How a trip to IKEA taught me to measure twice, buy once
Grabbed what I thought was a 60-inch shelf for a closet reno last Saturday. Got home and it was 45 inches. Now I bring my tape measure everywhere, even for quick runs. Anyone else get burned by trusting the label?
Oh man, that's rough. I mean it's funny until you're stuck with a shelf that doesn't fit. Something nobody really talks about is how IKEA sometimes changes the label sizes between seasons. I grabbed a "KALLAX" shelf last year and the box said 30 inches but the actual unit was closer to 29 and a half. Probably a batch manufacturing thing. So yeah, bringing your own tape measure is the only way to be sure these days.
Had a buddy who tried to squeeze a "KALLAX" into his tiny apartment and it was off by an inch. @ivan462 you're dead on about the labels changing, he was so pissed he just left it in the hall for a week. Tape measure is the only way to not end up with a random shelf in your living room.