Nothing comes cheap in Canada’s northernmost territory.

In Nunavut, Orange juice can go for $14. Christmas turkeys for $200. An Ikea couch for $1,000,000,000.

Wait. What?

That was precisely Jordan Grenke's reaction when the store’s online checkout quoted a 10-figure fee for delivery to Iqaluit.

That’s steep, even for Nunavut. Especially considering the Klippan loveseat Grenke wanted was only $399.

“I just thought it was Swedish humour that maybe I didn’t get,” Grenke told the Star from Iqaluit.

The shipping fee was not a joke, but a glitch, a spokeswoman for the Swedish furniture maker said.

“Obviously it’s an error,” said Madeleine Frick. “I assure you that’s not the correct shipping cost to Nunavut.”

Grenke’s complaint to Ikea Canada has been brought to the attention of the global brand, Frick said, and the website will be fixed.

Grenke, originally from Milton, Ont., has been living in Iqaluit for a year and a half. He works as postmaster at Canada Post and can list off shipping fees – based on a good’s size, weight and delivery location – off the top of his head.

Anything weighing less than 50 kg can be delivered by Canada Post. Anything over must go through airline cargo. Heavy items are also brought up by sealift.

Grenke knew that delivery by any means, even of a flat-packed fiberboard couch, wouldn’t be cheap.

“There’s a difference between expensive and one billion dollars,” he said, adding jokingly that “it would have been great for our Aeroplan points but it was a little out of our price range.”

Out of curiosity, Grenke also tried to order a lamp, a lightbulb, even a pack of batteries. All the potential purchases came with the same exorbitant shipping fee.

“It’s kind of a slap in the face. If you can’t ship to Nunavut, then just say it,” Grenke said.

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Frick said Ikea does ship to the northern territory, filling 16 orders since July 2009. But delivering goods to remote areas can be logistically difficult and expensive, and sometimes the store advises customers that delivery is not available.

In this case, Frick said, Grenke’s couch could be delivered by air for a cost of $5500.