to see what they have to say. The after-sale person I talked to over the phone didn't seem to think they were discontinued, but she did indicate she wouldn't necessarily be aware of pre-sales situations. I'll let you know!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Thanks! Eventually we'll all get to the bottom of it. As for IKEAs and franchises - there are 3 franchised operations in the United States: San Diego, Houston and Seattle. Although the rest are all owned by the mothership, there is a great deal of autonomy allowed to each store manager; each store is essentially a little feifdom, where returns policies, hours, dates of closings etc. are all largely up to the management. It's very likely that Schaumburg has decided to not offer the line until there is a good supply in hand...

I don't think they realize we're networking...

Susan

[Tigratrus]

Dun Dun Duuuuuuun!

Consumers who compare notes?! From different regions? EGADS! What is the world coming to???!!!!

James

[DulcineaK]

Blast Al Gore for inventing the internet