Is it essential?

[shouldhavecalleditoatabix]

We are in the process of moving to our first purchased home but still living in rental whilst frantically trying to get the new house ready so we can stop paying double bills. Installing central heating, rewire etc.

I ordered new wardrobes from IKEA which were delivered but some parts are damaged. They are impossible to contact by phone, email or online at the moment and the only other option is to go there in person to exchange the items. My nearest IKEA is 30 miles away. So, is it essential? Would you drive there to exchange the items? I can't really see what else I can do. I could try and wait until lockdown restrictions are lifted but that could be weeks if not months away. What would you do?

I'd go if you are sure they are open and have the items in stock to exchange but based on the thread about the garden centre I suspect most posters wouldn't and will tell you to wait.

@Ch3rish

I'd go if you are sure they are open and have the items in stock to exchange but based on the thread about the garden centre I suspect most posters wouldn't and will tell you to wait.

I have no way to know if it is in stock because I cannot get in contact with them. I suppose I could do an order online for the items then go to collect and explain the situation when I get there

Ikea are click and collect only at the moment (assuming that you are in the UK) so I wouldn't go there assuming that you can exchange items without this being confirmed in advance, unless you are happy for the journey to be potentially a waste of time.

They also deal with returns and replacements separately, so what you are likely to have to do is buy the new items on click and collect, and return the damaged items separately. However they do have live stock information on their website, so have you checked that?

Have you gone through this section of the website?

www.ikea.com/gb/en/customer-service/returns-claims/spare-parts-pubfb2d4631

You say they are 'impossible to contact'? How long is it since you sent your enquiry? I'd probably expect it to be a few days at least, so it might be a case of waiting unfortunately.

@BarbaraofSeville honestly normally IKEA are brilliant but at the moment if I'll they are having real issues with customer services. It has been in the news. Their phone lines are constantly unavailable which they say is because they have three times as many calls. They have no available online chat bot, they give no email address online to contact them on. If I click online to report I have a problem I just get stuck in a round robin of clicks until eventually it suggests phoning them. I have tried repeatedly! I know it is because of the current crisis but it still leaves me with the issue that it seems the only way to return them is to physically visit the store. As someone suggested I guess I could reorder the items and turn up to collect with the broken items too and request a refund for them.