Would you feel safe in Ikea yet?

[Getmesomecoffee]

I was thinking of going this week, but feel a bit nervous. I've not been in many shops this year, done online supermarket shopping, so this would be my first trip to a big shop. I'm being silly, yes? I've had one vaccine. I'm trying to push myself out of my comfort zone.

I have been (I didnt wear a mask on this occasion, for medical reasons but do when I feel OK too). Pretty much everyone in there was masked up and there was lots of sanitizer. People were close together but it just happened to be quite busy when I went (late evening). I think you will be OK as the rates are very low. I didn't feel uneasy and that was without a mask and I'm also 9 months pregnant. Don't force yourself if you don't feel comfortable x

You’re more likely to be killed in a car crash. So if you feel safe taking your car out you should feel safe going to IKEA.

OMG what is it with the constant car crash comparisons???

OMG what is it with the constant car crash comparisons??? I am glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. Fed up with that completely useless comparison.

Yes, I went to IKEA last night in fact!
Two hours before closing.
Was pretty empty.
Queues were short and well managed.

Funnily enough I commented to DH that I had actually forgotten we were still in a pandemic as it felt relatively normal and I guess we've aclimatised to handsanitiser and masks!

At this point if I said I'd give you ten grand if you were able to contract coronavirus in the next week you'd probably fail.

In order to catch it, someone has to have it. The rates in the community are vanishingly small.

@Schulte

OMG what is it with the constant car crash comparisons???

I quite agree, but perhaps for different reasons. You’re amazingly safe in your car in the UK. Walking is actually far more dangerous for a given trip, but even that is very safe. People were blithely stating as fact “you’re more likely to be killed driving to the vaccination centre than you are to get a dangerous blood clot.” Only if your nearest vaccination centre is five thousand miles away.

Well, I went at 12 today. It was really busy! But almost everyone wore masks, there was sanitiser everywhere, and its a huge building, so I expect it was fine. Worth it for the lovely but needless house stuff I bought Thanks for the advice all.

I'm pleased you had a good experience. The joy of normality ay

I went a fortnight ago at around 2pm and didn't even have to queue! Was quite surprised how quiet it was tbh!

I'm CEV and am due for second vaccine this week. I've been to IKEA twice since it opened and each time it was absolutely fine, not overly busy and well spaced out at the tills. Croydon if it makes a difference.

The market place was a bit busy, but easy to social distance if you tried..
now the stocks levels weren’t great, if you are going for something particular check the stock first.

Yes, of course, and I have been extremely cautious since well before the first lockdown, and including last summer when others were eating out to help spread covid.

Since I had my first vaccine, I have been steadily expanding my comfort zone and I would have no problem with a trip to IKEA now. I would always go on a weekday evening, anyway, so it would be unlikely to be overcrowded when I visited.

Manchester was hell. The store was fine, happy browsing. The tills were fine. The queue for the lift was insane. I queued for a whole hour to get into the lift back up to the carpark as it was one family per lift at a time

I've just realised, I don't recall seeing any alternative stairs from the display/shop floors up to the car park. Are there stairs? If not, what do the lift-phobic do? (or anybody else in an emergency)

I went twice last week (decided not to get a particular item first time then changed my mind ). I haven’t been vaccinated yet. I felt entirely safe apart from the twat who nearly ran me over in the car park. Why wouldn’t it be safe?

I’ve shopped throughout
Supermarkets, home bargains, garden centres, primark, the range, b an m
Despite them often being packed
Never felt unsafe in any of them.
So yes I’d be more than happy to go to IKEA
Cinema, theatre, pub
Anywhere

Do IKEA still do the hot dogs after the tills? Always a must for me every Time I go

Make sure you get one OP got to make the visit worthwhile

@EggysMom

Manchester was hell. The store was fine, happy browsing. The tills were fine. The queue for the lift was insane. I queued for a whole hour to get into the lift back up to the carpark as it was one family per lift at a time

I've just realised, I don't recall seeing any alternative stairs from the display/shop floors up to the car park. Are there stairs? If not, what do the lift-phobic do? (or anybody else in an emergency)

At Leeds you can drive your car to the loading area next to the exit, or take a slightly longer walk to take your trolley to the car through the car park. Is this option not available at Manchester?

Plus forcing people to use lifts is unlikely to meet planning/building regulations as people would get trapped if the lifts broke or there was a fire etc so there has to be stairs somewhere.

.

The car park is much more dangerous than the store. Don’t think I’ve ever been to IKEA without witnessing car park rage or a near accident on the roundabout leaving the area.

I've also never felt unsafe in shops. Even around Christmas 98% of people didn't have the virus and anyway, the precautions in place mean the risk is so low it's not worth worrying about.

Just about all transmissions will have been via people working closely together and family/friends meeting up indoors and ignoring social distancing.

@Wellbythebloodyhell

Do IKEA still do the hot dogs after the tills? Always a must for me every Time I go

Make sure you get one OP got to make the visit worthwhile

Yes hot dogs still available 😀

Probably more likely to die from choking on a hot dog

I went to Reading Ikea a few weeks ago, when it opened.

It was fine. Some families hadn't grasped the 'one family only' rule when looking at the kitchen unit sets and looked a bit blank when I pointed it out.

I’ve been twice 2 different ones was ok

@Schulte

OMG what is it with the constant car crash comparisons???

Because the question "is it safe in Ikea" is just so ridiculous.

The answer is no. It isn't safe in Ikea. Any number of things could happen. Including crashing your car driving to Ikea.

Nowhere is safe. It never has been and it never will be.

LucilleTheVampireBat
Because the question "is it safe in Ikea" is just so ridiculous

Wow that's pretty mean spirited. I actually asked whether it 'felt safe'. No, it isn't a ridiculous question because

1. there's been a pandemic, spread by people in close proximity, and we all know Ikea often used to be crammed. It isn't ridiculous to ask what it feels like now. I was glad to hear others felt fine.
2. Lots of people have been shielding all year, to protect themselves and vulnerable family, and it is really hard for some to get used to venturing out again. Many now have anxiety/panic attacks about it. It takes a bit of encouragement.