Ikea implements tip-over awareness sales requirement

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Home furnishings retail giant Ikea has announced new sales protocols for its U.S. stores, designed to alert consumers of the need for wall attachment on chests of drawers and other clothing storage units in order to prevent tip-overs.

Customers at all U.S. stores must now acknowledge the need to attach the product to the wall and provide their name and e-mail address before the sale can be finalized.

The company says this new sales requirement strengthens the focus on reducing the risk of tip-over incidents and helping create safer homes for Ikea U.S. customers and their families.

The retailer has faced multiple tip-over related lawsuits including this one filed last year regarding Ikea’s recall of certain dressers.

“The safe use of Ikea products is our top priority, and this new sales requirement reinforces the need for wall attachment to help protect our customers and their homes from tip-over incidents,” said Patricia Lobell, market area manager at Ikea Retail U.S. “Consistent with guidance from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ikea believes that the risk of tip-over incidents is reduced when chests of drawers and other select clothing storage units are properly attached to the wall. The new sales requirement is an important next step in our journey to help our customers enjoy a safer life at home.”

Customers who want to purchase a chest of drawers or other select clothing storage furniture units at Ikea U.S. stores now will see signage that informs them of the sales requirement. Customers are directed to use their mobile device to access the online acknowledgement and registration form, where they will acknowledge the need for wall attachment, and register with their contact e-mail prior to purchase. The e-mail address will only be used to share important safety updates and provide a reminder about the need for wall attachment. A trained Ikea co-worker can to assist customers if they need help getting online or navigating to the form.

Customers will then receive an e-mail confirming the completion of their registration, which must be shown to an Ikea co-worker stationed at the entrance of a gated self-service aisle in order to enter and collect their furniture item.

Purchasers of these products on the website will also see the wall-attachment requirement and receive the safety updates and reminders by e-mail. The purchase cannot be completed unless the wall attachment acknowledgement box is checked.

Initial feedback indicates that customers are understanding of the reasons for this new requirement as it is part of the Ikea initiative to help create safer homes.

Ikea says it is committed to work within the industry to reduce tip-overs by working with legislators, standard committees, consumer safety advocates, safety experts and customers to develop solutions; and it invests heavily in innovation, product development and testing together with consumer authorities and other stakeholders to increase stability and reduce the risk of tip-over in the home.