Cash and carry only-Seattle store

lanstan · Jun 5th, 06, 7:58 pm

I am new to this kitchen buying butI think you all that know more than me will be interested in what I was told last Thurs 6/1/06.

I plan to put up my kitchen in a month or so (they just poured the foundation) but Ikea is 7 hrs away so I was half way there on Weds so I went on up. I was told that Seattle was going to be a pilot store for cash and carry only and they are changing over on 6/18. I ended up getting about a quarter of my kitchen because they said they can no longer hold any orders for people.I can see if stock is in before I leave to drive up there but if someone comes in and gets what I thought was there it is tough luck. First come first serve. I guess I will never know how many trips this could take. They also dont ship south of Portland Oregon (I live in the middle of the Oregon coast)

How crazy will it be if it is cash and carry. Do you just go in and get things off the shelf? They did say there was a comment form at the store and to fill it out if we didnt like it. I didnt know enough about the whole process to know to complain but I am thinking it could be disasterous.How has this process worked for other people?

**GardenOfDarwin** · Jun 5th, 06, 8:28 pm

Thanks for posting this lanstan. I'm curious what others think as well, and I'd really like to know what IKEA NA is thinking. Sure sounds like a recipe for disaster from my point of view, but then I'm just a customer. But hey, you're just a customer as well...and so are the other 900+ members (+many lurkers) here.

Does anyone see any upsides for the customer? I guess this means that ALL items will be available in store, all the time? It would almost have to be...you can't ask someone who's spending $$$$ at your store to drive (potentially) long distances multiple times in hopes of finding what they need, can you? Maybe you can if you're IKEA. Isn't this supposed to be the Year of the Kitchen? Maybe next year can be the year of the CUSTOMER.

What do you think?
Susan

kmcg · Jun 5th, 06, 8:30 pm

I don't think it will be that bad. When I ordered, I sent the order in by fax, and they told me I had X days to come in and pay for it. I would have to pick it up the same day that I paid for it. They were able to tell me that a few things were out of stock. I still had to go get the other things that were in stock in order to stay on Ikea's schedule. So I guess the only difference is that I knew a week or so in advance if things would not be there, and nobody could scoop me. But having read this forum for a long time, I gather that Seattle stocks a lot more stuff, which is why I think it won't be a big issue.

Too bad the Portland store isn't open yet. It would be a pain to drive up from the coast to Seattle every time you need something. (My mom used to live in Rockaway, so I know exactly how much of a hassle that is!)

Kathy

lanstan · Jun 5th, 06, 9:03 pm

When I was there they said they had a big run on kitchens and they didnt have about 3/4 of what I needed. Maybe from Memorial day shopping. I am trying to stay positive and tell myself each trip to Seattle is like being paid due to the savings! I have an order like a draft and maybe I can fax it in the day Iwant to go up. How do you know if the stock is in since I have parts of lots of different cabinets? Do you really get to talk to someone if you call.

stacylu · Jun 5th, 06, 10:08 pm

On Memorial Day we went to order the rest of our cabinets and all they had in stock was the hinges, 2 drawer fronts and some shelves... I've never had a problem with not having stuff in stock otherwise in the Seattle store and I'm guessing (hoping) that it reallywon't be a problem!

lanstan · Jun 6th, 06, 1:15 am

Thanks for the encouraging thought that that was unusual! So you are saying you find the Seattle store well stocked most of the time.

I really did have a wonderful lady named Lynn W who helped me immensely. she actually stopped me from making a plan that I dont think I would have liked. I had planned a corner wall cabinet next to a window without another cabinet attached and she said it would really look like the door didnt fit.

I see the finished kitchens here and it really inspires me! I really like that I am so involved in the planning. Well really I am the disigner with help of all of you guys.

Its different than anything I have taken on.

I plan on putting one foot in front of the other and get through this. It gets too overwhelming if I think of the big picture!

aalverson · Jun 6th, 06, 9:46 am

I was told the same thing last week. I had a bit of a disaster trying to arrange an order from Portland, but at least they will deliver here. I found that delivery is cheaper than renting a vehicle and picking everything up. Interesting that you worked with Lynn and found her helpful. After about TWENTY phone calls with REALLY unhelpful people, she was the one who finally made this bearable for me. I won't talk to anyone else if possible!

After all this hassle, my kitchen has been temporarily put on hold. Husband lost his job. Yahooo! It won't be long but not the right time to buy the kitchen we were literally moments away from ordering.

I sure wish the Portland store was open!!!

lanstan · Jun 6th, 06, 10:21 am

I am so sorry you had to put things on hold. My husband keeps thinking we should wait another year to do this because I am having so much fun with the planning. He thinks I should stretch it out!

Just think you can keep changing things!

I do hope he gets another job and your life is not too stressful right now.

I believe things happen for a reason.

vmole · Jun 6th, 06, 10:44 am

There is no way on earth that I would have done an Ikea kitchen based on a cash-n-carry only policy. It's not the distance to the store (I'm relatively close); I'm simply not going to go to the store and hike to the kitchen department (which is as far as possible from any door) 3 time a week until they happen to have the particular part I need. It's bad enough that I have to do this for my mistakes, but that's my fault. Doing it as a matter of policy is insane.

A policy like this for something like the kitchen department is basically telling the customer "Your time has no value." It's insulting, and should not be tolerated.

Steve

stacylu · Jun 6th, 06, 10:58 am

lanstan wrote:

Quote:

Thanks for the encouraging thought that that was unusual! So you are saying you find the Seattle store well stocked most of the time.

We're using Adel MB and have never had a problem with out of stock items until the Memorial day sale... and we went Monday night never thinking there would be a problem... we should have braved the saturday morning crowd