Has anyone been to IKEA today?

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

I was hoping to return some items to IKEA before the lockdown occurs.

I saw the photos posted online yesterday of the massive queues. Has anyone been to a branch today? Are the queues still insane?

I'd be driving to Wembley (30-45min away depending on traffic).
I'm considering arriving well ahead of the store opening to get a parking spot/place in the queue.

I don't need to do any shopping necessarily.

Following, as I need a desk for home working and IKEA has one that would fit perfectly
I’ve been putting off going since it re-opened. Typical that the week I’d geared myself up to go, was the one we’ll end up back in lockdown 🙈

I went a few weeks ago and it was fucking hideous. Went really early on a Wednesday morning and the entire world was in there.

If it’s just to return then I’d probably go for opening before anyone gets to the til

Apparently Southampton branch was really busy again today. It's probably not going to get any quieter, but they will still be doing online orders and delivery.

I went to the Southampton one this morning and it was ok. Got there at 11am and the biggest queue was for people wanting to eat in the restaurant. Big queue for lifts at the end but moved quickly. We left an hour later and the queues were starting to get longer to get into the store. I can imagine it will only get worse though...

Same Millie2013! I always avoid school holidays and thought I'd nip in following half term 😬😂

I'm trying to avoid Wednesday as that could truly be the worst for last minute panic-queuing since they're closing on Thursday.

Thanks for the updates mamabear79 and Shirley!

I normally go in the exit/returns door but I don't know if that's possible with social distancing/ massive queues snaking everywhere? Hopefully they're allowing people through the returns doors rather than the main entrance!

Hubby went to Bristol ikea today and said it wasn't too bad

I went to Bristol. No queues to get in, though I did have to wait for 15 minutes to return some items.

Husband went to Sheffield and Nottingham today as we desperately needed a few things for WFH - it was a nightmare. He got to Sheffield for opening and it was really busy. Nottingham was also bad when he got there at lunchtime.
But it was do-able.
We live rurally and the items have been unavailable for delivery for months so it had to be done. Won’t go again though!

Thanks everyone - I keep periodically checking the responses!

We went to Nottingham this morning to buy a bed - it was fine, no queue to get in, we were out by 11:15am.

I waited 45 minutes in the freezing cold to return damaged goods at Wembley on Saturday. Unless it's really urgent you've got 365 days grace to return. It felt like that long waiting to get it sorted. Make sure you keep your receipt.

My DP went to the Southampton branch tonight. He waited 20 minutes to return somethings and when he'd been served he turned round and the queue was 4 times longer than when he joined it. He then had to go out from the returns section and up to the top to go in. He went straight in, but once he'd picked stuff up from market hall he had to queue to go downstairs as they were holding people up on market hall whilst they tried to clear people from the ground floor and the till area. By the time he got down to the warehouse/tills the queues were snaking all over the place so he abandoned the basket of stuff he had and then queued to get out! He came home in a bad mood blaming me for he having to go (even though he was returning something that he bought by mistake despite my very clear written instructions!) I think unless it is really urgent I would wait until after lockdown.

Thanks MoreRainbows

I'm used to waiting for ages in the Wembley returns area! I'm only going to go if I get up super early and get there up to an hour before opening to bag a parking spot and a position in the queue. I'll hop out of the cosy car when/if a queue starts forming

Sorry your DH had a nightmare!

Is it a part of something or a whole something?

If it's a whole something I'd consider putting it on Facebook or ebay instead.

There are a couple of things I'd like, but cannot face going to IKEA at the moment, especially now. I'd happily pay IKEA price +a bit!!

Good point Witches

It's a selection of smaller things for which I have the receipts. I'm on a bit of a decluttering spree so it would be great to get them out of the house and the money back on my card! I'd normally have been back to IKEA by now but was rather unwell either side of the last lockdown and life got in the way somewhat.

IKEA Wembley used to be my local but for the life of me, I can’t remember the layout!

At my new local IKEA, returns has a separate entrance and therefore separate queue. You can’t really access the return desk from the normal entrance.

To be honest I would just go and get the returns over with. In my experience IKEA was ridiculously busy every time I visited after June, so I doubt it quieten down much post lockdown #2.

Why not go say half hour to an hour before closing? Should be a lot quieter then

Thanks all! I had a migraine today so didn't manage at all.
Head still hurting now so I doubt tomorrow's going to be an option either.

I'll have to join the madness when (if) they reopen in December.

Thanks all! I had a migraine today so didn't manage at all.
Head still hurting now so I doubt tomorrow's going to be an option either.

I'll have to join the madness when (if) they reopen in December.

Thanks all! I had a migraine today so didn't manage at all.
Head still hurting now so I doubt tomorrow's going to be an option either.

I'll have to join the madness when (if) they reopen in December.

I went today but it was Glasgow so no imminent lockdown, apparently !