I think I'll reclaim my chintz after the amount of stress they cause

Tracey, Australia

We have had several Ikea experiences both in Purley Way hell and now in Sydney. We've had a bed delivered with no mattress - the deliverymen didn't think we'd need it. Also, a sofa was delivered, almost. As it wouldn't fit through the door of the flat, they left it in the hall. Never again. I think I'll reclaim my chintz after the amount of stress they cause.
Tracey, Australia

I am a student and I have Ikea furniture. My friends are students and they have Ikea furniture. C'est la vie.
Matthew, USA

Where are all those meatballs everyone talks about?? Never seen those on Purley Way

Anne, UK

We own quite a few pieces of Ikea furniture, curtains, rugs, lights etc. Our kitchen table is great, the curtains are nice (though look a bit simple), the rugs are now filthy (never buy white). The computer desk I am at now is a bit wobbly and the sofa slats broke after 2 days. The baby-changing table was damaged when we opened the box and the store is too big. The worst bit is when you are walking through the area with the huge shelves of boxes only to discover that the thing you want is at the top. It smells funny too. But for price it does well. And where are all those meatballs everyone talks about?? Never seen those on Purley Way.
Anne, UK

I recently bought a set of shelves from Ikea. When I got home and opened the packaging, I was extremely frustrated to find that the fixtures were not included. I therefore, had the hassle of returning to the store at a later date to purchase fixtures so that I could put up the shelves. Surely it would be easier to include all fixtures and fittings with the units or specify clearly on the label, if they had to be purchased separately.
Joanna Randall, UK

When I lived in the Chicago area I was happy when I learned that the Swedish store Ikea had opened in the neighbourhood

Josefine Malmberg, Sweden

When I lived in the Chicago area I was happy when I learned that the Swedish store Ikea had opened in the neighbourhood. Then my friends and I could make trips there at the weekend to buy Swedish meatballs, pancakes and even all sort of candy. We were not interested in the furniture at all!
Josefine Malmberg, Sweden

Anyone who is complaining about Ikea is very, very obviously NOT a young bachelor.
Kristian, Canada

We came to NZ in 1997. There is NO Ikea here - the nearest is in Sydney, Australia - and we miss it. The way we have come to describe it is Habitat looks at MFI prices. Please Ikea come to New Zealand!!
Sharon, New Zealand

We bought a bed-settee in Delft but the delivery service was a real pain. The first team refused to move it upstairs so we told them to take it back, the second team brought it upstairs, but it was filthy, so then they had to deliver a new cover. Tip: avoid the delivery service.
David Martin, Holland

I use an old Ikea wardrobe in my garage to hold car parts

Paul, USA

After a long wait for our Ikea store in San Francisco, I have had my meatball fix once again. Having lived in Canada and Belgium, Ikea was part of our young marriage, and first apartments. After some years, it's now candles, lights, garden bits, and other home accessories, but no more furniture. I use an old Ikea wardrobe in my garage to hold car parts now.
Paul, USA

I've seen more pregnant women per square foot in Ikea than in your average hospital. I'm not sure how they're supposed to lug anything to the checkouts.
Eddie Talbot, UK

When I first moved to Canada in 1980, Ikea was a godsend. Nice looking new furniture? And cheap - whoo-hoo! BUT- it didn't take long to realise I had bought JUNK! After that, I bought 1920's furniture from second-hand stores - same price, but made of WOOD! AND, you know what? The longer I own it, the more my friends like it. The Ikea stuff? ALL given away over time.
Stuart Sanders Canada

I have 2 clocks, 2 lamps and some garden furniture from Ikea. Its all been very good. I know I wouldn't furnish my entire house with it. I do enjoy going around the store looking at everything. I've been to a store in the US and the UK. And like almost everything in the UK they too are way over priced for some reason?
Michael, USA

The real meatballs are those people who buy into this rubbish!

Peter C. Kohler, USA

I had no idea you British also have to now endure the Ikea 'lifestyle.' With its naff laminated particle board 'furniture', an insufferable in-your-face advertising campaign (insult, denigrate and then ask you for your custom!) and a 'green' attitude instantly made laughable when you discover you cannot reach any of the stores other than by private car. The real meatballs are those people who buy into this rubbish!
Peter C. Kohler, USA

In the year of the Jubilee Ikea is opening in Rome! I've been waiting for years and learned by heart the catalogue: I can call any piece by name, size, colour, etc. Do you want to came and queue with us?
Amanda, Italy

Just looked around a house with a view to buying. We were proudly shown the Ikea kitchen and both decided at that point not to buy.
George, UK

An ad campaign that told the British we were stuffy and useless. Another ad campaign that told us all to get divorced so they could sell more sofas. Plus the fact that you can't get there without a car and their stores are monstrosities that pollute the outskirts of our cities. Yeah, thanks Ikea!
Catherine, UK

Non-standard fittings on lamps are one of the most annoying things about Ikea.

Lesley, England

Non-standard fittings on lamps are one of the most annoying things about Ikea. The store is set out so that you have to walk around it all to get what you want. They never seem to have any catalogues. But, it is cheap for people who like that sort of thing...
Lesley, England

McFurniture!
Ben, Netherlands

We know when our friends have been to Ikea because their rooms look like ours! The ball-park is a great place to leave the kids and the meals are good value too. We always pick up some gl�gg from the Swedish food shop. We always try to go once a month.
Peter and Pauline Swynford, UK

Neologism king, Douglas Coupland has recognised disposable Swedish furniture as an integral part of the Gen-X lifestyle. As the UK becomes more like California was 5 years ago, this will continue. Whether it's good or bad depends upon your lifestyle aspirations.
Paul, UK

Really, don't bother unless you're desperate!

David, UK

Oh, the saga of our Ikea wardrobes. Flat pack too heavy and big for car. Paid extra to get it delivered by Ikea. Flat pack fell off the lorry - some parts got damaged. Phoned customer service and was held in a queue. Took damaged parts back for replacement - queued in customer service department. Got new parts home, guess what - they weren't made correctly and wouldn't fit. Took parts back. Queued again. Finally exchanged for new correctly made parts. Grand total; 3 visits, 60 miles, over an hour queuing. Got home. Assembled wardrobes. Then realised that wardrobes could not be moved as they'd just fall to bits due to combination of heavy materials and flimsy construction. Moved home. Left wardrobes behind. Hooray!
Then there was the Ikea dining table with half the screws missing.... And the Ikea halogen light with bits missing too.... Really, don't bother unless you're desperate!
David, UK

IKEA seems to appeal more to women than to men. I like to spend as little time shopping as possible. At Ikea this is impossible. I believe Ikea could be sued for mental cruelty to men.
Keith Tomlins, England

The last time I was in an Ikea store I got a bad attack of claustrophobia and couldn't find the way out - they should be charged with unlawful imprisonment of their customers.
Chris, UK

t promises one stop solution to your home deco needs and delivers frustration and terrible quality goods.

Nick, UK

I am an Ikea fool. It promises one stop solution to your home deco needs and delivers frustration and terrible quality goods. Definitely my most hated shopping experience. Aside from the awful queues, lack of stock, and misplaced stock and the time it takes to find anything. All the goods are badly made. My desk cracked as soon as I put a screw in and is the most wobbly desk I have ever had - cabinet door split within a week. No wonder they're environmentally friendly - no tree has ever been involved in their products, just some form of flexible syntho-chipboard... At least their towels work
Nick, UK

The "don't be so English" campaign was so smug and patronising that I do not wish to give them my custom ever again.
Duncan Campbell, UK

Ikea ruins your weekend - it's as simple as that. You spend hours trying to get there stuck in traffic, when you arrive the place is swarming with people which means you can't really move around and there isn't any service. Once you finally manage to leave the place a few hours later, having dragged yourself and several heavy boxes around their enormous warehouse, you arrive home to find that the piece of furniture you bought is missing two or three crucial screws. Back you go next weekend and do it all again!
Rupert, UK

We leave with a few candles, some jars of 'Abba' fish, and a belly full of meatballs and salmon. Bliss!

Ymke, UK

My partner and I don't schedule our weekends around Ikea, but when travelling we will make a long detour to stop at an Ikea at lunchtime. We leave with some great ideas for furniture (for when we finally get our own house), a great nostalgia for Sweden, a few candles, some jars of 'Abba' fish, and a belly full of meatballs and salmon. Bliss!
Ymke, UK

Maybe Ikea should spend some of its profits on an extra couple of lanes on the North Circular. I for one did not enjoy spending an hour or so moving 500 yards just to find all the meatballs were gone!
Richard Davids, England

I LOVE IKEA! I live in Ohio and the closest Ikea is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! It's such a fun trip and that big blue and yellow "box" greets us as we get off the expressway. My son now lives in Sweden, but too far north to take advantage of Ikea!! Boo-hoo for him! Quality is wonderful, price is great, store is fun......it's just an Ikea moment!
Kay Pefferly, USA

A number of years ago, I saw a comedy band called "Bent Double" perform a song called Ikea (to the tune of "Maria" from "West Side Story". The lyrics were:
"Ikea - my boyfriend's discovered Ikea And suddenly my flat Is filled with lots of tat, you see. Ikea - it's all made of chipboard veneer Ikea - I'll never stop paying - Ikea"
David T, UK

I hate the place, my wife loves it - a recipe for marital breakdown

Mark Evans, United Kingdom

Light fittings that require an electrician to install. Long, long lead times, no human contact, orders that never turn up at the agreed time. I hate the place, my wife loves it - a recipe for marital breakdown
Mark Evans, United Kingdom

I live in Cornwall, where were don't have an Ikea as yet. I have never been to an Ikea - I think the nearest is 180 miles away. Having read the other comments I' m not sure whether I should feel deprived or relieved.
Lynda, England

Ikea contributed to one of my funniest memories. I sold a black bookcase and sideboard through the paper. When the man came round - he paid me and I said I'd help him move them to his car. By the time we'd got to the car both units were totally broken - they just fell apart and we fell apart laughing. I had to give him his money back and he offered to take the resulting mess to the local rubbish dump. Don't ask me about Ikea quality!
David Gregory, UK

I had the bright idea of going to Ikea for a light bulb and ended up spending 400 pounds! I guess they must be doing something right.
Suckered, UK

I LOVE IT - Give me a bed there and I'll be happy.

Theresa, Australia

I LOVE IT - Give me a bed there and I'll be happy. It's just my husband finds it hard - still I can always find another one. LONG LIVE IKEA
Theresa, Australia

I seem to get to the Brent Park store about once a year. If you go by tube and then on foot it is a very unpleasant and pedestrian- unfriendly journey. I think that their products are generally very good but their attempts to turn their deficiencies into virtues simply backfire and grate with me. They "we're a victim of our own success" syndrome. Queues, lack of service and other problems are not the customer's fault!
Also they stubbornly refuse to do mail-order which could help a lot of people who would rather not face the ordeal of travelling to the store.
Patrick, UK

I lived in Norway for four years in an apartment full of Ikea furniture. The quality was poor and needed replacing at regular intervals. It may be cheap and cheerful, but it is poor value for money. Go for the plant pots etc., leave the furniture alone.
Adam Brudenell, UK

I'm not actually sure the people that own Ikea have actually ever shopped there. If they did, they would realise that walking around rat run of a store makes you feel like a herded sheep, not being able to find the product you want in a warehouse the size of a football pitch is frustrating.
This is the age of the internet! Give us discounts for online shopping, cheap or free delivery within a certain distance of the store, and stop making us feel like the store is doing the customer a favour by letting us buy goods!
Simon Gray, UK

Sherman was wrong - war isn't hell, Ikea is!

S McD, UK

Sherman was wrong - war isn't hell, Ikea is! Herded around like sheep by sulky unresponsive staff to then find your goods are not in the warehouse. PLEASE someone start competing with these guys.
S McD, UK

Every year or so we visit Ikea. And then remember why we vowed not to go back last time. Overpriced, overcrowded, poor service, stressful shopping - for your convenience, all under one roof. See you in a year when next we forget.
John Lawrence, UK

I'm a bit confused about Gary's comments about Swedish houses all looking the same. Well, I suppose you're right if you're talking about big, light and airy rooms, with no net curtains, furniture with simple lines, an emphasis on function rather than swirls, no dust collecting and bug infested carpets and an amazing lack of big dark pretend fire places... If Ikea can bring that to the UK they should be welcomed with open arms!
Lena, Swedish ex-pat in the UK

It's frightening to think that a company this size still doesn't work for the customer

William Crawley, England

It's frightening to think that a company this size still doesn't work for the customer, i.e. home deliveries have to be worked round them. They will not store anything for the customer as they have no insurance and if they cant fit a delivery in during the week you are there, they tell you have to come back the following week. I hope with these store increase they increase customer relations and satisfaction.
William Crawley, England

The legs fell off our Ikea sofa last night - enough said.
Julie, Oxfordshire, UK

I do not understand why Ikea does not use mail order or e-commerce. Most of their stores are given over to warehousing and the display part is not particularly appealing.
Gareth Edwards, UK

Ikea doesn't sell furniture, it sells kits to make furniture. Poor kits at that. One look at the queues in the returns department should be enough to put people off. Customer service is non-existent. Ikea - the Swedish word for 'parts missing'
Simon Rockman, UK

To me Ikea is an antidote to Laura Ashley and the general British taste for chintz which you can see even in the most down-to-earth DIY store giants (lovely flowery borders, dado rails, pastel colours etc.). Even though I think Ikea gets away with murder in terms of its customer service and complaints handling, I still need a "dose" of it every few months like one needs a breath of fresh air now and again.
Eva, UK

I am suffering dramatic withdrawal symptoms - we have moved to Adelaide in South Australia and there are no Ikea stores for miles. The nearest one is in Melbourne 9 hours drive away! How will we survive?
Lydia Rushton, Australia

I'm so glad to hear that Ikea causes traffic problems outside of the US! I thought we were the only ones forced to by rickety furniture at extremely high prices and fight crowds to do it! Of course that won't stop my fianc�e from dragging me there to by a living room set...
Mark Flower, San Diego, California USA

The success of Ikea now makes chintz hip and cool. Now what's the next big thing?

Mark Flett, UK

I thought the idea was to be distinctive. The success of Ikea now makes chintz hip and cool. Now what's the next big thing?
Mark Flett, UK

I have been to Ikea in North London twice and only twice. It is crowded, hot, and stressful. Their products are wonderful but the prospect of such a stressful shopping trip has put me off further shopping there. If they open a store in the Thames Valley, I may visit if the crowds subside and the store isn't so crowded.
Nora Bifil, England

Ikea has been a part of the Canadian landscape for more than 20 years. It provided much of the furniture for my first, second and third apartments. In fact, Ikea became one of the benchmarks upon which I measured my arrival into "adulthood" - I don't own ANY furniture from Ikea anymore. Although, I might have a few dishes....
Mary Henricksen, Canada

If we look at the business and retail environment, companies are now global players and we should understand that the best doesn't always have to be British

Mark Hull, UK

Although the parent company is based in another country, the positive effect that the stores have on the local economy, both employment figures and also in attracting visitors to other stores in the area, can only be a good thing. If we look at the business and retail environment, companies are now global players and we should understand that the best doesn't always have to be British. Ikea have got the right product for the right market and are subsequently very successful.
Mark Hull, UK

I'm from the Chicago area. Ikea opened a flagship store for the US in our area. The traffic and the lines are crazy. However, the store is filled with great furniture, kitchenware, and all sorts of things for the home at very reasonable prices. Tasteful, quality products that are affordable for the masses will always draw a crowd. It raises the bar for competitors and the consumer wins. How can this be anything but good?
David Berry, USA

I have used Ikea in the UK and Germany and find the prices in Germany far more reasonable. In part this is probably due to transportation costs but this can't account for all the price differences.
Chris, Germany

I have in front of me the identical IKEA catalogues for France, Switzerland and UK. UK prices are always highest (10-30%). Yet France has higher VAT although Switzerland has the higher cost of living! Another UK rip off. The longest waiting line at the IKEA in UK is for returned products. Quality is poor.
Sue Sell, Switzerland/UK

Ever since seeing the film "Fight Club", I have had serious reservations about shopping at Ikea. There is something inherently dehumanising about the place.
MA Bhatt, USA

What I hope doesn't happen in the UK is what has happened in Sweden. Every apartment you walk into looks exactly the same.

Gary Noel, Sweden

I'm a Welshman living in Sweden. What I hope doesn't happen in the UK is what has happened in Sweden. Every apartment you walk into looks exactly the same. A daft blue lamp in the corner, a naff 'casual' throw down rug with a cow on it, a funny shaped mirror that you can't see yourself in and a bunch of other stuff that looks just like the bunch of other stuff your friend had in his/her apartment. And all from IKEA. Of course all this 'environmentally friendly' stuff will have to be thrown out in about a year because it will look as equally 'in' as a dangle down belt. Please IKEA don't offend us with shallow guarantees of of your environment policies. Admit you make cheap rubbish, using slave labour from third world countries, and then have the nerve to make your customers do most of the assembly work.
Gary Noel, Sweden

The flat packs never have any bits missing and the build quality is excellent. The biggest problem is the parking which is why I never go at the weekend.
Frank Ashley, England

I have just finished my finals at Oxford and I am about to join the real world. The thought of shopping at Ikea has got me though, unfortunately, my boyfriend is scared so I have to go (at least once) with my friends before he comes to look at a list I will have made!
Clare Alexander, UK

Either the British are real suckers for a well-oiled publicity machine (and a self-feeding one to boot) or there is a lack of real competition to Ikea.

Kostas Laskaris, Switzerland

Either the British are real suckers for a well-oiled publicity machine (and a self-feeding one to boot) or there is a lack of real competition to Ikea. We have Ikea's here in Switzerland and in neighbouring France and they are popular ... deservedly so in my opinion. No hint of a mass Ikea-hysteria though. From my years in the UK I remember a certain other fad ... called HABITAT and Conran. Any one remember it now? I am told it still exists in some deeply unfashionable high street corners.
Kostas Laskaris, Switzerland

Ikea in London was misery. Trudge all the way through the crowded store only to find the shelves empty of the items you want. Dreadful levels of service, with no one seeming to know when the next batch of products would arrive. A helpline where it's almost impossible even to get in the long queue.
IKEA here in Switzerland is so much better. There are special play areas for children in the summer, and stalls outside selling fresh fruit and bread. All the shelves inside are orderly and have the goods displayed. The prices are lower. Only the expensive, inflexible delivery and the total lack of help with large items seems to be the same as in the UK.
Garreth, Switzerland

I knew my life was no longer my own when first my mother and then my partner ganged up on me to go with them - on alternative Saturdays - to Ikea

Donald Shelley, UK

I knew my life was no longer my own when first my mother and then my partner ganged up on me to go with them - on alternative Saturdays - to Ikea. I am considering moving to a tepee.
Donald Shelley, somewhere in an Ikea traffic jam, UK

Legendary design at ridiculously cheap prices, I used to travel to Brussels back in the eighties to buy from them. A global company with a solid ethical trading policy, green values and great products at the right prices. Somehow, I think this company asked its customers what they wanted and gave it to them. What more can we ask for? A few more companies to follow their lead might be a start!
Bob, UK

I went through the Ikea phase in my mid 20's. Shops like Ikea and Habitat are great for young couples or singles setting up home on a budget. However I found with maturity my tastes became more classic and rather than throwing out the chintz I threw out all the Ikea and habitat stuff.
John, UK

Any retail business that can fill its shop with hordes of style-conscious gay men every Sunday has got to be doing something right!
Colin, UK

My wife and I have recently bought our first home and we both think Ikea is great

Andy Fuller-Lewis, UK

My wife and I have recently bought our first home and we both think Ikea is great. If like us, you are on a tight budget, you can walk away with some excellent bargains which you would be hard pressed to find in most town centres. On the other hand, if you feel like spending more then you are equally well catered for.
Andy Fuller-Lewis, UK

My wife had her bag stolen in an Ikea store in Edinburgh and was left with our two young children to sit with the police in the Sofa area of the store to give details of the theft. She felt humiliated and angry, eventually it was the police who asked for a private room. When I spoke to Ikea about this, I was passed around the store staff and when I finally spoke to the security manager, he said he would look into it, not an apology or letter of explanation. I, for one will be quite happy never to step into another Ikea store again.
Graham Cuthbert, Scotland

I won't be having any problems with traffic around Ikea because I won't be going, like many people I know. Their recent ad campaign encouraging divorce and separation so they can sell more goods was sickening. Anyone with decent family values should give them a miss.
Mark Watson, UK

I think Ikea's products are great - clean design and value for money. However recent attempts to order and buy furniture have practically driven me to distraction - and to other stores.
Liz Raymond, UK

Ikea is one of the few stores in this country with a sensible pricing policy

Chris, UK

Ikea is one of the few stores in this country with a sensible pricing policy. The products are simple, well designed and don't look awful after a few weeks, which is the case with a great deal of furniture. I think that Ikea's popularity stems from the feeling that you haven't been ripped off as soon as you get home.
Chris, UK

Ikea is brilliant at providing absolutely no service whatsoever. The customer is enticed by trendy furniture with trendy names at seemingly knockdown prices. But say you buy a bed and an armchair, it is up to you to lug it to the check out. You then have to lug it home. If you are in a car, you're stuck in a jam. If you're not in a car, forget it. You get offered one delivery time, and prepare to be fined if you're not there when the van shows up.
Not Happy, UK

I just love the meatballs!!
Steve Earl, UK

Whilst I am impressed with the content of Ikea stores, my main concern is to do with pricing and ordering. Ikea blatantly charges at least twice the price in the UK that they do in countries like Switzerland. In fact we were going to ship goods from Switzerland back to Britain by airfreight because it would be cheaper!
John Foster, UK

I think many of the items on sale in Ikea stores throughout the world are grossly overpriced for the quality

Yvonne, UAE

I think many of the items on sale in Ikea stores throughout the world are grossly overpriced for the quality. Many products are made in the Indian subcontinent where labour is cheap so prices should reflect this but often they don't. If you like a lot of modern, garish stuff, perhaps Ikea is okay but if you prefer classical, quality stuff it's most definitely not the place to shop in my opinion.
Yvonne, UAE

Ikea should be banned from building any more stores that are based on out of town sites that are only accessible by car. The appalling congestion caused by the store in (for example) Warrington means that people who live in the vicinity are often virtual prisoners in their homes for most weekends of the year thanks to Ikea.
Dave Whyte, UK

Quality items at reasonable prices. Unlike most of the other chains they don't seem to miraculously have "Sales" every weekend with fantasy price reductions. All I have to tackle is the names of the furniture ranges.
Graham McDermott, Scotland

I always ensure I have two days to shop at Ikea. One to buy and the other to take all the faulty goods back!
Brendon, UK