IKEA kitchen lessons learnt

[whataboutbob]

I have just finished the process of having an IKEA kitchen fitted so thought I’d feedback my experience.
It was for a rental property so I wanted it to look smart and be functional and durable, but didn’t spend hours debating different colours and styles. The process was far from smooth so here are my tips:

1. measure, measure, measure and write everything down
2. be very clear with the planner- I ended up going in store 3 times, then had what should have been a final meeting via Zoom, and then another in store meeting
3. check the plans with a fine tooth comb . In my case the 4th planner via Zoom radically changed the plans without warning me. By then I was so weary I didn’t check, paid and ended up with a load of items i didn’t need, and I had to head in store for a 5 th time to sort it all out and make sure I got the kitchen I wanted. The final planner as good as admitted there had been a big cock up and tried her best to fix it
4. know that IKEA will change delivery dates at 24 hours notice. Fine if you WFH, not so good if like me you don’t live at the property and it’s a long journey to get there. You have the option to change the delivery date, but it won’t necessarily work.
5. they will also split deliveries, some things will arrive via IKEA delivery, other items via DPD, and on different days. You have the option to change the delivery date, but in my case that didn’t also work.
6. stuff might go out of stock. They will make you order and pay for an alternative. The out of stock item you paid for may or may not be refunded
7. customer services may or may not be any use, depending on who picks up your call. Some CS seemed woefully poorly trained/ lacking in initiative, they stick to a script even if it is completely non sensical.
8. if that happens, go straight to money savings expert ‘s Resolver. You are more likely to get anywhere with them. The kitchen looks good, not least due to my very talented kitchen fitter. The price was good about £4000 for a large is space with 2 runs, a line of wall mounted units, and another short run against the back wall. Also an over and sink, but I got the worktop and hob separately after reading reviews on Which?

Ah, thanks, this is really useful! Were the various bits and pieces delivered inside your property or just dumped on the kerb?

They did carry them up, and the property was on the first floor.

Can you collect the units yourself?

Can we see a picture please?

Not all items are available instore. You might be able to collect a proportion instore. I’ll try and post a pic tomorrow.

Here’s one pic, although the perspective isn’t great. Was waiting for vinyl fitters to finish before I take the stickers off ( units are Matt white).

I got mine 20 years ago and don’t remember many issues. Wonder if it’s got worse. I want to re do my kitchen.

It’s quite possible I was unlucky and living away from the flat added to the complexity. However I have seen at least one other poster on here mention similar issues. I think I had a mixture of good and bad experiences. I should also add that all the items I didn’t use have now been refunded. I wonder whether that happened quicker than with the cancelled items, because the non used items were bought with a credit card.

Thats all great info to know OP- thanks for posting. We are kitchen hunting but I hadn't explored ikea, so great to know.

Am I correct that YOU had to do all the measurements yourself and order yourself? They don't come out to measure or offer that service?

I must say you are braver than me on such a bright colour choice [grim]

@Hairyfriend the op said the units were matt white, she just hasn’t removed the protective covers!

@pinkpinkeverywhere- Thank you for pointing that out! I clearly missed that bit in the OP's post about the plastic not being removed yet.

To make it worse, I was trying to add a GRIN emoji in my last post, not the word [grim]!!!

I thought GRIM was a bit much too

We didnt have so many problems as this but we DIYed it a bit more. We knew exactly what we wanted and we were prepared to shelp up and down to ikea a few times to get it. Everything arrived over a couple of deliveries (we lived there, so that was fine) and anything we didn't have we toddled off to get. The worktop arrived damaged so another one came. Basically it was all fine and good fun, although we quite enjoy this stuff

I’m in the process of ordering an IKEA kitchen so it’s interesting to see how it went for others. We are using IKEA kitchen fitters so hope not to have any issues with measurements as the fitters are coming next week to double check our plans work.

I don’t mind my colour scheme being described as grim! I think they do offer a measuring service but I’m not totally sure. If you do measure yourself make sure to follow their instructions as much as you can. Good to know the fitters double check the plans @sockpile!

We have an ikea kitchen and ordered it about 3 years ago and our experience was different to yours. We couldn’t get one of there fitters to fit ours but apart from that we had no real issues except the microwave needing to be exchanged.
It came in two separate deliveries but as we were renovating that was an issue as we had our kitchen fitter due to start after the last delivery.

I don’t mind my colour scheme being described as grim!

It was a typo for the grin emoji, surely?

I must admit I thought you had made a ‘bold’ colour choice until I read it was plastic wrap!
They did offer a measuring service but that isn’t an option at the moment. They charged and took it off the cost of you ordered.

Even though I measured multiple times I’m still anticipating having to adjust my plans.

I know you didn’t mean grim @Sockpile! We’re all good . If you can, leave a bit of wiggle room in your plans and be open with them if you have any doubts about any of the measurements. Hopefully you’ll get an experienced planner.

If they cancel your fitting with three days' notice, and you have booked other services to be installed keep phoning and making a nuisance of yourself. We were originally told by a young man that Ikea would get back to us within 48 hours to sort it out. Er, no...

They had cancelled the whole fitting because one tiny part hadn't arrived. A part we could have collected ourselves from the nearest store. My husband wasn't having any of it. Luckily they hadn't cancelled with the fitter so they still came.

The fitter was very experienced but made some mistakes and had to return to put them right. And that was with my husband watching out.

Well, it certainly makes a change from the usual fancy kitchen pictures posted on Mumsnet!

That’s interesting @Abra1d1. My intention isn’t to make everyone who is planning an IKEA kitchen flip out! The end result will most probably be good, but in my experience you can’t sit back and expect everything to go to plan. I think the take home message is keep excellent records ( of measurements, plans, invoices, receipts) and check everything IKEA sends you. Check the items match up against your order and if not, make sure not to take anything out of the box or they won’t take it back and give you a refund.

Yes, you need to be anal. My husband wouldn’t let the delivery guys leave before we had ticked off every single item against the list.

I’m very pleased with the finished product now. Sink is leaking slightly but they will sort that out soon. The cupboards are very good quality.