Shipping marble and glass table tops  

When I moved for grad school the university did not throw in moving costs. My internships did not cover moving costs. The GI bill was awesome but being debt free took sacrifice. I am perfectly content to sit in an air conditioned room and eat on my second hand ikea table. My first world problem is that it's laminate and not marble. Some of us are constrained by a pesky thing called a budget.

DallasGraduate,
The best statement I ever heard regarding a budget was a well known televangelist quote "you do not have a money problem you have an idea problem". This televangelist faith*, mission and other agendas (Philip Johnson designed Crystal Cathedral) had no bearing positive message and upbeat outlook.
*It did not end well... the ministry went bankrupt, the minister died and the "garage style church, boldly shaped structure that risk denaturing modern places for Catholic worship" was sold to the Diocese of Orange (not Philip Johnson fans).

-demonstrated lack of empathy
-flattened emotional affectivity
-delusions of grandeur
...
tell us more about your mother and father, and their pragmatism
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moderators please don't delete the entire thread

Fact: IKEA sells both trash and things that are well designed and sturdy enough to last decades---and everything in between.
I've met plenty of people who dismiss all of it as junk, most of whom admit to only having been in the store once or twice.
Dallas, I have an IKEA table in my kitchen because it fits an odd space perfectly and has the clean Scandinavian look that I wanted--not to mention it was way more affordable than a vintage table that would have been too big. I've also moved 3 times in 4 years and have no debt--high five!!

spanky,
I agree... Those narrow minded Ikea haters have no idea of the many wonders available at reasonable cost.
I have respect for Ikea's cabinet systems. I have seen "so called hacked" Ikea cabinets done with success (built in with a high level of sophistication).
I rhetorically question how any big box retailer (Home Depot et cetera) is able to compete in cabinetry against this global behemoth. Ikea dominates this sector. (form, function and quality are superior).
I also have admiration for any company (Ikea, Walmart and others) competing successfully in a global market. Prosperity in a free market place provides the opportunity of freedom and equality.
McDonald's has nutritious private label (Keebler) factory sealed boxes of cookies. Who knew..

Can you spot the Ikea?

Yes.