Thursday, September 13, 2007

A day of Seconds & Thirds

As eluded to in my previous post, in addition to a day of Firsts, yesterday was a day of Seconds and Thirds. What do I mean by this? Allow me to outline a piece of my life in the past 3 years.

September 2005- Just moved to Shanghai. Need to furnish my new place. Go to IKEA.
September 2006 - Just moved to Hamilton. Need to furnish my new place. Go to IKEA.
September 2007 - Just moved to Sydney. Need to furnish my new place. Go to IKEA.

As I wandered around IKEA yesterday searching for standard apartment items I got a very strange feeling of familiarity. The first came from the fact that I was in IKEA. I have been to IKEAs all over the world and I can assure you that once you are inside those doors, it doesn't matter what country you are in, you just feel like you are in IKEA. I think IKEA bridges the gap between all world cultures and has created a sort of sad globalization of discount furniture. Interestingly enough, I was helping a Chinese couple shop yesterday and we were speaking Chinese in IKEA, in Sydney. Weird.

So, my yearly routine of going to IKEA doesn't stop at simply entering the building but continues on in the items I buy. For the past 3 years I have entered IKEA with the exact same intentions. To basically furnish my new apartment. I can't believe how many times I have bought the exact same products!!!

Office Waste Bin (Black Mesh) - 3 times (SH, HA, SY)
Fold out laundry bin - 3 times (SH, HA, SY)
$25 Frying Pan - 3 times (SH, HA, SY)
6 Pack of glasses - 3 times (SH, HA, SY)

Rectangular White Table - 2 times (HA, SY)
$49 Duvet cover - 2 times (SH, SY)
$25 Duck Pillow - 2 times (SH, SY)
$69 Duvet - 2 times (SH, SY)

Anyway, the list can go on. But you get the picture. You may say I am stupid for buying this stuff over and over again. I would tend to agree. Remind me to at least sell the stuff this time.

Too bad for IKEA all of their customers don't buy all their products 3x each.