Green grow the options

In 2005, IKEA® and Zipcar® teamed up in Boston to make it greener to get to IKEA® in Stoughton for non car-owning folks in the Boston area. UNC Chapel Hill has had Zipcars® since 2004, and Zipcar® has now arrived on campus at Duke, with two Toyota Prius and two Toyota Matrix models available.

Where am I going with this?

Hypothetical case: say you’re in Durham and want to get some products from the IKEA® Charlotte store.To use the Zipcar® service, here’s what it would cost (Note: we’re using Atlanta rates b/c we don’t have access to Durham rates right now):

• $25 application fee (if 1st time user)
• $50 annual fee (if 1st time user)
• $70+/- if hourly rate, assuming 6 hour driving, 2 hours shopping or
• $66 if daily rate
• $54 +/- extra mileage fee (180 miles are free, out of 300 round trip, so fee is additional$0.45 x 120 miles)
• Total Zipcar® IKEA® run scenario: $124. That’s if you’re already a Zipcar member. Add another $75 to that if you’re a 1st time user.

It’s Do-able, but is it Optimal?

The above scenario assumes you can get everything you want into a Prius or Matrix. And if you’ve never been to an IKEA® store, you can very easily spend 4 hours or more there on a first trip. The store is 365,000 square feet! And all the creature comforts are there:

• a place for kids to play while you shop
• a restaurant
• bathrooms

Meanwhile, the Zipcar® clock is ticking, especially if you go hourly.

When is Ecomod a better option?

• if you already know what you want from IKEA® Charlotte &
• if you don’t have time or desire to go get it
• if you are over the initial magic that is IKEA® shopping
• if you’re ordering bulky products like furniture
• if you want things that are unavailable for online purchase
• if you want to minimize your shipping and handling costs.

IKEA® Charlotte opens next month. We’re ready. Are you?

Your time is valuable. So is the planet. We pick up multiple orders on a single run, which is certainly better than multiple cars making individual trips. We’re friendly, we offer a convenient service, and we’re insured. We can even assemble and install for you if you like.

What’s not to love?

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