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A Bargain on the Side of the Road

·2 mins

In Germany, we have something called Sperrmüll — scheduled pickup days when people place bulky items on the curb to be taken away. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you find something worth saving.

That’s exactly what happened when we spotted an IKEA Ingolf stool. Its basic structure was still in good shape, but it was very wobbly. Screws and parts had come loose, and some were broken or missing entirely. When taking it apart, I noticed that some of the holders were made of plastic — I clearly remembered them being metal in the past.

The new spare parts

Coincidentally, we had already planned a trip to Würzburg for a training session with our youngest daughter. With a few hours to spare, we headed to IKEA to check for spare parts. It worked out perfectly: we got everything we needed — and best of all, free of charge. And this time, the parts were metal again.

The broken plastic parts

Back home, I reassembled the stool using the new parts. It’s now sturdy and fully functional again.

Tightening up the screws

We ended up with a free stool that we can use as a backup — for guests or if one of our other stools ever breaks.

I know people often complain about IKEA for all sorts of reasons. But honestly — I love them. You can check everything online, plan your visit ahead of time, and every store is laid out the same way. That helps me stay focused.

In the end, this little story is also a reminder about sustainability and our own responsibilities as consumers. It’s easy to criticize big companies, but sometimes it’s worth looking at our own behavior first. I don’t know why this stool ended up on the street — maybe due to a breakup, downsizing, or simply because it stopped being useful.

But often, it’s worth taking a second look. With just a little effort and care, something seemingly broken can be brought back to life — and become something valuable once again.

Disclaimer:
This is not a sponsored post. I have not received any payment, free products, or other compensation from IKEA. I’m simply sharing a personal experience that I found worth documenting.