Buy kitchen in CZ

I bought my kitchen in Bratislava.
In general: quality and products are the same, the different countries are supplied from the same warehouses.

Sometimes there are two manufacturers for certain products, also in different qualities. But then the product has a different article number (for example white Pax cabinets come with foil and melamine-coated surfaces depending on the manufacturer).

The drawers are only from Hettich in Germany. In most other Ikea countries they are from Blum, and among many carpenters Blum is considered equivalent or even better than Hettich. In any case, any German carpenter can also get Blum spare parts for you.

From the front, there should be no difference with different drawers, because the fronts have the same article number (regardless of whether the Rationell drawer is from Blum or Hettich). However, I would still not necessarily mix manufacturers, because you are used to the drawer closing with this pressure and running noise. It takes getting used to if the next drawer is different again.

You do not need to pre-order, just do the availability check for the Prague Ikea. If there are two stores, you have a good chance to get the last supplementary purchase from the other store.

But do not underestimate the time required for buying a kitchen. You yourself are the warehouse worker who puts everything together in the market hall. Usually only fronts and appliances are from the goods issue. Plan at least 5 hours of shopping time for two people.

Ikea gives a 5-year warranty on electrical appliances, which is also valid when the device is imported from one EU country to another EU country. This runs contractually with Electrolux or Whirlpool anyway. For all other parts you have to make a trip to Prague for complaints again. However, the rumors that screws are missing are only rumors in my Ikea experience.

After the 2-year warranty, Whirlpool no longer does anything for free but tells the customer to contact IKEA since IKEA provides the 5-year guarantee and not Whirlpool.

And what is IKEA supposed to do there? Whirlpool has to repair the device, not IKEA, right?

It's not really the topic, but it's quite interesting what you then tell the customers who have a 5-year guarantee, but Whirlpool does not repair and sends the customers (probably still with the device) to IKEA. That sounds a bit illogical...

These are the warranty conditions of IKEA Austria, this paragraph is not present in Germany

doesn't matter, I just googled it on , it's just the Austrian site. but it is absolutely not relevant that it was only found on an AT subpage, because the exact same paragraph is word-for-word in the device descriptions under the warranty conditions. and the way the paragraph is formulated, it must apply to Germany the same as long as Germany is in the EU.

and just as the paragraph is formulated, it must apply to Germany in the same way as long as Germany is in the EU.

Yes and no...

In Europe, part of the warranty laws are prescribed, but not the entire guarantee. And the statutory warranty in Germany and partially in Europe is 2 years. Everything else that is promised beyond that and "guaranteed" is the responsibility of the manufacturer or seller.

For example, Whirlpool offers a 3-year guarantee. IKEA only takes over defects beyond that after the device has been repaired by a certified partner.

The law in Germany is: 2 years warranty, please do not confuse it with a guarantee, those are two different things.

In case of a guarantee:

Device broken.
Call the manufacturer.
Get the device repaired.
Pay the invoice.
Get reimbursed by IKEA.

And one more thing:

Therefore, it is generally better for the customer to complain to IKEA first. That way you are on the safe side regarding payment.

If the device is broken and the customer is not aware of any fault, why should he go to IKEA first only to find out that he has to call Whirlpool / Electrolux?
Above all, this just drags everything out. If the device (I am talking about a normal case where everything is clear) is broken, I call the manufacturer right away and get a cost estimate. And if I have doubts that IKEA will cover it, I go to IKEA with the cost estimate and ask if the defect will be taken over by IKEA. Then I am on the safe side, but I have to go to IKEA at least twice.
Or I just get it repaired and bring the invoice to IKEA. If I am unlucky, it will not be reimbursed. But then there must already be gross negligence involved.

The employee can only say: Well, the device is broken, the guarantee is there, then have the technician come. We will reimburse the invoice.

Or is the employee a clairvoyant and can tell if it is a defect just by the description of the error...

Anyone who reads the paragraph knows that it is about the 5-year IKEA warranty conditions and not just about the statutory warranty. The brochure that describes this warranty coverage between the EU countries also describes the warranty conditions of the 5-year voluntarily extended IKEA warranty. So you can easily buy all IKEA kitchen appliances (except LAGAN) in other EU countries and use the 5-year warranty service here. Anyone who claims otherwise also claims that IKEA does not stand by what IKEA clearly prints in black and white in its own appliance manuals!

I bought my kitchen in Bratislava. Generally speaking: quality and products are the same, the different countries are supplied from the same warehouses.

Since I am also considering getting an Ikea kitchen, I have a few questions for you. How was your experience with Ikea Bratislava? The kitchen I designed there would be about €800 cheaper, and it’s not that far from Vienna. Did you check the parts for damages right there or did you "risk" having to go back again? Can the employees there also speak German/English – unfortunately, I don’t speak Slovak. Are there still any "import restrictions" or has all that been lifted with the EU accession? The thing about the appliance warranty is definitely interesting (that it’s also valid in Austria) – that makes me consider whether I shouldn’t buy the appliances there as well (they would also be about €200 cheaper).