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Original poster

IKEA - when is it least busy?

32 replies

mckenzie · 22/01/2003 20:11

DH and I want to go to Ikea to buy DS a little wooden table and chairs but I can't bear the queues at the checkouts. We can be very flexible as to when we go and wondered if anyone has much experience of Ikea and the busy times to avoid and quieter times.
We live about half way between the North Circ one and the Lakeside one so can go to either.

thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
EmmaTMG · 22/01/2003 20:25

We live near the Croydon store and avoid the place like the plague on the weekend and banks holidays. As I'm at home with the kids I go during the day if I need something and it's never really that busy. Mornings are abit better than afternoons in our one so that might be something to bare in mind...oh and at ours they give out free tea and coffee between 09:30 and 10am so thats another thing to remember.

megg · 22/01/2003 20:52

We've been to the Croydon one between 3 and 5 on a weekday and it was dead quiet. Wouldn't recommend the Croydon one though as we had a nightmare there with the staff.

Hilary · 22/01/2003 21:26

Yep, roll up for as much free tea and coffee as you can drink at 9:30 and pour into the store first on opening at 10am. Sorted!

munchbunch · 22/01/2003 22:26

The north circ one is nearest to us and we've found if you know what you want (ie you can get in and out quickly) it's not too bad if you go just before closing time (I think it's about 9ish) though this may be difficult if you have to take ds with

susanmt · 23/01/2003 01:03

The Glasgow store is almost always bearable, but I guess that's a bit of a trek for you!

SoupDragon · 23/01/2003 08:39

At the Croydon store, either at opening time (10am) or the last hour before closing, during the week. I never ever ever go at weekends!

KeepingMum · 23/01/2003 08:53

I've been to the north circular one at just before 10 on a week day and got a space right near the entrance and was in and out in about 20 minutes (bought a little chair as well). I went again on a weekday but at 11.30 ish and ended up having to park at the top of the multistorey and stuck in a big queue. I would always go early now and def not at a weekend.

aloha · 23/01/2003 09:20

It was pleasantly quiet during the England games of the World Cup. Only a few more years to go, then

AliH · 23/01/2003 11:15

I went to Nottingham on a Saturday afternoon (no, I am not really mad!), with a friend, leaving her ds and my dd with their Dads's.

We had a great time, got there around 4pm and stayed till closing. It was really great, and at closing time, the checkouts were free.

Can't wait to do it again.

Tarn · 23/01/2003 12:04

We use Birmigham and find it's not too bad during the day (weekdays only!) but were horrified to find that a double pushchair would not fit in the lift to come back down to the sales floor! Infact it is so small that after tipping the double buggy sideways into the lift and getting my toddler in in one of those ikea trolley/pushchair things my sister could not fit in and had to run down stairs to rescue us at the other end!!

Philippat · 23/01/2003 12:17

I went on the last day of the sale the Sunday before last in the afternoon. Yes, I clearly need some medical help.

But, while the car park was a nightmare (45 minutes from M6 junction to a space and the same on the way out - those of you who know the Birmingham store will know what that means), the store was fine! Plenty of room in the cafe, only 3 people in front of me at the checkouts. Whereas in the week they have fewer staff on and so get longer queues.

Took a backpack rather than a buggy, though, so brain not completely mush, obviously.

Original poster
mckenzie · 23/01/2003 12:44

thanks to everyone for the advice. I think i'm going to ask my mum to have DS one morning during the week and get there before 10 am for the tea and coffee. I know pretty much what I want so hopefully it'll all be a breeze!! Now all I need is for someone to get all the cars of the roads at 9am one weekday morning. Yeah right!!

OP posts:
jodee · 24/01/2003 08:46

I'm another one very near to Croydon Ikea, and would avoid like the plague on w/e bank holidays. Before Christmas I decided to go alone with ds at 11am, and it was so easy to get around without the crowds and no queues at the checkouts. DS was an angel sitting in the trolley and I was just about to give myself a pat on the back when I got through the doors with my purchases when ... I realised there were barriers to stop you from taking the trolley to your car, you had to unload and carry everything. Both my hands were full, I had no reins for ds, my car was on the other side of the carpark, the shop staff seemed to have vanished into thin air, so I had to negotiate the cars whilst shouting at ds to stay by my side. Shan't be doing that again!

SoupDragon · 24/01/2003 09:02

Jodee, you can (supposedly) lock your trolley in a litle cage and go and fetch your car to the collection bays. This is provided there aren't reams of empty trolleys parked in front of them. An ordinary pram will (just) fit through the barriers so I always use mine now unless I'm buying bookcases etc.

jodee · 24/01/2003 10:02

Gaahhh! Didn't see those, Soupdragon! And no staff to point me to them either - I was soooo stressed, I had a bag in either hand and a huge wicker basket under each arm!

Ems · 24/01/2003 13:17

mckenzie, I now have the perfect IKEA solution; they are now open til 10pm, so get your mum or a babysitter, and go in the evenings, it is so quiet, I do the upstairs, then have supper in the very quiet restaurant, and then do the downstairs, and am always the last to leave!!

manna · 24/01/2003 13:40

leave home 9.30am weekdays, at n. circular one 9.50am, 10 mins radio 4 in car, in at opening time, stright to desired item, out by shortcut near entrance, sail through the checkout, quick stop at food shop for swedish essentials and hot dog (i know, but I can't resist them!), and out by 10.30 max! Works every time

Original poster
mckenzie · 24/01/2003 14:24

I think I like your idea best now Ems. Have just this minute found out that my mum wont be able to have DS for a whole morning until week after next but can have him any evening next week so i think evening it is (and then I can drag DH with me too.

Manna, you live very close huh? I'm in Enfield and it think i'll hit too much traffic if I go at 9/9.30am.

OP posts:
Bron · 04/11/2003 14:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kayleigh · 04/11/2003 14:29

agree with manna. This is exactly what dh and i did two weeks ago when we had to the north circular Ikea to get ds1 a new bed. First time ever I haven't had to queue.
God I hate shopping with dh. He wouldn't let me look at anything except the beds.

beetroot · 04/11/2003 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Enid · 04/11/2003 14:37

Not the last Friday before half-term, especially with two hungry children

emsiewill · 04/11/2003 19:11

Bron, from what I've heard, I would say at least a year! IMO the store will be heaving, the staff will be clueless and the systems will not be working as they should. Nothing against IKEA (you should see my house - it's full of the stuff), but it's just the way these places are when they're new.
Why not just go to Bristol - it'll be dead. And there won't be loads of people walking around saying things like "Where to are the beds?" "By yer"

emsiewill · 04/11/2003 19:12

Oh, and it's not next week - it's the day after tomorrow!

Sari · 04/11/2003 20:08

The Croydon one opens for "browsing" at 10am on Sunday so you can go along, pick everything up and then be first at the checkout when it opens at 11am.

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