View Full Version : S/O IKEA thread: how does shopping there work?
I know IKEAs are pretty much self-serve, but how does it work for those larger furniture pieces? Is there anyone available to help you get a big piece to your car? Will I have more luck if I can arrange to go on a weekday?
I think I want an Expedit (not even the biggest, but the 2x4 one) but DH will hate the whole IKEA experience so I have to go it alone. I might be able to get my mom to come with me, but she's a 5' tall weakling too.
kijip
08-29-2009, 12:25 AM
The Expedits IIRC are flat packed and self serve, you don't have to go to furniture pick up for it. I have never needed help loading so I don't know if they will or not, however I have never seen an IKEA employee loading a car unless it was from the larger furniture pick up area. Things come in several boxes, I can usually manage them on my own even if they are large.
You can pay for delivery. My car was too small for a bed and two dressers so I paid them a small fee and they delivered it the next day.
elektra
08-29-2009, 12:31 AM
You can totally do the 2x4 expedit with you and your mom. You could probably just do it solo too. Like Katie said, it comes flat. I have had a bunch of ikea pieces through the years and I have yet to get anything that is not packed flat. My guess is that the couches have to be delivered (I have never bought a couch there) but most everything is in flat boxes.
Veronica's Mommy
08-29-2009, 12:31 AM
You can do a stock-check for your store @ ikea.com. If an item is not available, they sometimes give an estimate of when it will be in. I would definitely check before you go; last time we went was around this time of year (back to college) and they were sold out of what we wanted.
It's flat packed. For some things, they are self-serve (the 2x4 EXPEDIT should be one of them), whereas somethings require that you order it a kiosk upstairs and then wait for it at a pick-up counter. They will help you load things into your car, but it's more ad hoc - you have to ask one of the people standing out in the loading area.
jess_g
08-29-2009, 08:55 AM
Just wanted to add to what pp have said that you can ask for help from a desk at the self serve area and they will help you put the box in your cart for you. It is a real help as sometimes the boxes can be quite heavy.
Jessica.
You can pay for delivery. My car was too small for a bed and two dressers so I paid them a small fee and they delivered it the next day.
Oh, I forgot to say that I live much to far away for the regular delivery-- I'd be hit with those crazy delivery charges.
You can do a stock-check ...I would definitely check before you go; last time we went was around this time of year (back to college) and they were sold out of what we wanted.
Yes, I knew this, but I forgot about back-to-school. Thanks! Because the IKEA is so far I am definitely planning this trip. I've got a good list going from the several must-have threads. (I almost wish we didn't have these threads... there's so much I want I think I need to rent a van!)
Just wanted to add to what pp have said that you can ask for help from a desk at the self serve area and they will help you put the box in your cart for you. It is a real help as sometimes the boxes can be quite heavy.
Thanks. Glad to hear others have been able to ask for help. I know IKEA stuff is flat-packed but in general that stuff can be quite heavy.
For those who have bought the 2x4 Expedit, is the box pretty compact? If I don't rent a van I will need to fit it in my Prius.
kijip
08-29-2009, 02:50 PM
For those who have bought the 2x4 Expedit, is the box pretty compact? If I don't rent a van I will need to fit it in my Prius.
We brought ours home in my dad's minivan. I think it would have fit in the trunk/cabin passthrough in our Camry but we were getting a 5 x 5 at the same time and that was NOT going to fit in a sedan. The 2 x 4 is about 5 feet long so you would need to be able to get a 5 foot+ long box in the Prius, which is going tobe more than a foot wide. Maybe without a passenger that would work?
Andi98989
08-29-2009, 02:59 PM
If this is what you're looking at getting, the dimensions and weight are on the page (there's a package dimensions and weight link at the bottom):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086
Width:16 1/8"
Height:8 1/4"
Length:58 5/8"
Weight:71lb
DebbieJ
08-29-2009, 07:41 PM
I can always find people to help at my IKEA. It does help having an obviously pregnant belly, though. :)
If this is what you're looking at getting, the dimensions and weight are on the page (there's a package dimensions and weight link at the bottom):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086
Width:16 1/8"
Height:8 1/4"
Length:58 5/8"
Weight:71lb
Oh, thanks! I saw the product dimensions but hadn't seen the package dimensions link. That will fit (if I take out the carseat and fold down the seats)-- I was just checking the car today.
Of course, now I am thinking of another place in my house that could use an Expedit... so the space in my car is going fast...
You know what helps to get IKEA furniture in your car? If you have munched on some of their swedish meatballs for lunch -- seriously, they are good! And if you want, they will put the brown gravy on your fries too. It's really yummy!!! Have a nice time at IKEA...it's one of my favorite places to shop!!!:)
lchang25000
08-30-2009, 12:01 AM
I don't recommend you loading/unloading the Expedit by yourself to and from the car. It's quite heavy to maneuver it though you might be able to place it into the shopping dolly yourself. I could ask for help from someone who works there unless you brought someone strong.
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