to be scared of going to Ikea

[Islandlady]

They actually have something I like but I cant buy it on line so I have got to actually go to one of their stores.

I have only been once and that was to use the loo.

I asked on another forum about long queues and having to walk in the one direction but was told there are arrows on the floor but you dont have to walk the way they want you to.

I dont want to go but really like a wall lamp they have.

I need reassurance that all will be OK

don't forget their lovely cafe

jl southampton that is

Another tip...go round, and allow yourself to pick up all the little things that you want (the 70 pounds worth of crap that someone mentioned earlier), and then just before you get to the tills...just put it all back down again.

The fun of shopping without the expense or the needless stuff to store in your house.

A friend gave me this tip for shopping in general and it is actually rather satisfying and especially in ikea.

oh yes John Lewis is gorgeous.

Shirley PMSL, you have got the tealights "dilemma" spot on.

Edgar I used to live 10 miles from the Croydon IKEA and the drive took an hour. You are right, even the drive up is frightening, like having to jump off a moving fairground ride.

But....for inexpensive, hardwearing furniture, there's nowhere like it.
Good luck island!

Another at Shirly! The tealights thing is so true!

OP - YABU, Ikea rocks! Do it, you won't regret it!

Love IKEA. As it was DS's first full day at preschool, I
went last week to buy storage crates and glass jars (tons of each - am nesting). Of course I also bought lots of colourful crap I had no idea I needed, but not too much as I am now a seasoned visitor. An extremely nice young assistant even filled a second trolley with plastic crates for me and pushed it to the till for me, stopping occasionally whilst I chose something else colourful and cheap. Then someone else loaded it into car for me. Great!

Don't forget the little packs of cinnamon rolls - 10 secs each in the microwave, delicious. Also the gravadlax and the flatbread (both from the freezer) are suprisingly good.

IslandLady, if you are going to Southampton, park on the 1st floor - very easy for coming out with your trolley. Just take the lift up to the 4th floor entrance. And there are shortcuts if you don't want to follow the arrows all the way round. Good luck.

Also, have you heard of Mike Ear fearlessmike.com/ ?

Oh, and on your way out buy a bar of thier 39p chocolate. It makes it all worth while.

This is funny, I have been to Ikea, and I hope to god that I never have to go again.

For all the reasons you state OP, tee hee. DON"T DO IT.

Surely you can get something similar somewhere else? Have you tried ebay, lots of ikea stuff turns up on there and you CAN have it delivered, if you are lucky enough to find your item???

It's a bloody awful place!

The answer is to go at just after 10 am on a SUNDAY. They allow you in but you can't spend any money until 11am. Have a peaceful walk round, locate the item and be ready by the till at 11 am. We did this the other day and it was stressless.

I went today. Take a list. I emptied my trolley just before checkout of about two hundred pounds worth of stuff candles that I didn't need. Stick to your list and you can't go wrong.

I went on monday.First time in 10 years as dp said never again and we stuck to it.I needed to look at something before bying it and he just offered in the morning so I said yes as I knew it was a miracle for him to go.It was boiling hot in there and all the stuff is v average but I still managed to spend £170!Lunch was lovely though and cheap.Now I am saying never again and I think I'll stick with it.Avoid at all costs

YANBU.

I went a few weeks ago. I was warned not to by many on here, but oh no, i knew my own mind, and i just had to go. Let me tell you, it was hell on earth. Never ever ever ever ever again. Ever. Not even for their big bags of mini Daim bars.

You have been warned.

Has nobody mentioned the fantastic oaty chocolatey biscuits you can buy in a huge box in the food shop? They are the best biscuits ever...and this from a serious biscuit aficionado.

And all those frightened of Ikea Croydon, we went a few weeks ago, 2 kids under 4, no car, three types of public transport. DH was in charge of time and money discipline, we planned it like a military operation, and it was a very successful trip.

Didn't actually buy anything tho....! Was supposed to be a research trip to be followed up by online order, but we haven't done it yet.

Funny! I go to IKEA max. once a year. Last time I was in such a rush to get out of the damn place I bashed my elbow on a stair rail so hard I saw stars and had to sit on the stairs until I was sure I wasn't going to faint. The crowd flowed quite happily around me like a stream round a rock. To cap it off my other half then bashed his shin on a trolley so hard that two years on he still bears the scars. Oh happy days!

shirleyknot HAHAHAHAHA you and your tealights are very funny

Take your DH for moral support / lugging - it's very easy to do, just promise him meatballs and chips (not a euphemism) on the way in and a hotdog (again, not a euphemism) on the way out. IKEA know that that's necessary; which other shop has a hotdog stand just beyond the tills?

I go to Ikea once a week on a wednesday.

Its a shop. Buy things, or don't. Get a fucking grip.

Daft to be scared of a shop - I mean, come on! Ikea is a piece of piss as long as you don't need to rush - just relax its just a shop!

Maybe try and find a light you like from John Lewis?

Tip 1 - Go in the evening. They're open til stupid o'clock.

Tip 2 - or go on an inset day and stick the dcs in the (empty) FREE creche. Don't even think about getting them in there at the weekend.

Tip 3 - Hook one of those lovely giant yellow bags over one shoulder when you arrive and FILL IT! Don't forget the essential 3-pack of scissors and some new chopping boards.

Tip 4 - Bring bags to take stuff home in (they charge you!) and use a debit card not a credit card (they charge you!)

Tip 5 - Have a meal in the restaurant. It'll be the cheapest meal out all year (gravlax salad...mmm....). If you bring dh, leave him there for the duration.

Must plan my next visit......

tinkle
Thats the problem I have never seen another one like it, it looks like the signs you have to read at the opticians and also looks like the typestyle posters my DH used to have on his office wall when he worked in advertising and as its for the home studio he uses for freelance its perfect.

Anyhow have now realised that even if I could buy on line Ikea dont deliver to the Island .

yes

C'mon Custardo, elaborate. What's with the one-word speed-threading?

I should have added that you must go in the evening. They are only open til 9pm, but they have to wait until all the customers are gone. If you are the last, you will have a TEAM of staff picking your items for you from the flat packed area, then packing your bags for you and loading up your car - just to get you the hell out of there. I know this having been the very last to leave on several occasions when we were renovating our house.

PrinceBill is right, it's just a shop and you lot aren't helping. Pick a time when it's not as busy, go in, find item, pay, go home. Stop perpetuating this myth that Ikea is some kind of other world. It's a shop, all this girly screaming and waving of arms is stupid.