Ikea is intimidating to the novice user

Needing to furnish my new flat, I got all excited that, for the first time in my life, I'm living next to an Ikea. Nice, modern, cheap, non-crap stuff - what could go wrong?

But damn that building is weird. The first time I went to check it out it took me half an hour to find an exit. Then yesterday when I decided to actually give them some of my money, I had to have the way the place works patiently explained to me by some long suffering staff person. Nothing makes me want to not shop somewhere like having to have the basic operation explained to me in detail.

The rules are simple:

Look around the show room until you find something you want. Ask a member of staff to reserve you one, unless it's one of the things you just go get yourself. Wander around aimlessly for a bit noting things you think you'd quite like to get, and then spend 20 minutes walking through the entire rest of the store to get to the bit where you can get out into the warehouse. Find a trolley, and wander up and down aisles looking for the things you have to get yourself. Wrestle large boxes off shelves onto the trolley (pro-tip: sometimes things come in multiple boxes). Pack everything precariously on you trolley and haul it to the check out. Pay. Haul down two floors to the delivery place. Pay. Go back up, pick up the sofa which is one of the things you couldn't get yourself. Take to delivery place. Exit the building, slightly bewildered but reasonalby sure everything will arrive when you asked for it.

I think I 'get' it now, but damn. Sweden is weird.

: 18 Jun 2008 10:28 |  Comments (2) |  Report a problem