Yes, my fifty-nine cents.

Yesterday, I spent three hours in Ikea looking, oohing, aahing, generally being inspired, adding items to my cart with abandon, and loving life.  My cart was overflowing with lovely products.

And then I got to the checkout, where I found out: there are no bags.  Yes, that’s right, no bags.  A bag will cost fifty-nine cents.  And I went blind with rage.

Ikea says this is eco-friendly and green because their bags, which cost $.59, are reusable. I say this is highway robbery — Ikea is cutting costs by nickeling and diming its customers, despite the average sale at Ikea being hundreds upon hundreds of dollars.

This would be completely and utterly un-get-away-with-able in a less-than-behemoth corporation.   If, as an artist, I just throw a bunch of prints your way and say packaging is extra, you would never use my services again.  If your clients order items from you and have to pay separately for shipping and pay again, separately, FOR THE BOX IT GETS SHIPPED IN, clients would have a hissy fit.

If you are selling enjoyable, quality products and experiences to your clients, don’t insult them by charging that last fifty-nine cents.  (If you must, raise the price of your products by fifty-nine cents, and throw the bag in for free. )

And for the love of Pete, DON’T tell me your practices are eco-friendly when they’re merely cutting corners.

Want to read it on the blog? CUTTING CORNERS IS NOT GREEN. IT'S JUST CRAPPY.