I've got to go Ikea and it shouldn't be this hard.

[TheQueef]

I like the stuff ...but...
It's like planning an Arctic expedition I even factor in a snack for my old Dad so he doesn't flag half way through.
I only want some shelves and sandwich bags
I want to give them my money, why do they make it so hard?
It's more endurance than Iron Man.
You shouldn't need the ordinance survey map just to grab some drinking glasses.
AIBU, it's too hard isn't it?

Wish me luck, remember me if I fall.

I have an IKEA card. How do I get free coffee?

ssd just get the cup and show your card at the checkout.

I like some of the stuff in ikea but I absolutely hate the place, stems from waddling round whilst buying a house very heavily pregnant with my eldest, I’ve just hated it ever since.

ooh I want to go now!
I will have to do a pre Christmas trip. When do you reckon is a good time to get the Christmas stock but avoid the crowds?? On a school day at the beginning of December?

He has his Thick socks and Soft shoes that is a true sign of a war baby! Prepared for anything - was he in the Scouts? If so you've no need to worry. Get him a compass and you're all set!

Online want £35 squid for delivery! I'll get it on the bus first.
I went to get DD utensils and plates for University and spent £300, £30 odd in the cafe then another £40 in the food shop.
£35 for delivery is a bargain!

Why do you have to take your elderly dad with you to ikea ?!

Don't go in the school holidays (it is this week here)

Don't go on a weekend or Bank Holiday.

Then all is well.

Visiting IKEA is like a minor sentence for some trivial offence

A perfect summation !

Thoughts and prayers.

I don't get the fuss.

Check the aisle location (and stock availability) before you go.

Leave dad in car. Go in via exit, pick up shelves and sandwich bags (by tills).

Back in the car in twenty minutes.

Jesus Christ. I hope most of the posters here are just (poorly) attempting to be funny/hyperbolic as if you find navigating IKEA this difficult, it’s a wonder that you manage to navigate everyday life.

You don’t have to walk through the showroom, just ask the staff near the entrance what the fastest way to get to the warehouse is. For example there’s a high chance you’ll be able to get a lift near the entrance directly to the floor you need, bypassing the showroom. There’s also shortcuts dotted around, they’ll advise.

I’m not sure why you need to plan a snack stop or toilet break just to walk through a shop - if you do, you probably have medical issues as that isn’t normal.

My elderly mum loves Ikea. Loads to see, it's indoors and there's plenty of furniture to sit on. And halfway round there's tea 😊There's only 2 things I dislike about it myself: the drive, and how disappointed I am every time with the food. I forget I dislike basically everything in the dining hall, Q for ages, then there's defrosted cake and some dry meatballs.
Best of luck @TheQueef, you've got this!

^Don't go in the school holidays (it is this week here)

Don't go on a weekend or Bank Holiday.

Then all is well^

No, no, no. Please, crowds of lemmings, please continue to to go in the school holidays and at the weekend, and leave it all calm and quiet for when I go in the week.

Cos it’s an “out” .
My old dad loved an “out”
It’s better than a garden centre .

Delivery for us is £29 - we've just moved into our first house so it was a no-brainer to buy lots of furniture for delivery.

Didn't stop us coming home with a carload of cinnamon rolls, sandwich bags and napkins though

I had an IKEA wooden kitchen (it was on a Family Price so cost me £48 instead of £60) delivered a couple of weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised that the delivery charge was only £9.99 so I added in some other bits we needed. I would've cost me more that £10 to drive down and collect it.

I love a trip to IKEA to buy the crap I never knew I needed until I saw it in IKEA!

I am clearly missing something here as I have never been lost, stuck in the car park or had the IKEA headache.

I usually go mid-week or very first thing on a Sunday before it gets busy. Check in the preschooler with crèche, grab what I need (and irresistible extras), throw everything in the car, then sweep up the child for tea and cake. I have been in and out in 10 minutes, but it's much better with a full hour.

You've never lived TheABC.

The angst over IKEA seems to be mandatory here.

Mine and DH's quickest trip to IKEA took 12 minutes (we timed it!). We needed two things, looked up the warehouse locations beforehand, went at half an hour before closing on a Friday night and used all the shortcuts, whilst walking quickly and splitting up in the warehouse to grab one item each. No queue at the tills at that time and no getting distracted.

Was probably one of my proudest moments!

Popped into Ikea Coventry the other day as I wanted meatballs and chips. I swear there are people there, who have been wandering round since the day it opened looking for the exit!

Love my local Ikea though!

You can just go straight through to the warehouse without having to stop and look at anything ? Just use the computer thing get the code you need go to the warehouse and locate it. I just went for a desk and a cabinet last week and took like 25 mins. You don’t need a coffee or anything be for you get your stuff.

I love IKEA, so does DS, we go in the school holiday for fun this is why you don't go in the holidays I didn't even buy tea light or diam bars this time, I reckon I deserve some sort of recognition for this
I can't say have ever had a problem negotiating round though.

IKEA is the endurance test you have to complete in order to earn your cheap furniture.

My friend and her DH got stuck in there for eight hours once, no word of a lie.