Planning A Trip to Ikea Tomorrow, Have You Ever Been There?
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
Midland, Michigan
May 19, 2017 11:38am CST
My sister completely redid her kitchen in her condo a few years ago using Ikea products and she also used their cabinets in their living room, spare bedroom and entrance to help store her supplies used for crafts of different types. Her condo is on one floor and although she does rent a storage unit in a town nearby you don't want things you need more often there.
This past winter she purchased a little larger unit next to hers and now hers is being rented by someone she knows. She is in the process of converting the kitchen in her new place to Ikea cupboards too, which her partner is installing for her.
I've mentioned to her in the past that I've never been and would like to see their store. She has some returns to take back and offered to take me with her so I could see it before heading back to work soon. My daughters expressed interest in going too, so one will be driving and we'll be leaving just after lunch.
That situation provides possible fodder for another discussion so that's all I'll say now.
I don't plan on purchasing anything, but I might take measurements with me for later on. I guess they have just about everything now including a restaurant and my sister offered to buy my lunch.
I'm not an affiliate of this site or link either.
IKEA Home furnishings, kitchens, appliances, sofas, beds, mattresses
15 people like this
16 responses
@moffittjc (118458)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 17
I've never been to an IKEA, as the nearest one is an hour and a half away from where I live. But I keep hearing horror stories of how people go into their stores and get lost and never find their way back out again! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118458)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jun 17
@MarshaMusselman I have no doubt in my mind that they are a great company, and that their stores are fun to shop in!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Jun 17
@moffittjc If you ever go and don't want to overspend, leave your credit cards in the car or something so you can rethink a purchase before getting it.
They do have a return policy that lasts a whole year, probably because they know people have to drive hours to get to their locations. If an item is modified like painted or other things they still may take it back but at a reduced price.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 May 17
I think you've been listening to the wrong stories. I heard that it's hard to leave, but it didn't seem all that bad to me. I was surprised at how much merchandise they got into each and every corner of the place and some of the duplicate items on both floors, but that was helpful too as then we didn't need to go back upstairs if we decided before leaving that we did want something we found there.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
I might remember my camera and I'll have more to share after my return. My sister goes there a lot, but she has more money to spend than I do. I'd rather eat with any extra we have for starters.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
21 May 17
@CRK109 My sister bought me lunch and she was going to give me twenty dollars for spending money if I found anything little I might want. I ended up spending thirty some dollars and didn't use her twenty. She did buy me a pair of gardening gloves that she's gotten before and really likes and some type of rolls we saw when we got there.
My daughter didn't want to spend more than two hundred dollars, but she wanted newer matching bath towels and several other things. She went seven dollars over her goal and did a great job with what she got. We all went home with something. My oldest daughter doesn't like shopping a whole lot, but there's so many things to look at that even she enjoyed herself.
We were there from about three o'clock this afternoon unto 8:30 when we got into the checkout lanes.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
21 May 17
@MarshaMusselman I know that feeling. My last vet bill for my cat almost wiped out my bank account so I'll be looking for bargains at the grocery store for the next few weeks until my next check comes in. It's one thing when it's a necessity. Another thing to go shopping just because.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
20 May 17
I have never been to IKEA. Unfortunately, the nearest store is hours away from where we live.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
22 May 17
@MarshaMusselman the nearest one to us is a 5 hour drive. I'll shop locally and save money on gas. LOL.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
The one in Michigan is two to two and a half hours from where we are too, that's why I've not been there yet and also because I work almost every day and money is limited. I'd not thought to make the trip to just look around. I have seen their stuff first hand as my sister has a lot in her condo and she gave me a catalog some years ago.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 May 17
@ElusiveButterfly Five hours is too long of a drive, i totally agree with that. If it was that far from us then I think I'd hope to find one when going to visit out of state or something if one were nearer to relatives or something. Otherwise, I'd stay away too.
I prefer shopping locally, usually, and don't shop too much online because of that.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
25 May 17
I love visiting IKEA, we usually eat lunch there too, great Swedish meatballs.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 May 17
@MarshaMusselman Very affordable that is for sure.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 May 17
That's what my sister and her partner usually buy, so both me and one daughter also got that and it was quite good. My two daughters split two dessert items too and shared a bit with me and my sister. Great food and great prices.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
20 May 17
@MarshaMusselman The fidelity card is free, you pay nothing to have one.
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
I'm sure I won't be going often enough to buy a fidelity card if they even have them here. My sister offered to buy me lunch. I should be buying her lunch since she's spending her birthday with me, but it's our last good day before I begin working again.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 May 17
There is an IKEA not too far from where I live.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
19 May 17
Have you been there before? Someone else lives within an hour from a store but has yet to go.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 May 17
@MarshaMusselman I have been there every now and then.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 May 17
I can't imagine not wanting to buy anything. I did pretty good at leaving things be until the last hour or so when we got to the smaller kitchen gadgets. Some were under a dollar or at least under six dollars.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
19 May 17
I've wanted to go for a few years but it's never been possible for me since I'm usually working one job or the other and I've never been and don't have gps so I may not find it on my own. This will be a lot more fun going with my sister and daughters.
Plus now, my one knee doesn't hurt at all, and I can walk further without pain or stiffness or getting tired out.
@Marilynda1225 (79769)
• United States
19 May 17
I haven't been to IKEA in many years but they are like Disneyland for home goods! Hope you enjoy your IKEA experience
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
19 May 17
Thanks, Marilyn. I'll be with a great group of girls, my sister and both daughters, so I think we'll have fun. The main thing will be to be in agreement to how long to stay.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
20 May 17
OH my oh my for someone who hates shopping this is a nightmare for me I would never ever step inside this store again.
My wife asked me to take her there. We had not been for around 10 years so the memory of how horrible it was had faded somewhat. We got to the store and started to walk around. After about ten minutes I felt completely awful, trapped like a caged animal, I had to leave the store and as fast as possible. The only problem is you have to follow their designated route. Just when you think you are nearly out you discover that you have to repeat the same distance on the ground floor with no route to escape. ( I should have gone through a fire exit and blow the consequences).
I left my wife to it, telling her to take her time. (In man speak that's about 20 minutes) Two and a half hours later she came out. 
I will never ever, even if my life depended on it, go anywhere near that shop again.
Be careful with your knees in there, there is a hell of a lot of walking. It is my worst nightmare.
I will never ever, even if my life depended on it, go anywhere near that shop again.
Be careful with your knees in there, there is a hell of a lot of walking. It is my worst nightmare.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
My knees or at least the new knee should be fine. I plan on taking some pain pills for the one that isn't new yet just in case. I'm not a shopper but I've already heard that you can't get out easily, and I'm game.
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
20 May 17
I used to be crazy about IKEA years ago but since we got one in our city I am less into them. Anyway We did buy bookshelves, redone our bathroom and a kitchen table along with other small items
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 May 17
It's a good thing we don't have one in our city, or I might be spending too much of my time and money there. Although not having the lengthy drive would be nice too.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
20 May 17
My favorite store, its fun just to walk through it and not buy a thing. I have purchased lots there over the years. I love their rugs.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
I'm going to measure a few spaces in the house, but I really can't buy anything at all at present. This is mainly my introduction to their store since I've never been yet. My older daughter's never been there either, but the younger one has. THey're both going too.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
20 May 17
@MarshaMusselman bow that is really difficult especially for me.lol
Anyways good luck
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
19 May 17
I'm certainly looking forward to checking it out. The plan will be to not want to come again soon to spend money there too.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
19 May 17
Yes, I have an Ikea about 5 minutes away by car. I have been there several times and have purchased a few things over the years. Have fun looking around and planning for the future. 
1 person likes this
@Blockparty49 (114)
• Avon, Connecticut
19 May 17
There is an IKEA about 45 minutes from where I live, I have never been, but always wanted to go there.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
19 May 17
I hear it's not easy to get out quick, so you almost have to plan on several hours there. The carts are only in the entry area or therabouts and if you decide later you want a cart you have to go all the way back. We expect to be there about four hours plus a meal, I think unless we stay until they close as we're not leaving our house until after lunch.
Where in CT is Avon? I lived in New London back in 1982. Gorgeous area.
