Needed a small side cabinet for my desk. Found one I liked but it took forever to get someone to help me. Finally got it home, started assembling, when i found a crack on one of the pieces of wood, most likely from a forklift hit or being dropped. Tried to return it but it was such a hassle. The only saving grace from this experience is the swedish meatballs. Worth going there for them alone.

After a long roundtrip trek to IKEA in Friday afternoon traffic we unpacked a couch that had been so damaged by a forklift it was shocking that they took the time to pack it up again (and obscure the damage with the packing). Drove all the way back in Friday late afternoon traffic and was told they would pull one of the 14 couches in stock.

We were then told that they in fact did not have 14 couches, they had one and they couldn't get to it while customers were in the store. No forklifts allowed while people are around. Ever been to Costco? Then they made the gratuitous suggestion that we go to dinner and come back at 9:30 to pick up the couch. I suggested that they buy us dinner, like real customer service and instead they gave us $20 for gas. I gave them their $20 back. Its just too insulting.

I asked John if I could speak to his manager and he made a call. A woman shows up, puts on a tough act and then it turned out she was his underling.

So when we agreed on the delivery time for the replacement couch we were very very clear that they would have to use a small truck since we live in the hills with narrow streets and we have an even more narrow driveway. They assured us that this would not be a problem. Sure enough this morning I heard an 18 wheeler in the distance trying to navigate our hills. The poor delivery people had to walk the replacement couch all the way to us on foot.

This ridiculous odyssey could have been avoided had someone not obscured forklift damage of a cheapie couch.

Ikea makes everything well. It functions and does what it claims. Sure they make you see everything by meandering around the maze floorplan, but guess what... I like that part. So many things to look at. I will be back. Again... several times.

the previous poster is spot on. Don't believe the reviews suggesting a 5 star experience. They are probably all written by paid employees to lure you into one of the Ikea stores.

The product is alright for the price but beware if something goes wrong. Ikea's policies are designed to make it very difficult for you to get your money back.

Anybody suggesting otherwise is either paid to lie or simply a fool.

I am really into Ikea's CAFETERIA right now. It is super cheap, perfect place to go with kids, great for a cheap dinner before a movie at Burbank amc, a nice cheap date place. All around a place worth eating at. Consider it the next time you're in Burbank (I've never been to any other Ikea store) and you want to have a $5 dinner - do Ikea. Unlike anything else in the store you won't get lost going to the cafeteria. <p> Everything else in the store is a labrynth of east asian slave labor. But if you're in a fix and they don't have the particle board contraption you're looking for at goodwill, Ikea is a reasonably priced option.