??? I get a database error whenever I click on the dropdowns. How did you get to see the content?

I think it's the google cache that detroitburbs is getting via a google search. It sure doesn't work directly on the site.

And if it is the cached site, it won't be there for long.

I get nothing but database errors for ikeafans on three different computers. So I think you are looking at caches of the site after ikea took it over and deleted the oven threads. Really hoping they will resurrect the site , it was a gold mine of information and helpful persons.

is this a cached page? it looks like it is ikeafans.com. I see what you mean that the pull down menus were disabled, but it looks like the pages are still there.

I am not a computer expert, so I am not sure what I am looking at. This is a result I got when I googled:

kitchen hack "ikeafans.com"

In contrast, when I googled:

Datid "ikeafans.com"

some of the threads with positive info come up, but anything with reference to the oven fiasco - faulty ovens produced over the course of several years with no solution, the pages have disappeared. I started one of the several year long threads, and contributed to another thread, and all of these pages are gone.

There is plenty of content that is still available by google search, I suppose Ikea bought the site as part of the settlement, cleared the damaging info, and are trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest.

funny enough, the storefinder link still works great:
http://www.ikeafans.com/directory/category/ikea-stores/

LOL. I hope Susan and James did ok with the settlement.

there is another site called "ikeahackers.net" which is still up and working fine.

I went on PACER.gov and searched ikeafans and read thru the transcript of the August 24, 2014 court session between Judge Theresa Buchanan. The lawyer representing Ikea is David Mayberry, the lawyer representing ikeafans is Stephen L Neal.

The transcript is a conversation that details Ikea's game playing when ikeafans requested information from Ikea corporate with regards to 30 individuals who worked for Ikea and worked directly with ikeafans, and the judge was clearly fed up with Ikea corporate's game playing, pretending they could not figure out if these 30 individuals did indeed work for Ikea or not, The judge ended the session stating that since ikea corporate dragged out interrogatories and refused to provide answers to discovery questions, the judge said she will be granting fees.

That means that Ikea would be required to pay all of Ikeafans court fees because the big company dicked around this small business. A few days later there is a settlement conference, and the case closed on October 27, 2014.

I hope the settlement was a good one, they deserve it. However large it was, I am certain it was not large enough.

Here is a link that might be useful: ikea play kitchen

I ran a few searches on google for threads that I had often accessed in the past- "how to shorten blind corner cabinet", etc. and all the ikeafans links give database errors. I can see the front page and the featured articles and the store directory like you said, but can't access any of the useful threads in the forums via the site or via google search. I tried via your links above and am unsuccessful as well.

Such a shame the site shut down. People put in thousands and thousands of hours explaining how to do anything and everything Ikea related.

Ikea has made a huge mistake; the amount of knowledge and enthusiasm lost will decrease their sales in a crazy way.

I had a tonne of explanations and project blogs there myself and thinking about all of it being lost is such a waste.

Yeah, seriously I'm reluctant to buy Ikea cabinets again because of their obnoxious behavior towards this site and IkeaHackers. Their explanations for shutting them down are weak. Other companies deal with enthusiast sites like these by requiring a prominent notice that they're not affiilated with company whose products they discuss, by not allowing them to use their logo, that they do not stand by, authorize, or warrant any modifications to their products that may appear on the site, and a few other legal items of that sort. Ikea should realize the massive ill will they've created towards them by doing this. I used to like Ikea; I don't anymore.

I only get database errors "account suspended" when I search for valuable info I need to look at again. I'm happy I nearly finished my kitchen! Its such a shame, that was a treasure trove for sure.

To access the ikeafans website pretty much in its entirety, drop-down menus and all, use the link below. Another option is to do a Google search on whatever topic you're looking for, with "site:ikeafans.com" in the query. On the line with the URL, there should be a down arrow. Click and select "cached." It should come up, perhaps minus some graphics and formatting, but the content should be generally intact.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ikeafans on the Way Back Machine

Like xerox (no no please use the word "copy") and kleenex (no no please use the word "tissue") before it, Ikea (no no please describe it as Swedish modern flatpack RTA) needed to take control of its name, or it would lose its rights to it. That being said, there was no reason the site couldn't have been renamed and continued. The website owners could even have run a contest for the most creative rename and ask their fans to vote on it. To me the website owners were being ridiculous.

The problems with Ikea's appliances have been well known. Why they didn't either correct the problems or get out of the appliance business is a weird corporate decision that Ikea deserves to suffer over....

Ikea did not ask them to rename the site. Ikea demanded that they turn over the entire contents of the site, which I presume they did. I only hope they were able to negotiate decent compensation for it.

This post was edited by writersblock on Wed, Dec 31, 14 at 11:56

What a shame that Ikea had to do this which really is going to affect how others perceive the company.

Personally I find it silly and self-sabotaging of IKEA to do this. Those sites were free advertising for IKEA - and brought a ton of business their way they would not otherwise ever get. Not to mention the damage all of this is doing to their "brand", particularly from their former "fans". IMHO, those fans and sites were amongst IKEA's primary endorsements and brought credibility to the idea of an IKEA kitchen actually being a viable, credible option for many skeptics, DYI'ers and regular folks trying to figure out how to navigate a non-traditional track for an affordable kitchen.

This same thing is done with brand after brand, including car companies as was noted above. The MINI fan(atic)s come first to mind. (And yes, I want a MINI someday!)

My prediction is that this move is going to really hurt IKEA,which is their karma coming right back at them. The sad thing is how many good people are also being hurt by it.

Steph2000, I totally agree with you. Many people would have never considered an Ikea kitchen without that fan club website that showed how it could be done at a reasonable price and look beautiful. I also feel going forward, this move on Ikea's part is going to hurt them.

Hi, Lynn2006. I appreciate you chiming in. The timing of this is especially bad given IKEA is launching an entirely new system. It's absurdly self-sabotaging to throw away such a huge resource during such a vital time - not that I think there would ever be a good time for a move like this. Ugh.