Finally Done / IKEA Versus Tupperware

Sometimes you say you'll do something and then you don't. Because the next day something more important or exciting came up or you just got lazy. I don't remember what happened but these two plastic storage boxes remained underneath the same chair to collect more dust for another year.

Until finally yesterday I dug them up again, emptied them out forever and gave them a real good clean up.

To discover the first one turns out to be from IKEA. Now that will go to thrift shop for sure this Wednesday.

With the now clean lid I fell in love with the Tupperware box. I need a sewing kit, to store what I want to keep from way to much that is now loose in a drawer. So anything that doesn't fit in here should go.

I managed to clear op on bead supplies the past few days and it wasn't that hard. I can do this!

IKEA Moppe #3

Today first off I have to thank my fellow blogger Gregg Koepp for mentioning me on his blog 'Not Buying Anything'. He links to the sous vide cooking device I successfully sold earlier this year in his section 'Dumb Consumer Item of the Month'.

I always look forward to his new posts not because they are about what I do, but because he shows how you can live a happy and fulfilled life without buying loads of advertised products and thus producing limited trash. Do check it out if you need inspiration to get out of the ever thundering economy. And do not fear, this man and his wife Linda are neither vegan, woke or refusing modern comfort, nor do you necessarily have to move to the countryside.

But I particularly like how Gregg calls me the trash liberator!

To the point:

The next IKEA Moppe mini chest of drawers that I found  a couple of weeks ago just in my street. Not so attractive because it's missing one drawer, but it could still sell to someone who'd use it in a garage or other workplace as an organizer for small stuff. But instead I will take it to the thrift shop tomorrow, where I badly need an extra for price stickers, staples, tape and so on, on the stockroom desk next to this model we already have, to replace a plastic thing with drawers that are so stuck that I don't even know what's inside. My fingers are already itching!

IKEA Vestmarka Spring Mattress

I picked this up from in front of my door (example pic from website here) months ago but failed to put it on my bed. Lack of energy and the proper moment to put the old mattress directly back in trash. That was ready to go. A hard foam, once good as new but with holes in the fabric and not so clean anymore. On top my bed frame is 90 x 200, but the mattress was 80, so not fitting well. 

I never looked the new IKEA up until just now after last night finally doing the exchange. Must say the surface felt a bit hard, in comparison to the padded layer of my old one. I kind of feel the springs but it doesn't disturb me. And I'm not unhappy about the firmness at all. Now looking at the reviews some people seem to be dissappointed. Well, what do you expect from a €89 product? Possibly that's why it was tossed away practically unused. But then that's money I didn't have for something badly needed. I'm very happy for now. I slept well and didn't wake up with any neck or back pain, what a too soft bed would definitely do.

Now it's a matter of waiting how long it will last before I can say anything about the quality (beside comfort) of this cheap product. Affordable is not necessarily bad. But IKEA could have made the padding a bit thicker.

Apart from that my cats appreciate the extra 10 centimeters, sleeping beside me all night!

IKEA 365+ Mysa Duvet / Synthetic Quilt

I didn't really expect to sell this on line, and then with it wrinkled on the photo's, but I gave it a try. Quilts like these are fairly inexpensive but it turns out there's always the one person who can't afford the new price or for another reason doesn't care to choose for new, what you'd expect from most people if it comes to bedding. 

I was happy to sell mine €5 after four months. Surprised to find one almost the same (difference only the warming quality) currently on Vinted over €26. I wish them luck!

IKEA Marius Stools

Sold today €4 the set. Cheap stools from IKEA. Not even comfortable to sit on, because of the holes. They look cute though and are practical for parties. Second hand available all over the place. New at the shop only €4,99 each. Taken from in front of the door two years ago or more, finally listed them early August. There were some people interested who I then never heard back from but never mind, I just had to wait for the right person who wanted to come over within hours and at a time I was home as well. Quite happy with this sale and a tiny bit more space in my house. Mind you picked up trash this afternoon...

IKEA Dokument Waste Paper Basket

Today I had my second sale of a curb find since I restarted listing on line. A recent find from across the street. Nothing special, just a wire bin for little cash but the thing is the IKEA Dokument home office supplies line is out of sale so I thought someone might be interested. Mind you they had a triple document or letter tray that looks close to this one, that I currently have three of at the thrift shop and they just won't go. But moreover I hoped someone would just go for the colour. Well the young man that came to pick it up today looked normal, but somehow had the appearance of one who'd love candy pink. Just fine with me!

I also sold a cast iron pan but that was my own. But it looks like things are starting to move again. Must kick myself to get listed more. I still have enough stuff.

Bamboo Serving Tray And Dish

Serving trays are not the best selling items in the thrift shop, but to be honest I live small so I don't need one. And most apartments in my neighbourhood are small so the inhabitants won't need one. 

Therefore happy enough to finally after four months find a new owner for this bamboo model in mint condition at €2,50. Not much but it's what I would have stuck on it in the shop. But probably I shipped to a place outside town.

When I found this large extra large dish made of rolled up bamboo strips around the same time in 2017 it was a first seen for me. Sold quickly €5. These days they are too common, nine out of ten times from IKEA (though mine was not) and even hard to get rid of in the shop, and the next one I'd find I would bring there as well.

IKEA CD Racks

In 2013 I found these two, finally in my blog 2015, see bottom of post. Already out of production but still sought after. Sold then as I remember €4 each, but I have no computer admin from that long ago. 

I went looking back for them as I found these photo's from 2017. They are the half sized version, but somehow someone had stuck a repro of the late Dutch artist/musician Herman Brood on the back of one of them. Somewhat curious, but I was happy to get rid of them €2,5 for the set.

Update 2024-08-30:

Just found this photo.taken March 2017. The large model again. While shooting I noticed minimal damage and never tried to sell it. See left bottom there's a crack in the joint. I use it for the few cd's that I still want to keep. Untill.

IKEA Utrusta Cupboard Shelves

More IKEA cuboard shelves.

Two packs of two each, sealed, complete, brandnew, undamaged. €8 the pack at the time. Four shelves sold after ten days €5. Another story of bought too many for one home, needing more at a lower price in another.

Lined Crocs, IKEA Folding Chairs, IKEA Cupboard Shelf

This fur lining doesn't look so attractive anymore, even after washing. However Crocs are wanted so I gave it a try. Success, sold within two weeks €6.

From the same photo session May 2017, IKEA Nick chairs. They were gone three days later €5.

Someone bought the IKEA Pax/Komplement system and had one shelf too many, or didn't use it because of the slight damage. Someone else had the system and wanted an extra shelf. And didn't mind the damage. Used good side turned up it's invisible. It must have been some transport issue as the thing was still sealed in plastic.

Somehow I feel I was just the one connecting these two people or families. My fee €2,50. Found and sold July 2017.

Cheap IKEA Floor Lamp

Here's an example of a product that honestly I think should have never been produced. IKEA. I don't say all they sell is crap. If you look around on my blog you can see I found adn sold a lot of nice IKEA stuff. But for me this is an example of fooling people.

First sight said: cute! That's why I took it in. But though the glass base looks stable, the pole is very thin and light weight, its attachment to the base was feeble and therefore likely to tilt. The shade closing with poppers, was fragile and after waiting for so long in my place for a buyer, somehow it damaged and I finally retrashed the whole thing. It's sad, but my idea is that someone who can't afford a better quality new floor lamp can better look second hand in the first place, or just temporaly do without.

Another IKEA Alang Lampshade

In 2016 I found the complete floor lamp with shade. I see the post is from March and I said buyer cancelled for the moment. Admin says sold €15 June 2016. I guess another buyer came later.

From 2017 same shade but alone and a tiny stain, other colour. Found July 2017, sold October €2. Recently I saw a couple of the grey shades donated to the thrift shop. At IKEA website I read the design was launced 2001. Currently I only see Alang ceiling lamps no more floor lamps.

IKEA Cooking Pot

Perfectly alright IKEA pan. Why trash it? Found August 2017. Sold I don't remember when or how. Somehow forgot to administrate. Vaguely rember selling a cooking pot at the door to a lady telling me she wrecked hers burning something in it. Must be this one. Because I don't have it anymore and I sure didn't give it away. I would have kept it for myself and given up something of poorer quality. But at the time I'm sure I decided for cash in my pocket instead.

IKEA Calypso Lamp

My job is part time, between 4-6 hours a day, which is all I can handle, but it is on a different location every day. For the past five years it involved a lot of traveling time, up to 2,5 hours. On top hours are late afternoon and evening. I didn't mind, but to get rid of government aid I had to upgrade to five days. That's where all side activities came to a hold. Except for the thrift shop. Meaning actually working six days part time. Things have changed for the moment and I get planned in more locally. It helped pushing myself to bring the laptop computer with me to the Mans apartment every night I'm off. And blog again. For now I rely ond old finds and photo's. Enough to show. New things will come one day.

Found May 2018. Sold €10 July that year.

But funny found just now, looking for the new price and if still available: there was a return call in September 2018 due to hazard. Of course I don't know if my product was from before after August 2016. Hope my buyers had no issues. Or used the action to get a new procuct, as a receipt wasn't needed.

More From 2016 Part VII - Fish Planks

I hope I packed wisely. I opted for a load of shoes, some clothing and other fairly regular stuff, as last year, on the early markets the Moroccans just bought about anything cheap to bring home to their families. Later on we relied on the Dutch who are more picky and looking for special stuff.  I'm leaving that on line for the moment.

Now I just have to sit and wait so plenty of time to post another dozen of sold curb finds from last year. I'm getting towards the end now.

This antique door window is another one of my favourites. This size they were often in double doors dividing front and back rooms. Those were then removed when people wanted more open space. I sold it for less than what they go for, but it had paint stains and was framed in a peculiar way. Can you see it? It's curtain rails. As I couldn't see the state of the lead underneath I took the first bid that was reasonable. Then the woman almost came running for it and it made me think... Regardless it was a good amount of money for me.

IKEA Trissa boxes are apparently sought after by vinyl collectors. I picked it up with toys in it which attracted my attention first. I sold one plastic truck at a market, donated the rest then found out the box was the most valuable thing of the complete haul.

Another cheap thing someone was prepared to pay shipping for. It keeps amazing me.

Luckily I didn't have to ship this.

Yin yang balls are not hot second hand. I got way less than what I saw others asking and it took eight months. Perhaps they do better with newer looking boxes.

A set of the exact same fold-up chairs I sold two months before.

This is an IKEA PS collection vase. I sold it for my friend. She brought it to a market and I had to sit with the thing between my legs in the car. Told her I wouldn't do that again and to leave it in my house. Got twice what she had asked.

It finally convinced her to bring me more stuff after the end of market season. Now she claims I made a face when she produced these fish shaped planks. Well I thought I'll list the weird things first, and first they went and the money I got stunned both of us. The lady was thrilled and was recently back at my door for a vintage suitcase.

I was sure Oprah would help me sell this book. She did and the bid was way higher than what I normally get for a novel, if at all on line.

The Joska vase from March.

Not all Ikea flies out. Found October 2015, sold November 2016.

Are you getting tired of looking at vases? Here's something more fun. Well the case looks quite nice...

then open it and... I suppose it's for wigs. Not nice enough for displaying my hats and I've got some good enough heads. Sold in about a week.

I'm almost there now. A few more things in the next post and then I'll do a seperate one on baby toys that I skipped so far.