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IKEA is supposed to be affordable, by definition, and lately it’s not worth it.
There was the little wood shelf for $2.99. For spice jars or whatever. I couldn’t make it for that so why bother? Buy it instead. Now they want $8.99 for those bits of pine when I can get a 2x4 for $6 and make a stack of them. (There’s probably a shitty YouTube video in there somewhere.)
The quality has dropped too. I bought a decent monochrome 8’x10’ area rug. Cotton backing, edged in banding on that backing to prevent fray, dense pile. $100. It has held up well 3 years later. Went back to buy another recently. They didn’t carry it, the closest they have now is $200 and it isn’t built nearly as well.
Ikea has for ages had the same price strategy: a super affordable tier that has an incredibly low price but is basically nice looking trash that might break within a few weeks and will definitely not survive you move to a new place. This tier exists to lure people in. Then there is a middle tier that tries to strike a balance between low cost also value for your money. The stuff in this tier is why other people tell you to go to Ikea because they have good stuff. Last there is their most expensive stuff, which is much less value for your money but is trendy and looks like designer stuff. This tier is what they put in ads and on Instagram, this is what they make most of their money with. Basically this is fast fashion but for furniture. It won't break as easily as the bottom tier, but you'll get rid of it in a few years because there is this new trend everyone loves. This is the least worth your money, in general.
But despite them following the same strategy and therefor i don't think their prices went up more than average inflation - i do think you're right when it comes to their quality. It has become more fragile overall, especially if you look at it over the course of decades.
I never bought living room items there. I’ve stayed in enough airbnbs to know it’s mostly uncomfortable crap. I always saw it as a place to go for organizer items to fit spaces that don’t cost a lot of time or material. They’re also good on glass food storage of all kinds. They also used to sell cotton sheets, down comforters, and pillows worth a damn.
I did buy an off the shelf counter for $80. 6ft length. Seemed like a decent deal compared to big box. The difference was as you said. Where the big box with Formica does last, for years, this thing was toast after a little water spilled on, as happens with counters. The edging apparently has no seal and it fell off rather quickly. Not a deal. Get regular laminate at big box, if you want a basic counter that can take any wear and tear. A butcher block counter lasts longer, and they’re notorious for not lasting.
Most of their stuff has generous warranties where the competition has fuck all.
Good luck making a shelf with a 2x4 and $400 in tools.
I already have tools, some inherited, some new, some lucky wins at estate sales.
My point is the price was right for the item. Now it’s just greedy.
Just the fact you chose a 2x4 to make a shelf indicates you are about to cut a few fingers off.