SINGAPORE, Dec 16 — A woman in Singapore said she discovered an insect infestation in some baskets she had bought at Swedish homeware giant Ikea recently.
Voicing her unhappiness on TikTok, user “wlr1002” on Wednesday (Dec 14) posted a video detailing her unpleasant encounter with the Ikea Knipsa basket.
She said in the video that she had bought six of the Ikea baskets for her nursery but discovered the insects, which she did not identify, upon getting home.
She called Ikea regarding the issue, but was met with what she deemed to be an unsatisfactory response. She said the Ikea staff member told her that the insects were from her house.
In response to TODAY's queries, Ikea Singapore said today that the product, which was previously sold in stores and online, has been temporarily removed from sale here.
Ikea Singapore has launched an internal investigation into the case and the firm has reached out to its product developers at Ikea Sweden for help.
It is also "cross checking mandates and standard operating procedures relating to compliance and audit quality checks on natural fibre products, from the supplier right up to warehousing and selling in the store".
Ikea Singapore has since reached out to the affected customer and offered her an Ikea gift card.
In a separate TikTok video, "wlr1002" also uploaded a screenshot of an email reply she said she had received from Ikea's customer service department. While Ikea had apologised for the inconvenience caused, they informed her that it was "unlikely this incident is related with the product itself".
This is because Ikea has "procedures to avoid plagues in all warehouses and supply chain". The Ikea warranty does not cover issues pertaining any plague, according to the email reply.
Determined to prove that the insects were in fact coming from the basket, the TikTok user made a trip down to an Ikea outlet.
She took a Knipsa basket on display in the showroom and gave it a few hard whacks. In the video, ant-like insects were shown scurrying across the floor from the basket, in apparent evidence supporting her claim.
The Knipsa basket, priced at S$32.90 in Singapore, is advertised on the Ikea United States website as being made with a natural material called seagrass. I
One TikTok user commented on the possible cause of the insects.
“These weaved baskets are natural material containing insects and their eggs, that’s why solid plywood is treated with formaldehyde before being sold,” the user wrote in the comments section.
The TikTok video, which garnered almost 100,000 views in two days, received many comments in support of "wlr1002".
“The fact that she came down, sat down and WHACKED it #salute,” one said.
Some agreed that Ikea Singapore’s customer service could be improved. “They better improve their customer service,” wrote one.
“Their customer service hotline is the worst! Feels like talking to a teenager who has no life experience. So frustrating,” said another TikTok user.
Others chimed in with their own stories of what they feel was unsatisfactory service from Ikea.
Some online users claimed to have faced similar insect infestations: “I have some issues too. I threw it away because I thought it was from my house.”
“I had that rounded rattan bag that was infested with these insects as well...very traumatising,” said another.
Several TikTok users also professed to have issues with other Ikea products: “I bought a bed recently from Ikea and I had an infestation of such bugs...my walls and floor, omg was wondering why.”
“Previously, I bought my Dotter bed frame and it was infested with bed bugs...we didn't have a bed bug problem until we bought the bed frame from Ikea,” wrote one user.
Ikea Singapore urged customers to contact the firm if they had bought the same basket product and were not happy.
"Should any customer feel uncomfortable with owning the same product, they are welcome to bring it back to our store for a full refund or contact the Ikea Customer Contact Centre at +65 6786 6868."
TODAY has reached out to "wlr1002" for comment on Ikea's statement. — TODAY
