[GardenOfDarwin]

I am still actively updating the Store Directory, and looking for information on new stores all the time. If your store isn't listed, PLEASE - consider answering the following questions to the extent that you are able to help expand our knowledge base.

For your store, list it if you know it!

1. Store name/location
2. Don't worry about regular phone numbers - I can find those, but if you know the voice menu #'s to get directly to kitchens, work, store manager, etc. that would be great! Extensions for the Kitchen Expeditor or After Sales would be great info also. FAX #'s.
3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
4. Best parking place!
5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits.
6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.
7. How to get to AS-IS
8. Other tips/tricks, like I know in my store they can ring you up in Kitchens so you don't have to hoof it downstairs and then wait an hour and a half for Cash and Carry. What secrets do you know?

Please dig out business cards, notes...what ever you may have that will help you to contribute! Thanks in advance for your help on this!


Susan

[machiavelliangirl]

On the weekends we only get about 45 minutes in Smaland in Atlanta...
And you can pay in kitchens and have the warehouse getting the order ready downstairs...

[GardenOfDarwin]

Thanks machgirl! I updated the directory. We also are encouraging folks to rate and comment on the stores, so when you go take a look, rate the store!

Susan

[Clueless]

1. Store name/location : Stoughton, Mass

3. Best time/day to visit - The Ikean in Kitchens told me that the store is usually empty during the week. Today was busy. We got lucky and both times we needed the Ikean, she was available -- and both times there were a couple of customers waiting for us to finish so they could order kitchens. Weekends, the place is very busy.

4. Best parking place! We parked in covered parking, right by the entrance.

5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits. 45 minutes. They give you a beeper so they can let you know when your time is up. All kids who go to Smalland must be potty-trained.

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.

7. How to get to AS-IS: It is to the left of the checkout lanes.

8. Other tips/tricks: (1) You can pay for your kitchen in Kitchens. If you want it delivered, you have to go downstairs to home delivery to make arrangements.

(2) When you come downstairs from Kitchens, you will see Smalland. Next to it is a door marked "employees only". Go through it and you will be at the checkout & marketplace area. Otherwise, you are doomed.

[Susan]

Thank you Clueless! I added your information to the entry on Stoughton! Take a look when you get a chance, and give the store a rating!

Susan

[NYFlicka]

I'll give this my best shot!:

1. Store name/location:
Elizabeth, NJ
2. Don't worry about regular phone numbers - I can find those, but if you know the voice menu #'s to get directly to kitchens, work, store manager, etc. that would be great! Extensions for the Kitchen Expeditor or After
Sales would be great info also. FAX #'s.
I never really called them, I just showed up. I can say I tried to call a couple of times and left messages that went unanswered...so my verdict is calling isn't the best thing.

3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid:
This one is easy: WEEKDAY, WEEKDAY, WEEKDAY. I went on a Tuesday, Weds & Thurs afternoon and they were all blissfully amazingly quiet. Everyone was more than eager to help design in kitchens, answer questions, getting all of our kitchen pulled only took an hour, and the guys outside wouldn't let us touch anything--they took all 3 dollies and loaded everything (according to weight!) into our Uhaul. Dee-lightful! DO NOT GO ON THE WEEKEND, if at all possible. I hear it's a real nightmare and you'll never get that time back. If you're just doing a light visit OK, but certainly don't try and design & or order your kitchen on a weekend. It's worth trying to take a half day off to retain your sanity!
4. Best parking place! :
If you are going to be loading, get as close to the loading area as possible. Which also happens to be near the front entrance.
5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits:
Sadly, I don't know what a Smalland deposit is (is it a kid thing??). All I know is that my family is from the region of Sweden called Småland.
6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc:
When you get up the stairs, instead of flowing with the arrows make a bee-line for the restaurant cafe, the kitchen department is just off to the right
7. How to get to AS-IS:
As-is is just by the aisles where you load the furniture, as soon as you get through the marketplace. You can't miss it.
8. Other tips/tricks, like I know in my store they can ring you up in Kitchens so you don't have to hoof it downstairs and then wait an hour and a half for Cash and Carry. What secrets do you know?
I can't emphasize the going there on the weekday thing enough. The people in Kitchens initially seem grumpy but they're very knowledgeable and helpful. Just don't expect lots of smiles. Livette & Takiyyah helped me out the most. Takkiyah absolutely rocked when we were ready to put our order in. She took care of the whole thing and made sure we had everything we needed. She even reminded me of things like "door bumpers" which would never have crossed my mind. You can't pay in kitchens so get your order in and hoof it downstairs to pay. Then just go back up to have a wander or enjoy the cafeteria--with the pretty cool views of all the planes taking off & landing at Newark airport. Remember all you New Yorkers: there is only a 3.5% tax in NJ so it's like it's a 5% sale everyday from shopping at the Hicksville LI location! Also, there are many daily buses to Ikea from the Port Authority in Manhattan--in the week it's about $4.50 round trip on the weekends it's free. A good way to go if you just want to visit and get an idea for things. There is room to put some stuff under the bus.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Thanks guys! I added IKEA Elizabeth and IKEA Direct this morning! For those of you who have used either, please go RATE THE STORE!

Thanks again!
Susan

[flybabyny]

1. Paramus, NJ
3. weekdays are the best times to go! If at all possible, get there as the tore opens (especially if you have kids and want to let them in the play/babysitting area! It's always empty at opening and, on weekdays they aren't as busy, so are more willing to let the kids stay a little longer than an hour!)
4. If you're there with the kids and want to take them to play area, then park in blue--close to front entrance. If you get the luxury of going without the kids, go to the green level--follow parking signs for christmas tree shoppes--green is second level on left! There, you can enter near customer service and furniture pick up--go in doors and to left into marketplace--the as-is room is on he left!
5. Normally 1 hour--on weekends they are very strict, but during the week when they aren't too busy they are more loose with time--it always pays to ask and don't forget to smile and thank them--they can be a bit pissy if you aren't really appreciative.
6. To get to kitchens the fastest, go in by furniture pick up and take all the shortcuts through the marketplace back to the stairs--go up the stairs, through kids stuff and kitchens is very near there.
7. see above
8. Check as-is room when you first get there--make sure to check the back room and see if they are marking new stuff down to put out--there is a half door there and I just go up and ask them--they are very friendly and will usually point out to me what they will be putting out over the course of the next few hours!

[animes2k]

1. Store name/location
College Park/College Park, MD

2. Phone Numbers
Not really sure here. Always just gone to the store.

3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
As folks have said - Weekdays. Any day BUT the weekend is a good time to go. Even then, we've gone early on a Sunday and it's been tolerable, only to get amazingly busy by the time we leave in early-mid Sunday afternoon.

4. Best parking place!
Without a doubt - downstairs in the garage/loading area. It's infinitely less busy with closer spaces and only a short elevator ride down from the registers/pickup/return area.

You can avoid the mess at the upstairs loading area, especially if it's busy. Even if you're not loading up, it's still an easier in and out from the parking lot - a lot of people don't even seem to realize that there IS a parking garage (you need to go PAST the store, as if you are heading out the exit, the garage entrance is past the loading docks on the right, although you can get there around either side of the building).

5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits.
Don't know.

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.
Come up the elevator, turn to the right and head past all the registers to the main/front entrance. Go around the escalator, through the door and up the stairs to the Restaurant area, then straight on from the top of the stairs and you'll be in kitchens in no time.

7. How to get to AS-IS
It's to the left of the checkout when you enter, to the right when you're approaching the registers from the warehouse area.

8. Other tips/tricks, like I know in my store they can ring you up in Kitchens so you don't have to hoof it downstairs and then wait an hour and a half for Cash and Carry. What secrets do you know?
Definitely get rung up in kitchens if they're not too busy.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Great! We now have new entries for Elizabeth, Paramus, IKEA Direct and updates to College Park and Stoughton. PLUS, I forgot to mention that we now have a listing for the store in Istanbul, Turkey thanks to our new member Sadun Anik.

Thanks all!!

Susan