Christmas is coming, I'll shop at Ikea. (Ikea)

Member Name: jessyclown

Product:	Ikea
Date:	28/11/01 (294 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range of products, Good prices, Provides some child care.

Disadvantages: Takes ages to go round, Too far from home

With Christmas fast approaching it seemed that it was time to get the presents I had bought and work out what else I needed to buy. I looked at what I had bought and wrapped and felt quite smug as most of my presents are bought and wrapped. On closer inspection there were a few gifts still to be bought.

This morning with a fairly empty day ahead of me I decided to take a trip to what used to be my favourite shop. It must be about a year since I was last there so I got into my car and drove the 20-minute drive to Ikea.

I arrived at Ikea at ten minutes to ten. The store opens at ten ‘o’ clock so if you arrive early they send you into the cafe for a free cup of tea or coffee. I can not resist a free drink! I sat down with my coffee and watched my little girl play with the toys available. By the time my coffee was finished it was time to go shopping. If I had wanted I could have had my breakfast of a coffee and a bacon sandwich for £1.35, not a bad price.

Ikea is a large store, which can take 30 minutes to get around without looking at all the products. If you know where you want to go you can avoid departments which are not of interest. I had not gone to Ikea for the furniture I was more interested in the market place. I also like to look at the children’s department as they sell some very interesting toys and children’s equipment.

I headed first for the children’s department and was tempted by many items. They have some lovely instruments, which my daughter would like. The animal costumes they sell are well worth buying if you want a costume. The children’s cookware are great for the budding cook being miniature versions of products you can buy in store. Today I did not buy any thing in the children’s department although I was tempted by lots of things.

I then went to the market place. In this area you can buy all types of things. You can find storage ideas, pictu
res and frames, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery, plants, lighting ideas among other things. I love the market place, as you never know what brilliant ideas you will come up with. I managed to get most of what I wanted in that area. There are items you will always find in this area but there are usually new ideas.

If you are at Ikea for their furniture you will find some modern and stylish furniture. As with most things you get what you pay for. If you choose Ikea’s cheaper furniture you will get poorer quality but still stylish. If you choose the more expensive furniture it is better quality. I like Ikea furniture and I have a lot of items around my home. When you have chosen what you want to buy you have to make a note of where it is in the warehouse. In the warehouse you have to find what you want and help yourself. You then have to get it home, you can for a fee have your furniture delivered home, you can hire a roof rack, or you can get it home under you own steam.

I love to have a look at the bargain basement where you may find a marked item and save yourself pounds! I have found a few items there in my time.

After paying for all the goods from the main store you can visit the Sweden shop which sells Swedish style food herrings and meatballs, crisp bread and sweets not forgetting their drinks. If you are in need of sustenance on your way out hot dogs cost 35p, small drinks 50p and ice creams 50p from the bistro in the exit area.

I like shopping in Ikea but I no longer have the time to do it as regularly as I used to. I will be looking there when I want to buy furniture and I love to visit their sales. This visit I got all the gifts I had planned to and a few more so I count that as a successful trip.

Summary: