IKEA Stoughton

4/14/2008

Most of the furniture here is crap. Yeah, its cheap but thats because it only lasts a couple months. Its probably because the instructions dont have any words, only pictures (which, trust me, can be HORRIBLY annoying and frustrating)
Also, the lines are HORRIFIC. Sometimes you will wait over half an hour. And you need to watch your cart because people are too dam lazy to go outside and get one so they will steal yours (even if theres stuff in it! I litterally had to chase someone down who stole my cart full of merchandise!)
The parking is horrendus. Im not kidding when I say sometimes you will have to park down the street (half a mile) and walk.
The food is ok, not great. Its cheap (you can get breakfast for a buck) and I guess you get what you pay for.
Honestly, its best to go to Jordans or Bobs or any other furniture store because the quality is so much better.

1/4/2009 Updated review

The first time I met Ikea, I was in love.  Everything was Ikea this...Ikea that.  Then one day, I decided it was time to leave Ikea and just shop second hand.  I began to resent Ikea and tried to get others to come around to my way of thinking.  

Well...Ikea, I'm back!  How could I have left you for so long?  I love your bookshelves.  I love your little kitchen gadgets.  I love your bathroom rugs.  I love it all.  

Yes, some of their items are not of the best quality...you have to pick and choose what you get here.  Another suggestion is to meet a friend who owns a truck or a van.  Nobody wants to try to fit all their loot into a little Honda (speaking from experience here).

1/18/2009

I love this store.  I'm a sucker for design and interesting setups, so I could spend a few hours here just looking at everything.  

First, there is a daycare like room.  This subtracts from the number of children running around the store.  Awesome.  Second, the cafeteria is decent and cheap.  Third, the "food" section has some neat foodstuffs.

Fourth, walking around is a lot of fun.  There are tons of things to look at, and lots of display rooms to enjoy.  I like the at-home-bar room, makes me hope to have a nicer looking liquor-consumption room.  Also, its easy to crop out the price tags on everything, so my friends and I took a lot of neat Facebook type photos that we could convince people were our real houses.  

Fifth, prices are loooow.  I know some people think the trade off is low quality, but I don't think that's the case.  I'm sure some things aren't as great as they could be, but I think the quality is up there with most brands.

6/22/2009

I've been an Ikea fan before it came to MA - it's been around the US for a bit people, seriously.

We moved here 9 long years ago (long for living here, not long for being married to my wunderhubbie, just sayin)  and there was no IKEA to be found, so I ordered from the catalog and had it delivered from New Jersey's plant - and people?  I bought a load of stuff from Ikea because the house we got was over 100 years old and had not closet space.  So wardrobes were my thing.  But I ended up getting things like rolling mirrors (2) bookcases, entertainment center, kitchen table (w/leaf) stools, nightstands, a daybed with huge drawers underneath and lamps and stuff like that...and 9 years later, they have been moved all around my house from the 2nd floor to the basement to the garage and back (can you say renovations??)  and they are still totally awesome.

So the whole - it's all cheaply made - doesn't fly with me.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am totally ADD/OCD and ODD!  I love to change things around and move things - so believe you me, all the IKEA stuff has been thru a whole lot.

Stoughton was a godsend!  finally I could see and touch things that I could only view online or in a catalog.  The swede's (thanks CHRISTOPHER A) know what they are doing - move it upwards...use vertical space - I'm all for it.  

Loved the store - hated the patrons - yes filled with people with kids (what happened to the park  and zoo for taking your kids on a day trip???)  Leave them at home parents, shopping should be an enjoyable experience, didn't we give up the mall for you???  take them there and let them trip up old people who are walking the mall for exercise (no please don't - that was just a joke)

Basically LOVE LOVE IKEA  wish I lived closer!  hehe they even have zip cars available in the parking lot- that's just crazy

8/16/2009

OH, Ikea. Thank you for entirely furnishing my last two places of living, and for your fabulous service during my 20+ trips And thanks to Mike O. for actually putting everything together.

Ikea is a wonderland. The maze of kitchenware, bedroom supplies, lighting, and furniture constantly amazes me with its breadth of options. When I lived in my sorority house sophomore year of college, I picked out a beautiful desk, desk chair, bed, and two dressers (one skinny, one wide), from Ikea. And then I patiently assisted my boyfriend (with encouraging remarks and occasionally holding something) while he turned the room into an Ikea ad.

I am a picky girl, and the daughter of a well-established custom furniture maker. I don't like cheap-looking stuff (but I do like cheap stuff), which is exactly why Ikea suited my needs. Pretty, affordable, and sturdy. My next apartment was also an Ikea ad, and it got endless compliments from friends and family. Even my dad grudgingly agreed that it looked "sort of O.K. for fake wood." Thanks Dad!

For couples just moving in together, or people starting out on their own, Ikea is a lifesaver. Can't forget the meatballs- now there's a real reason to visit, eh?

1/19/2010

Does anyone else notice the terrible smell in there that fills your nostril hairs for hours after you've left this place???

Ok,I've been here twice since they've opened and get a headache from all the actual crap that they call "home goods". Yes, some deals are in there especially on the wall art,lighting and linens,but nothing is truly unique and the stuff looks like what you'd expect for such a low price.

I also refuse to try there food...the smell just turns my stomach. For all who love this place, more power to you but it's not for me.

3/30/2010

I THINK there are people out there in the world who do not like IKEA and its world of inexpensive furnishings.  I assume there must be.  But I have no idea who they are... or what I would do if I ever met one of them.

IKEA is a home decorating enthusiast's (like me) heaven on earth.  Driving up to IKEA is like driving to the airport - a monstrosity of a building suddenly appears and builds you up with anticipation of all the good deals that stand in front of you!  Step into IKEA and I generally lose all sense of time and space, lost admist great lighting ideas and 30 styles of couches - except for when your stomach rumbles and says its time for lunch.  

"Yeah, we have an app for that" - it is called 50 cent hot dogs.  

I generally despise warehouse-type stores like BJs, Home Depot - but strolling around the warehouse section at IKEA to find my boxes to assemble here isn't so bad.  My main annoyance is when I drive ALL THE WAY to Stoughton only to find that IKEA is out of stock of something I came specifically for.  I guess I just assume it is so massive that they should have a continuous supply of all popular items.  Sadly, this is not the case - so be forewarned.

But, no trip is ever a waste - Just grab a bag of Swedish meatballs for the road!

7/9/2010

I like to refer to Ikea as "Gods House" because it's the most majestic place on the planet (slight exaggeration).  Cinnamon Buns? Cheap trinkets? Yes please.

But seriously, although some of the things (read: bureau, book shelves) are not the best quality THEY'RE SO CHEAP.  I've had a Malm bureau for two years and it certainly hasn't failed me yet.  Granted I'm not going to have it for the next five years, it's well worth the money for a recent college grad that couldn't splurge.  

My bed frame and mattress are from Ikea.. I splurged and got one of the nicer mattresses and although it was still cheaper than a lot of places (Sleepys IS A SHAM) it's perfect for me!

Also, never mind how absolutely mesmerizing the show room is, the basement is where it's at.  I do recommend stopping for some scrumptious food at the food court before venturing down there though, because I can almost guarantee you'll be there for quite some time. First thing: they have nice, sturdy plates for $1!! AHH.  Curtains, linens, bathroom supplies, kitchen utensils, frames, SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM.  Art work, small rugs, area rugs, coat hangers, it goes on and on and on.  

I could literally go one for days about my love for Ikea, but I won't.  I'm just going to think about how sad it is that I'm moving to Denver and the closest Ikea is 6 hours away (yes, I checked).

1/23/2012

IKEA makes me want to have a house (vs an Apt)... This store makes me want to cry... I have so many ideas and so many things I could do with all the stuff here, Just dont have anywhere to put it...

This store is huge and if you go plan to spend an entire afternoon unless you are just running in for the store & arent crusiing through the showroom...

I now just ditch the showroom & run right to the store... or sneak & start at the kids section & then just go down to the store...

You would normally walk through the showroom where items are set up & displayed with the aisle & location of the item you want & then you would go down to the warehouse & find corresponding aisle & location & get your items (furniture), but the store is self shop like any ordinary store...  and they have some of the funkiest things, cool lamps, cool kitchen items, curtains, candles, rugs, pillows... I could go on...

They are fairly cheap but be careful some of the furniture is $200 because that is what you are getting $200 furniture... Just be cautious and know this isnt furniture you will be passing on to your Grandkids... Just have fun!

1/28/2009

I enjoy Ikea, I would go once a week if it weren't so far away. Most of my furniture I have had since freshman year in high school, so that is like 8 years ago, it is all from Ikea and all very functional and in good condition. It traveled well, it went from NY to FL to RI and next to IL !

I got a gift card for X mas and wanted a new TV stand. Instead I bought wine glasses, bathroom rugs, beer glasses, regular glasses. Then I went back and bought a TV stand. This Ikea is a little confusing to me and hard to navigate around. This time I went alone so I knew I would have a problem getting my heavy TV stand from the storage area. Luckily there as a nice man that helped me. Check out was no problem. Very friendly and efficient. The line wasn't long at all.

I like this Ikea perhaps it was the time that I went but it didn't seem over crowded like some Ikea's do. I also had a hot dog. The best I have ever had.

The parking is so easy at this Ikea I love it. When I got to my car an employee saw me struggling with my TV stand and assisted me with getting in my car, then he took my cart! Now that is what I call service.

I recommend this Ikea even thought it is a bit of drive for us Providence people.

BTW - out of the 4 wine glasses I bought, only 1 is left. The others broke. They are super thin. As for the other glasses I have all of them but I make sure to hand wash them as to not chance them breaking!

8/24/2011

I have lost the count of number of times I have been at IKEA. Not only in this country, but in Europe too. I just love the place and love the other customers there. Plus their furniture has been getting better and better every year.

And you know one, I actually think this IKEA is very organized, considering how little it is.

P.S. You just HAVE to get some of their meatballs.

4/2/2012

IKEAs are pretty standard issue. This one is about the same size, is the same cleanliness, carries the same (affordable but decent European-style) items, and has the same customer service as most of the other ones in the states. One thing I really like about this store are the reasonable delivery rates for all the towns near it and near Boston. It somewhat makes up for having it so far from the city.

The only downside to this store is sometimes it's just too crowded. I do think the Boston area could support 1 more IKEA store. Most days are ok (for an IKEA...) but some days there are no parking spots left and people are just driving in circles or waiting in gridlock to get a spot.

4/29/2007

I like IKEA a lot. I grew up in Europe and like their style, their design ideas, their great selection. Cafeteria is not bad too :-)

I may be confusing for firstcomers but after 2-3 visits you get an idea and understand IT IS NOT necessary to grab a bag and start staffing it with all the essentials :-)

This place is dangerous for compulsive shoppers :-)

9/6/2007

I don't see what's so great about IKEA, to be honest. I think some things are quite overpriced for the quality that the furniture is, considering it seems more like glorified Target/Wal-Mart furniture. Maybe it's because I was raised by a family that believes in good quality unfinished wood furniture from Mill Store or something. IKEA is more "disposable" furniture, I guess. Frankly, I'd rather find some tacky retro furniture while thrifting or whatnot (minus old musty stinkiness), but that's just me. I dig IKEA's style and all...but for the quality, I don't think it's worth the price you pay.

Though I did leave with some good ideas. If anything just browse to prompt you to go build something or rearrange.

Also - http://ikeahacker.blogsp… - IKEA hacker - might be of interest to some who may view this.

11/12/2010

Ikea is a terrifying and wonderful place.

They have trees on the roof. The cafeteria food is good.

Oh, and there's that small matter of....THEY SELL EVERYTHING. It's like playing The Sims in real time.

Thank you, Sweden.

1/4/2011

I love you, Ikea. You well-priced wonderland, you.

A++

9/6/2011

Big, crowded, sort of cheap (price- and quality-wise).

I made the mistake of going this past weekend when all the Sept 1 lease tenants and college students swooped into IKEA. I have only myself to blame. The warzone and chaos aside, IKEA has simple, decent looking items. - many of them super cheap and some complete junk. Saw some below average couches for $700 or $800(!! - my sentiments exactly); go next door to Jordan's for those.

In the 4-5 times I have stopped by here on a weekend, it is always crowded (this past weekend being the worst).  Try your luck and go on a weekday!  Because some of their items are super cheap, a lot of things are oversold, so rebook that budget car or UHaul rental for another day. Even if you know what you want, give yourself a minimum of 2 hours to get through the store - while the signs are clear, it takes forever to navigate through the huge store.

While I have knocked on IKEA, I will admit my entire apartment is full of their furniture. As person in my mid-twenties, I will wait to splurge on furniture when I am rich..

4/17/2008

I love my desk that I got from Ikea but I do not love that it took me 2 hours to get through the store and then was told I could just buy a part online that they did not have in the store but did not find it on the website. Also tried calling the store which was a waste of an hour and hanging up becaus I was frustrated.

I have to say I have a love hate relationship with Ikea and really only go when I know I am going to buy something.  But never go on a Saturday or Sunday it is a zoo on the weekends...

11/9/2012

Perfection! The food...the furniture...everything! We have gotten so many wonderful home decor accents and pieces of furniture here, and we haven't ever been disappointed!

6/12/2010

You should think of this place as a museum where you are allowed to touch and even sit on the art. You may or may not like their style, but many items are quite cheap and you can walk around and try out everything.
It's worth a visit if you have not been to IKEA.

5/26/2012

IKEA and I used to be good friends. Their catalog was the stuff dreams are made of, and taking a trip there was like the adult version of an amusement park. But, in this past month, IKEA has shown me how little I matter to them, and how incredibly INEPT their people are!

I work in an office primarily furnished with IKEA furniture. Not counting small things like decorative plants and mirrors, we still have over 15 pieces of furniture in the office that came from them, including 5 desks. Last month we renovated our office, adding 2 new rooms, and the owner made the 2-hr trip down to IKEA to pick up some things, including new MALM cabinets and a desk.

All the other desks in our office but one are the MALM style, so it's safe to assume we're pretty well-versed in how to put them together. The owner and I began assembly, but ran into a major hitch when we realized the the bottom row of dowels on one of the outer leg-panels (they didn't bother labeling the part) actually broke through to the other side, making them visible to anyone who looks at the desk---not very professional and definitely not what we want showing in our brand-new room.

Due to the fact that the store is so far away, I called IKEA to see if they would ship us a replacement part instead of making us drive all the way back down there to exchange a simple leg piece. After a week of being "reviewed," our case was OK'd and they sent us the part. Only it wasn't the right part, it was the total opposite side of the desk. I called them back, waited a week+, and they sent us the part. Again, it was the wrong part, the SAME wrong part, and another wrong part (the reverse side to what we needed). I called them back and explained to them that they kept sending the wrong pieces and that we needed the desk complete so we could start using our new room. That was a Wednesday, and I was told the new piece would get to us by Friday. I called the following Tuesday because it never came, and was told it still hadn't shipped, it would get shipped today, and I'd be emailed a tracking number. I called back that Thursday because I never received anything, and guess what? It STILL hadn't shipped! I called them back, talked to the same guy I had talked to last time, and he told me he'd personally be sure it got sent out for delivery the following day. Well, the next day, FedEx showed up! With a padded envelope that had a piece of the desk's drawer in it---TOTALLY not even CLOSE to what we were looking for! Fortunately for me, he emailed me a tracking number, so now I have an email address to send a freaking PHOTO of the part and hope that we'll EVENTUALLY get it right!

The best part in all of this is that every time I've called them, I've gotten the same story: "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I don't know why this hasn't sent yet/why they sent the wrong part/why no one called you back." Nobody has any sense of accountability, no one keeps track of who does what, nobody's ass is on the line here whenever there's a mistake.

This all started on April 19th, and in that time we've been sent 3 wrong parts, I've called IKEA  6 or 7 times (probably more like 15-20 if you count all the times I've called and no one's answered or I've been sent to voicemail), received 4 different case numbers due to all our issues, and waited 37 days...all to put together ONE freakin' desk. The sad reality is that my boss will probably be stuck buying more from IKEA as time goes by, just to maintain the cohesiveness of the decor in the office, but you can sure as hell bet that I will NEVER buy ANYTHING from IKEA EVER AGAIN.

1/20/2013

I love IKEA.  My house looks like a compilations of rooms from their store.  I can create the look I want on my limited budget.  I wish the location wasn't as far of a drive as is it, but is worth it.  I am also a sucker for that meatball mac 'n cheese combo in their restaurant.  mmm

6/8/2013

Product support is horrible!
I stopped at the store on way back from airport and purchased an office chair.
Its a 3 hour round trip drive to the store in Stoughton, MA so I wouldn't normally go there. In assembling the chair, one of the arms was missing from the packing. So the chair can't be used. I contacted customer service The customer support people gave me such a run around on the phone it was incredible! I had to call 3 times  and none of them even recorded it as a case in their system, because despite 3 calls no one ever even asked me my name! I suspect management is pressuring them to reduce case loads or something......First they told me they would send me the part. Then they told me they wouldn't send the part, that I needed to make a 3 hour trip to pick up a single part. I calmly asked to speak to a supervisor and they just hung up on me. In the end, I have no part, no product and no resolution and as far as IKEA knows there isn't even a record of me calling!. This is no way to run a business!

8/28/2013

This company, and this store in particular, has the worst customer service I have encountered.  Missing pieces?  merchandise out of stock?  Terrible quality?  They will do absolutely nothing to help you and could not care less.  They are disorganized and inept at handling large crowds and managing the process.  I will not be back.

4/19/2011

LOVE IKEA.

I had never been to one before and I confess I was very overwhelmed going in! My husband and I are moving this month to a bigger apartment and thought it would be a good time to get some new furniture.

We didn't stick to our list but it was SO WORTH IT. We got so much more than we thought we could afford! So much better than Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond in terms of selection and so much less than some high-end furniture stores. I know some people might think IKEA is crappy quality, but for our needs, it's perfect.

Make sure you have a whole afternoon to spare! You'll need it!

9/3/2011

My father and I come here for lunch dates because he loves Swedish meatballs.  Until Somerville decides to get its act together and open its own IKEA, having Ingvar's stylish Chinese imports close to my true-north means that I can have all the cheap design I desire just forty minutes down 93.

PS: don't ask the sales associates if they know Ingvar.  My father made this mistake twice with the same employee and got a slew of verbal hatred from this fellow curmudgeon.

10/18/2012

The most horrible customer service I've ever experienced! Every single employee there was more rude than the next. The majority of employees there clearly hate their jobs, which is a shame, because a lot of people out there who are unemployed would appreciate a job these days, and surely show a better attitude of gratitude. In the 3 hours that I was there, not one employee cracked a smile, greeted me, or asked if I needed assistance, not one.
I'm not sure which scenario was worse- the shrew in the kids play area who scowled at me for asking where the entrance was, and then practically bid my head off, or John, an employee in the self-service furniture area whom when I told him that the dresser that I wanted to buy, which I was very rudely advised of upstairs, was indeed in stock, said "Yeah, someone else just asked me about that too, the computer says it's in stock, but I guess they're not, just come back and check next week".  At which point I lost it. He didn't even bother to walk a few feet down the aisle, to actually check with his own eyes, he just told me to come back next week. I asked for a manager, who said yes, they were in stock, but they were up high on a pallett, and would bring them down for me. About 30 minutes later, I left with my dresser, but not before waiting in an endlessly long line, where only two cashiers were working (afternoon on a Tuesday mind you), and many other employees were just standing around.
I will never, ever shop there again. I'll give my money to businesses who can at least fake a smile, and some appreciation.

7/11/2012

In store people seem great.  Delivery and phone-based customer service are a nightmare.

Here's a copy of an email that I just sent to customer service:

"Hi-

My name is XXXXXXX and on June 24, I ordered $3k of furniture from your Stoughton store for delivery on July 8 between 2 and 6 pm (iSell nr XXXXXXXX).  As of 6:45 that evening, the delivery truck had not arrived.  My wife and I, having spent 4.75 hours waiting for delivery, and having made a prior engagement for that evening, left.  We called Ikea Stoughton to inform them that we were leaving.  They indicated that someone would contact us to schedule re-delivery.

I tried calling once the following Monday and twice on Tuesday, each time waiting more than 30 mins on hold.  Until my second call on Tuesday, I could not arrange for re-delivery.  Finally, after spending over 50 minutes on the phone on second Tuesday call (I can provide phone records documenting this), I finally spoke to a manager who scheduled my re-delivery for Wednesday between 6 and 10pm.  I'm writing to you at 10:30pm on Wednesday evening.  The delivery truck has not arrived.  I'm at my wit's end.  

Until this order, I've enjoyed very good experiences dealing with Ikea.  Less than 1 year ago, I renovated my kitchen using Ikea products.  Except for a very impertinent delivery person (who nearly started a fight over parking with some painters working on the exterior of my apartment building and demanded a tip from me), I found the experience delightful -- highly efficient, reliable and cost effective.  This experience, including the 10+ hours of wasted time and 2 failed deliveries, has thoroughly diminished my estimation of your business.

At this point, I'm uncertain as to how best to proceed.  On the one hand, I'd like to believe that Ikea will find a way to restore my confidence in the quality of its service and brand.  On the other, I'm so infuriated that I don't believe you deserve another chance.

Please call me as soon as possible to discuss.

Thanks,

XXXXXXX
XXX-XXX-XXXX"

5/14/2009

those clever little swedes! 50 extra inches of kitchen counter space and storage for 99.99! a bamboo tower as tall as me that makes my bathroom look like a tihitian sauna for 39.99!

if my 5 year old self could only see me now she'd be DISGUSTED. never would i have imagined myself at 24 skipping around a furniture store with such glee.. a file cabinet just made my heart go pitter patter.. let's move forward before you can fully evaluate what a looser that makes me.

guidelines:

1. do not wear high heels.
you'll limp out of there like a lame horse. there's no way to make that shit look graceful. you now have 3 blisters, you're hobbling like a dying old man, and you're trying to balance a bathroom tower and a kitchen island. and you're in high heels you idiot.

2. write down what you need and carry a map.
if you do not, you will wander aimlessly until the cows come home, lose any trace of stamina, 'come-to' in a display bed, and stagger to the register only to find you are laden with not but a little piece of bamboo and an odd sheep-like quasi rug thing that you do not need at all. never. ever.

3. do not buy from the 50% off ghetto-ass broken-shit section.
i know it's only 14 dollars, but do you really want a dresser with 3 and a half legs? cattywampus doesn't even begin to cover it. WHY IS THIS STUFF HERE?? seriously! that chair has a bodily fluid-like stain! ikea should have a little fire pit there instead, where all the customers could come to roast a marshmallow and get their blood sugar going again and reflect on whether or not they really need that teeny creepy sheep rug thing...

4. breath deep and try not to get your panties in a wad.

5. don't furnish your entire apartment with this stuff... or you might wind up with beanbags instead of kitchen chairs, shiny plastic cubes every which way, and a living room that looks like a david bowie music video... (is there life on mars?...)

6. on a serious note- if you're buying furniture here, buy items that aren't man-handled on a day to day basis, i.e. kitchen tables, dressers, or coffee tables. instead, opt for items that are seldom moved or touched, such as a t.v. stand, a bed, or a storage bin. ikea has the right price, but a lot of this stuff is very transitional.

i'd give it 5 stars but let's face it- some of this stuff is just crap. **shop smart- don't buy anything white. it marks up, lickity split.

6/11/2008

You can't treat Ikea as a store.  You can't.  The people who treat Ikea as a store never enjoy the experience.  You have to treat Ikea as an event!

What to Do:

1.  Peruse the website and get an idea of what you want (especially if you're looking for large items).   Be sure to check availability in the store and write down the item number.  This is a "night before" job.

2.  Sleep in.  Why wake up early... sleep in.  Then go have breakfast.  If you REALLY want to get there right away, you can have breakfast AT Ikea.  And for like 99 cents.   And it's pretty good.  But, really, you're better off having breakfast someplace else, and save Ikea for lunch.

3.  Drive there.  This may mean renting a truck or finding a friend with a truck or making sure there's room in your car to fold down your seats or whatever you need to do to be prepared transport home the spoils of your conquest.  If it's not pouring, try parking on the top level.  Parking is often better and easier up there.

4.  Don't forget your list or your wallet or your cell phone (in case you get lost!).  Head in and go upstairs to the showroom.  Make sure to grab one of those little pencils and if there's no room to write on your list grab one of those pieces of paper.

5.  Wander aimlessly.   Look at everything.  Sit on the furniture.  Pick up the dishes.  Jump on the bed.  Think of it as a furniture-themed theme park.  Take notes.

6.  You've been wandering for over an hour now.  Stop at the cafeteria  for lunch.  Have Swedish meatballs and mac and cheese or Swedish meatballs and veggies.  Don't bother with the fries.  Do have that apple pie looking thing and maybe a yummy sparkling juice.

7.  Get ready to shop.  Okay, I know, you've been there for three hours and you haven't even begun shopping.. but you brought a friend, right?  And  you're having fun.

8.  Head down stairs, grab a cart, and, yes, wander aimlessly.  Go up and down every isle.   Touch everything.   Remember, the wares are better than the furniture (if you're getting furniture, it's because it's good for the price and you need it, not because you've got a high end budget and are looking for the best stuff ever).  Get some decent plates and candles and rugs and plants for cheap.  Stay away from the cheap sheets.  They recently got better, less cheap sheets.  If you really need sheets, get the better ones.  Buy curtains and rods and shelves.   Don't buy wrapping paper,  you can get it cheaper at Target.  Buy neat, stackable, wicker chairs for your patio.  Buy Earth-friendly light bulbs - your wallet will thank you twice (once for buying better looking cheaper bulbs in the first place than other fluorescents and again for saving energy at home).  Make sure to get all the little things on your list.. but don't worry that you can't find the bookshelf you wanted... that part's coming.

9.  Head out the the "warehouse" area.  You'll know where it is when you get to it.  Get a second cart.  The large items type of cart.   Find your item by number.   There is a help desk, so if you need help, ask.

10.  You've got everything you want!  Head to check out and check out!  WAIT!  Not yet.  Check the "As Is" section.  Maybe you need an ashtray for your smoker friends who come over and smoke on your porch and they only come in sets of three but there's one in "as is."  Or something like that.  Could happen.  CHECK.

11.  Okay check out.   If you have a little stuff, go to self check out.   Did you bring your own bags?  Okay, I know I didn't SAY to bring your own bags in the beginning, but you really should have brought your own bags.  Well, yes, they have bags but you have to buy them.  Oh, stop bitching about having to buy them!  You should have brought your own bags anyway. It's good for the PLANET.  Ikea cares, so should you.  Are you done checking out yet?  Good.  Go get an ice cream.

12.  Have a snack.  Soft serve or maybe a hot dog or a cinnamon bun.   It's been two hours since lunch and you'll want to check the import foods before leaving and you DON'T want to do that on an empty stomach.

13.  Yes, more shopping.   Walk through the foods section.  Do buy chocolate.  Stay away from Cloudberry and Gooseberry jams.  Okay, I KNOW they sound like they could be good, but trust me, they're kind of bland and you can get better jams at TJ's.  Buy more chocolate, that's not enough.  Oh, and some meatballs.  Oh, and those cookies look nice.  NO, that wheel of dried wheat bread hanging on the wall is not going to be good.

14.  You can leave now.   Pack up your car and head home.   Unpack but don't put anything together yet.  Go have a drink.  You've done enough for one day.

Tips
-Help is more plentiful than some think.  And everyone's in a yellow shirt.
-If you're buying big items use the online space planner to figure out what will fit.  You can pre-plan your kitchen, living room, or bedroom.
-If you're in a rush, you can skip the showroom and just shop.

1/5/2008

Ikea is not a bargain unless you're looking for fabric/curtains, jars, lighting, glassware or plates. Now, that's a lot of stuff so don't don't think I'm hatin on Ikea too much. Some bookcases are ok too, if you're gentle on your furniture. Sometimes the veneer peels or warps, which effectively ruins the entire piece. You have to be very dexterous to put together most items. I am, and put things together very carefully and well, but it doesn't matter, they are made of paper mache. The investment of time isn't worth it since the thing will undoubtedly fall apart in about a year. I know, it's tempting. That armoire is $200, and the fancy "real wood" one at Jordan's Clearance is $400. Speaking from experience, get the one whose drawers won't fall apart in 2 months! Granted, transporting a box from Ikea is a lot easier than finding a truck to put the Jordan's piece in.
Some of their furniture looks good and works, I love my Ektorp couch. But I paid a decent sum for it. Have you sat on the Klippan? It's cheap, and your hiney pays the price. Compare the prices at Jordan's clearance while you're in Stoughton, you'll see.
I really love a lot of parts of Ikea, but I can't give more than 3 stars since I'm a college graduate and need my furniture to last more than a year now that I'm all grown up. If you're an undergrad and are just gonna move to another apartment in a year and are looking for some disposable furniture, have at it.

2/23/2008

Dear Christopher Walken,

I had the most amazing idea for a movie for you to be in.  I can only assume that everyone in Hollywood is pounding down your door to get you to star in their films, but please, hear me out!  I think this would be amazing.

The movie is called 'IKEA'.  Unsurprisingly: it will be set and filmed on location in an IKEA.  The beauty here is that IKEA provides us with a lot of options for catering (swedish meatballs and shrimp-and-egg open face sandwiches from the cafeteria!), set-building (cheap furniture and loads of already-constructed showrooms!), extras (it's always crowded with customers), and those sweet polished-concrete floors and high ceilings (just think of the sounds you could make with those tap shoes!).  Tentatively, I was thinking this movie would be a romantic comedy, though I'm sure the film could be easily adapted to be an action/adventure movie, or a horror film.

You will be Chris Walken: cheerful IKEA furniture-assembly guy, who breaks out into spontaneous tap routines on the store floors and escalators amidst crowds of IKEA patrons.  We could even incorporate song, though I don't know how much you like singing in public.  (I sure don't!  Haha)   Anyway, you will be head-over-heels smitten with this one woman who keeps coming to buy bookcases that you end up assembling; we'll call her "Julia Roberts."  

You are a little unsure of how to court someone so sophisticated and sweet as Julia Roberts, but you ask her out to lunch one day on a whim.  You two wind up in the IKEA cafeteria, and over a meal of Swedish meatballs and sparkling Lingonberry juice, you two have a deep and meaningful conversation about each others' lives and interests.  You to begin to have all sorts of funny encounters in the showrooms of IKEA, during which you subtly woo her.  You also run into competition for her love in the form of one of your managers (we'll call him "Antonio Banderas).  Antonio constantly swoops in and tries to outshine you with his song and dance numbers.  At first glance, he is skilled at both of these and seems quite charming, but the audience will see that he really is a douchebag (but unlike most villains, we'll learn the background for why he is the way he is, and ultimately, sympathize with him).

Another subplot of this film will be the ongoing tension between IKEA and a group of local mom & pop furniture shops, who are losing business to IKEA because of their higher prices for handmade and heirloom furniture.  I was thinking we could even have a "Jets vs. Sharks" type danceoff.   The resolution: they learn to coexist peacefully at the end.  Oh, and the president is visiting IKEA in a few weeks and so it is swarmed with secret service agents, leading to all sorts of funny complications.  I thought it might also be funny to have a Swedish guy that frequently walks around the store who in the end, turns out to be the CEO of IKEA and he promotes your character to VP of the IKEA, which in turn gives you the courage to propose to Julia Roberts in front of her favorite showroom 'room' and then you two move into an IKEA in Sweden and live happily ever after.

As you see, so far this movie is really more of a series of amazing scenes, but we could speak about developing them into something that more closely resembles a plot.  I know this would be an amazing movie if we made it, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
amy e

12/6/2006

IKEA is a strange beast indeed. I have very mixed feelings about going there. On the one hand, I'm a cheap bastard and thus am attracted to the deals within like a moth to a flame. On the other hand, I dislike the clusterfuck of crowds that always seems to plague IKEA, and the strange feeling of being in the IKEA microcosm. I do love their stuff though. I picked up a lovely duvet cover and matching pillowcases for $29.99, a plant for about $10, a wonderful stainless steel and glass martini shaker for about the same, a pair of black wood end tables for $12 apiece, and some other fantasgreat home furnishing stuff for super-cheap. When I move again in March, I'll definitely be coming here for some $2 plates and the like. I have to agree with the poster who said that they didn't like homes 100% furnished by IKEA. Reminds me of  the "Furni" company in Fight Club.

2/3/2012

Mash a bunch of syllables together. Done? That's a spatula and you just saved $3 on it. All hail the Norse God of economical interior design!

8/24/2012

Wow! Very impressive... wish we had more time to walk around.

11/28/2007

I wish I lived here. I could visit this place every day and never get bored.
I truly want the orange couch and the round bed...one day, when I live don't have a roommate will own one or the other.

Prices are great, selection is huge, meatballs are incredible!
Ikea bends the 60's and 70's into modern times for less than modern prices.

In a way, I am glad one hasn't opened in Boston because even more people would shop here and have as good taste (and the same stuff) as I.

Ikea, in my opinion, is a pretty good date spot too...oddly enough.
I mean, they have food and beds right? RIGHT?
Kidding.

I need to buy more stuff here, I'm glad I finally have a great apartment to do so.

1/29/2008

if i were a hobo and found myself wandering the office park wasteland where ikea, jordan's, home depot live, i would pop in to ikea, pick me up some 50 cent hot dogs and dollar cinnabons (okay they're officially cinnamon rolls, but i call 'em all cinnabons) and have a feast.

alas, i am not a wandering south shore hobo.  and i think i may gouge my eyes out before returning here.  

i love to look, but it's so overwhelming.  the people, the sights.  i go and end up buying nothing because it's way too much for me.

i ate a tasty cinnabon.

12/23/2008

I don't have many favorites in life. But IKEA is by far my biggest shopping addiction. My love of all things Swedish, believe it or not, did not start with my Saab. No no. It started with this frieken fascinating store. I have visited several IKEA's (Detroit, Philly...both of them, Jersey and now the one in the Boston area) and heart just bleeds yellow and blue. I used to live close enough to one in Philly to go there on my lunch break for the food; 15 Swedish meatballs, with french fries and gravy over both...hold the Ligonberries please! Ugh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! And I just shoved down peppermint ice cream and several Christmas cookies. Now THAT is true love for meatballs. Sigh. And don't forget their breakfast for like $2.

Let me clean up my drool while I gush about the fabulous deals you can get there too. I have permanently ruined my friends that I have hauled down there for a field trip. They have never seen anything like it! Hell, I could live comfortably in a closet using all of their cool ideas in their little room setup's. Yeah, and if you want to get those energy saving lightbulbs really cheap, this is the place to go. I write up a big ol' shopping list every month of crap I need to get from Ikea and make a day of it. I got an awesome white, shag, room-size rug for $60 there a couple of weeks ago. Add on a PAIR of white sheer curtains for $4.99. Oh, and don't forget to stop by their typically overlooked "As Is" section by the cash registers. Clearance and closeout's galore! OH and if you visit the one in Jersey, not only do you have to contend with every language on the planet, but be prepared to stand in lines like Disney World. I love you IKEA!!!

4/24/2009

i once ordered 60 swedish meatballs in one sitting.

after eating 30 of them ...i couldnt finish the rest ...so i hid them under furniture cushions all around the store.

first person to find all 30 win's my autographed copy of WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON.

11/28/2012

To start I have bought a fair amount of things from Ikea and pretty much every item has been good quality at a good price. No complaints there. Here is the but. My wife and I went there last Saturday. The men's bathroom was filthy and most of the toilets and sinks were out of order. From what my wife told me the woman's bathroom was no better. The entire store appeared shabby and was under significant remodel. Not the best planning to be remodeling during peak shopping season. We got a coffee roll and coffee at the small food service area near the check out. The area was filthy. The high standards of operation I have typically seen at Ikea seemed to have slipped. Won't be back anytime soon. Guess I can put my Allen wrench away!