| Product: |
IKEA in General |
| Date: |
10.06.06 (1317 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Vast selection, The Swede Shop
Disadvantages: long trip by public transport, expensive delivery prices, bad customer service
***Background***
For a while, I kept most of my clothes in a card board box, just pulling them out as and when I needed them. This was largely due to the fact that I live in rented accomodation. As a student my cardboard box did me fine, but as I embarked on my City Career, I felt like I needed something more appropriate which would ensure that my clothes do not wrinkle every time I pulled something out of the box.
I was looking for something cheap that I could easily leave behind if I decided to move again. The stores I tried only had chests of draws that cost over £200, a bit steep for my liking.
***Ikea to the rescue?***
In the back of my mind I did think about Ikea, so I first checked out there website online. I realised that if I was going to buy a big piece of furniture, I would have to get it delivered.
The Ikea website proved to be extremely disappointing. While I could find some decently looking and cheap chests of draws, I was hoping for an internet order service. I could not find anything on the entire site.
Under the 'services' section I was informed that most items that Ikea sold would be of a size that would fit into your car. If it would not fit into your car, you could buy a rack to tie it on top of your car. They briefly mentioned the possibility of home delivery with prices varying depending upon the item and your location. But there was no price list and no possibility to order anything online.
Well, I do not have a car, so driving to Ikea to pick up a chest of draws. I decided to pay Ikea in Brent Park a visit by public transport. I was optimistic enough to believe that I may either find something that was light enough to carry (e.g. a plastic shelf of sorts) or that I would find a nice item and could arrange home delivery on the spot.
***Getting there***
I took the train into Waterloo where I caught the Jubilee Line to Neasden, the station nearest to Ikea.
I vaguely remembered that the area was a bit dodgy, but the dodgyness already started on the tube, where a shady looking individual kept watching women getting off the train at every stop. He looked like he was considering getting off with them, but then would sit back down again. Freakily enough, when he saw me get up at Neasden, he decided to get off as well. I watched my back - the guy never left the station.
When you get out of the station, you turn left and see a yellow sign telling you which way to go to get to Ikea. These little signs are quite helpful and are placed all along the way.
You walk along the tracks of the tube for a little while, then reach a little road which is extremely smelly and run down. Once you are out of the street you turn left again only to find yourself walking along a busy and noisy motorway.
You continue along the motorway until you reach a cross-over bridge. Up the bridge you go and down the other end. Here I found myself in the middle of a gigantic parking lot. There is no place for pedestrians, you actually have to continue through this little bus car park for one minute before turning left to walk through the Ikea parking garage!
All in all the walk took me about 15 minutes and I became aware that whatever I would be buying here to carry home would not be a chest of draws.
***The store***
I had chosen to come here on a Monday, because I wanted to avoid the weekend crowds. Even on a Monday, however, the store was full of people trying to find a bargain.
I do not really need to go into detail about what Ikea has to offer, this is NOT what this review is about. For the few who have no idea about what Ikea is (I doubt there are many out there that don't), Ikea basically has everything you need for the home. The stuff they sell is sturdy, alright looking and very cheap. There are dining rooms, living rooms, bed rooms and kitchens in the main showrooms. In the market place you can find accessories for every room in the house at decent prices, e.g. bed clothes, cuttlery, dishes, plants, pillows. In the warehouse you can buy heavy furniture pieces, either fully assembled or in pieces for you to assemble.
I had a quick browse through the store. I did not see much in the show rooms or the market place that would be of help to me, bearing in mind that I would have to either be able to carry the item or would have to request delivery.
In the market place I saw some basic storage units to be hung up in my closet. They cost only between £3.50 and £7.00, I could have carried this home despite the 15 minute walk - but sadly enough, I do not have space in my closest for these hanging storage shelves.
I also saw a hideous white shelf with a fishnet-type covering for £29.00. It offered me two shelves for my clothes and I would have been able to carry it home (just about!). But it was just so ugly!
I proceeded to the warehouse where I found exactly what I was looking for. A chest with 3 drawers for £45. I decided to approach customer services to ask about delivery.
This is where me, little pedestrian, really started to feel discriminated against. A half-helpful customer service representative told me that delivery to my postcode would be a minimum of £40!!! In other words, almost the price of the item I was going to buy.
Then he had the cheek to ask me whether I could not wait until one of my friends with a car could come and pick it up. He looked startled when I declared that none of my friends owned a car to do this.
He the showed me that this item could be bought in pieces for home assembly. I tried lifting the box, but no success.
In the end I decided to part and give up on Ikea for my little storage unit.
***The Swede Shop***
Not wanting to leave the store empty-handed, I decided to stop by the Swede shop on my way out.
For those who do not know, the Swede Shop offers a number of culinary delights from Sweden. There are a number of biscuits, sweets and chocolates and swedish style bread. There are also a number of fish related items, such as smoked salmon (at a very decent price), caviar and shrimps.
I stocked up on two 250g bars of milk chocolate bars (Marabou) and 4 little rolls of Marabou chocolates. The little rolls are about rolo sized and come in milk chocolate, coffee, mint and toffee flavours.
I also stocked up on some lumpfish caviar - at £1.15 for 50g, this was a treat that had to go home with me.
The check out person at the Swedeshop was very rude. My mobile happened to ring while he was adding up my items. I picked it up and told my friend to call me back later, because I did not want to be rude. Well, the man just threw my items at me, then forgot to give me my card back. Not very impressed at all!
***Other features***
Children's play area: As most people know, Ikea is a good place to bring your kids, because they have a play area where kids can be while one of the parents goes shopping.
Bistro and Cafe: If you are hungry after your long shop, there are a couple of options for snacks. The food here is all fast food, mostly stuf flike fish and chips, spaghetti and swedish meatballs, but it is relatively decent in taste for the price.
Toilets: Right at the entrance there are some toilet facilities. I was actually surprised at how clean they were.
***Verdict***
I can't really knock any of the products at Ikea. I mean, there furniture is sturdy and does the trick, but it is far from unique. In their marketplace you find all the necessities that you would need to start up a new home with little money.
But I am very critical of the fact that this store only reasonably caters to those with cars (unless you are only picking up a few bits for the house in the market place). The delivery prices are really outrageous when compared to their product prices.
***Store info***
www.ikea.co.uk
*** Please note that the rating is based on my experience as a non-driving member of the public trying to get a decent piece of cheap furniture. It does not relate to the product range at the store. I would give the product range either 3 or 4 stars and the overall Ikea experience 3 stars ***
Summary: A store with good selection, which is very difficult to reach without a car.
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