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

Another Ikea loather here. I do go occasionally, but have never managed to eat in the cafe. Queued up once then lost the plot and dragged disappointed daughter away. Last time we went I bought her a hot dog and ordered a veggie one for me. Why? It was vile. I do manage to successfully slip through the doors to avoid the arrows. The only thing I love about IKEA are the Ginger Thins. Agree re tea lights - I bought a pack of smelly ones which now reside in the key drawer and send me nauseous every time I open it.

I wont eat in the cafe, once had the fish and chips. Never again. Reformed grey fish in soggy breadcrumbs. Bleugh. Awful.
Coffee is nice though.

GetOrf, the Cov one is my local. The lifts used to drive me mad. Certain lifts to go up and others to go down.

Oh, GOML, I assumed your CJ longings were due to the fact you are an East Anglia resident...

How do you know about CJ if you live on the other side of the world??? Do they advertise outside of their patch or something?

OP you have a confusing name - there's also an islandbaby who lives in Chile, I was rather concerned at the lengths you were about to travel for a lamp!

just had a look at clement joscelyne... I wouldn't have this for free, let alone pay £3k for it
80s sofa nightmare

Anon - nah, never heard of it before, someone said upthread about it. What a brilliant name for a shop.

ABF - those fucking lifts! Took bloody ages to get to the cafe (wish had never bothered), and then kept getting in the wrong lift to get to the car park.

WHY have lifts that don't go to all the floors? WHY? WHY? I was a screaming harridan by the end of it (what's new?)

I have a frriend who raves about the £1 breakfasts . I wouldn't eat a fry up which cost a quid, thanks.

Rockbird Bit late now, but I think it's 11? I didn't go in the end - even free breakfast wasn't enough of a lure this morning, not when I'm back there at 8 anyway.

We've just had a John Lewis Home store open up just down the road. Cue a distinct rise in slightly posh, older women wandering through the soft furnishings looking a bit shell-shocked

GetOrfMyLand If it reassures you, I should point out that the restaurant isn't designed to make a profit. It's a way of getting people into the store (cheap, but quality breakfast ) and then getting them to stay for a very, very long time.

AmazingBouncingFerret - The Cov one has free parking - right in the city centre - if you buy something (even if it's just a cup of coffee). I buy lots of Ikea coffees, but not a great deal else!

Actually the store is pretty quiet weekdays, it's only at weekends that it's best avoided.

Mingg, in defence of QS, the Finns find Finnish difficult! Finnish learn Swedish, not so much the other way round.

I would get the lamp from somewhere else unless Ikea is nearby.

All the ikea lights I have bought have needed weirdy lightbulbs. also I once bought a lightshade and didnt realise til I got home (no signs) that it wouldnt fit a UK light fitting. Dur!

Its really not worth the trip for all the little crappy plastic bits IME.

Lightbulb fittings are standard PinkElephant, so you can use bulbs bought from anywhere in the lamps. The shades are awkward though, they're designed for a wider fitting, but there should have been a sign saying you needed a couple of 10p adaptors for it. Lazy department for not having them up

Islandlady Grab a little store map as soon as you get in. They show all the shortcuts so you can go straight to the lighting dept with no hassle.

GOML Try the Bristol one, I think it's a bit closer and is easy to get to/in/out.

I go about twice a year and can't get out without tealights and flannels.

We often go to Ikea for day trip (about 1.5hrs away), my dc get excited about going, we obviously need to get out more....

Dinah - the reason Finns learn Swedish is because legally they have to not because they find Finnish difficult. Swedes on the other hand are not obliged to study Finnish.

QS - I commented on "with a grumpy morning grotty Fin, who dont speak a word of English "

Why do Finns have to learn Swedish, by the way?

Because Finland has 2 official languages, Finnish and Swedish

how did you find that offensive Mingg?
I was stating a fact. I tried to "Swedish up" my Norwegian, I tried in English, no luck. I did not expect him (or them) to speak English, but I was hoping, it was a last resort for communication. I dont get what point you are trying to make.

If you were in a foreign country, would you not try to speak English just in case, rather than assume the local shop assistant wouldnt know it? Would it not have been unreasonable had I posted "I tried to buy petrol in Finland, and I was upset because the shop assistant did not understand my attempts at speaking swedish or norwegian, as I dont speak finnish. I did not bother trying to speak English, because I did not really expect a finnish person to know English." ???

It was just a question QS I didn't say I found it offensive did I? I was merely asking why would you expect a Finn in Finland to speak English?

Actually, why wouldnt I?

Please tell me why I should NOT expect a young Finn to be able to serve a customer in at least some english.

I am surprised why you are making such a point. You are taking over the whole thread with this issue now.

In that case I shall leave it at that

I have answered all your questions, so before you leave it, please answer mine.

Because Finns speak Finnish not English. If you'd been in France I would have wondered why would you expect them to speak English. What is so strange about that?

Like I said, I did not expect anything, but you are not listening to me, are you?

Why would I not try to speak English in France if my horrid school French was failing me?

I dont expect tourists in Norway to speak Norwegian to me. They usually try their English, because they dont speak Norwegian.

If you go to HongKong/Germany/India, do you learn the local language first? Or would you try speak English, in the hope you are understood? Or would you just not speak at all?

And I am the one taking over the thread...

Back to the OP - just do it, you'll be fine, might even enjoy the expereince