..to think it's nigh on impossible to go through IKEA without arguing with one's OH/DH/DP?

[MooncupandPizza]

Gah!!
We haven't even made it through the list-making stage without a bicker! (He buggered up my carefully crafted list instead of making his own...THE BASTARD!)

DH keeps saying "Ignore the arrows, I bet we can cut through here" and so we end up going around and around the same section like a Hanna Barbara cartoon, with DH refusing to admit that it's not working...

That made me as I have a similar DH!

Ikea cherry . Sorry about that. As you were.

My Ikea virginity eggrules :)

I went for the first time on an Easter Bank holiday as we were moving house and I convinced myself we had to have a new bookcase

Sorry x post :)

I've only been once with DH.

Anytime he showed signs of Ikea Angst I soothingly said 'They have fooooood. Not long now, sweetheart.' Then he was all amenable again.

His stomach truly is the way to his heart.

catgirl1976 thought you had a special anniversary coming up. I am sure Ikea frown on testing beds in that fashion. Sorry again.

we once drove into Ikea car park on a sunday couldnt get parked drove home , never ever been in an ikea and I dont plan to so no bickering with anybody , we are both agreed we wont go

Mind you, we have aruged furiously, complete with hissing, red faces and a small bit of swearing bickered in Homebase, B&Q and Focus.

DIY stores are obviously a flashpoint for us.

I once walked out of B n Q over a light fitting I liked it he didnt I wanted it he didnt I said FINE and walked out didnt speak to him for the rest of the day , and i went back on the monday and bought it anyway Its a bloody light fgs

Chance would be a fine thing egg but if we are in Ikea we are too busy screaming at each other about unpronnouncable flat pack items which may or may not fit in the car :) No bed testing for us :(

I thnk I can win the 'Dullest Thing To Argue With Your Spouse Over' award though.

It was a radiator. Not a fancy one, just a regular radiator.

We can't even laugh about it now, two years on. It is Not Mentioned.

oops Milady i think you win and the fact the radiator still isnt spoken about means its still a sore point

We are good at Ikea, and DS1 loves going. We take our time, have some food and always measure

Yabu. My XP was pretty abusive (to put it mildy) but Ikea always had a calming effect on him . We usually had a good time in there.

Always think of this in Ikea...

richarddavidlawman.com/?p=320

We ALWAYS argue and lose our rag with the kids and spend a silly amount in the marketplace on irrelevant tat.

The meatballs ARE some sort of recompense.

Yanbu. DH now almost refuses to set foot in ikea and I'd rather go without him because he regresses to 5 years old when we're there and moans more than ds ever has. I actually enjoy ikea, browsing the different rooms and buying pretty cushions and nice smelling candles followed by a lovely sandwich at the end. I can't get the stuff in the car on my own though so I have to run through with DH in tow trying not to inadvertently cause an argument over extendable tables or rug sizes.

Do you find the gravy on the meat balls a bit too thick and a tad revolting?
I argue with DH because he normally wants fish and chips and the meatballs followed by daim cake.

nope- we usually manage to get through unscathed albeit passing the demise of many relationships on the way through.

YABU
IKEA is one place I can take DH and the DDs and no one fights.
Probably because DD2 eats the food!

I've found we avoid rows by never trying to make a decision whilst we're there. Therefore lots of web/catalogue research & discussion in advance and it can mean 2 trips - one on reconnaissance, and one back to buy. Last time, DH went back alone with list and notes from the website of where to find the items in the warehouse. I also second the idea of including a break for food - we look round the showroom, eat meatballs and slightly disappointing cake, then attack the marketplace & warehouse. I have to remember we do not need any candles, vases or plants.

Other ikea tips include going on a weekday evening, if you're close enough - they're open till 9 and it's quieter, the time limit can help (you have to go back). We also keep a notebook with all our household measurements we took when we first moved in and were furnishing which is also a great help.

I've been going to Ikea in Leeds for years, bloody years, and still have never managed to browse frames, vases, pictures and garden bits. This is because DH is so at the end of his shopping tether by then, he is almost running, dragging me with him as I scream... 'oh candles, oh vases, argh'.

I took a vow some years ago never to go back with DP - and if forced to, to smoke a very very strong spliff in the car park first. (The occasion has not arisen, but I stand my vow.)

God I fucking hate Ikea! DH detests it too, so you can imagine how marvellous a time we have on the very rare occasion we need to go.

I hate the arrows. I don't like having to circumnavigate the globe to pick up 2 cushions and a chair. And I'm sure they move everything around, so regardless of what it is that I need to get, it is inevitably in the last section.

However, last time was a joyous affair. We got not very far into the arrow pointed journey to hell, and found that somebody had left the side door unlocked in a display. The side door that took you to the last escalator, and very nearly to the finish line. That was better than almost any gift I've ever received!!

We never argue in Ikea, but I can be guaranteed to throw a childish strop at the checkouts (God, I hate that bit).