tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post1786955511544959571..comments2023-10-02T05:57:38.915-04:00Comments on American Heart, Brazilian Soul: Reasons we are not crazy for IKEA!American Heart Brazilian Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-61058646396605584322019-10-24T03:24:55.162-04:002019-10-24T03:24:55.162-04:00We all want a kitchen with fully customized with a...We all want a kitchen with fully customized with all the needs. But due to some lacking Its Difficult to set kitchen furniture's which is very difficult to get. It can be found by <a href="https://shoppingstockinc.com/" rel="nofollow"> Best place to buy furniture online </a> they have all kinds of furniture's for your needs. john84https://www.blogger.com/profile/17167255001538979734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-82122651267637936162013-09-07T08:00:35.299-04:002013-09-07T08:00:35.299-04:00hey guys, having some experience with both IKEA an...hey guys, having some experience with both IKEA and tok&stok, i would say, that the price - benefit relation at tok&stok is simply not ok. the prices are much too high for goods on a rathercheap level. competition would surely help to improve the customers benefits. insofar i'm looking forward to see IKEA openingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-26540069406262467632013-04-04T00:51:33.307-04:002013-04-04T00:51:33.307-04:00Do you guys get paid by Tok & Stok or somethin...Do you guys get paid by Tok & Stok or something?! xD Also, I think it's a little rich for anyone Brazilians or Americans to bring up near slave culture, I have lots of native friends living in Brazil who study law, and it's very common practise. For the American system I have one word... "prison?" Maybe it's good to earn your keep, pay back society, but for how many people are in jail and the system of rewards for labour, one could argue paying back society has become big business in America. For all the students I know living at home in Brazil who would like some basic cutlery they'd otherwise pay 4x as much for, or even really cheap furniture (granted, it may not last long, you still like those clothes you wore in the 90s?!) I say IKEA SHOULD open in Brazil!JadeBCWrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12212906401043363230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-88469237616052852382012-11-10T13:01:01.477-05:002012-11-10T13:01:01.477-05:00I have bought things in IKEA and they are affordab...I have bought things in IKEA and they are affordable at a good price. Some things are better, some could be better.Tok&Stok: the prices are waaay above the salary limit of 70% of the population. Even for a plastic plug they ask a whopping 10 reais: "adaptador elet. p/tomada 2p 15a"<br />The normal price would be 2-3 reais, and generally sold for 4-5. Thats 200-300% extra. The good sofas have prices of a small motorcycle (1000 euro!). They just aim for the RICH people, and there are more than 10.000 millionaires in SP. The cheap BR sofas all look like my grandma's version: uncomfy and hard a a brick. Big big shame on the greed of tok&stok. conclusion: Ikea would be able to 100 million people a decent interior.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-53239644944506393512012-06-22T15:42:14.274-04:002012-06-22T15:42:14.274-04:00I came to this thread late, but feel compelled to ...I came to this thread late, but feel compelled to comment. Tok&Stok is horribly expensive, like most Brasilian stores. Their quality is nothing special. I find the discussion about mattresses astonishing, since that is certainly one thing that is terribly expensive in Brasil relative to North America and much of the world. There are no bargains in Brasil, including at Tok&Stok, regardless of the level of quality one seeks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-15912518599526341072011-06-02T00:59:53.393-04:002011-06-02T00:59:53.393-04:00Born Again Brazilian,
Yes, Ikea does some pret...Born Again Brazilian,<br /><br /> Yes, Ikea does some pretty shady stuff, anything for a profit.<br /> I love the Sweedish and Sweeden, but Ikea is in my black list of BIG BAD GUYS to avoid boycot!<br /> <br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-75914387473221194022011-06-01T06:57:19.790-04:002011-06-01T06:57:19.790-04:00This is great advice. To the untrained eye, IKEA m...This is great advice. To the untrained eye, IKEA might be very alluring. And their catalogs are amazing in terms of super mod room design. But we've bought a couple decoration type things here and there and they didn't last very long. (We definitely don't still own the items, so that says something.)<br />Plus, the company itself is a bit shady. It's divided itself up into separate privately owned entities to avoid taxes. Didn't know about the Chinese slave labor, because the company likes to market itself as providing for the people. Good info.Born Again Brazilianhttp://www.bornagainbrazilian.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-83925043432272904972011-05-24T01:45:00.477-04:002011-05-24T01:45:00.477-04:00AlexRJ,
You said you bought a certain wood furnit...AlexRJ,<br /><br />You said you bought a certain wood furniture and it had "termites" in one season.<br />All Tok & Stok products have a 2 Year Warranty, so all you need to do is call them and return the defective product to the store, they will gladly take it back.<br />All wood furniture is pre-treated to prevent termites and if your wood piece has termites, it is a factory defect of the anti termite treatment.<br />Please find below Tok & Stok's detailed 2 year warranty:<br /><br />;)<br /><br />Garantia <br /><br />Os produtos Tok&Stok possuem um prazo de garantia de 2 anos, incluídos os 90 dias determinados pelo Código de Defesa do Consumidor. Alguns produtos ou componentes específicos contam com prazos de garantia diferenciados que são identificados no próprio produto.<br /><br />A garantia é valida para defeitos de fabricação ou mau funcionamento do produto que são detectados após o recebimento dos mesmos. Não contempla defeitos com origem em uso ou manuseio indevido do produto tais como limpeza, manutenção, exposição à intempérie, sobrecarga de peso, esforço excessivo, ou seja, toda e qualquer circunstância de emprego diferente daquelas para as quais o produto foi concebido e/ou que esteja em desacordo com as orientações de uso específicas do produto.American Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-22965446618231561602011-05-24T01:41:22.698-04:002011-05-24T01:41:22.698-04:00AlexRJ,
Ok, I get it, you think Brazilian product...AlexRJ,<br /><br />Ok, I get it, you think Brazilian products are crap!<br />You clearly don't speak for any other Expat, just for yourself.<br />I have one thing to say about that, tell me your budget and I will tell you how much you will like Brazilian products, QUALITY WILL COST YOU! That goes to the US as well.<br />Have you heard the expression "Brazil is not for beginners", that is very true.<br />If you buy furniture at Casas Bahia or clothes at Lojas Americanas, you will hate the quality of stuff.<br />In the US, if you shop Ikea or Walmart, same thing.<br />Sorry, I don't know enough about Argentina to understand your comment.<br />I can tell you I am proud to see great quality Brazilian MADE products at Tok & Stok.<br />I am also proud to see many Arlines around the US and Europe replacing their fleets with great solid built EMBRAER Airplanes, their are outbitting the competition in price and quality time after time, 100% Brazilian baby, super proud of EMBRAER.<br />Brazilian shoes also have a great reputation around the world for high quality, have you heard of "Cole Haan", in case you are wondering, they are not cheap.<br />Brazilian products are great if you know where to shop, but again, that goes for every country, right!<br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-15177195957328127282011-05-24T01:36:54.297-04:002011-05-24T01:36:54.297-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.American Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-56748399192237744842011-05-24T01:28:51.114-04:002011-05-24T01:28:51.114-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.American Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-73235257425016846472011-05-24T01:16:51.721-04:002011-05-24T01:16:51.721-04:00Neven,
You are correct!
Apples to orang...Neven,<br /><br /> You are correct!<br /> Apples to oranges, my bad for creating the confusion.<br /> I drove by an Etna store near Morumbi Mall last year but never had a chance to check it out. I left Sao Paulo in 1998, before they were around.<br /> I like your comparison, Mercedez to a Fiat, simple and it says it all.<br /> I enjoy reading your blog by the way.<br /> Thanks for your comment.<br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-36974795541052699282011-05-23T07:50:53.856-04:002011-05-23T07:50:53.856-04:00Ray&Gil, sorry big mistake... you are comparin...Ray&Gil, sorry big mistake... you are comparing IKEA to Tok&Stok, which is like comparing a Mercedes to a Fiat. The correct comparison of IKEA would be ETNA in Brazil which is seems to be the same thing, with three major differences:<br /><br />1. The prices are at least three times those of IKEA<br />2. The quality is at most half of IKEA<br />3. The food in the cafeteria is better than at IKEA<br /><br />Tok&Stok would have to be compared vs Habitat or the like in Europe...Nevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00306115737804720087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-31409077045135963092011-05-22T23:04:21.105-04:002011-05-22T23:04:21.105-04:00Hi Ray,
Thanks for your response.
Well I have to ...Hi Ray,<br /><br />Thanks for your response.<br />Well I have to disagree on some points.<br /><br />Of course I am aware tok & stok is only located in brazil, (I think everybody knows the reason why)<br /><br />When I mention a ripoff, I exactly mentioned a High price for a much, MUCH lower quality and service than we are used to in the US.<br /><br />If you even compare to Argentina, (easy store for example) where products are at least 60 to 70% cheaper, and often much better quality.. Employees also have the same benefits, and products are made in Argentina...<br /><br />But lets start showing some examples: so that people have a better understanding. Lets take a product with low variability in quality:<br />A very simple round ceiling lamp with aluminium reflector painted in black. <br /><br />Exactly the same aspect, weight, dimension 10% bigger at tok stok<br /><br />369 R$ at tok&stok (225 US$)<br />49 US$ at ikea. <br />!!?? Any explanation? Maybe the aluminium used in brazil so much better it justifies the extra 175 US$. Or the electric cable<br />Or is it their overly staffed fixed costs/taxes/no competition/ sellers, their <br />Actually the Ikea one have more accessories on this lamp to hide ceiling electricity connection, and connectors.<br /><br />About the china product, I was mentioning plastic accessories, plates and small decoration objects. Well pretty much everything except their wooden furniture, (ie a sofa I bought last year and that turned out to be eaten by termites in 1 season...)<br /><br />Let's face it, the only reason they are doing good in brazil is because there is no competition (except etna which is even worst).<br /><br /><br />I m not saying Tok&Stok is really bad, if it was 4 times cheaper I wouldn't mind, but every expat I know, who moved to brazil has the exact same opinion about tok & stok and brazilian product in general.<br /><br />Google "ikea brazil" and look at how many people are craaaaaving for it..AlexRjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-77203024489979230432011-05-22T18:31:31.377-04:002011-05-22T18:31:31.377-04:00AlexRJ:
You said:
"Rumors say Ikea is comin...AlexRJ:<br /><br />You said:<br /><br />"Rumors say Ikea is coming to Brazil, (already bought land & stuff, and it will be brazilian made!!!)"<br /><br />I say:<br /><br />GREAT! The best news we could hear!<br />I think competition is very healthy, the more the merrier ;)<br /><br /><br />Thanks for your comment!<br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-65143730968597341662011-05-22T18:29:59.972-04:002011-05-22T18:29:59.972-04:00AlexRJ:
You said:
"Ray and Gil say nice com...AlexRJ:<br /><br />You said:<br /><br />"Ray and Gil say nice comments about tok & stok service, I wonder if they work there or just never bought a product from tok & stok."<br /><br />I say:<br /><br />Ha! Good try!<br />No, don't work at Tok & Stok, see, we live in Boston and unfortunately Tok & Stok doesn't have any branches over here, we should be so lucky! ;)<br /><br />And yes, not only we have purchased many things at Tok & Stok but also have family and friends who have purchased things at both Ikea and Tok & Stok and they all LOVE Tok & Stok and are not really crazy for Ikea, just like we are not.<br />Who knows! Maybe we are wrong, our friends and family are wrong and you are correct! :)<br />Nah!! You are WRONG my friend! Sorry! ;)American Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-80267524887998247282011-05-22T18:24:06.605-04:002011-05-22T18:24:06.605-04:00AlexRJ:
You Said:
"Just go on the respectiv...AlexRJ:<br /><br />You Said:<br /><br />"Just go on the respective websites and compare items, not only furnitures, but simple stuff that can only have low variability in quality, it speaks for itself."<br /><br />I say:<br /><br />I don't have to check websites, I know these stores from personal experience shopping in both of them and I can't tell when IKEA stuff falls apart quick and when Tok & Stok product lasts a long time. <br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-37975849886167473262011-05-22T18:21:33.871-04:002011-05-22T18:21:33.871-04:00AlexRJ:
You Said:
CANT WAIT FOR THE REAL DEAL!
...AlexRJ:<br /><br />You Said:<br /><br />CANT WAIT FOR THE REAL DEAL!<br /><br />I SAY: <br /><br />What do you mean by REAL DEAL?<br />Cheap and Crappy Imports from China filled with poisonous "mercury" and "formaldehyde"?<br /><br />Thanks, but NO THANKS!American Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-13627217305532916112011-05-22T18:19:44.329-04:002011-05-22T18:19:44.329-04:00AlexRJ:
You Said:
Don t be fooled, you don'...AlexRJ:<br /><br />You Said:<br /> <br />Don t be fooled, you don't pay for quality but just for high taxes, logistic problems due to brazil (that requires 5 times more employees from the factory as well as in the outlet, and the lack of competition due to brazil's protectionism. <br /><br />I say:<br /><br />Ok, thanks, I won't be fooled!<br />However, I completely disagree with you.<br />Have you ever purchased anything at Ikea or Tok & Stok?<br />I have purchased many things at both places, and let me tell you Tok & Stok is 10 times better quality and if you buy stuff on sale it's not a bad deal at all.<br />"Requires 5 times more people in their factories or stores?" <br />I have no idea what you are talking about here, sorry, can't respond to this one.<br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-66684029423160432192011-05-22T17:21:09.675-04:002011-05-22T17:21:09.675-04:00AlexRJ,
You Said:
The same exact plate, shower c...AlexRJ,<br /><br />You Said:<br /><br />The same exact plate, shower curtain , you would find at Ikea cost 5 times the price!<br /><br />I say:<br /><br />What is your point? Everything in Brazil is 5 times the price, not just Tok & Stok, but everything. I get agravated everytime I am buying anything in Brazil. <br /><br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-2218771569565196802011-05-22T17:19:08.354-04:002011-05-22T17:19:08.354-04:00AlexRJ,
You Said:
"You re not paying ...AlexRJ,<br /><br />You Said:<br /><br /> "You re not paying for quality brazilian made products"<br /><br />I say:<br /><br /> "Yes, AlexRJ, we are paying for higher quality Brazilian made products! <br /> Unless we are talking about two different stores. Tok & Stok has traditionally only carried made in Brazil stuff, there are rare exceptions of imported crap in there stores, but I can't even remember one to give you as an example"<br /><br /><br />You also said:<br /><br /> "but just for the HUGE brazilian taxes, and import tarriffs (yes most a lot of stuff actually comes from china).<br /><br />I say:<br /><br /> Huge Brazilian taxes, yes, correct, Brazilian taxes are a bitch! I have to agree with you on this one. But at least workers have 30 days paid vacation per year, decent 3 months maternity leave, transportation and meal vouchers to supplement their salaries, paid sick leave, and many, many more benefits that Chinese workers can't even dream to have, hell, not even American workers have similar level of work benefits.<br /> "Most of the stuff comes from China?" Really, this must be a very new thing! <br /> I have shopped at Tok & Stok since the 70's, and never found a plate or wooden children's toy made in China, it has all been Made in Brazil, if this is a new thing, it has to be happening in the last couple of years.<br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-49306371211608484812011-05-22T17:03:26.455-04:002011-05-22T17:03:26.455-04:00Ok, Alex, your comments need to be addressed!
Her...Ok, Alex, your comments need to be addressed!<br /><br />Here we go:<br /><br />You SAID:<br /><br />"Tok Stok is a ripoff!!"<br /><br />I say:<br /><br />It depends on what is your idea of a ripoff!<br />If you think paying more money for higher quality and higher standards of service a "ripoff", you got it, it is a "ripoff".<br />I don't think it's a "ripoff" because you actually DO GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY.<br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-65967516782366747222011-05-22T16:58:07.777-04:002011-05-22T16:58:07.777-04:00Dear AlexRJ,
I don't even know where to ...Dear AlexRJ,<br /><br /> I don't even know where to begin adressing your mistageted comment!!!<br /> Oops, Ok, Ok, you caught us!<br /> Yes, we work for Tok & Stok in Boston and that is why we are bashing poor angelical politically correct (NOT) Ikea.<br /> Just go on their website and locate their branches, we live in New England and Tok & Stok is located in Brazil only. ;)<br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-27349694937158168572011-05-22T16:53:10.038-04:002011-05-22T16:53:10.038-04:00Fiona,
I hear you, it is frustrating indeed!...Fiona,<br /><br /> I hear you, it is frustrating indeed!<br /> Just as an example, our biggest problem nowadays is to find locally produced Garlic! <br /> We love Garlic and we can only find Garlic from China! Which would be fine if it wasn't so strong and acid.<br /> Hey, antiques do sound great! That is an awesome idea, we are in New England and people plan antiquing trips up here, this is the place for antiques ;)<br /><br /><br />RayAmerican Heart Brazilian Soulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049937328816904295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5660712955365418154.post-5401437007922861642011-05-22T12:21:14.823-04:002011-05-22T12:21:14.823-04:00Tok Stok is a ripoff!!
You re not paying for quali...Tok Stok is a ripoff!!<br />You re not paying for quality brazilian made products but just for the HUGE brazilian taxes, and import tarriffs (yes most a lot of stuff actually comes from china).<br /><br />The same exact plate, shower curtain , you would find at Ikea cost 5 times the price! <br />Don t be fooled, you don't pay for quality but just for high taxes, logistic problems due to brazil (that requires 5 times more employees from the factory as well as in the outlet, and the lack of competition due to brazil's protectionism. CANT WAIT FOR THE REAL DEAL!<br />Just go on the respective websites and compare items, not only furnitures, but simple stuff that can only have low variability in quality, it speaks for itself. Ray and Gil say nice comments about tok & stok service, I wonder if they work there or just never bought a product from tok & stok.<br /><br />Rumors say Ikea is coming to Brazil, (already bought land & stuff, and it will be brazilian made!!!)AlexRjnoreply@blogger.com