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Comment by danieltillett | Hacker News Reader

I will add a related effect - the "find" effect. I have been remarkably attached to furniture I have picked up off the side of the road or bought at some cheap second-hand store for next to nothing. The thill of finding something valuable for almost zero makes the item worth far more to me than its intrinsic value.

The more upmarket version of this is buying antique (or vintage) furniture at auction. The hunt to find the "perfect" piece makes the attachment so much stronger when you actually get it.

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I do agree with you. I think in this case the elaborate search replaces the "ikea assembling" part. Finding the perfect second hand piece is a very rewarding feeling. Even when the item itself has some minor flaws, which you the consider part of its "charm", something you would never accept from a brand new item.

Plus this second-hand hunt is much more rewarding than zombie-strolling through an Ikea store.

Aw man, if you're zombie-strolling, you're missing out on the fun. IKEA can be a grand time if you do it right. Since they lay out realistic homes, you can play house! Invent some characters and act out a scene with your friend or spouse.

I’d say there’s a bit of this “finders feeling” when hunting for limited release electronics/sneakers on launch day (if they’re for you and not to $flip). Not quite so much anymore with all of the pre-order options available these days.

Perhaps both of you are describing something more like the "bargain effect".

When it comes to vintage clothing, there's also the feeling that what I have is relatively unique. It is highly unlikely that anyone has the exact same item. It is impossible to replace.

With vintage clothing, aren't you pretty much guaranteed that someone has the exact same item?

That's a reason why [some] people love to craft their own clothes, or parts of their clothes. To add a unique flavour in which they themselves put effort into.

The only attachment I have to furniture is the aversion to the amount of effort required from me to do anything about them (moving, upgrading, disposing). Things would be different if they were small and light. So even a badly assembled ikea furniture will do, not because it is the precious fruit of my labour, just because it’s too much work to do something about it.

I think people are biased towards things that required (or contain some form of) some input from their side.

Robert Cialdini, in his famous book - "Psychology of persuasion", talks about an extreme version of such an effect in the case of Fraternities and Hazing where the members of fraternities display a greater commitment and respect towards their respective fraternity even though they might have had to go through a harsh and humiliating initiation process.

In this sense, IKEA effect, "find" effect, "my kid is the best" effect etc can all be traced to a common ancestor phenomena.

It's like the old Seinfeld episode where he has to tell his dad he bought gifts on sale because he's more excited about the deal than the gift itself.

I know the watermelon which has been honestly come by and I know the taste of the watermelon which has been acquired by art. Both taste good, but the experienced know which tastes best. -- Mark Twain

https://www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131268307

I don't see how that effect matters in IKEA but not equally less or more in other furniture shops.

Rather, that's a far more important factor when it comes to charity shop / thrift shop, or the more expensive version as you mentioned: antique/vintage shop or auction.

Searching is a form of labor too, so could be considered part of the Ikea Effect.

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