IKEA Stoughton

2/17/2014

I love Ikea.    The Stoughton store is the closest one to Providence.    Many choices of furniture styles, colors, shapes.   I love how they arrange things to help customers visualize how things could go together.    Many settings for living rooms, apartments, kitchens, bedrooms, etc.       Different lines within the IKEA line cater different price points and finishes/quality.

I like that they have designers that can help if you are looking at kitchens, bedrooms, etc.    Most furniture items come in boxes, which have to be assembled.   For those who want to bypass that "painful" stage, you can pay for delivery and assembly.

They have a great selection of household items too....like plates, cups, glasses, silverware, linen, kitchen utensils, plants (real and artificial), gadgets, shelving units, pillows, rugs, etc.

Holidays and weekends are very very busy....sometimes you can not find parking and have to park way out....but if you buy heavy things, they have a loading area that is very convenient.

Also, if shopping takes long hours, they have their IKEA cafe with ample choices of salads, soups, entrees, desserts, etc.    Some people go nuts for their Swedish Meatball and cakes.     I had the Chocolate cake and it was very creamy and moist...not a solid Chocoholic item, but more like a combination of cake/pudding/moistness.....    Beware...if you go to the cafe during peak hours, you might have to share a table with a good samaritan soul, since seating is at premium....

2/17/2014

I love ikea... Who doesn't really?  But as I sit in their furniture pickup area for almost an hour, I am seriously pondering never returning.  This, after spending 2 hours going through the store and having 2/3 of what we wanted to buy out of stock.

The people who work here are all very friendly and nice.  But their hands seem to be tied anytime something goes wrong.  The person working in the furniture pickup dept keeps coming out telling me it's going to be a little while longer.  Thank you for that, but how about just fixing the problem?

I travelled here from 2 1/2 hours away.  And called before I came to see if I could have exactly what I wanted set aside.  Yeah, you can't do that, so thank you for giving me plenty of time to sit here and write about my horrible experience.

Get your act together ikea... This is an embarrassment.  1 star for the $1 ice cream.

2/12/2014

Huge, clean, organized how you expect. This Ikea is a typical Ikea. I like how you can either do the entire walk around or cut through in their shortcuts. The store hosts many additional items other than furniture like silverware, plates, trash cans ($13), wine glasses, rugs... Staff is helpful if you can find a member. The room/apt. layouts based on square footage are really useful.

The huge negative is the checking out process, it always takes FOREVER, expect to spend a minimum of 20 minutes in line which truly adds up when it takes you over an hour to peruse the store. Also, the frozen yogurt was disappointing, too melted. Parking is difficult.

2/16/2014

Pro's Nice modern furniture. Good quality for the price. Never disappointing.

Con's. 1. Website not good. Can never find what I am looking for. 2. Inventory not good. Items too frequently out of stock. 3. Customer service not good. Too long waiting times when issue with item/delivery scheduling in store, pick up/return.

2/10/2014

Worst customer service EVER.  

My wife and I bought a $ 500 bedroom set on 02/08/14.  The set was missing some crucial hardware.  After e-mailing Ikea all the information they requested - catalog number, catalog page number, part number, receipt number, etc - Ikea emails me back asking for a photo of the page from their catalog!  In effect, they wanted me to do THEIR homework for them.  I then called Ikea, and navigated what is perhaps the most IDIOTIC automated menu, only to be rudely addressed by the actual person I managed to get in touch with AFTER 20 MINUTES, at which point I hung up.

Their products are OK.  But beware: if anything is wrong with their mass manufactured products, good luck.  You have the choice of sucking it up and taking it, or returning whatever thing you bought - often after ALREADY having taken the time to assemble it.

Never again.  If they don't care about their customers, they can find dumber customers than me to do business with.

11/26/2013

I love Ikea. Everything about it.

Staff weren't all over the place and when I did find one he told me to go to another who said they were out of stock :( Everything can't be perfect (just to the in stock part). Oh well.

• 

  Why is this out of stock? ?

  Why is this out of stock? ?

2/1/2014

The prices are good, but you need to be willing to spend the whole day there with a high stress tolerance. The place is packed on the weekend so you have to go with the (slow) flow of people through the store. We walked away at the end of the day with only half of what we really needed. Couldn't find a couch that worked for us (try Cort for better quality and prices and way closer to the city). Pretty much what we expected from ikea.

11/25/2013

As a long time loyal Ikea customer in both Europe and US, this store has far the worst customer service practices. Their delivery system is totally designed to rip you off. They give you 4 hr window and call you to be in the delivery location few hours before. I was running 15 mins late and let the delivery team know but they would not wait and they had left before I got there. Nice hm? You are asked to wait for 4 hours for the service you pay extra for. And they dont even wait for you few mins. Then they made you wait in the support number for hours (literally) and hang up on you. Its fun to browse the store but you have no value as a customer. Worst customer and delivery service. I would not buy even a cup from them.

Edit: I should have read the BBB records before going there. http://www.bbb.org/bosto…

11/20/2013

Ikea is Ikea is Ikea. We buy a lot of their stuff and go there all the time.
I wish they had a way of accessing our online shopping lists on their computers or kiosks or wherever (not our phones especially since the network is so shoddy there)...so we didn't have to compile lists again and again first online then on their little paper pads- blah!
And what's with not being able to check in even from their parking lot, even in the restaurant and checkout line?? I had full network (which is a first here) and location services on. (says I'm too far a away... While inside the store?)
Just to check I tried checking in from home (~20 odd miles away) and could. Huh?!

11/5/2013

It's always fun to visit this place and our latest visit was last Saturday.  It was crowded but we were able to find parking without too much effort.  Our first stop was the restaurant and I had their famed Swedish meatballs.  This time, we also tried out their Cream Cake w/ Marzipan dessert and we found it to be so good that we were tempted to buy 2 more.  We initially thought that it was ice cream rather than custard filling.  The smoked salmon looked good too.

After we had our fill, we went furniture shopping and to think about the design of our potential next home.

10/11/2013

I can honestly spend HOURS here. There is just so much to see and so many aisles to linger. I LOVE the showrooms... it really gives you ideas and helps generate those creative juices. Yes, the showrooms are pretty similar across the board, but I just love walking through them.

I had breakfast here once... and it was AWESOME. I think it was like a breakfast plate with eggs, potatoes, and sausage and it was DIRT CHEAP! And it was pretty good! If I was close I would def come here for food more often...

The one downside to this place is that it's the closest one to the Boston area so when I went a lot of things were sold out (too many damn students in the area!!!) so I had to change the items I ultimately decided to get. I The marketplace is pretty similar to all the other Ikeas with lots of goodies for cheap. I always get my glasses here since they're pretty good quality and cheap.

Can anyone tell me why it always sounds like there are birds chirping in the pipes in the covered parking lot though?

8/16/2013

Word to the wise

1. Come early... People go nuts in there
(it's just furniture... Ppl relax)

2. No offense but leave your small kids at home, it's not fun for them anyway... They cry, scream & it's just a mess.

3. Prepare...prepare...prepare... I can't stress that enough... Do your research, have an idea what you want, if they have it in stock...

4.come with your own muscle... No one will help you... Customer service sucks there. You are on your own, whether it's finding a product or loading it your car... It's all you !

5. Have your phone handy... If you look online it will tell you where your product is... The aisle # and bin #... Although there is a computer at the store to help... It's better with your phone...Again customer service sucks

6. You will definitely get lost in all the products... And you will want to buy the whole store... Just keep in mind what your agenda is !

7. Keep in mind whatever you buy, you have to build it yourself... So if your not handy... You better know someone who is... It's the price you pay for cheap furniture

8. Lastly...Have fun !!!!!!!!!

• 

  What I bought... 150$... Cheap cheap cheap !!!

  What I bought... 150$... Cheap cheap cheap !!!

7/15/2013

I was disappointed by the way we were treated by employees on a recent couch-shopping trip. Yes, it's crowded on a Saturday and they're probably feeling overwhelmed themselves but that's no excuse for rudeness. We were examining a sofa bed in the showroom and an employee told us we were handling it too roughly. Actually, we were just trying to see how the foldout bed part works but if folding it out is enough to break it, then we probably don't want to buy it anyway.

After looking at another couch, I asked an employee if the item was available online because we needed to think about it (I'd recently tried to order an extra set of spoons online and discovered to my disappointment that the item was only available in stores). As if it should be common knowledge, he informed that he didn't work for that division so he couldn't possibly know if it was available online. "This is the store." Umm ... last I checked they're both owned by IKEA so is it too much to ask to take a few minutes to answer a basic question to help a customer make an informed decision? Alas, it is too much to ask.  

We left without buying a couch.

8/2/2013

This pertains only to my online shopping experience.

I bought sheets online and had them shipped to me. After washing them it was clear they were way too scratchy (low thread count). I checked the "Online Returns" info page and sent the sheets and a copy of the invoice back to Ikea's returns department in Baltimore (costing me $12 in US Mail).

Weeks later and no credit card refund, I e-mailed customer service who said in order to get a refund I need to provide a package tracking number. Well, I don't have that, just the receipt with the order number, and pointed out that this information is not in their Refund information. So far I have not had any response to my e-mail, and I suppose will have to follow up with a phone call.

Sad that such a place offers such poor online service.

8/10/2013

I came, I saw, I didn't conquer...but I'll be back. IKEA!

You could spend a whole day here and then some. I always start off strong and enjoy walking through the kitchens, bedrooms, etc. on the 2nd level and can imagine having smartly designed rooms like what they have, but then I go downstairs...and I fade fast. Downstairs is where they offer kitchen stuff, houseware stuff, rugs, plants, basically everything for your house. They have so much in this area and it's such a labyrinth I get frustrated and can't wait to get to the warehouse so I can pick up my "build it yourself" furniture and always forget to buy something I wanted to. I like their furniture as it gets the job done and is better quality (in my eyes) than what you would find at Walmart, but it's not furniture that you'll pass onto your kids.

We ended our last trip with a $1 cinnamon bun and a $2.50 combo of pizza/soda, and made plans for another trip in the near future. IKEA!

12/2/2013

What can I say, I love IKEA! Even if I don't buy anything at all ... okay, that has never actually happened, but I can assume ... it is inspiring to just walk around and get ideas for around the house. The quality of the furniture is not high, but you get what you pay for. The prices are extremely reasonable for most pieces, which allows for you to buy and discard a couple of years later without too much guilt. Everything must be assembled by hand, so if you aren't good at working with instructions and a tiny allen wrench, quickly make a friend who is! The Stoughton location is an easy drive from the Boston area and earns extra points for their covered parking, which is a lifesaver when the weather is bad. I would recommend going early, since you never know how long you will wander, have lunch in the cafeteria (Swedish meatballs, yum!) and save room for frozen yogurt on the way out.

8/9/2013

Okay and cheap furniture. However, this is about the cafeteria.

The food is not so convincing. Okay, the Thursday special roasted chicken with mashed potato is cheap at $1.99, but the taste is blah. I added broccoli cheddar soup for $2.29, which was a strange blend between sour and burnt. Hence I needed two free refills for the $1.49 diet Pepsi get rid of the strange taste.

8/13/2013

This isn't furniture shopping, it's a maze filled with lots of pretty things for your home.  For the price and selection of well designed home goods IKEA can not be beat.

I would give them 5 stars if they:
1) Had a few more yellow-shirted workers wandering around;  I often find myself hunting for them
2) Opened more than 4 lines for check out. Two weeks ago I waited for over 30 minutes as there were only four lines open---where's management? Surely someone should be checking to make sure guests aren't waiting so long to hand over their cash.

4/24/2013 Updated review

Went back today because I need to finish installing the hardwood floors in my home, and seeing I started with IKEA flooring, I wanted the last remaining room to match.  Huge mistake!!!

I asked for the Store Manager and got Marco, who was just as disrespectful, arrogant and ridiculous as his subordinates.  When I tried to explain to Marco that I had yet another terrible experience at this store, particularly with some staff, Marco interrupted and sarcastiscally asked if the entire store staff was rude to me.   At no time had I ever made such a suggestion, but he sure seems to be defensive over some "issues".

I told Marco I had wanted to purchase some items in the "As Is" department (where the rudest of rude IKEA staff work).  I was left to struggle a queen size mattress on my own on one of their carts that rolls endlessly.  I was also told to dismantle a fully mantled queen size steel bed frame (standing 4 feet high), even though I showed him my crushed black and blue hand that was severely injured.  Marco suggested I should have brought an assistant to the store to help me with my purchases.  As if all the Ikea Staff are not there to assist customers?  Seriously?

Seeing IKEA is so spread out and can be extremely delayed between long lines and wait times, I purchased some hardwood flooring that needed to be pulled from the staff only area.  This always takes the longest, and I asked the manager to watch my cart of my remaining items while I submitted this several hundred dollar order to be pulled.  Needless to say, the staff member went to lunch, and so did my cart.  It was never seen again.

After struggling with a mattress that felt like it weighed the same as me, being told to use my crushed hand to do physical labor to make a furniture purchase (by the very store that's selling it), be told that I should have hired staff to help me buy things from the store (from the very store trying to sell me things), after misplacing my purchases and dealing with the rudest staff and manager, I decided I didn't want to give this store anymore of my money or time.  As a final insult, I gave my debit card to be refunded (and was told I could only have cash or a store credit instead).  I chose cash, went through some paperwork, was asked to sign a receipt, and then they never gave me my debit card back.  So now I have to cancel it and update all the on-line vendors that use it.

I would think that I'd learned my lesson and not do business here anymore - hopefully this will stick better for the next time I need home goods as the inconvenience, hassle, disrespect and disorganization is surely never worth such a waste of time.

7/31/2013

The Walmart of furniture stores. Ikea offers a great selection of affordable home goods. The store is pretty amazing considering the size and offerings. They literally have everything here. Granted some of the stuff is "you get what you pay for". I once got a lamp here for $12 that if not positioned right melted. Besides that it lasted a long time. They have everything from great great fake throw rugs to complete bathrooms and kitchens. They even sell appliances.

This place is probably best suited for furnishing a small apartment or studio. Given that that is is a European company is definitely has a euro feel. You could definitely find something for every size house here.

On top of that their food court is solid. I always get their almond cake and the Swedish meatballs. It's all part of the experience.

6/16/2013

Oh, Ikea.....you give us po' folk a chance at modern glamor.  [sigh]  But low price tags and assemble-it-yourself make not a heritage item.

Unless you live under a rock (which Ikea could help you with), then you've likely heard of the Swedish designer systems offered at actually quite reasonable prices.  ....here's what they DON'T tell you in those glossy magazines:

*Parking lot is full of mad men (and not the fun Don Draper sort) - everyone is fighting over the closest spot, but you can pull your car up for loading in special "loading only" spots.

*The display models are gorgeous! ....but often leave me feeling like I've followed the White Rabbit down a never-ending path of futons and accent pillows.  I bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and WRIGHT DOWN your "likes" (....navigating your way back and forth is a PAIN).  You'll need the model name/number to pick up the pieces from the warehouse downstairs.

*Remember: every price tag you see is the UN-ASSEMBLED price.  You're puttin' that sucker together yourself (probably over a glass of vino), so make sure you LOVE it and it's stable/steady before you go in for the deal.  Most DIY items will fit in a small sedan (we managed to fit a sofa in a Sable, and cabinets in a Fit).  Not cool with DIY? - you CAN get things pre-put tagetha, but it has to be delivered and it'll COST you.  

*The "Cafe" totally works for families ok with fast food, but I've seen people bring cooler back packs and unpack a whole picnic at the tables.

*The registers - are - a marathon.  LONG lines of people with LOTS of items.  I recommend facing all barcodes OUTWARD-facing on the carriage and try the self-checkout lane!

*GIFT CERTIFICATES: ....a HUGE thorn in my side.  They're not sold at grocery stores, they're not sold online, they're not sold over the phone (well they are....but I'm not fond of waiting 15+ min to get service on the line).  You HAVE to buy them IN-STORE and you need a CASHIER in order to load it up.

Ida Maria said it best, "what's easy in the night is always such a fright in the morning light."  Oh-h-h-h-hoooo, yeah.  The furniture is GREAT for those on TIGHT budgets (ie: young folk trying to make a go of it on their own, like myself), but NOT great for long-lasting/multi-move items.  I have purchased: bed frames, bureaus, night stands, couches, cabinets, coffee tables, and nicknacks galore....but nothing that I think will last me 10 years.  You're better off shopping online then trolling Craigslist for handmedowns (usually loads of college kids - be on the lookout in early spring).  Ikea: I adore thee.....but you don't marry a mistress.

8/12/2013

HA-larious.  Notice the address you guys.  "1 Ikea Way." hahaha  Okay, I can't really explain my confusion here.  I'm from California and in California we have Ikea's and they're just like all the other stores.  And just so you know, this Ikea was EXACTLY like the Ikea's we have in Cali except for one big difference.  For some odd reason, this Ikea is treated like some sort of MAIN ATTRACTION.  I compare it to Legoland or the Airport.  There are about three different roads that take you right to this Ikea and on the way to the Ikea there are BIG SIGNS!  Big signs that say IKEA with arrows.  They even went as far as to add a lil round-about on the way to the Ikea *and that roundabout was not packin' a lot of traffic.

When you pull up to the Ikea there are all these signs PARKING, LOADING, ETC. and the enterance really looks like the front of an airport.  Not only that, this ikea had a HUGE parking garage!  A PARKING GARAGE!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!!

I just thought this was a riot.  So much song and dance, my only explaination is that it must get busy!  

I drove here from Providence, RI.  This was the closest Ikea to Providence and it was still 60 minutes away.

Just so you know, the inside of this Ikea was exactly the same as all the others.  Nothing set it apart.  They didn't have MORE than other Ikea's and they didn't have LESS than other Ikea's... there was just a lot of Pomp and Circumstance and I found it beyond comical.

They had what I wanted and nothing more... It was a little too far away but it was worth the random amusement it caused.

6/23/2013

My sister and I like to drive to IKEA during the week, when we have a day off, and wander around. Usually one of us will have a reason - a bookshelf, a desk, a table, etc - but it's only an excuse. The real reason we're driving 45 minutes out of our way is so we can look at all the random containers of crap they have placed strategically throughout the store. And the most amazing part is that even though we fill our little blue bag (because we bought one the first time we were there) with a ton of stuff before we were even out of the first section, we still only end up spending about $50!

And then we get to the market.

Frankly, who doesn't need a tube of cheese and a jar of pickled fish?

At Christmas, my husband and I drive down because I like all the gift wrap and present/stocking stuffer ideas.

Occasionally I even find a piece of furniture I can use.

3/16/2013

Sterile. That's the first word that comes to mind when I come to this Ikea. I'm not a furniture shopping type of girl. Mostly because I think about how the hell am I going to get this into my house. The nice thing about Ikea is they have many displays and you don't need to be shy about trying stuff out. They have some really snazzy bedroom setups and would be great if I had the space for it. But a girl can dream can't she.

After spending an hour playing ... I mean trying out their demo installations I finally reach the bed section. Lucky me I have a particular bed in mind because this section also has a lot of things you can try. One can easily fall into a trap of picking out something lavishly expensive if the're unprepared. But not me. I still have my list. Finally finding the bed I want I flag down an employee who told where to go to pick it up.

Well I had to ask a couple of employees along the way. All the nice layouts on the upper floors don't come that way. You have to go down into their warehouse in the basement to pick up the packaged pieces. I'm not as skilled interpreting the piece of paper for my stuff but each employee I asked directed me to the proper section and I got there eventually.

Check-out surprisingly went by quick and smoothly. However, the real test of one's patience was the line for delivery. Damn, I knew it was too good to be true. One long ass line for only 2 clerks handling it. So tack on an extra 2 hour wait. Also Ikea outsources their delivery which led to a pain in my ass experience. My suggestion is come here with a truck to take your stuff with you. You'll save $100 and you time. Also not worth the hassle of dealing with a poor delivery service.

11/13/2013

Decent furniture on the cheap, but I'm convinced that this store is the tenth ring of hell. The layout of the store is labyrinthine, which is cool if you like getting lost, but less so if you just wanted to buy a bed and were expecting to just be in and out. If you have to visit it, make sure you clear your afternoon. There is  a snack bar in the middle of  the maze, so starvation isn't usually a problem.

12/31/2013

I really enjoy browsing at IKEA, and love their displays in the Showroom! If I am not held back by my friends that I'm with, I could easily spend lots of $$$.  Recently, after a new home purchase, I bought several new big ticket items at IKEA and arranged for their delivery.  After getting home, I decided to change the delivery date and called IKEA.  Holy moly!  2 hours later - I still haven't had any luck changing this date! The customer service, or should I say lack-thereof, of the IKEA system, is non-existent!!! I was transferred to four different people who spoke in lack-luster tones, two hung up on me during the hold process, and two didn't have a clue how to change a delivery date and referred me to the delivery company.  Really??  I'm the first person to every request a new delivery date? Every time you get disconnected, you have to call IKEA's 800 number and listen to a LONG recorded announcement! No pressing "0" to get an operator! You have to go through a long song and dance and go through a queue to get someone to "help" you.  

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!! I will never make another major purchase at IKEA!!

10/30/2013

I tend to get lost here. Not because it's large, but because it brings out my ADD and I end up wandering and picking up things for hours. Though for some reason I can't seem to check in on yelp when I'm inside the building...

1/31/2013

Ok, this is going to be a different review of Ikea.  My gf and and I have been visiting Ikea in Stoughton for some ideas.   Obviously with all the walking around, we got hungry.

We were pleasantly surprised on how good the food is.   Last saturday we had haddock and real mashed potatoes with mixed veggies.  Total price for two dinners was around $11.00.   The coffee is free when you sign up for a card.

Thursday night they have a chicken special for $3.00.  I have not tried it but I hear it is awesome.

Don't forget to try the food when visiting.

1/19/2013

Before this IKEA opened in Stoughton, I would visit the IKEA in New Haven, CT as it was the closest one to Providence.  

Writing a review for IKEA is like writing a review for any other major chain department store; once you've been in one IKEA, you've been in them all.  

For anyone who has never been to IKEA and you're planning on making a visit; beware... it is large.  It is overwhelming.  It will be full of people: parents with children, parents without children, college students and assholes.  You must have patience to shop here.  

My favorite part of the store is the upper level showcase area.  Who doesn't love to pretend they live in the fancy IKEA bedroom or fake eating breakfast in the beautiful IKEA kitchen?  I certainly do.

Go with a list.  Again, this place is extremely overwhelming.  It's very easy to become distracted here.  Oh, and lost.

Despite the fact that the prices are really quite unbeatable, most of the items they sell need to be assembled by the consumer, which is a pain in the buns. (Please see above re: patience.)

Also, the reason I am only giving IKEA 3 stars is because I always find it difficult to track down a sales person for help.

12/3/2012

I don't get the thrill  that so many people seem to have for shopping at  Ikea.  The frenzy that existed when this store opened..the first in Massachusetts... made me wonder what treasures I would find in there.  The trouble was, the crowds were so huge with cars snaking out onto the highway from the exit ramp, that I didn't get there for months.

Now I've been to this store on a few occasions and other than a couple of lamps I purchased for my office, a bathroom mirror and a few other incidentals, I haven't been otherwise tempted.

Yes, things are inexpensive which may be a draw, but mostly I find the offerings to be cheaply made.  
And honestly, I don't want to put any furniture together myself.

On this most recent visit, we were in the area and stopped because I thought it couldn't hurt to see if I could find a small end table for a spare bedroom.  We looked at a few things and found that they were made so shoddily that regardless of low price point, we had to pass.
I did buy a few packs of paper napkins because the ones Ikea sells always come in bright fun colors and patterns.  And I bought a bag of tea lights.  Other than that I was underwhelmed.

I can see the appeal in some of the kitchenware, dishes and glasses.  Sometimes having extra sets of plates and wine glasses that are pretty but not precious is the perfect thing to have on hand for big get-togethers and parties.

Don't be misled here thinking your goods are made somewhere in Sweden.  Many things are made in China and while the design sensibility may be Scandinavian, the craftsmanship isn't.

The store itself is massive and yet despite all the space, I've never been there when it wasn't positively jammed with wall to wall people, strollers, shopping carts...it can be a nightmare of sensory overload.

Saving money isn't really saving at all when the durability and quality are just not there and sadly that's how I feel about most Ikea furnishings.

7/30/2013

I had a terrible experience both in this store and with Ikea's customer service on the phone and by email. Here's what happened: I went on a weekday during the day, not at all busy. I was buying a lot of stuff and had two carts with me. The cashier that rang me through was not a nice lady and didn't help me with any of my items. It's Ikea, I guess that's expected. What I didn't expect was to find that she never gave me back the last item she scanned, a $25 lamp. I had driven 3 hrs round trip to buy $700 worth of stuff and she never gave me the lamp back. I checked the belt before I left, it was empty. I didn't figure out it was missing until I got home. So I figure no problem, I'll call the store and tell them what happened, maybe they'll give me a refund or a store credit.

I call Ikea and navigate through the phone tree to select the Stoughton store and somehow I still end up at some random call center. I explain what happened, the lady on the phone calls the store for me. She says the manager wants me to make another 3 hr round trip to the store to look at security footage to make sure I really left the lamp at the register... So now, after I've just spent a crapload of money at the store, they've basically called me a liar. I told her how far away I live and she said that was the only option, sorry.

So I figure maybe if I email them I can get a more common sense answer. Nope, they told me they can't do anything and it's my fault I left the lamp there. My fault the cashier never gave it back to me. Screw me because I bought too many items and didn't notice that one was missing until I got home. That's a great way to treat customers if you don't want anyone coming back.

3/11/2013

26 year old single guy here. I needed to upgrade my bed, which I had been using since high school. Did my research prior to ever stepping foot into Ikea. Found a few frames I liked and narrowed it down to two. Went into the store and saw that they still carried a discontinued frame. Threw out my other two frames and picked up my original, but discontinued, favorite (Hopen). Didn't anticipate buying a mattress, but the prices were more than reasonable so I picked up the Fidjetun along with the sultan Luroy bed slats.

Set up was as expected. If you follow the instructions and are careful with the parts you should be fine. Got it set up in less than an hour. First night sleeping on it was MISERABLE. Woke up with shoulder and back pain. After some further research, I found out that it can take up to 4 weeks for the mattress to fully support you as it should. After that first night, it got continually better. Today, 3 weeks and 3 days later, I've never slept as well as I do now. I enjoy the stiffer, yet just plush enough, feel that the Fidjetun provides. In reality, I was sleeping fine after 3-4 days. Now that the mattress has had a chance to get settled, it's much better.

In terms of store experience, it's Ikea. Don't expect people to hold your hand through the process. Do your own research and come prepared. The do it yourself nature is part of the charm. Prepare to do some heavy lifting (If you're buying any kind of larger furniture). If you need help, there are warehouse guys walking around. All in all a great experience and I'm very pleased with my purchase.

If you're anything like me, you hate spending a ton of money no matter what you're buying. I'm the guy who does google searches for online coupon codes for anything and everything. To those who would benefit from these words, do not fear spending good money on your bed. You spend a third of your day there. While the bed I bought may not be a 10,000 dollar luxury bed, it is certainly an upgrade from where I was before. Anecdotally, I find myself more relaxed throughout the day and I look forward to when I get to see my bed again.

3/11/2013

Well I finally made the haul down to Ikea . I had heard so many great things and how I HAD to go...Sorry everyone. I was not impressed.

The show room is nice, but the merchandise and displays seem to be more suited for smaller homes. They had a look of nice looking items and features but I am always about quality and this is what the product seemed to lack.

I have previously worked at the Container Store, so you may think I am bias but, when looking at the quality of Ikea's closet systems and so forth, I was not impressed at all. Flimsy and cheap. (Elfa is much better designed and much more durable)

Also, before my trip, I had gone on the website and printed out a list of things that I wanted, I knew I wasn't going to find these things in the show room, but since I had not been to Ikea before I did not know that there was a "self-help" sections as well as a warehouse...oy vei!

So after trying to tackle down a Ikea worker, for about half an hour, I finally approached this woman, who clearly did not want to be spoken to. I was NOT at all impressed by the manner in which she spoke to me. I wasn't annoying her, I was simply asking her where to find a product, in HER store. REALLY!? Customer Service?! She talked to me in such a demeaning way. So, I quickly grabbed what I needed and left.

And sorry to all of you who are ranting about the meatballs, but I am sure horse meat made it's way in to some of those too, although they claim it was just in Europe. GROSS, I won't ever eat there.

Also, if you aren't in the mood for dealing with out of control children and arguing couples...don't head to Ikea on the weekend.

9/10/2013

Ikea is a HUGE store, filled with shiny pretty displays we all wish our rooms could look like, surrounded by a huge evil moat of a parking lot, and guarded by evil store employees.
Don't get me wrong, I skip to Ikea excitedly with the best of intentions. I walk in there wide eyed taking in the displays and organizational ideas, but by the time I reach the stairs to get to the first floor my eyes are glazed over and I'm walking just a bit slower. Then I am dragging myself through the first floor. Mesmerized by the fun accessories and imagining how cool I could make my house look if I bought this or that. Suddenly my cart is filled with $100 worth of knick-knacks I didn't even know I needed! But my eyes are too tired to see them, and my ears hurt from the screaming kiddos.
I mindlessly wind my way through the warehouse to the crazy registers. FYI. The last time I went there I was told by an evil store employee that I had to purchase bags. This angered my sleepy self - so I scooped up my knick knacks and stuffed by over-sized Coach bag I carried that day and made the hubby carried the rest (he wasn't happy). I don't know why I didn't buy a bag. At the time I thought it was out of principle. "Damn you Ikea! You made me buy this crap I didn't need! I will not buy a bag now too! Ahhhh!!!"

11/8/2012

Awful.

I have been to this IKEA in the past, but the past weekend made me think twice about going back, especially on a Saturday...

My fiance and I were shopping for a dresser.  We already know which one we want, but figure we can browse the showrooms for ideas for other things like a computer desk, couches and what not.  Holy hell that place was packed at 5pm on a Saturday.  I know it was probably our own fault for going on Saturday, but we didn't really expect to buy much, just "browse".

After battling through crowds and crowds of people, shopping carts and baby carriages, I was dying to get out.  We got our little aisle number for when we go to the warehouse, we grabbed a few small items like lint rollers, knife rack and measuring spoons.  After going through the marketplace aka maze with MORE crying kids... we finally got to the warehouse.  

We got one of those flat carts because knowing the other Malm products we used, we know this dresser is pretty heavy.  It was actually only two boxes, but still easier with the flat cart.  We stood in line for maybe about 20 minutes, finally we were the next in line!  A rude IKEA employee came over to us and this happened:

Rude IKEA Employee: Um, flat carts use the other lanes.
Me: Excuse me?
Rude IKEA Employee: Yeah, there are signs, you see the sign here.
Me: No, not from a 20 minute line, no I didn't.
Rude IKEA Employee: well, there are signs back there too
Me: Where?  Where is it with all these clusters of furnitures, displays and customers standing in line?
Rude IKEA Employee: Well you can't use the carts here
Me: What, so we have to stand in line AGAIN?
Rude IKEA Employee... Walks away...

Really?  We so could have ditched the cart and just carry the two heavy boxes through the "no flat carts" registers, hurt ourselves and sue IKEA.  That's what we should have done.  I just think with a busy day like that, exceptions should have been made, OR better yet, have employees either 1) DIRECT TRAFFIC, or 2) have someone at the BACK of the line telling people they cannot be at a certain register because of the type of cart they have.  That would have saved us 20 minutes of being in line.

So what did we do?  We ditched the stupid cart with all the products in it, said screw it, and left to go have sushi buffet.  

IKEA, I am really disappointed in you.  End of story.

12/10/2012

I think more highly of the store as a whole, but the situation in "furniture pickup: destroys the experience.  They forced me to have to go over there and rot on a bench to pick up a simple sink base cabinet.  It was smaller than other items on the "self service racks".  It was just a flat box with no booby traps.  Why do I have to sit on the welfare bench for 20 minutes waiting for it to be given to me ?

   HIRE MORE PEOPLE ! ( and it wasn't at all busy ).

9/4/2012

"Come Gustavo, let us inspect these portable home furnishings and laugh at their impish Scandinavian names."

My driver, Gustavo, ran off among the sofas, bouncing on each one and commenting in Portuguese about the various textures and firmness.

It was late, almost closing time.  The store was empty save for a few staff and cleaning personnel.  

We walked through the cavernous display halls with their attractive home facades, fake TVs and laptops, and bookshelves full of Swedish tomes.

The store intercom chimed and a pleasantly professional voice announced, "Attention IKEA customers, it is now 9 oclock and the store is closed.  Please make your way towards the exit."

Gustavo stopped bouncing on a mauve-colored loveseat and looked at me.  His habit of driving without printed directions had cost us an extra hour and now we were out of time.  

I tried to figure out the fastest way out of the bowels of the store.  I was beginning to sense an ominous presence in the now-empty building.  

"Gustavo, make haste!  I don't like the look of things.  See, not even the employees remain.  We should leave at once!"

We quickened our pace and followed the arrows on the floor around seemingly endless twists and turns.  The store intercom chimed again.

"The time is now 9:15.  All IKEA visitors must now be clear of the display floors.  Employees please institute security lockdown."

Gustavo and I looked at each other with confusion and rising anxiety.  

"Let's go.  Let's go now!" I growled and began double-timing along the path.

But no matter how many different rooms we passed though, how many corners we turned, the never-ending forest of lamps, mirrors, bookshelves and vases continued.  

The overhead lights began to go out.  Darkness rushed over us.  We stopped, unsure where to flee.  

The intercom chimed again.  We froze.  After a moment a blood-curdling war cry pierced the air.  The operator's voice which was before so pleasant had transformed into some shrieking netherworld demon.

"PURIFY THE PITIFUL MORTALS FROM THIS TEMPLE!  KILL ALL WHO REMAIN!   RELEASE THE BEASTS!"

The intercom chimed, signalling the end of this frightening memo.  Gustavo and I stood, quivering with fear, unable to move.  Our eyes adjusted to the minimal light cast by the red exit signs.  

From somewhere deep in the caverns of Ikea, a ghostly howl rose.  It was like the sound of a wolf, only more conscious and malicious.  Another howl rose and then another, until a chorus of hellish animal voices shook the very roof.  

Gustavo sighed with terror, almost fainting.  I grabbed him by the arm and shook him.  

"Pull yourself together man!  We have only seconds before those Ikea beasts find us and rip us to shreds. Now RUN!"

We took off running through the darkness.  Behind us the sound of galloping feet became audible.  We dared not look back.  

We rounded a corner and ahead of us there was a bright light.  The food court elevator!  I sprinted and jumped into the elevator.  Gustavo stumbled and slid to the threshold.  The elevator doors tried to close but his body stopped them and they recoiled.  

Suddenly I heard the beasts round the nearest corned.  I stared into the darkness.  Red eyes bounded towards us.  

I grabbed Gustavo by both arms and dragged him into the elevator, frantically pressing the button to close the doors.  Red eyes rushed closer and closer.  The smell of decay and desolation filled my nostrils.  The sound of their bounding feet and snarling maws reverberated in the elevator.  

Then the doors shut and all was silent.

Gustavo lay on his stomach, sobbing quietly.  I slumped against the wall and watched the lighted buttons as we descended towards the parking level.  A pleasant bit of music floated lightly from the elevator speakers.  We had survived.

"Gustavo!" I said.  This is the last time you will ever drive without printing directions from Mapquest, do you understand?"  

Gustavo nodded silently without getting off the floor.

I thought to myself... "What was he thinking?  This isn't just some department store where you can waltz in and do as you like.  This is Ikea..."

11/8/2012

I like Ikea. I really like Ikea.
I went there a couple weekends ago, haven't been in about a year or so.
I was mainly going for the Lingonberry jam and some Christmas items from the grocery section.
I really wish they would make that area a little larger and offer some more Swedish foods. There isnt any Swedish grocery near by or really even in this state.
Anyways, the merchandise doesnt really change too much. It would be nice to see some newer things.

8/18/2012

Ikea is where relationships go to die.

And don't discount the Ikea delivery service. It might be the only thing that saves your relationship.

7/4/2012

I walk through the different displays here, and think, "This is beautiful. I bet I could totally make my room look like this." Ikea has this uncanny knack of always making me believe that I could be a fabulous interior decorator, like if only I had this Poäng chair and this Hemnes drawer set... then I could totally work my magic. If only!

That's not to say that I haven't picked up plenty of good pieces here at Ikea, but for some reason, my room looks not as much like a beautiful Ikea display room, so much as it looks like a bunch of Ikea products got together, mated and popped out a random mishmash of other Ikea and Ikea-like products. I guess that comes from being a sucker and picking up random assortments of items at random times. But no matter. I have a feeling I'll be getting things from Ikea for a while... at least until I turn into a real person who buys furniture from Williams Sonoma. :o)

And that's fine by me, because it's so much FUN buying things here. They're (mostly) inexpensive, easy-to-assemble, and solid enough pieces that they won't just break after a single use. I've still got a shelf in my room that's lasted me a few years now, and will probably last me a few more until I get a bigger/better place. Other things I've gotten here are of questionable quality, but it's really a hit or miss.

Their dinnerware is pretty decent. Their desks are rather sound. Even their decorations (vases, plastic flowers, potpourri, etc.) tickle my fancy. But the star of this place is definitely their restaurant. Swedish meatballs with lingonberries? Yes, please. And then some. I just love eating here. The food is fun and tasty. It feels like a mod cafeteria, and we eat on and with all Ikea things (tables, chairs, dishes,  silverware). It's just a cool experience to have.

Overall, fun place, fun things, fun food--not a place where you'd find heirloom-quality furnishings, but it'll do for the young and young-at-heart. (Plus, use your Ikea family card at checkout and pay with a debit card, earn 1% to use on your next purchase at Ikea. Pretty neat.)