AIBU to think IKEA should be shut down

[Catmum26]

every single time we walk into that shop we argue so bad i think a divorce is on the cards. Then when we get home and have to build the crappy furniture with their sub standard instructions we have yet another row. currently sulking whilst my husband is swearing and crashing about. please tell me it’s not just us!

@ToftheB Did you try shouting PIVOT?

On a trip to the big city DC regarded going to IKEA as a treat! Their DF was at wor so sadly missed the treat!

I like ikea

Oh I love it. We’ve never argued in ikea and when we get home DP adore the building on his own, I am more of a hinderance than a help.

Glad it's not just my kids who like a trip to Ikea! We're going on Thursday to look at sofas (and to buy some "essentials" that we don't need) so hoping it won't be too busy...

When DS was little and I was exhausted, I had a lovely sleep on one of their beds while DH took him round the other sections.

The best rows are in the car park as the realisation dawns that the flat pack will not fit into the car.

Ikea is amazing. The DC like it because of the play area- we leave them there for 45 mins while we grab what we need (always research online prior to going so we have some sort of idea). I know all the shortcuts so can easily navigate my way around without having to do the whole lot. After 45 mins it's time to collect DC, pay and head to the meatballs.

I love IKEA. I took both DS6 and DD2 last week. We had lunch (hot plated meals for three with drinks for £11), bought the furniture we went in for (plus half a dozen random bits, obviously) and drove home. Furniture was built ("it's like giant Lego, Dad!") and things tidied into it before DW was back from work. No problem.

I used to take mine and leave them in the free crèche whilst I relaxed in the cafe.

Kids that is, not XH.

Its the only place DH and I argue....we don't go anymore.

Love, love, love IKEA. Fabulous for people who have kids going to university, you can get everything they need from there, at reasonable prices.

I love IKEA!!! The cacti are the best part.

Just go on your own next time OP...and then you can buy what you like. Get your DP to pick it all up.

We don't especially argue, but I'm usually charging out like a mad woman at the end because I get claustrophobic and crazy half way around. It's the only place it happens. There's something wrong with Ikea's. Can't understand how it's some people's idea of a fun day out. And never on a bank holiday!!

Online. Only way to survive Ikea intact, although you will have to make your own meatballs.

I love Ikea. My local one is Coventry, I enjoy watching newbies get confused with the lifts.

IKEA is a nightmare. Especially the market place. Guaranteed every time I go there I end up spending a fortune on 'essentials' I didn't know I needed

You are suffering from the condition known to doctors as ikeaphobia enragensis. It cannot be cured, but is mitigated by never going anywhere near the place.

DP has a severe attack if we ever get within 3 miles of the one in Croydon. He has family living in Croydon and Sutton, and we have to take complex detours to reduce the risk of relapse. Any traffic holdup within 5 miles of an Ikea can also lead to a severe attack.

They're trying to get planning permission to build an Ikea about 10 miles away. If it goes ahead, any trips to the west country or New Forest (trips we make several times a year) will involve a 20 mile detour or ...driving past Ikea.

I think we'll just have to leave the county.

Ikea is great.
But you need to plan in advance:
Go when it opens
Or an hour or two before it closes
Know what you want (website)
Know the aisle and location of it to pick it up (website)
Know the shortcuts
Read the size of the flat packs beforehand (website)
Only one person to do building. Carefully and with no kids or spouses interfering or being irritating nearby.
And if wanting food, do not expect to just saunter up and get this if going at peak time. Many people at my Ikea queue outside of it for it to open just so they can go in for breakfast, no actual furniture. For £2.50 and a family card you get a lovely full English, I’d be in there all the time if I lived nearby and had the time!

I sent DH on his own today with the kids and a list. He bought all the bedroom furniture they needed - except he forgot the wardrobes and bought a mattress that is 10cm too short...

He has just gone back to sort it out.

I used to take the kids to Ikea and leave them in Smaland while I studied in the cafe, with my free coffees. They used to let me have a double session if it was quiet, which it usually was on like Monday mornings. Then cheap lunch of meatballs all round. We went at least once a week, and sometimes we even bought something!!

I've only ever been there once. I was 5 months pregnant with twins. We went to buy cots. It almost ended up in me killing him almost wish I had now. Ended up with us choosing the cots, me sitting on some crates downstairs with the twins kicking the hell out of me, while I left it up to him to sort everything out, pay etc. Next time I go, it will be on my own. Luckily I live very far away from the nearest Ikea.

God no. Like a proper day out for us. One of the few places we don't argue. We just walk around in amazement at the lovely little room sets and dream of efficient well designed small species.

Putting up their stuff causes issues because it's perfectly obvious to me what goes where. Mostly because it's like every other bit of flat pack you own.
He can't put it up until he's read everything, brought the right tools in and sorted all the screws in counted piles first.
I wouldn't mind but he still gets it wrong.