I am the same way! Also as a renter I feel like I can't buy quality, more expensive items because they may not fit into my next apartment or house. As a result I've wasted a lot of money on ikea furniture that falls apart within a couple of years. I recently read this post called Poor People Can't Afford Cheap Things: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/2011/10/18/poor-people-cannot-afford-cheap-things.html

I may add this to my goals for the new year as well!

I'm the opposite. I am very patient. I will special order items that won't arrive for six months. I will scour Ebay endlessly looking for that perfect chair.

When I bought my first house, the living room was empty for years. It became a running joke. I think people thought I was too house poor to furnish the whole house. But I was just doing one room at a time, and I was getting exactly what I wanted, and I wasn't sure what I wanted for the living room.

Also, I like to buy quality. I want heirloom furniture. It makes no sense to me to buy cheap furniture. I eventually special ordered all my living room furniture from Henredon. It's so much cheaper than retail, but hair raising. The entire six months, I was praying I hadn't made an error in the fabric number. I feared the sofas would arrive pick. But it all turned out well. And I still have the same furniture, 30 years later, and it has worked in 8 homes. I think if you buy what you love, your things will work together in any home.

I was surprised to find this article about Ikea furniture and not about that strange wall decal; is that a witch? Since when did fantasy art find it's way on our walls and into our living rooms?

Ikea is a godsend for people who move around a lot. That room isn't bad, I kind of like it except for that weird witch thing.

You can get so many good deals on Craigslist. It's really not that hard-- and most of the time even cheaper than IKEA. I picked up a nice, solid wood bookcase a few weekends ago for $20.

When I brought my first home I was saddened with a realization that my carefully bought and newish furniture that did so well in the rental didn’t fit the new floorplans in spite of the more square footage. After 2 years I could no longer fool myself and found them good homes through Craigslist; fortunately it all balanced out in the end. The new owners were thrilled getting a quality Pier One desk/dining table at ¼ the cost and meanwhile I took the same money and brought a quality pedestal table off Craigslist whose owner was sadden to let go of his grandmother table but happy to see it go to a good home.

I agree with your sentiment as far as chairs and and sofas go. But you can't knock IKEA too much on their bookcases, particularly the ubiquitous Expedit. Unless you can afford some stunning brass etageres (and only need bookshelves to display decorative pieces, rather than to store books and files), IKEA's pieces have a much better aesthetic than some old honey-colored wood bookcase you can get at a thrift store.

Don't forget freecycle.org, which is like the free section of Craig's List. Some very good stuff there.

Hmmm, not really wise to invest in too much until you find a more permanent home. To have a sofa or rug that will not fit is truly disheartening. Once you buy a home, or decide to stay put for 5 years or some such, then sure, rid yourself of the particleboard - that goes for Ikea and Crate and Pottery Barn though. The Ikea accessories, though? They have a place is any home. The key is moderation in all things. Don't chuck it because it's Ikea specifically, chuck it if it seems low quality i that environment or use, doesn't look good, or you found a better option. Most of us continue to buy at Ikea long into our fully furnished-final-home years.

OMG! I feel the same way! I want "real" furniture. I want the thrill of finding an original at an unbelievable price. So long Klippan sofa and Saarinen knock off dining room table. You're outta here!!!

Ikea wins on convenience however it's easy to find a more solid temporary piece on Craigslist for the same price - but you can sell it on at the same price if you want to upgrade it later.

I am typing this and looking at my atrocious Ikea TV stand, which I should have thrown out many years ago. I thought I might repurpose it somehow, but I think instead I just need to get a TV stand somehow, even an old crate is better than this thing.

WTH is that awful thing on the wall? Hope it's on the list of things to replace!

I'm in. Not necessarily dumping my Ikea-specific furniture, but I'm going to upgrade the dingy pieces that are crappy+don't go with my grand image. I'd like to replace 1 major piece a month.

I'm doing this right now! However, there are some pieces I don't want to part with -- my bright red Billy bookcase, or my comfortable Gilbert chairs. They may not be considered "real" furniture, but I don't believe sentimental attachments belong only to Craigslist finds. The bookcase and the chairs were bought for my first apartment, and whenever I see them, I remember the good memories from that time.

I think Ikea has great "real" furniture, you just have to pay a little more than for the crap stuff. It's also great for families who have to constantly rearrange, or for the childrearing years where things are prone to breakage. I personally prefer a mix of things old and new, classy and simple. vintage and modern. I think if you always buy what you like you will never feel a need to get rid of it based on aesthetic, but rather you no longer have a need for it. I am currently looking for a bookcase to replace one of our old Ikea billy's.
but on a side note, I would get rid of the wall hanging first.

Sorry, but I love IKEA. Simple, clean, and doesn't impose itself on your apartment. The furniture is usually easy to accessorise and it's not as 'cheap' as people make it out to be. I've had the same chesterfield for 3 years, the same bookcase for 8, the same bedframe for 5. Obviously, it would be nice to drop some cash on an anitque mid-century Dutch coffee table, but when it comes to doing that or paying my mortgage I'd rather have a roof over my head! x

When I moved east in my mid 20s, I purged all ikea and swore I was done with it. When I moved back west in my mid 30s...there was some ikea on the truck. What happened? Kids. :-)

I'm very patient too. I lived with nothing but a bed and drafting table for 3+ years while looking for the right pieces. I would rather wait for what I like and can afford over buying something just because. Craigslist isn't so hot where I live, so this could definitely take awhile.

IKEA may be cheap, but I'd argue that it can actually look ten times better than the totally genericized mid-century modern stuff you see EVERYWHERE right now. If my place is going to look like every other place out there, I'd rather fork over IKEA money for it, instead of "real furniture" money.

That's the trouble with Ikea - it encourages a throwaway mentality. We have a mixture of things bought in haste, inherited pieces, and high-end pieces that we've saved for. I prefer a more organic hotchpotch than perfectly planned pieces bought for a particular place in mind.

Those side chairs are from ikea too you know....

I don't know what all this talk is about making sure a nice piece will work in a future home. I've slowly added to my collection of furniture that I will love, no matter where I move or what new layout I encounter...I'm looking at you, Nelson Bench. Why put off buying a wonderful piece when you can enjoy it today? Life is too short.

I love ikea because they often have the perfect piece for my place at an amazing price. however I often find myself "customizing" them to make them seem a little more unique. usually through new paint or hardware- and no one has ever mentioned that my entire place is an ikea catalogue!! I prefer to spend my funds on unique objects and art

I have lots of books. My Expedit bookcases have followed me everywhere I lived. They have always worked well, and I always find comfort that I could add more anytime since they always seem available. The problem of blending is simply eliminated that way.

The problem is that folks buy the wrong Ikea pieces...buy the nicer ones and you'll have them forever. I love my (white painted) IVAR book cases, they will last a lifetime due quality and flexibility. Even higher end stores make junk, always look for quality! And combine with Craigslist finds for a unique look.

umm, how do you guys know the decal isn't made by the poster, or a friend/family of the poster?
You guys can be really rude sometimes

Alright. I love Ikea, and there are a few reasons.
There stuff is inexpensive and comes apart when you need to fit a 6x6 foot Expedit shelf through a 4 1/2' staircase.
Of all of the big box stores, Ikea is the most eco-friendly.
The cotton they use is organic.
And I add wood glue to my joints so my Ikea furniture lasts forever.

Granted, it's not the prettiest, but it's also easy to hack. With a little molding from Home Depot (maybe they have some at Ikea...), that 6x6 Expedit now looks like a custom expensive unit.
Their furniture is easy to hack, and for the most part, Ikea welcomes the practice.

On that note though, I have been accruing other items from craigslist, friends, and family as well. But what I can't find, I'm happy to hack what I can find at Ikea.

Half and half. There are some very nice things I'd like but I can't justify the prices even though I can afford them.

I don't need "heirloom furniture" because furniture goes out of style so easily.

So I mix the inexpensive good design with the higher-priced good stuff.

Will I miss a $4000 rug? Yes, but I'll also be putting the $4000 to other uses.

I love IKEA. I hate traditional/colonial design and in New England, it's hard to find anything more streamlined or contemporary. And the only way to get the built-in look for my library that 10 various sized Billy shelves with height extensions gave me would be custom carpenter-made built-ins -- which I couldn't afford then and can't afford now. (I have never seen even two matching bookshelves in thrift stores or flea markets in years and years of shopping at them.)

I have had no problems with my IKEA furnishings, and don't expect to. Even particleboard holds up just fine if you take care of it -- and not everything from IKEA *is* particleboard, anyhow.

the decal is 'ascend' by craww and is available from blik

Unless you really don't like strangers in your home, wouldn't it make more sense (and be more profitable) to sell on CL? OK, looking at the specific pieces you have I guess we're not talking about that much money anyway, and if you go consignment (assuming they will take these particular items; I know some of the thrift stores around philly will specifically refuse to) they will be out of your house immediately.

Indeed, the chartreuse chairs are ikea, but I'd get rid of the dish chair before those... they complement the couch, too.

I think the wall art looks cool, but pretty odd for this room. XD

@lmmp
I actually really like the gilbert, for a bentwood chair. It's really comfortable, stackable, not apparently a direct rip-off of anything else. Actually, it was kind of odd, because I saw a CL listing for--oh, ok, I found it, just see for yourself.

(However, for posterity, it's a prototype carbon fiber chair, being sold at 50% off retail for a mere $400. Aside from the material and the seat and back being one piece, it looks pretty much exactly like the gilbert. Which... go gilbert, I guess? XD)

I have to agree with you Alysha. While a teen I became obsessed with Ikea, as it fit my style completely. But as I got older, my style and taste had evolved and those same pieces, I've lost care for. I do have bookshelves and a daybed still, but now I search for unique pieces with more value and character. I do like to mix it up, though, and create a more eclectic style.

My problem is almost the opposite. I can build furniture of the non-upholstered kind (think bookcases, cabinets, frames, etc.) but my job gets so backed up that I don't have the time.

If I find something at IKEA that I can live with for a while (even a few years), I have no problem with that and I can move on to something causing me more visual stress.

Besides, I have a baby sister who usually accepts my Do-You-Wants, and a 17yo niece who is next in line!!

...and I also agree with Ingdesign : if you love a piece, buy it right away! (if you can afford it, of course). don't wait until it's too late.

I have a Kramfors L shaped sofa. It is 8 years old and as comfortable as the day I got it. I have had many a great night's sleep on it (curl up and fall asleep on it before I make it to the bed) and visitors gravitate to it in the living room. I originally bought it with the thought that some day I would save up for a "real"/expensive sofa.... now I am just sad that they have discontinued it! Glad I don't need a new one yet. IKEA has some great treasures in amongst the cheep stuff and I still enjoy looking for those finds.

@leilalu, YES! I have a four-year-old, a terrier, and two cats. I am still in the "This is why we can't have nice things" stage in life. I'm still trying to rebuild my emergency savings, then I'll start saving for investment furniture.

Ikea furniture lasts a lot longer if you tighten up the screws again a couple weeks after you first assemble it. Seems like it's far more likely to break once the screws get loose, probably because you're starting to apply stress in ways it wasn't built to handle. I know people tend to treat it as throwaway furniture, but it doesn't have to be.

I have three rules for purchases:

-- Anything big or expensive has to be neutral.

-- Everything has to have at least two uses (e.g. room divider has to double as some form of storage).

-- Furniture should be able to be reconfigured for a different apartment (modular chaise and sofa can be combined into an L-couch if I move someplace square-er).

@GBannis
I don't need "heirloom furniture" because furniture goes out of style so easily.

I'd assume most ppl think of "timeless/classic/whatever" when they think heirloom, rather than anything trendy. But the reason I myself don't buy heirloom furniture is... I'm not that settled in my tastes yet, and even if I buy a table that I can pass onto the grandchildren I'll never have, 1) I wouldn't want my grandkids to feel obligated to keep my furniture just because it's mine and old and well-built if they don't like it, and 2) in 5 years, I probably won't like it that much myself. Or, I will probably always find it kind of boring. For the next 50 years or whatever.

Hmm... I don't have a name for my Ikea pieces. Two wicker metal chairs, one large desk and matching shelf. One large wooden oval mirror. I've had them for wow, that many years. They're pretty much mixed in with older/new pieces and I can't say they bug me much. I would like to have replaced these pieces many times but never really get around to it either. Then I look at my pieces and think they've lasted way over, going to guess here, 14 years? No, more. And look pretty darn good for their age. Even the desk and floating shelf changed color yet look good. These days, unless it's given to me, I can't afford to purchase anything "new." Not when that money can pay the rent or bills. I'll hold on my Ikea pieces for now.

Okay, I'm older than most of the rest of you, and for me, 8 years is still a pretty recent purchase!

My husband and I have been together over 22 years (23 years next month...gulp!), and so I guess I have a very long term perspective... We've got lots of things which have lasted that long... none of it IKEA.

So, quality to me is something that my grandchildren will want -- and which will hold up for them too.

I don't think our planet can take everyone buying disposable IKEA furniture... what a waste of resources!

As for life with children being the time of living with temporary stuff, I adamantly disagree. We have two young children, aged 5 and 8, and we've taught them how to respect our things. No eating or drinking on the sofa, etc. It works. And when they were even younger, we didn't have a problem then either. Heck, we were forced to live in furnished accommodation (no choice on the space or the furniture), and were given dining chairs with off-white woolly upholstery. Not exactly practical with young kids. It was still recognizably off-white and unstained after 4.5 years. So, it is not impossible.

I think I've seen at least a smattering of IKEA in all my favorite house tours on AT. It deserves to be included in any list of sources to check for needed items. The key is to plan before you buy. People should not blame IKEA for disposable furniture when they are the ones disposing of it.

Hello.
My bed is the only new piece of furniture I own
all my other furniture I have purchased from a friend that owns a antique store and from The salvation Army Thrift store. I had to go back a few times but it was fun, and I found some great furniture and love every piece I got. just don't forget to be patient and think GREEN
Good luck and have a Happy New Year !!

The green fabric & wood side chairs are ikea? Really? Anyone know the name? I think they are great.

I am so tired with the constant hating on IKEA... I guess it must come with privilege, or possibly must feel good to be in the elite of hating on IKEA or something. IKEA is the best, the most beautiful and stylish thing you can find if you are far from wealthy, don't live in a place with a market for second-hand, don't have rich parents/family to present you with some classic pieces and so on. IKEA is god-sent for me. I live in Poland now, but before I lived for many years in the US, in both places I could buy nice, clean line, good looking furniture. and you know what? it was not cheap. I mean it in both ways - it was really expensive for me to buy, and it was done for years to use. Please imagine that there are people for whom "even" IKEA can be expensive and luxurious and step down from your "mid-century, only original, only expensive stuff" mentality. To be honest, even if I could afford an eames chair, i wouldn't want to buy it, b/c like every other photo on any blog has an eames chair. there is less IKEA around that the mid-century "icons". so who's the cookie-cutter? At least with IKEA I know what I am paying for and am not over-paying for "icons" stuffed everywhere, and am not trying to fit into the fashion-design police requirements.
People should relax a bit, there is nothing wrong with IKEA.

Hey, I re-purposed a shelving unit like that white one you have. Mine was the larger one, but it fit perfectly in the dead space side area of my closet. Now there are items on shelves, instead of stacked on top of each other. Much easier to access. Just a suggestion.

I have a mix of better quality stuff and IKEA placeholders. As a renter, I have also put off buying the "perfect" dining table because of my space issue. I just need a place to eat for now. I don't have kids yet either, so I can get something that is less durable without concern. I hope that this will all change once I'm more settled.

I made the terrible mistake, however, of purchasing a cheap IKEA mattress when I got my first apartment. Of all the items in the home, the bed is probably the most important. I don't mind skimping on shelves or dressers, but that bed is the worst! I can't upgrade either because I'm waiting for more space to fit a queen or king. For now, the little IKEA bed will have to do.

I couldn't disagree with the first poster more... I think the key to being a happy renter is to buy quality pieces that will make ANY apartment look great.

The only Ikea item I own is my sofa (Sater), which I just can't bring myself to get rid of because I love it. The bonded leather has held up beautifully for us. I also have two Barcelona chairs, a Saarinen dining table, and four Cesca chairs. These are items that were an investment but they've made three rentals look pretty good.

My hesitation getting rid of my Ikea couch and replacing it with a high quality piece is that my fiance and I are serious klutzes. We dribble and spill all over the place. We're always on the couch. Ruining something huge like a sofa would break my heart! I love high quality leather but it also shows wear and water spots easily. Fabric just would not be an option for us at all, though.

My bed is a mattress and boxspring on the floor. I prefer this setup to buying an Ikea bed. I had an Ikea bed once, and it was impossible to take apart and put back together. What a waste.

I love Ikea items that don't scream "IKEA!!!" when you walk in the room. When I moved to my first apartment right out of college I had a $500 budget and furnished my entire studio with items from Ikea. I'm in a different studio now, and I'm still using some of the stuff but I'm hoping to phase out my beige Poang chair and Lack coffee and side tables this year. Aside from being a bit cliche, they're the cheapest items I've purchased, in terms of quality. My Poang cover got mangled in the wash and a hole was ripped behind the headrest, and the "veneer" on the Lack tables has not held up very well. However, my Malm and Cyril (http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/6/61259/36_2007/ikeaarmoire.jpg) desk are keepers!

Oh please! If anyone's seen the new CB2 catalog, you'd see that they're the ones who are knocking off IKEA, and at a much, much higher price point.

I love IKEA. My Expedit has survived 4 moves in 6 years. As someone else mentioned, IKEA is one of the few places with quality design at affordable prices. I also have furniture from other stores and things I inherited.

What is wrong with IKEA? I've never had any problems with their furniture! I'm sick of all the haters! My Expedit bookcase is perhaps the best shelving I've ever owned.

I don't understand why people think they need to be in their "permanent" home before buying quality furniture. I moved around every 3 years growing up, you find new ways to make your furniture work in a new home; that's part of the fun of moving! I still move around every few years and I'm definately slowly acquiring nice pieces I hope will last a long time.

IKEA is incredibly useful and affordable, I'm not saying I don't go there for things I need occasionally, but many of their items are cheaply made "throw away" pieces and I'm trying not to waste money on things that will be trash in a few years.

Sorry, but the Expedit is awesome. I don't care where it's from. It's just plain awesome.
Also, I have a Karlstad sofa, and I love it. Truthfully, I would have loved to invest in a more expensive sofa, but I have 2 small children. It has been perfect for our lifestyle. The price is such that I can let my children actually LIVE in our living room, AND the washable slipcovers have saved me from having a stained sofa. Maybe people without kids don't know, but kids puke...everywhere. I won't mention what kind of messes they make as babies. I cannot have a $2000 sofa in my house. Just can't. But like I said, I actually love my Karlstad. I'm not looking to replace it anytime soon.

@netsirk
It's the klackbo. Here's more evidence.

If you ever want to know what your mystery ikea item from the 90s or whatever is, hie thee to the ikeafans forum. Someone will know! Usually one of a handful of specific someones.... XD

What is with the IKEA snobbery? We just got an IKEA here... and I'm considering a sofa, because every other sofa I really like is over $1500. That's just not feasible seeing as I need to eat.

I'm rather patient when it comes to buying furniture. I've been saving up for a sofa for years - the one I wanted initially (from another store) was discontinued.
When I moved into my condo, I promised myself not to buy any new/ new to me furniture for the first six months because I thought it would be better to know what REALLY worked and what I REALLY wanted instead of buying placeholders along the way.

In that meantime... I even had a guest say to me, "This wall needs something." no kidding? should I just slap something up there? No. I wait until I find something that I love and that I can afford.

I ended up buying a 1960s McCobb style credenza that gets WOW reactions whenever someone stops by. I will have it forever and it will find a place in any home I have in the future.

Looking back, I've kept most of the furniture I've ever bought because I have to love it first.

as an aside, when I told my mom I spent $500 on my credenza, she gasped! (she has not seen it, as she lives in another state and I go to her for visits. ) because I think she spent $500 on her sofa and loveseat together... but they lack style and aren't even all that comfortable!

I feel ya. I've been in your situation for most of my life. However, in the last year I've swapped out most of my old cheap pieces with well-curated items from family, antique stores, and the occasional new splurge. It takes awhile, but it's all starting to come together, and I love looking at my rooms and adoring every piece in it, feeling that every piece truly belongs. We bought huge custom-made oak bookcases this year and it was so worth it! I think those things are going to outlive me...

After giving away quantities of knickknacks, I gave away the storage pieces that had held them, and prefer the resulting empty space. Not replacing the furnishings you plan to release may be better in your situation, too. Because of the many compliments paid Expedit on AT, I showed my husband the Expedit last weekend while at IKEA window-shopping for something else. I saw that it's particle board, and won't buy more particle board furniture since in my experience it's flimsy. Regardless of its source and price, I examine the construction and materials of furniture closely before buying. I wouldn't take most of what I see in stores even if it were free.

why are people hating on the art on the wall? Perhaps it is the place of a visual effects artist or a concept artist or a game developer... it is different, to each his own.

Interesting conversation all around! We will always stay true to our frugal roots and business idea, which is to make design affordable and a good value for our IKEA customers. I think we have something for everyone, in more styles than people might realize, but in the end, it's all about creating your own style.
It's incredibly helpful to hear how real people use our products in their own homes!
Janice Simonsen-IKEA Design Spokesperson

I love the blik decal, this is a forum for discussion but to outright hate and insult on someones taste in artwork, (which is even from a respected artist) is downright cheap and low.

Our whole home is furnished from Ikea! We love the modern look and the price point. As for durability - we have moved 5 times in the last 5 years and our pieces are holding up fine. I agree with the above poster about customizing with art. We also use fabric pillows andcurtains to break up the look. I also get frustrated with people advising craigslist as the be all end all for quality furniture finds. It really does depend on the market. Unfortunately, where I have lived, that market tended to be one filled with dumpy mauve sofas and huge dining sets from the 80s!

I live in Melbourne and furniture is very expensive down here. My husband tends to be an Ikea snob so last year he bought a queen bed for us from a high end furniture shop. Needless to say the bed already needs repainting :( Ikea is also quite expensive here, specially their high end design lines. I lived in a studio apartment in Dubai and my whole place was furnished with secondhand furniture and Ikea, and it was beautiful. Flea markets in Melbourne are filled with the most ugly furniture I have ever seen. So Ikea is my only hope.

I have always maintained that there is absolutely nothing wrong with IKEA furniture if you buy the higher-priced stuff. I'd say a quarter of the stuff in our house is IKEA and a lot of it we've had for more than a decade and it's still in tip-top shape. I like the Scandinavian design aesthetic which I see at a much higher price point at places like Bo Concept. I also think many things are lower quality at places like West Elm. If you buy "high-end" IKEA, mix it up a bit and add your own flourish with textiles, colors then it all works out fine.

I love our Ikea Akrobat wall unit and Expedit shelves. They have been moved multiple times, across the US and overseas to Japan and back. All are in good shape and look great in our space. And for anyone putting in a kitchen, Ikea's cabinet lines can't be beat for style and quality at a good price. I do love antiques and solid wood pieces and buy them if and when I find something that works in terms of design and price, but I definitely would never write Ikea off.

I'm the other way: I have several Ikea pieces (including my bed which I got in 2004 and still sleep happily in!) and am content. Several pieces (like my huge Expedit) did eventually go away because it no longer fit my life.

But I've never summarily gotten rid of furniture just to get new stuff. I prefer to wait VERY patiently until I scout out just the right new piece, and then get rid of the old piece when the new one has come in.

Currently, I'm still living with an IKEA footstool that I dislike heartily because I just haven't found the new piece yet. I could get rid of the footstool, but then I'd be stuck with no footstool and an urge to buy something just to have anything. I'd rather wait for the right excellent piece and to bear with the old awful footstool for a while longer.

For the record, I did not read this article as an "I hate IKEA" piece, but rather as a "It's time to make way for a new style" piece.

I don't see this as an IKEA hating article either. As someone pointed out, the two green chairs are IKEA, but yet they aren't marked to be swapped out. I feel she filled her space with some great items that fit the need, but now she's ready for a change.

I also love the wall piece, so maybe I'm in one camp..

IKEA's a union buster. I've never been inside one and don't plan on shopping there any time in the future.

There are certain areas where I will not spend a ton of money in the home...things like sofa pillows, side chairs(no one really uses them except guests for short periods) and certain storage items for items in this category I am not particularly concerned with quality and will spend the least amount possible to achieve the look I want.

Things I never never skimp on in terms of quality and will spare no expense on are mattresses, bed and bath linens, living room sofa, and rugs.

One thing I do think people should be aware of is that a high price tag is no indication of quality. I have shopped at IKEA enough to know that some of there items are surprisingly high quality for the price. The reverse is also true, I have seen an obscenely expensive sideboard in a store that shall remain nameless and when I opened the draw to inspect it I was shocked by the shoddy craftsmanship. The key is to know what to look for in terms of quality (which would make a good topic AT)...Once you know what to look for the price tag becomes largely irrelevant.