WWYD - Ikea problem

[Formerly SK]

I need advice. We bought bedroom furniture from Ikea this past year. Our bedroom is HUGE so we have a section that is my desk/workstation as well as the typical bedroom stuff. Because of this, I wanted to get something where the desk area matched the bedroom area (hence we went with Ikea were we could get everything in their black/brown finish). In total we have four hanging wall cabinets, a large L shaped desk, two dressers, two nightstands, and of course the bed.

We bought the desk area last fall and the rest of the bedroom stuff in January.

The problem is Ikea is out of stock on one part for the bed. We were told this when we bought the bedroom stuff in January, but were told it should be in "anytime." I've called repeatedly and have been told there is no ETA on the part, but that it will come eventually because the bedroom series is very popular (it is the Hemnes series). Fast forward six months and there is still no part in, and no ETA. Ikea does not have another option (we have a king bed) in the brown/black finish so we are stuck.

Now, the ONLY reason I went with Ikea was to help blend the workstation area with the bedroom area via the wood finish. It is an all or none issue for me. I'm happy with the furniture. BUT, I'm losing my patience about the missing part. We cannot put the bed together without it, so we've been living with our mattresses on the floor while all the other furniture is assembled and being used. DH and I are both tired of it.

As I see it, my options are to return everything to the store and throw a fit to get my money back. I'm 90% sure I would be successful, but it would be a ton of work transporting the stuff and really I'm happy with the furniture. Option B is to keep waiting...but for how long? It's been almost seven months. It seems the longer I wait the less likely I'll be successful with Option A in case the part never comes in.

So, WWYD? Is there another option I'm not thinking of?

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

What kind of part is it? Could you get the part from a different furniture manufacturer? Is there a bed from another vendor that would match your existing furniture?

[thyme4change]

I'd sell my house and get one with a small bedroom and a separate office - but that isn't very helpful.

Have you looked on-line for the part?

[Cass]

Maybe contact IKEA stores in other areas and ask to have it shipped?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

so we've been living with our mattresses on the floor while all the other furniture is assembled and being used. DH and I are both tired of it.

The way I see it, you can either wait for the part or cancel your order and look for something else. The one suggestion that I can make is that you can buy second hand a set of bed rails for your mattress, which will allow you to get your bed up off the ground.

[Formerly SK]

The part isn't available worldwide (it is a manufacturing issue).

Hmmm...I'm thinking I might go with Option C - just make an upholstered headboard. I love DIY projects so it would be fun.

[thyme4change]

matchy-matchy furniture isn't in - so it is best to do something different.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Another suggestion might be to go look for a metal bed. I have a bunch of antique dressers in my bedroom and realized a long time ago that I'd never find anything to match. I wound up buying a metal bed and it worked great. The company I went with has hundreds of styles, as antique or contemporary as you'd want.

[thyme4change]

If it makes you feel any better, we have an IKEA bed, and we had to do some fancy rigging, because the slats kept falling out. Now we aren't newlyweds anymore - so it was just the regular bed stuff. You might do better with a better quality bed.

[sheilaincali]

I have made a couple of upholstered headboards- it's pretty easy. Check out ikeahackers dot net. They had a bunch of idea on ways to alter ikea pieces. Maybe something along those lines would help streamline the look of your room if you have to go with a different bed.

[tskeeter]

skinny, have you checked ebay and craigs list for used beds with the part you need? You might luck out and find just the part. Even if you have to buy a complete bed, you can always return the one you never assembled to Ikea.

[phil5185]

The good news? This is the big problem in your life, how many 3rd world people would trade problems with you? About 4 billion I'm thinking.