BAG                                        IKEA                        24 April 2009

I wouldn't have expected to criticise IKEA. But it seems that they are under new management that want to give their competitors a better chance at surviving the economic downturn.

First, have you ever tried to talk to them on the 'phone?  There is a 0845 number that has a real live human on the other end. But that live human doesn't seem to be on this planet.  I'll explain:

I had a  look at the site that shows what they purported to have on sale.  I decided on a six-drawer chest of drawers.  In the past Ihave found IKEA's quality quite good with reasonable prices.  The chest of drawers I decided on seemed to be what i wanted at a price I would be happy with.  So I tried to log on.  Why do they need people to bare their souls to the company they want to buy something from before they are willing to accept their money?  If anyone knows, perhaps they will let me know. (CDCNottm@AOL.com).  The site just did not like my password.  So I went through the procedure of asking for another password.  I expected to get an email within a few minutes.  Half an hour passed and nothing arrived so I found the telephone number of the Nottingham store.  I ran and explained the situation.

"Well, it takes  least 72 hours you know".  When I expressed surprise, she said "It has to come from Sweden you know".  I told her that I could speak to my brother-in-law in Stockholm in under ten seconds.  I asked the girl if someone in a rowing boat sculls across the North Sea and up the Baltic to Stockholm to get the new password.  I got no answer  to that.

I then said the the girl "Can I order the item over the 'phone?".  "No, you can either order it on line or call into the store."  As to getting to IKEA in Nottingham, I would have to take a taxi there and back as I do not drive, and with two gammy feet buses are out of the question.

So I am still looking for a 6-drawer chest of drawers.  But I expect that there are plenty of firms who would be willing to supply me, even if IKEA is not.