PSA: IKEA - OMG - Stay Away

It's interesting how all of this has affected different things.

At the IKEA Burbank, they let people know that the desks are out of stock while still in line. I thought that was courteous.

We had the ultimate IKEA cosmic joke placed on us a couple weeks ago. Put together an entire Malsjo buffet, only to find the last item, a drawer knob, is defective. I have tried everything humanly possible to reach IKEA, my only option at this point is to go and stand in the return line. For a knob.

Good lord.  I stood in line at IKEA once for a return, pre -pandemic, on a Wednesday around 1.  The number I pulled was 30 numbers away, so I went and shopped and even had a snack before they got to my number.  I would be going to Lowe’s and getting replacement knobs.  No way would I stand in line to return something now!


I went a few weeks ago, super short line to get in, 45 minute line to check out.  I knew exactly what I wanted and pulled it directly off the shelf without even going through the displays.  I expected it to be bad, but the short line outside gave me a false sense of security.  

I won’t go again without checking how many of the item I want are in stock and will be there before opening.  

I am glad you found something that worked!

IKEA can be like the seventh level of hell, even worse than Costco on a Saturday. At least at Costco they let you use a cart...that rolls in a straight line. Don’t get me wrong, I really like a lot of the things I’ve bought there. But Lord love a duck, that store is a nightmare and a half to shop.

I tend to want the things like the smaller flat pack wooden drawer things and organizers that you assemble yourself that they have in the regular store part, not in the warehouse part, so if you want it you’re dragging it all over the store in a stupid yellow bag. Or kitchen items, small lamps, storage bins. Stuff that it would be awesome to buy if you had a freaking CART. And if you do manage to get a cart, the store is two levels and finding an elevator vs. and escalator = not easy because there is like ONE bank of them in the whole store. And what is up with their idiotic carts that don’t roll in a straight line? I don’t understand that at all. And that’s on a good day, not in the middle of a pandemic.

I ordered from Ikea on their website in June and it was a nightmare. Items didn't come and it was ridiculous trying to get them by phone or email. They limited the phones to where you couldn't get through without a busy signal or just hang up and the email was only available to cancel an order. I even tried their social media. I ended up disputing the charge on my credit card.

I’m so sorry you missed the IKEA thread from a couple of weeks ago....

Everything you described is exactly how the Seattle IKEA experience is right now...

DD and I went over the summer for a desk. Yep, they were out of the one she wanted but I learned you can download the app and check the stock every day to see when an item comes into the store. I checked every morning and a few days later 9 desks were at our local store. We were probably the 15 and 16th customers to enter the store as we arrived about 30 minutes before store opening on a Monday. We bypassed the show rooms and headed straight to the warehouse.. I’m not kidding but we get to the location of the desks that DD wanted and their are 2 IKEA employees there pulling desks for orders that were placed online. We got DD her desk but I can’t image how it would have gone if we were 5 minutes later.

We tried to go first thing on a Sunday a few weeks ago in our St. Louis store. I saw the line to get in (about 20 mins before opening) and told DH to just keep on driving. But DH went back the next day on Monday around 1:00. He was walking back into the house so fast I though5 he forgot something. We needed just a twin mattress for a guest bed for my niece. He said he went right in, found the mattress in the warehouse and walked right out. The biggest wait was just a few minutes for an elevator because the trolly he used was too big for the escalator.

I decided in July I wanted a Kallax unit for my sewing room. It's about a 25 mile hike out to the nearest store. The website said it was in stock but when DD and I got there, nope. None. Still spent some $$ and DD found a different unit similar to the Kallax but smaller and lighter for her dorm room.

So I have been checking the website every few days to see when it would be back in stock. At first it said mid-August, then it changed to the first of September, then it no longer had an actual date when it was expected back in stock.

I signed up for the notification thing where they will text or email you when it comes back in stock.

This past Tuesday I checked the website and lo and behold it was in stock and I bought it immediately and selected store pickup. Never did get notified it was in stock.

I chose the store pickup option to get it Wednesday between 11 and 1. I wanted to go out mid morning but it says not to go until you get the email confirmation that your order is ready. Did not come through until 1230.

But I went out there and the store wasn't crowded at all (except for that lady with her two teen daughters who had to cut through o e of the displays to get ahead of me than then stopped in the middle of the asile to look at something effectively blocking the entire walkway. Almost coughed on her.

Managed to spend even more $$ while there, although annoyed they were out of stock of the fabric boxes.

When I was done shopping I pulled into one of the pickup slots and sent the text and about 5 minutes later they brought my furniture out and loaded it for me.

I think most stores are packed on the weekends and I avoid most stores if at all possible. My advice would be to check other stores and check the website often, don't rely on them communicating when something is back in stock. If you know exactly which item you want order online and pick up curbside. Good luck with Ikea, I understand the frustration of out of stock and the waiting game.

Saw a video last week that said try one of the various employees in the store for things like that.  They have buckets here and there which they can dig through and maybe find one quicker. 

I needed a table with legs and it took me over a week of checking at midnight when they updated inventory to find it in stock and be able to pick it up the next day. I am thankful for a Reddit thread that told me the times to check and things to do to get one locally. I highly recommend buying online & pick up in store (if you can get the item). I walked in - they pulled it up in the computer and I brought it to me - no wait) 🙌🏻

Well crap - pray for me peas.

I’m taking DD to ikea tomorrow for a bed. She needs a single bed and this is in her budget. And due to her classes and my cake schedule, Sunday is it.

And of course we can’t get there for opening. UGH

I ordered DD #1 a new dresser back in May. IKEA is about 15 min from me but I wasn't in the mood for that nightmare. I'm not in the mood for it on a good, non-Covid day. I spent $49 for the next day delivery and it was WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!