Well this isn't a complaint as such, so I didn't post it in the complaints corner. But depending on the answers I might have to move it there... :-)

My question is about Ikea, or specifically Ikea Dietlikon.

Now the problem is I know exactly what I want, I know exactly where it is. It is in the big hall at the bottom before you get to the cash registers. However, as anyone who has ever been to Ikea knows, they kind of force you to walk a very long and winding path from the entrance all the way to the cash register, thereby passing every item they have for sale.

There might be times when I might like to waste at least 30 minutes doing this, but there are other times when I don't. So I figured there must be a way. I looked around for a way in at the bottom but found none. I've previously attempted to find shortcuts once inside but have been unsucessful.

I went to the information counter but it was a take a number system, and there were large quantities of people standing there to give back returns etc, I figured the waiting time for information might be longer than the trek through the store.

I checked the catalogues outside for information, there was no email address, and only a tiny mention of a website. So I checked the website and looked through their FAQ's - not there. There was a contact form, but I figured I'd just call their info line instead.

The info line had no option to speak to a human, so I figured if I just waited until it had gone through the options 3 times (yes 3 times!) it would put me through - I was right.

I asked the woman at the end of the phone if there was a solution to my problem. She said there wasn't, or if there were - she didn't know - I should ask at the information. I explained that the information desk was full of customers wanting information - her answer "well you'll just have to wait they can't talk to ten people at once". At first I was annoyed with such rudeness and stupidty towards a member of the public who wanted to spend money in their business but then I remembered where I lived.

I also considered ordering the stuff via the internet but then noted that even when it is in stock the delivery time is 2-3 weeks!

So my question to you all is - can anyone suggest a way that I can buy the bookshelves I need without an additional 30 minutes of my time (which I now seem to have spent researching, calling and now writing about the experience!)

Any help appreciated

Ok, it's an old post.. and maybe by now you don't have the problem anymore (I think they did a little bit of restructuring)

Perhaps I'm just not understanding you properly .. but.. uhm... can't you just walk in at the cashiers and go past them? and then head straight back? (Though in Dietlikon they added a long hall there now with lots of distracting merchandise) But it stops you from having to go up the stairs, zip around all the premade rooms etc etc.

My only tip is: Never go shopping there on a Saturday
I once thought I'd go early, who else would be there at 9am? And there were lineups to get in!!

Yeah one option would have been to effectively barge in backwards, but I was sure that I would get nabbed for it - so I was too chicken.

Yes I agree with you about Ikea on a Saturday (or any evening during the week). I think anybody who opposes Sunday shopping should be forced to visit Ikea every Saturday for a month. I mean - when else can you go and buy furniture - you need several hours, meaning that Saturday is the only choice!

Mark

Okay I am posting this under the vague title of navigating inside IKEA but it has nothing to do with that.

Someone I know happened to be in Germany and thought ah these carpets would do just fine at home. Being a good and honest person they knew they would want to take them over the border into Switzerland and declare them so they could get that nasty 16% MwSt (VAT) back. They asked if they do the nice green pieces of paper that would allow them to take the carpets into Switzerland. Despite being in the middle of Germany (Frankfurt) they had no problem in providing the necessary paperwork and parted company with their €600 and drove down over the border into CH.

As there were three in the car there was no problem bringing the goods in and the nice Germans stamped my papers so that they could claim the VAT back. Of course when they got home and laid the carpets out they were astounded to find that they did not actually match their furnishings and would need to be returned. Shit!!! After scratching heads they thought okay lets try and take them back to Dietikon which is only 10 minutes drive instead of 3 hours. They gave them to the nice woman in Customer Information and told her they had lost the receipt and asked if they could give them back. She saw this as no problem at all, but said I can't give you cash back just a card loaded with money which you can spend in the store. Um okay well the alternative was worse and they wanted the carpets anyway... To their surprise the total cost of the carpets was actually CHF 1200 in CH... And the 16% VAT was still due - another CHF 150.

So they wandered off bought the carpets in Dietikon in the right colour, kept the receipt, took them to Dietlikon a couple of days later and got their money ie cash back... They then bought the carpets next time they were in Frankfurt, the right colour this time and pocketed the money which was around CHF 500.

So if ever you buy something from IKEA in Germany and want to give it back in CH it is not a problem and you will come out on top

I am not quite sure what the moral of the story is. Just if you need to buy something expensive which is transportable it is probably cheaper in the German IKEA, you get the VAT back and you can still give it back in CH if you dont like it...

Richard

IKEA is not just a shopping experience its a day out! I always take the time to have lunch there.