Nope, just nope. Ikea: purveyors of chemical-laden flat packs and cheap, unrepairable items that don't last. PMS5003 modules are much better (PM1, 2.5, and 10) and only cost $20. PM1 and 2.5 are far more damaging to health than PM10.
The only thing I’ve found that competes with their mid tier is used furniture. (Which is obviously better for the environment than buying new.)
I can only beat them on quality-per-dollar by going used, as you note—mid-century-modern used furniture is expensive (and is what a lot of Ikea stuff is designed after) but anything earlier or later is usually very cheap.
Brands that consistently provide better quality for non-flat-pack furniture tend to be way more expensive than Ikea, outside the range of what most normal folks are even considering.
And yeah, it's true that their cheapest tier is practically disposable, but it's hard to complain when an end table costs $20 or whatever. Of course it's not gonna last decades, at that price.
We’ve got buy back / resale programmes globally, and the US trialled it a couple of months ago. I’d expect to see this expand over time.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-us-h...
However, I was referring to Craigslist “free” listings and antique shops. I suspect those will continue to win out on price or craftsmanship over most stuff Ikea sells. It’s hard to beat items that are free and/or hand-crafted from old growth hardwood.
Our house is split roughly evenly between free stuff, antiques, and ikea stuff.
Agreed, ikea sells some flimsy stuff, but they also sell some really solid stuff.