Some years ago my wife volunteered to go to Ik** to get gift vouchers one of her work colleagues wanted. Naturally I had to drive, and wasn't allowed to wait in the car while she got them. We arrived just before opening time and there was a massive queue. What's that all about? There wasn't a sale on! The only positive was that I asked where we got the gift vouchers and a staff member took us through a number of doors and straight to the tills. We were back out in about 5 minutes.
I love Ikea! First visited the original round one in Stockholm 53 years ago, and was very impressed with the styling and the reasonable prices. We are now in the happy ( for me) situation of having a store only 15 minutes drive away. I am a big fan of instant gratification - if I want new furniture, I don’t want to have to order it and wait months for it to arrive. If I can squeeze it in the back of the car, and take it straight home, that’s definitely a box ticked. And I’ve been in the store so many times, I know all the shortcuts to go straight to the department I want, saves me ending up at the checkout with a trolley full of impulse buys!
I like Ikea as well, although I don't often visit these days. I enjoyed wandering round all the various rooms/displays and treated it as a day out, complete with lunch/coffee break therein. Our nearest is Bristol which means two motorways which I don't enjoy these days.
It was a great concept for those who liked Habitat stuff but not the prices. I've still got some Ikea furniture bought over 26 years ago.
I like IKEA for bits and bobs - spent a whopping €5.99 on a pan lid organiser recently - and big packs of tea lights but our nearest store is an hour away so not a regular destination. I like the little jars of herring in different sauces too.
Don't buy furniture there. I'd rather buy second-hand and upcycle.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I’ve never been in an IKEA … the nearest is about 100 miles away. There’s a click and collect in Norwich but apparently it ‘doesn’t do’ the larger furniture.
We’ve managed perfectly well without … and our home is quite (or very) stylish 😎
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We really,really need two new sofas. Before I choose the design, I need to decide which company is not likely to go out of business and bugger off with my money before I get the sofas. Much as I would like to buy something from a small company, I don't want to take the risk. That leaves me with IKEA and a few other major companies .
@B3 although choosing a larger company may reduce the risk it certainly doesn't eliminate it. Debenhams and Woolworth weren't exactly small business, and I remember a company called Rolls Royce going bust too. There weren't many bigger names than them at the time. Pay by credit card and at least your money is safe.
I remember when the first IKEA opened near Warrington and there was much excitement in my office. One of my colleagues came back with a couple of catalogues and we studied them closely. Living in Cheshire we weren't too far away so l persuaded my OH to visit as we needed some furniture. We still have the Billy Bookcases and a lovely pine chest of drawers with mirror. I do like the Marketplace section, you can never have too many tealights, but l wouldn't make a special trip. I do feel that they were partially responsible for the demise of MFI.
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And I’ve been in the store so many times, I know all the shortcuts to go straight to the department I want, saves me ending up at the checkout with a trolley full of impulse buys!
It was a great concept for those who liked Habitat stuff but not the prices. I've still got some Ikea furniture bought over 26 years ago.
Don't buy furniture there. I'd rather buy second-hand and upcycle.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That leaves me with IKEA and a few other major companies .
I do like the Marketplace section, you can never have too many tealights, but l wouldn't make a special trip.
I do feel that they were partially responsible for the demise of MFI.