Ikea, I Love/Hate You
posted on february 9, 2003, tag: new york
Yesterday we spent a while at IKEA, finding some furniture to fill our new apartment. It took us about three hours to find a kitchen table, a television stand* and a coffee table. We also managed to get some curtains and some really great lights for the living room.
I don't know how many of you have actually been to an IKEA, since there aren't many locations in the US, but if you have, you'll know exactly how it feels to be in that place on a Saturday. It's horrible. There are usually at least 30,000 people all crammed in there—it's loud, crowded, and frustrating—and from the moment you get in you just want to be out as quickly as you can.
And it's not like their furniture is all that great, either. It's all fake wood on top of particle board, but for some reason you just ignore that when you realize that in a short amount of time (and usually for a relatively good price), you can completely furnish your house or apartment.
But the place makes me so mad. By the time I leave I'm pissed off for reasons I don't even understand, and I just want to scream at all the employees for their lack of customer service skills. I want to cry out in anger that the coffee table we picked out is in the "self-service" area, and it's not sold out, but we get down there and it is in fact sold out. And I hate that I get told by a cashier that she's closed because her light is off, so I find someone with their light on only to be told that she's closed too because her "gate" is closed.
IKEA, I hate you. But I'll be back in a week to pick up that coffee table. Damn you.
* On a related note, we bought our television at Circuit City, which is remarkably different to do in New York than in New Jersey. We couldn't fit it in our car, so we had to pay some random guy with a van $25 to drive it back to our house (he didn't even work for Circuit City, he just sits outside the entrance and works like a cab-driver for your purchased items). Then he even helped us carry it up the stairs, although he almost broke my leg in doing so.
Comments
There are 11 comments, comments are closed
John on 02/09/2003:
What kind of TV did you buy? :D
lee on 02/10/2003:
we drove 11 hours to the nearest ikea, after salivating over the catalogues for months. an ok experience. not everything we'd dreamed of; but for the price and selection (if sacrificing quality) it can't be beat. disposable furniture and meatballs. what a great idea.
Garrett on 02/10/2003:
11 hours? Wow, that's a gamble. Did you purchase stuff and cram it all in your car for the drive back, or was the trip just to see the items in-store and then order them for delivery?
The scariest thing about driving that far for me would have been if not everything you purchased fit into your car.
I've never had the meatballs, but I've definitely had a few prëtzëls and cïnnämön rölls. Mmmm... umlautalicious.
rebecca on 02/11/2003:
the worst thing about my ikea experience was the terrifying look of determination in the eyes of young mothers aiming carts at me if i dallied in the aisle for too long. the best thing: the carts themselves. my boyfriend's cart-riding escapades were positively balletic.
Garrett on 02/13/2003:
My favorite thing about the IKEA carts is the fact that every wheel can rotate 360 degrees. Rather than, say, a grocery store cart that has fixed back wheels, the carts at IKEA allow you to actually push them completely sideways. I have a feeling this causes problems when people smash into displays and such. But it is fun.
Jess on 09/11/2003:
I hate ikea coz everything is soooooooooooo big compared to every normal furniture. bleeping swedish
Leon on 10/23/2003:
I have been to the Ikea in Paramus, NJ several times. I love the showroom. I love to touch everything, especially the toys(I'm 13). We have bought several things there and, except for one black chair, never had a problem. I don't have to do the assembling, though I love to watch. My 19-year-old brother takes care of that. And we don't have to have it delivered as we have a 1991 Chevy Caprice Station Wagon(old, huh?). And it's not too crowded for me. So, I like to walk in Ikea. It's a fun place to be.
Endless on 10/26/2003:
I work for IKEA and would just like to remind you all....remember how upset you were and how mad you wanted to get at a co-worker. Now imagine that on average we deal with about 20-30 people a day who DO get angry on us...do you blame us for being a little less than friendly?
Jeremy on 10/28/2003:
I work at Ikea too endless and it is our job to treat each and every guest the same no matter what experience you had with a prior guest. Besides, I find that if I listen first (even if that guest is extremeley irrate) and show that I really do care, things work out. I assume your young...You will learn.
Meritt on 10/29/2003:
ENDLESS:
Did it occur to you that you might be continuing the circle? By being a little "less than friendly" to your customers you are thereby making NEW customers unhappy... thus the vicious circle.
Plus: Would like to point out that you are being paid to be friendly, cooperative and nice. Your customer isn't paid to be nice... you are.
Garrett on 10/30/2003:
The number of comments on this entry is scaring me. I didn't expect anyone to care, and now we have IKEA employees posting... that's funny.
I'm closing the thread now, thanks for all the discussion.