[stacylu]

Another thing... DH asked one of the Ikeans if the new system was saving time or money and he replied "Neither" but that Ikea was trying to make the Seattle store more like all the other stores because this is how they all are. :? I don't think that's true but it was interesting...

[bogiesan]

sheesh, what's the forum policy an cussing?

We'll be going to Seattle from Boise ID. We fly or we drive for ten hours. This cash'n'carry situation almost means we're better off not buying Ikea.

david boise ID

[GardenOfDarwin]

Um, you can try it, but you won't be successful. Unless you know more cuss words than I do! (And the unofficial official policy is "Don't do it")

I agree that it sucks. I don't think I'd like it at all...and I don't think this is how "all" IKEAs are. Although I've really only been to 3. :?

Susan

[stacylu]

I need to revise my input a bit... We've been 2 more times to the Seattle store after it's conversion. The first time afterwards we only needed a few things. Because we knew what aisles they were in it was pretty easy to go get everything quickly. Plus if you go in the exit door, it's a quicker trip overall. Today we went and had to trapse all the way back to the kitchens and then backtrack to the pickup area and it was a pain. So my opinion is that for small trips it's great to do the DIY pickup. If you're doing the whole shebang at once it's extremenly overwhelming... I'm very glad we were nearing the end before the switch!

[kate1234]

David - you might try ordering through Ikea Direct and taking advantage of their free shipping on kitchens over $2500.

[bogiesan]

kate1234 wrote:

David - you might try ordering through Ikea Direct and taking advantage of their free shipping on kitchens over $2500.

Ah, thanks! I will need to investigate it thoroughly. I am not familiar at all with Ikea Direct.

If we (wife) could only make up our (her) mind.

david boise ID

[stacylu]

Can I tell a slightly funny (although in many ways a not funny story)

Saturday we were at Ikea buying our pantry doors and hinges. There was a woman there with her mother looking for items and she had quite a cart going. She was loading boxes of stuff onto her cart. I realized when she had3 boxes on her cart that the boxes were full of packages of hinges. They were still strapped together and her checklist said that she needed 20 hinges. Can you imagine her trying to buy 20 BOXES of hinges instead of 20 hinges. I interrupted her to try and help and she was glad I did but you could see her frustration. I'm thinking of writing a letter to the Seattle store at this point.

(And if you're out there, I feel your pain but it's an excellent example of why kitchens shouldn't be a self-serve item)

[lanstan]

I agree with Stacylu. I went back once since they converted for about 10 items. It was not too bad but if it would have been the entire kitchen I dont know how it would have worked. I really dont think it is realistic to get an entire kitchen in one trip but a few trips maybe.

Here was my experience---

I live 6 hrs away. I went to one Ikea in NJ while on vacation. First time there and it was good to look at kitchens for ideas.

I went to Seattle a couple months later after playing on the planner a lot and reading about things here. That trip I puchased about a third of my kitchen because I only had my Subaru Forester with me. It was good to see how the whole system worked. I had not planned on getting anything but wanted to see the process.

I purchased the bulk of it a month later before they switched over to cash and carry. It went very well but took about 4 hours in the store. They had it all ready for me about one hour after I paid. I went by myself and they helped me load but wouldnt tie things down. A really nice man in the parking lot helped me with that.

A few weeks later I went over everything very carefully before the last trip. Icalled Cindy in aftersales to make sure everything was there. I had made a couple changes and had a couple errors in the main order. She was very helpful. A couple things were gone when I got there but she had assured me she would have them sent if they were not there. It seems they work around the system a little if you live far away. The staff said they couldnt send things butI called her when I came home and she sent them to me in a couple days.

They definitely are limited with their help but they do try very hard with the constraints the company gives them. I think with the cash and carry system it would not have worked to go by myself.

You really just have to understand it is not like any other experience but seems to be worth it. (I say that because I havent put my kitchen together yet)

I feel really invested in the design of my kitchen and the whole process of this which I think is a really good feeling.

[lanstan]

A SEATTLE SHORTCUT!

If you go into the front entrance you can get to the kitchens in about30 seconds. You walk to the right past the kid area. You will then see the bathrooms on your right. If you take a left at that point you walk right out into the eating area on your right and the kitchens are straight ahead. It saves about 20 minutes of walking through the store.

Also what more do you want when you are in hurry than 1. Bathrooms, 2. Food, and 3. Kitchens!

I dont have a trick to get out quick though. Does anyone else?

[kmcg]

If you know what you need and it doesn't involve the Tornado, you can go straight to the pickup warehouse or straight to "As Is" (my favorite destination!). Instead of the entrance, follow the signs to the right for returns and customer service. You'll be right at the checkout area.

I agree, Lanstan, that the system works fine for small orders, but I would have really been cursing if I'd had to pick up my entire kitchen off the shelves, get it all on a cart, and maneuver the darn cart through the crowded checkout lines. What a harebrained concept they've come up with! Having watched 10 employees stand around staring at and talking about the Tornado yesterday, I can't believe they've gained anything in efficiency!

Kathy