I did it again, after promising myself to NEVER go back!

BUT, I was in the area, and NEEDED CHEAP moving boxes, so I stopped by for a quick purchase...

OH MY GOSH.....and it happened....

1. I would quickly look at their Fundgrube ( sale of exibition items)...still the same...mainly fabric sofas covered with random footprints..never figured that out...and screaming kids....

2. Check out the cupboards to see if they had improved, as I really need storage in the new flat....BUT they are still IKEA...and I am afraid of filling up the landfills...more than I already have...

3. Oh, look at the lovely kitchens....OH..remember I no longer NEED a new kitchen...

4. Oh, CURTAINS, I could use CURTAINS....45 minutes later I had a basket of curtains and fittings which shall most probably end up in my next MOVING SALE...

5. Oh, CARPETS...look they now have SISAL CARPETS...they look so earthy and fresh.....NO, I do not need a CARPET!

6. Head starting to hurt...WHY am I HERE?...... OH.....the BOXES! WHERE ARE THE BOXES?

7. CIRCUITOUS......brought to a NEW LEVEL.....

8. FINALLY, check out....CHEAP BOXES=>>> XXXchf spent!

9. DRIVE home...Friday night..beginning of long weekend, fog, rain...VISIONS of PACKING....

I was also at Ikea today. I had to chuckle when I heard the customer service announcement in German and English.

You forgot the aching feet!

I once went to Ikea with a friend who insisted on stopping at each item and installation, wasn't able make up her mind, and then revisiting for reconsidering her choices!

And, yes, somehow ending up buying things that are very often gifted to others...

We were in Ikea Aubonne today. Nightmare decorations going on. Dusty & had to walk what felt like 12 miles just to get round the display. Tried the new vegetarian balls for lunch with beetroot paste. Actually acceptable but a bit dry. Could do with some mushroom sauce or something to pour on. Can't complain about the price. Got the usual supply of serviettes, a few glasses, new pillow etc. And yes, the feet are aching.

They have excellent moving boxes at Landi.

Now I would never get away with just buying boxes at Landi. There would be parrot treats, wine, and inevitably something for the garden.

At Ikea in Spreitenbach the moving boxes are right near the door next to customer service and beside the check out where you can enter through barrier and go directly to the Fundgrube.

Now you would not have had much fun there.

[QUOTE=Mrs. Doolittle;2588149]They have excellent moving boxes at Landi.

At Ikea in Spreitenbach the moving boxes are right near the door next to customer service and beside the check out where you can enter through barrier and go directly to the Fundgrube

.[/QUOTE

I WAS at Spreitenbach!

ACHING FEET....? I am the QUEEN,

Painful and achy feet!

Landi? Good to know!

Oops! Seriously didn't know of that thread! I was, obviously, speaking from my own Ikea experiences...

Shameful confession: I like my twice-a-year or so visits to IKEA. Loads of cheap and handy kitchen bits, and a cheap and tasty plate of meatballs.

Livin' the dream.

If it is any consolation, the IKEA stores in ZH are a more "pleasant" experience than the native version in Sweden...all relative of course

Think what you want, but Ikea does something right.

Sometimes I go there just to buy my potted orchids..as if Migros Garden would lack anything like that...

I've been to Ikea 5 times in my lifetime, three of which were to give a lift to friends who didn't have a large car. Each of those three occassions (Warrington branch) ended in them having a domestic, so they know I'll never take them again. I'll drop them at the door and collect them, but I'll never walk round the place with them.

I went with my OH and his sister-in-law to the branch by Athens airport to buy bookcases for his mother. They had a domestic in the store and his mum had the mother of all domestics with him when he was assembling the damned things. She phoned to apologise at least once a week for the next 6 mths.

Been to the one in Zurich once with my OH and he had a right strop, even after me bribing him with a dinner of meatballs. Thankfully, I found the short cuts and got out of the place.

One day, I'll go to Ikea on my own, take my time and actually enjoy the experience.

Agree...this is the best way to visit Ikea.
Never ever take any man with you, unless you have a precise purpose and something heavy to buy and they can be helpful...

Whaaaattt???? No mention of the yummy meatballs ? What a waste of a trip !!

Ikea is weird place indeed, one goes there feeling perfectly happy
but after 2 hours of shopping comes out feeling empty and that "life has no meaning".

Especially bad it seems to be for couples, going in hand-in-hand, kissing, being in love but on the checkout you see rings being thrown to the waste bin, women crying and men desperately looking for food section in hope to find some beer.

Still, most of my furniture is actually from there

I have to make a list and tell myself sternly not to deviate from it or else I'll come home with several new "cute" drinking glasses, another throw cushion that Mr Rufus stores on the floor because he doesn't like them on "his" end of the sofa and a bag of chocolates I don't need.


I do like their plastic "kids" plates and bits though. And the Poang chairs. And the lighting...


Dammit.

Just as pretty much every husband do I hate going there with the wife. But on the other hand do I have to say that the parasol I bought was about one sixth to one eight of the price of the models sold by average garden furniture shops here... so it's ok I guess.

Ikea is just an integral part of the expat experience.
You enter the next level when you disassemble and assemble used Ikea furniture.
Next stage is when you settle and get rid of your ikea stuff.
Final level is when you start all over again for your children

http://www.wsj.com/articles/can-your...kea-1429724227

&
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...-trust/406267/

The IKEA test - not just for relationships, but also friendships!

Oh no, what does that say about me and my 1 level I have always liked Ikea, still do. The trick for me is to avoid the awful crowds so I go there late, before it closes and run through as kids are near-starving and crying for meatballs, use the short cuts and secret doors to arrive quickly at the cafe/restaurant. Once kids are fed and watered, I go and potter about.. buy napkins, another sieve and look at duvet covers.. no queues at check-out