I have to head down to the metromess (DFW) to collect some bookcases. I'd made alternate arrangements, but thanks to utterly ridiculous store policies, it turns out that nobody except me can collect the goods ordered over the Internet. (Why IKEA is so absolutely anal and unhelpful about dealing with online orders, I have no idea. I can only suspect they prefer you to drive to the store and do things in person. I won't be ordering online from them again, I can tell you!)
Anyway, that means I won't have time to put up more blog posts this morning. Please amuse yourselves with the blogs listed in the sidebar. Thanks!
Peter
My sympathy; I just hope you don't have the same experience we did. We went into an IKEA (in Tempe AZ) exactly ONCE, about 17 years ago; never again. Once inside, we were not allowed to reverse course to leave via the entrance (one-way gates, IIRC), or cross over to the exit path; the only way to get out was to traverse the entire store via multiple switchbacks on multiple levels, about a half-mile altogether. They can keep their crap; I wouldn't spit on them if they were on fire.
ReplyDeleteLet me see...
ReplyDeleteIf Peter lives near Iowa Park, then the closest Ikea is either in Southlake or Frisco. That means he takes 287 to Rhome, then 114 to Southlake. Or 287 to 380 to the "Tollway"/121 to Frisco.
Not close enough to stop off at the distillery. :(
Either way, watch out for the livestock or wild critters on 287, I always hit or dodge something on that bit of the drive, especially if there is fog.
was there no other choice?
ReplyDeleteI ordered a (glass) bookcase from one store in the local area which offered me the same Hobson's; I told them I was 80 and unable to get around with any ease; was answered that "This is store policy."
found another store with the same item, but had to pay a (small) delivery charge (which was revoked when the deliveryman reported back that I was using walker in my apartment).
Gah, that sucks!
ReplyDeleteI thought that you were going to cull your books ? Wait, your old paper bookcases got destroyed by the flood ? Real wood bookcases are heavy and expensive.
ReplyDeletePick it up AND put it together yourself. What a winning business model!
ReplyDeleteThere IS a sensor that prohibits anyone else from assembling it, right?
I've never even seen an Ikea store, and I suspect my life is better for it.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick with my policy of building my own bookshelves (in fairness, I used to be a cabinetmaker, but it's really not hard).
--Tennessee Budd
Same BS with Central Market. They want you to traverse the entire store because they think you may see something additional you may buy.
ReplyDeleteI tried to shop in an Ikea store once, when one opened in Indy. Even knowing what I wanted, I found myself in a mouse maze with no directions, and a near-panic because I couldn't figure out how to get out, and then realized that there were no directions or marking for fire / emergency exits.
ReplyDeleteNever could figure out who they paid to be allowed to operate without marked exits.
Johnin Indy
I have been in numerous IKEA stores and they have maps posted all over the place showing you the shortcuts. You do NOT have to walk through the whole store.
ReplyDeleteI bought some cheap living room cabinets from IKEA earlier this month (in west Houston). Clear maps and lots of shortcuts between sections, they want you to see the whole thing but certainly don't force you.
ReplyDeleteIt's a compromise for those of us without the funds or the ability to create furniture ourselves, but that's what makes them so successful. Good enough for cheap enough.
Had a quick lunch, the Swedish meatballs were not as good as some years ago, quite bland sadly.
From the above comments it sounds like each store follows its own policy, from "plenty of maps and shortcuts" to "stay in line, move along, don't try to escape" (the apparent policy of the Tempe IKEA). Good for those whose stores have rational management; not so good for the rest of us. I'll stick to *my* policy.
ReplyDeleteLife hack to navigate IKEA stores.
ReplyDelete0) Do not bring your spouse or female friends
1) Pick out your project kit online. (It's not furniture, it's the adult version of the plastic models and airplanes we used to build to sniff the glue and play with paints...)
2) Note the stock number.
3) Arrive at store, walk thru the registers, grab cart/trolley, and go back to the shelves and locate boxes by stock number
4) Grab your box/boxes and go back to the register
Congratulations! You've avoided 90% of the store.
6) If married or have roommates: Give box to spouse/roommates to assemble and run away before they ask for assistance since you've already done all the hard work
IKEA! Beloved by women everywhere. Yes-look, feel, plan, talk.....eat; then more planning, talking, feeling and arranging. Truly, I understand how men feel trapped in more ways than one in the stores. For women, we can find that cute wooden tray on the 3rd floor in 2 minutes flat. Men are drug through the entrance doors in chains as future cargo lifters. 😇 It is an easier and cheaper way to get lots of stuff but putting it together....is why they invented Task Rabbit.
ReplyDeleteI purchased some bookcases from IKEA and was able to have someone else pick it up, but you need to pass the code in the email to them. This was Round Rock so maybe yours has something different?
ReplyDeleteLived in Lewisville in the late 90s. Would drive to Greenville a lot to see the future, and still Mrs..FM121 was a two lane from Lewisville to McKinney. Flashing yellow light at Preston Rd. There was a trailer house with a red porch light and parking in the back. On 380 between McKinney there was a wide spot in the road with a sign in front of a small store that had "Beer, Guns, and Pizza" reminds me of the old joke the ATF should be a convenience store, not a govt agency...
ReplyDelete