Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-04-30 13:54:52 +0100, "Clive George"
said:

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:4818456a@qaanaaq...

I don't want to have to trail around the store to get one thing

Do it at a quiet time, and just think of it as exercise :-)

I have much more enjoyable ways of getting that


But they say it makes you go blind

On 2008-04-30 17:32:24 +0100, Stuart Noble
said:

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-04-30 13:54:52 +0100, "Clive George" said:

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:4818456a@qaanaaq...

I don't want to have to trail around the store to get one thing

Do it at a quiet time, and just think of it as exercise :-)

I have much more enjoyable ways of getting that


But they say it makes you go blind

I'd be careful after your comments about donkeys......

On 30/04/2008 16:11, Bruce wrote:

Kopparberg pear cider

I think Tesco and Sainsbury sell that thesedays

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:09:46 +0100, Andy Hall wrote:

On 2008-04-30 08:45:11 +0100, Andy Burns
said:

On 30/04/2008 08:41, robert wrote:

Very difficult to "wander" around IKEA and it takes for ever to get to
the checkout.

If you look behind you there are generally several shortcuts ...

If you can bring yourself to go in in the first place.


I can appreciate IKEA's business model and their reasonable value for
money. For me, the problem is the shopping experience. I don't
want to have to trail around the store to get one thing and the short
cuts usually have to be pointed out and opened by a staff member.

Warehouse picking and not having confirmed knowledge of availability
before going is no good, and then having to arrange delivery separately
is unreasonable.

Added to this the meatballs and lingonberries in the restaurant are
crap.

Invariably I go to IKEA for good value medium quality flat pack furniture
usually for mid-market landlords.

How to tame the beast...
0) Forget Saturday.
1) Have a van (or estate car + roof rack).
2) Park near where you will come out of the store.
3) Know the products so that you don't have to see what it's like in the
showrooms.
4) Check, online, that your nearest branch has them in stock.
5) Ideally arrive at the opening time. If early have a free coffee.
6) Know how your local store is laid out.
5) Go straight to the checkout and enter the warehouse section directly
from the checkout area. This may involve stepping around the barrier at a
closed checkout.
6) Get aisle/bay numbers from touch terminal, and trolley(s) from the
same area at the start of the warehouse section.
7)Load
8) Pay (no queues as no one else will be a the checkouts yet!).
9) Load van and away.

Maximum time 30 minutes from vehicle back to vehicle.


















--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

Andy Burns wrote:

On 30/04/2008 16:11, Bruce wrote:

Kopparberg pear cider

I think Tesco and Sainsbury sell that thesedays


I've only ever bought it at IKEA, but apparently it is the UK's #1
seller, so it must be sold at other outlets too.

On 2008-04-30 18:15:40 +0100, Ed Sirett said:

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:09:46 +0100, Andy Hall wrote:

On 2008-04-30 08:45:11 +0100, Andy Burns
said:

On 30/04/2008 08:41, robert wrote:

Very difficult to "wander" around IKEA and it takes for ever to get to
the checkout.

If you look behind you there are generally several shortcuts ...

If you can bring yourself to go in in the first place.


I can appreciate IKEA's business model and their reasonable value for
money. For me, the problem is the shopping experience. I don't
want to have to trail around the store to get one thing and the short
cuts usually have to be pointed out and opened by a staff member.

Warehouse picking and not having confirmed knowledge of availability
before going is no good, and then having to arrange delivery separately
is unreasonable.

Added to this the meatballs and lingonberries in the restaurant are
crap.

Invariably I go to IKEA for good value medium quality flat pack furniture
usually for mid-market landlords.

How to tame the beast...
0) Forget Saturday.
1) Have a van (or estate car + roof rack).
2) Park near where you will come out of the store.
3) Know the products so that you don't have to see what it's like in the
showrooms.
4) Check, online, that your nearest branch has them in stock.
5) Ideally arrive at the opening time. If early have a free coffee.
6) Know how your local store is laid out.
5) Go straight to the checkout and enter the warehouse section directly
from the checkout area. This may involve stepping around the barrier at a
closed checkout.
6) Get aisle/bay numbers from touch terminal, and trolley(s) from the
same area at the start of the warehouse section.
7)Load
8) Pay (no queues as no one else will be a the checkouts yet!).
9) Load van and away.

Maximum time 30 minutes from vehicle back to vehicle.

A lot of research beforehand though... :-)

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-04-30 08:45:11 +0100, Andy Burns
said:

On 30/04/2008 08:41, robert wrote:

Very difficult to "wander" around IKEA and it takes for ever to get
to the checkout.

If you look behind you there are generally several shortcuts ...

If you can bring yourself to go in in the first place.


I can appreciate IKEA's business model and their reasonable value for
money. For me, the problem is the shopping experience. I don't
want to have to trail around the store to get one thing and the short
cuts usually have to be pointed out and opened by a staff member.

Shortcuts are signed in Thurrock + shown on maps.


Warehouse picking and not having confirmed knowledge of availability
before going is no good, and then having to arrange delivery
separately is unreasonable.

You can check availability on line.

Added to this the meatballs and lingonberries in the restaurant are
crap.

The hot dogs are great!


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 2008-05-01 02:49:35 +0100, Anne Jackson said:

You're both men, so you won't enjoy the Ikea experience. Women love Ikea!

Mine doesn't...

On 2008-05-01 03:08:03 +0100, Anne Jackson said:

The message from Andy Hall contains these words:
On 2008-04-30 17:32:24 +0100, Stuart Noble
said:
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-04-30 13:54:52 +0100, "Clive George"
said:

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
news:4818456a@qaanaaq...

I don't want to have to trail around the store to get one thing

Do it at a quiet time, and just think of it as exercise :-)

I have much more enjoyable ways of getting that


But they say it makes you go blind

I'd be careful after your comments about donkeys...

That wasn't Stuart. that was Huge!

Ah yes. Oh well, never mind.....

On 2008-05-01 02:59:22 +0100, Anne Jackson said:

The message from Andy Burns contains
these words:

On 30/04/2008 08:41, robert wrote:

Very difficult to "wander" around IKEA and it takes for ever to get to
the checkout.

If you look behind you there are generally several shortcuts ...

I don't 'follow the arrows' in Ikea, but then I was always
something of a rebel - or just a stroppy bitch?

Call it being an individual. I do.

"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:48196b9d@qaanaaq...
On 2008-05-01 02:49:35 +0100, Anne Jackson said:

You're both men, so you won't enjoy the Ikea experience. Women love
Ikea!

Mine doesn't...




Mine doesn't either.. she, like I, thinks Ikea is full of over priced, cheap
cr@p.
The only thing I find IKEA cheap for is glass for the top of desks.. you can
buy them separately so its an easy option.
I find MFI stuff to be much better but nowhere near as good as ASDA flat
pack (not that they do much).

On May 1, 3:08*am, Anne Jackson wrote:
The message from Andy Hall contains these words:





On 2008-04-30 17:32:24 +0100, Stuart Noble
said:
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-04-30 13:54:52 +0100, "Clive George"
said:

"Andy Hall" wrote in message
news:4818456a@qaanaaq...

I don't want to have to trail around the store to get one thing

Do it at a quiet time, and just think of it as exercise :-)

I have much more enjoyable ways of getting that

But they say it makes you go blind
I'd be careful after your comments about donkeys...

That wasn't Stuart. that was Huge!

Well, it was a donkey!

MBQ