60% of Ikea purchases are NOT why you went there

[kenny]

How Ikea tricks you into buying more stuff

The home furnishings giant enlists a maze-like layout, cheap food, and crafty psychology to get you to fill up your cart.

thehustle.co

 

[telephone89]

If I only wanted to buy the specific thing I wanted I'd shop online! Otherwise I love winding through the maze and looking at everything lol.

 

[Ally T]

I'd go in just to buy a light bulb, as long as I could go & eat meatballs & gravy in the cafe on the way through

 

[dk168]

All the Ikeas I have visited have a short cut, allowing one to bypass most of the displays to go straight to the restaurant etc...

That's what I do, go straight to the restaurant for some food, then the Market Place.

I seldom go to Ikea as the nearest one is an hour's drive away which is a bit too long just for some meatballs when I can make them at home!

DK

 

[Austina]

We went a couple of weeks ago, and got 100% of what we actually went for (trays and bathrobes)

 

[jaysonsmom]

I usually stick to my list....with an occasional ice cream cone on my way out

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

My Swedish friend has adult kids living all over the world
When they get homesick they go and eat the meatballs

Ive never seen an ikea
They leave NZ off a world map they sell
I beleave they are coming to NZ but they won't be anywhere near us

flat pack leaves me a bit cold to be honest

 

[Bron357]

I love me an IKEA trip.
I load up that trolley woo hoo.
I like their paper napkins, their candles and plants. Cheapest live plants around. Especially their orchids.
And I love a flat pack assembly.

 

[Polished]

I went there with my brother and as we were walking through I remember him, not getting anything, but wanting so much of what was there. I didn't desire a thing. It's funny how sibs can be so different. Not that I didn't enjoy my wander through the store especially with his enthusiasm. We went off somewhere else for lunch.

But isn't the whole goal of Ikea to be a one stop shop for all your household requirements. A "don't bother going anywhere else, we'll look after you" approach. The reverse of what as consumers we should be doing.

We do have a friend who is brilliant at getting their bargains. The disposed of cupboard pieces, doors, nuts and bolts. He really does get rock bottom bargains that he puts to good use.

 

[Austina]

As flat packs go, theirs are some of the best I’ve had. Everything lined up, all the screws and bolts were there, and they were easy to put together.

 

[Garnetgirl]

I love so much of the stuff at IKEA, but I’m not an impulse buyer. I take shortcuts through the store, only look for what I intend to buy.

That way I have more $ for bling!

 

[missy]

I love IKEA yet have never eaten at the restaurant there. Maybe one day.
As for impulse buying I am guilty. But when we go (and it's been years since before the pandemic) we have a list and get what we need and then maybe make one or two impulse buys. But they are always purchases I need. Well, almost always.

 

[tyty333]

Thankful that I do not have an IKEA store nearby. I don't usually impulse buy but sounds like I could come up with
reasons(excuses) to buy quite a bit there.

 

[Ionysis]

Where I live IKEA is used for extended family days out on weekends. People go with their 7 kids, cousins, older parents and friends, block the aisles bickering amiably and munching meatballs for lunch. I only go during the week!

 

[jaysonsmom]

Where I live IKEA is used for extended family days out on weekends. People go with their 7 kids, cousins, older parents and friends, block the aisles bickering amiably and munching meatballs for lunch. I only go during the week!

I remember IKEA used to have a childcare (ball pit) area where parents could just drop off their kids and shop to their hearts content. I don’t know if they still have that since my kids are all grown….but I remember IKEA workers saying that they have seen parents drop off their kids for free childcare, and actually leave and go elsewhere for a whole day! Probably get lunch, catch a movie etc….

 

[Ally T]

I remember IKEA used to have a childcare (ball pit) area where parents could just drop off their kids and shop to their hearts content. I don’t know if they still have that since my kids are all grown….but I remember IKEA workers saying that they have seen parents drop off their kids for free childcare, and actually leave and go elsewhere for a whole day! Probably get lunch, catch a movie etc….

There is still a huge play zone / ball pit area at the one near to us (which was the UK flagship store). It has been closed the last two years, but I believe it's open again now.

Imagine dropping your children off & GOING ELSEWHERE FOR THE DAY??!!

 

[Ionysis]

The kids zone is limited to an hour at the one near me. They take your phone number and hound you until you come back and get them LOL!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I'd go in just to buy a light bulb, as long as I could go & eat meatballs & gravy in the cafe on the way through

I legitimately go in there just for lunch and a slice of whatever cake they're serving

 

[kenny]

I'm surprised more of the large stores don't have some kind of restaurant, like IKEA.

Back in my day (when a slice of pie was 15 cents) the major department stores all had a place to eat before going back and buying more stuff.
Even dime stores had what they called a "counter".

 

[seaurchin]

There is still a huge play zone / ball pit area at the one near to us (which was the UK flagship store). It has been closed the last two years, but I believe it's open again now.

Imagine dropping your children off & GOING ELSEWHERE FOR THE DAY??!!

Oh I know. I never understood people who could just plop their kids down anywhere. Yikes!

 

[LilAlex]

...generally because they are either out of stock or because you gave up in the pre-checkout warehouse. This was our COVID-era experience helping a kid move into his new apartment.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Where I live IKEA is used for extended family days out on weekends. People go with their 7 kids, cousins, older parents and friends, block the aisles bickering amiably and munching meatballs for lunch. I only go during the week!

Sounds like the ideal enviroment for a super spreader even

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I'm surprised more of the large stores don't have some kind of restaurant, like IKEA.

Back in my day (when a slice of pie was 15 cents) the major department stores all had a place to eat before going back and buying more stuff.
Even dime stores had what they called a "counter".

The big dept stores had tea rooms in them when i was a kid
(before we had MacDonalds etc)

They had mother's rooms where she could nurse and change the baby and heat up milk and have a sit down and a rest
remember when there used to be a big comfy chair up by the counter in every dept?

anyway i miss those little triangle sandwiches in the cabinet under the doilie
And the juice fountain up by the cash register and we drank out of a glass not a can or a bottle
And the cakes
a million different kind of cream cakes not a muffin or a doughnut in sight

 

[TooPatient]

Just got hold of two more IKEA bookcases! I need two 79" tall standard width plus one or two narrow. Managed to get hold of two narrow for pickup but missed out on the standard width. At least I know better than to rush down and hope they have some in store. Last time, I got there to find no bookcases. Did have more of the shelves I needed plus two small tables and two step down cube things for DH's office. Not what I was after, but was helpful as it addressed a couple of spots I had been trying to figure out what to do about.

I know how to skip the whole store and get to the warehouse part or just get what I want so no need to wander through unless I want. When I do wander through, it is because I want something to do this or that but am not quite sure what a good option would be. Then I just sort of wander until I see something that looks right.