Ikea to become virtual network, sell cell phones
Ikea is "known for stylish and inexpensive furniture with names like Ektorp," writes Fortune's Michal Lev-Ram. It has announced that it will now also sell cell phones.
Few details are given, other than that it's planning a Tesco- or Virgin Mobile-style virtual network, leasing bandwidth from T-Mobile in the U.K. There are no stated plans to offer pre-paid service in the U.S.
Pictured above is how I think Ikea should go about it: stylish and inexpensive furniture-style. Arrives in a box, ready to assemble, apart from one tiny screw you have to drive 140 miles to the store to get.
IKEA launches mobile phone service [Fortune]
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So can one unlock their Kellephogen with a special hex wrench?
WTF, why did you insert that "ask ansgar" bit? And with such a nuthead portrait of all things. I'm insulted.
Apart from that, I find the idea ridiculous. Soon everyone except the church will be selling their own phones.
of course the instructions will be presented in a picture form that is both patronising and incomprehensible in equal measure
Are Ikea products often lacking one screw/bolt? I've never had that problem.
Rob, that guy in the picture is obviously not swedish. He looks like a scottish drunkard after a soccer match riot.
Anyway, the scottish vernacular of a drunk scotsman after a soccer match riot is quite similar to swedish, so the fact that he's a customer care agent (phone answerer) for IKEA is a perfect fit.
Yes I've nothing better to do on August 5th. Jesus guys I'm italian. In Italy summer's for bad-assing!
Is Ikea furniture really as crappy as everyone makes it out to be, e.g. Fight Club?
The "ask anna" feature on Ikea's website has to be the single most infuriatingly useless and insultingly overdone bit of window dressing ever put on the web.
You can't look up order numbers on their web site. But by god, you can be told by an animated avatar that you can't look up those numbers!
Ask Anna "what is my order number?" and she will helpfully respond with "Please provide your order number." For god's sake, people, spend time making a useful order tracking system before animating your soulless automaton. Also, quit using private couriers that charge $200 to ship a small order. Assholes.
I'd rather talk to Ansgar. He looks like my kind of person(ish).
@#6
I think Ikea is probably saddled with a well-deserved at the time, but outdated reputation.
People who think of Ikea stuff as disposable furniture made out of the lowest grade of thin particle board probably bought something not unlike that at some point in the 90s.
I bought a living room's worth of Ikea furniture in 2005, though, and it still looks brand new. The assembly was still annoying, but if you get everything screwed together right, it's all a pretty good deal.
Also: The amusingly-named, discontinued-perhaps-for-that-reason JERKER desk is the best desk I've owned.
Actually, Ikea's avatar is pretty hysterical. They had the good sense to program in some responses to inane questions, such as:
Q: "Are you single?"
A: I don't really want to talk about personal issues like marriage. If you could talk to me about IKEA that would be much better.
Also, if you tell her "Ikea is confusing," she responds with "You said it."
Garr (#2) said "Soon everyone except the church will be selling their own phones." What makes you think the churches won't go there? I could totally see churches selling cell phones. But on their plan you'd have to listen to a little prayer or bible passage before each call.
"Rob, that guy in the picture is obviously not swedish. He looks like a scottish drunkard after a soccer match riot. "
...Actually, he looks more like a mick wanker *before* a soccer match riot. But then again, he's probably really a Belgian and we just can't tell the difference :-P :-P
You all might be interested to know that Ansgar is actually just Anna with Aleister Crowley's face superimposed.