[Narf]

Originally Posted by pugsluv

Burbank is the busiest store in the LA Market. Its hard to guage the best times to visit.

For those who want to know why this is so, it is because of the several of the movie studios are in the area, and they are known to literally buy stuff by the truckloads.

[kelly]

Interesting! See? IKEA is the stuff of which dreams are made!

[ELTAZ2]

I'm really not going to be much help, as I haven't had the opportunity to frequent IKEA much.

We just bought an entire kitchen (minus appliances) from IKEA Burbank. I see the review above, and just thought I might add:

- Yep, it took 2 hours from handing my receipt to the guy (who pulls it from the shelves) to actually being able to pick up my stuff. It was a Sunday evening, and was pretty busy, but not horribly horrendous. The toughest part was the terrible parking in the parking structures. IKEA Burbank is nestled in with a mall and TONS of restaurants - and they all share 3 parking structures. It's a hike to get from the parking structure to IKEA - you certainly don't want to be carrying anything heavy! It took 45 minutes (on a Sunday evening) to drive from the parking structure to the IKEA pick-up parking. Yep - it was just a huge traffic jam, plus wherever we needed to turn we weren't allowed to turn, so you have to really wind around and take long round-about ways to get there. TOTALLY ludicrous.

- To park in the super-convenient pick-up lot, you have to tell the guard that your picking up and that it's already been paid for. Supposedly there's a limit on how long you can park there (ie: 20 min?), but shoot since it took 45 minutes just to get to it from the parking structure AND they told me it would be a 2 hour wait, I just parked it there for the whole 2 hours and went and had dinner - nobody gave me any problems.

- The As-Is section is through the checkout lanes, then down the small hallway to the left. They've got a HUGE bin of hardware. I think those ones you do have to purchase. Over at the customer service desk, to the left on the wall, there's an organized bin area that has all sorts of hardware for free!


IKEA San Diego
- The As-Is section is through the checkout lanes then straight ahead on the left.

- Parking here is a bit cramped (because the parking lot is shared by some restaurants and some other big-name stores), but it's nothing compared to Burbank!!! I find the best parking straight out the doors or to the rows on either side.



I've never done smallland (I know the San Diego one requires the child to be potty-trained).

I would definitely suggest going during the weekday rather than the weekend.

~Elizabeth

[zeuss]

1. Store name/location
Coquitlam, British Columbia
(suburban Vancouver) I'm super lucky for an IkeaFan - I live 5mins away from this (realitively)new store.

2. Phone Numbers
Sorry, I never phone them - like I say, I'm 5 mins away.

3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
This store is unbelievably busy at all times. But avoid rainy weekends at all costs! I usually try to arrive at 10am opening weekdays so I can get to the line-up first. But there will always be a crowd there waiting for the store to open. Nice thing is they have coffee and croisants from 9:30-10:00 to make the wait easier.

4. Best parking place!
I always park on the roof because it is so easy to load or get help to loading. The pick-up area, return/exchange desk and self-serve check-out are all handy to the roof parking. There is close family and expectant moms' parking up there as well.

5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits.
Always 1 hours only (Not enough by any means!)

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.
There are a few minor short cuts you can take, but basically it is halfway through the meandering path.

7. How to get to AS-IS
Right past the check-outs.

8. Other tips/tricks
When the kitchen area is busy, they will call your cell when it is your turn.
Otherwise, there is always a sign-up sheet on a clipboard in the kitchen area. Make sure you get on that list and you won't have any problems.

To make your wait at the pick-up area shorter, make sure you pay for those items as soon as possible. They don't start finding your order until you've paid. Then go and do your self-serve shopping and pay for that. Then your pick-up order should be waiting for you.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Wow, guys! All these details plus some email I received yesterday updates/creates 4 stores! Thanks so much. I'm a bit behind on getting updates, but I hope to do it tomorrow.

Susan

[Minmin]

I must confess that I haven't been to an Ikea since shortly before the new year, but I feel a need to go, and soon...

In the interim, here's my skinny on the Hicksville Store:
1. Store name/location
Hicksville, L.I.

2. Phone Numbers
Sorry, I have only phoned them once; they did call back, but it took two days.

3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
I generally go around 5-6 p.m. on weekends, or--if I can't help it--EARLY on weekends. I'm coming from the West (NYC) so it's best to avoid any driving on the highways during summer weekends, unless you don't mind beach and shopping traffic.

4. Best parking place!
There are three places to park: a structure (I usually avoid that since it's got an interesting traffic pattern), and open lots in front of and behind Ikea (The Ikea is slightly attached to the Broadway Wall). I usually park in one of the open lots; which one depends on which direction I came from.

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

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.
About a year or so ago they renovated and made the shortcuts not NEARLY as efficient. However, go up the stairs, wander past the initial living room displays and couches then cut across to your right. I'll double check that, but that seems to be it.

7. How to get to AS-IS
Go in through the exits (check-outs) and look to the left. It's a pretty big As-Is and usually got some good buys.

8. Other tips/tricks
Most of the people in the kitchens area are good, and friendly, but I have no neat tricks or tops to pass on.

[LolaGeek]

I just discovered this web site, so I'm still poring through everything, but this listing of store information is an excellent idea! I live very close to Ikea Conshohocken, and go there all the time, so I can write a review on it, but I want to make a trip there first and take notes on all the shortcuts, etc. you're asking about. So hopefully I'll be reporting back in a couple days.

[aafuss]

1. Store name
IKEA Logan
3539-3565 Pacific Highway
Slacks Creek
QLD 4127, Australia
2.Phone numbers:
07 3380 6800 (as printed in the catalogue). I'd check instore for the other numbers.

1300 799 289-for kitchen assembly (operated by Aussemble)


3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
Opening day was slow going. Mondays or Thursday are fine.

4. Best parking place!
Probably the car park (at the old store you could park outside-not at this one).
5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits.
Don't know!

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.

IKEA Springwood had a nice shortcut-I think through Office or bedroom. At Logan a couple of shortcuts-easy to find!

7. How to get to AS-IS
Near the checkouts/warehouse area

[LolaGeek]

1. Store name/location
Conshohocken, PA

3. Best time/day to visit - also, times to avoid
Best: any weekday, day or evening (even Fridays)
Worst: weekends!

4. Best parking place!
Underground parking - when you enter off Chemical Rd., continue past the parking lot in front of the store, down the ramp to the underground parking area. Ideal spot there would be as close as possible to the doors, and either equidistant between the enter and exit doors, or maybe a little closer to the exit side. Either way, there are spots by the doors for loading if you purchase large items.

5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits.
I don't own any children, but I asked at the desk tonight and they said all deposits are for one hour.

6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc.
Upstairs/Showroom Shortcuts:
- to Marketplace & Cafe = turn left immediately at top of stairs
- to Kitchens = through Wall Units
- to Bedrooms = through Kitchens
- to Children/Marketplace & Cafe = through Kitchens
Downstairs/Marketplace Shortcuts:
- to Rugs = turn right immediately at bottom of stairs
- to Cooking & Eating = through Home Organization
- to Cooking & Eating = through Home Decoration

7. How to get to AS-IS
Before the check-outs, past the aisles of self-serve furiture, all the way to the right.

8. Other tips/tricks
Not really a tip, but on Wednesday nights a jazz group performs in the Cafe. Also, they used to have weekly dance lessons and performances (definitely swing dancing, maybe other styles as well), though I didn't see any signs about that on my latest trip there, so it might not take place any more.

[ikeaopklompen]

1. Store name/location: IKEA Amsterdam
Hullenbergweg 2
1101 BL Amsterdam Z.O.
2. phone numbers: 0900-2354532 (all Dutch Ikea's), fax 020-5648784
business: 0900-1447, fax 020-5646901
3. Best time/day to visit: quiet times: usually monday, tuesday, thursday before 3-4 pm, busy times saturday, sunday.
times to avoid: general: pay at least 15 min. before closing, to avoid long waiting times at checkouts; and late afternoons on saturday and sundays. also to avoid: eastermonday, christmas holidays
4. Best parking place! Usually I go there by bike
5. Avg. time allowed for Smalland deposits. Don't know
6. Shortcuts to Kitchens, etc. In Amsterdam the shop is remodeled, 1/3 of the shop is empty, and moved elsewhere in the building. On 13th July they should be ready.
7. How to get to AS-IS, located just before the checkouts, on the right side, so pick a leaflet at the entrance and find your way!
8. Other tips/tricks: Cash is not taken at more than half of the checkouts, PIN is accepted at all checkouts.