I think I've got Ikeaphobia

[annfoto]

I have only been to two Ikea stores, Malaga & Edinburgh. The Malaga one is the worst. When you step onto the elevating staircase to the first floor you are committed. Even if what you wanted is immediately in front of you you have a minimum of a 1Km walk to get to the check-out and that is with studying the maps and taking the shortcuts they don't want you to take. There is a lift that would save you the long walk but it has a sign for staff use only. If you follow all their daft arrows on their preferred route it is a 4Km walk.
I get a similar feeling at airports when you go through security and even worse passport control you are trapped. You then find out that your flight is delayed by 2 hours and you have to charm your way out past all the Guardia to have a ciggy. Done it a few times buy it isn't easy.

[scotty]

Store in Dublin is the same as Malaga. I bet they are all the same design. Its a preview of what hell will be like.

[gerryh]

Haven't you realised that exercise and not smoking is good for you?
Cheers
Gerry

[oliveview01]

I went to a UK Ikea store once with my son. We too walked for miles, bought a pc table, drove home (45miles) to discover the desk was broken and had been returned by a previous customer (there was a childs drawing on the inside packaging)
I rang Ikea and said I was not happy making a 90 mile round trip to return a broken desk, they told me to claim mileage when I got back to the store, they gave me £10 (This was about ten years ago)
Son has never set foot in Ikea again, he said that one time was more than enough.

BTW, for those that are interested, a new Ikea is being built close to Sevilla airport.

[BENIDORM]

I like Ikea, however as I know that it was founded by a former member of a well known German organisation, I am very wary of any signs that offer free showers or offers to leave my valuables for their safe-keeping.
Not too long ago my wife and I visited the Ikea store in Seville, and we were enjoying the 99 cent breakfast when my wife knocked over her cup of coffee, which caused a chain reaction and my coffee also went over, ending up flooding my breakfast, it was like a minor table top tsunami....
Anyway my wife was now covered with coffee, fortunately she wasn't scolded, but her clothing was in a total mess, so being a gentleman I offered to go back to our car to collect some fresh clothing for her, to save the embarrassment of walking the Ikea Pilgrimage Route in her stained attire..
We had been staying in a hotel for a few days, so my wife had a selection of clothing to last at least a few weeks....
After studying the 'route map' , I decided that the shortest way out was to go back through the way in, so I set off at a 'jog' pace, avoiding colliding with mesmerised shoppers.
But I had forgotten that I would have to negotiate a one-way moving stairs, so after noting that there was only one passenger coming up the stairs, I leapt down the stairs , taking three steps at a time..
But waiting for me at the bottom was a burly security guard, who was about to attempt to stop me...but he changed his mind when he saw a Giant English Wrinkly hurtling towards him, and I managed to escape...
I returned ten minutes later clutching a Tesco carrier bag containing my wifes clean clothes,and the security guard justed grinned and saluted me, obviously impressed at my 'Great Escape'..
So my wife was able to change into her fresh clothes in the ladies loo, and the restaurant staff replaced our breakfasts ...no charge...
So all in all it was quite an exciting visit to Ikea...

Regards,
Gordon....The Escapologist....

[Campo Steve]

All Ikeas are pretty much a standard design. They all include the long trek.

However, last time we went to the Malaga store we only wanted to go to the end bit so asked the security guy. He directed us through the checkout area, avoiding the trek. We have done that before, without asking, and never been stopped.

[Paula]

You just walk through caja 11, if security stop you tell them you have the number of the item you want to pick up from the warehouse. You can also bypass the top floor by walking down the stairs by the restaurant once you go up the escalator.

[annfoto]

All Ikeas are pretty much a standard design. They all include the long trek.

However, last time we went to the Malaga store we only wanted to go to the end bit so asked the security guy. He directed us through the checkout area, avoiding the trek. We have done that before, without asking, and never been stopped.

IKEA in Edinburgh has stairs instead of a one way escalator so if you only visited the restaurant you can walk down the entrance stairs.

You just walk through caja 11, if security stop you tell them you have the number of the item you want to pick up from the warehouse. You can also bypass the top floor by walking down the stairs by the restaurant once you go up the escalator.

The items we were buying had to be ordered from the kitchen department in the upstairs bit, when you eventually get to the checkout you pay for them and they bring the order to you.
The stairs by the restaurant are right next to the entrance escalator but there is no access at the foot of them to let you walk straight to the door. You have to walk about 1km to get to the door even if you only went upstairs for a cup of coffee

[carrowcrin]

I think you are very lucky that you can diagnose the problem yourself as you seem to have enough going on already and you won't have to pay an expensive quack..

[Bowler]

I think you are very lucky that you can diagnose the problem yourself as you seem to have enough going on already and you won't have to pay an expensive quack..

On the other hand if you shop in Ikea then maybe you NEED the services of an expensive quack, the idea of having something in my home that has been bought by literally millions of other people is a bit offputting, most of it's tat anyway.

[bob]

Beni,

Beyond your shallow inferences,
do you have any definitive facts concerning
Mr. Kamprad’s actual activities?

[markwilding]

On the other hand if you shop in Ikea then maybe you NEED the services of an expensive quack, the idea of having something in my home that has been bought by literally millions of other people is a bit offputting, most of it's tat anyway.

For young couples with a limited budget and a smallish flat, Ikea is ideal. At least they are cheap. I've seen similar quality furniture being classed as modern costing 3 times as much.
I don't think you should write them off for those little items they sell either..I bought a brilliant cable tidy from them for 10 euros.