Ikea worktop problem - advice please!

vansboy

We've the stone effect, here & at the flat, are looking OK, still after 2years of average use & 6months minimal use.

There does need to be a certain amount of informed & assertive communication, from you, when dealing with Ikea customer services. I think they have sooooo many complaints ('cos of size of business, rather than poor products) & a lot of people try it on, with them.

Once you're sure it's a potentially mis-described, or faulty worktop, then you need to get past the script reading,. not so helpful staff & chat with a senior person.

Also might be worth posting in http://www.ikeafans.com/ see what they think!
VB

rev229

I have a matt black worktop from howdens, had it fitted 2 yrs ago and it always scatches really easily. I am always using a black marker to cover up scratches. Peviously had a black MFI worktop in previous home without any problem.

TDA10

Thanks again folks - very informative vansboy! :beer:

They have been in contact again asking for receipt details, address etc so haven't fobbed me off yet!

Yet another example though! Was opening a tin of sweetcorn yesterday and like a lot of people, I have one of those scissor type openers where you need 2 hands to use it - 1 on the opener to hold the 'scissor' thing shut and 1 on the turning part of the opener. Therefore meaning that the tin was resting on the worktop, and obviously rotating on it when being opened.

Nice sweetcorn - even nicer circular scuff mark! :rolleyes:

I suppose it could have been avoided if I'd have suspended the tin in mid air whilst opening it! As you do.....:rolleyes:

dander

TDA10 wrote: »

they do come with a 25 year guarantee so you'd (IMO) expect them to be reasonably durable and hardwearing as with most laminates.

I completely agree with you. The whole point of choosing a laminate worktop is that you are choosing a practical surface for a working kitchen. You're not picking a high-fashion finish that needs to be treated with kid gloves. Laminate worktops have been used for many, many years now - people wouldn't keep installing them if they all damaged this easily. In my opinion the worktop you've been sold is unfit for purpose. Whether that's because of a faulty batch, or because Ikea have an entire product line that is flawed I don't know, but it seems to me to be quite clear that they are at fault here, not you for being 'rough' with your surface.

Good luck, and do keep us posted, I'll be very interested to find out how Ikea behave.

Pyewacket338

A friend of mine bought wooden butchers block worktop from Ikea, it was all sealed as it should be, but it still started to split near the sink, a call to the Ikea store ended with a full refund, she banked the cash and filled the small gap with wood filler.

becs

We have the black pragel worktop in our kitchen. It has been fitted for 14 months now and we haven't had any problems. We are both keen and regular cooks so I would say it definately has alot of kitchen "abuse" for want of a better word. I've rolled pastry on it and then used the cutters etc, done all the tin opening you describe, dropped knives on it, unloaded dishwasher etc and pushed stacks of plates along it to nearer the dishwasher and not a mark on it. SO it sounds as if there is something wrong with yours. I just wish my bamboo floor had performed as well as my cheap ikea worktop!:(

TDA10

Thanks again folks - good to hear that it sounds like I'm not 'misusing' it!

I did the thing with the pastry cutters at Christmas too becs (although didn't dare admit that to Ikea!) but surely there is hardly anyone who would roll pastry out on a chopping board and then cut it out on there too?

They are supposed to be ringing me soon - I assume to arrange someone to come and look at it - I just hope whoever comes out is relatively independent and can see the problem and isn't going to come out to 'fight' Ikea's corner as it were.

Just as a matter of interest becs - is yours just the plain black Pragel, or the stone effect one? It's just that I thought the plain black was brand new in September?

And also, is yours really quite dull looking even after cleaning? i only use plain water now and then try in vain to buff it up a bit with a dry cloth but it just looks really cr4p! In addition, Ikea don't advertise this as a satin or matt finish either - if they did then you'd expect it to be a bit dull perhaps?

Thanks again - this all helps with 'ammunition' should it be necessary!

becs

Hi,I've just checked on the website and mine is the stone effect, sorry I thought it was just called Pragel black. Either way though I wouldn't have thought the colour choice would mean difference in quality. If this were the case I would have thought they would need to have some sort of a disclaimer on the website stating that "black" does need more care than the others as does mark easily!

TDA10

Thanks for clarification becs - although I quite agree that it shouldn't make an ounce of difference though!

TDA10

I'll just update that Ikea rang today and a nice guy (Ben) from Nottingham store said that I can return it and get a refund or exchange if I'm not happy with the quality! Easy as that!

I did say that I hope I wouldn't go to the hassle of removing them and returning them only to be fobbed off and told 'sorry, we can't help', but he was insistent that I could return them and gave me a 'case' number for the staff member to refer to if necessary.

So, off to Ikea on Thursday with 2 of the 5 worktop pieces and we'll see if it all goes as smoothly as it has done so far! I can't return the whole lot in one go cos of only having small transport, plus I haven't any other worktops to use until I get replacements.So, I'll be sink and hob-less again for a bit soon when I return those bits!

Off to post new thread about better worktop options now!