[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Sebring

How does one get an invite? I'm in their family

My wife in the IKEA family, and she got an invite. So she booked.

She has no idea what was the criteria for getting the invite.

Right now, one of the first purchases from IKEA is already lighting my computer table. I really missed these sleek lighting solutions all these years.

Even my current work table is fashioned after a L shaped table I bought from IKEA in year 2000.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Sebring

How does one get an invite? I'm in their family

Irony was that the old members didn't get a discount while the ones who signed up after April(as I was told) were eligible for a 500 rupee discount voucher on the first purchase. Hence I ended up not getting one even though I had got an invite over email but my parents who signed up recently got their vouchers. But that was a decimal of our purchase bill so we brought it home possibly give it away to someone.

[whencut86]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Today (June 19th) was the house warming event of IKEA Bangalore. We had booked the 11am-12:30pm slot.

I was there at around 10.45AM. Took the Metro instead of the car since I thought parking would be a hassle since many would make it in the early slot for parking reasons. Been shopping from their online store all this while and felt nice to actually visit in person. I read somewhere the Bengaluru store is bigger than the Hyderabad one.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Samurai

....However, I noticed one big difference from my earlier IKEA experience. Almost nothing here was DIY unlike the IKEA products in USA.

How so? do they have a different product line-up only for India now?
I always thought that the products were the same except that they would have a eco-system of Carpenters/Handymen (like Task rabbit) to assemble these products on delivery.
is it not the case?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

How so? do they have a different product line-up only for India now?
I always thought that the products were the same except that they would have a eco-system of Carpenters/Handymen (like Task rabbit) to assemble these products on delivery.
is it not the case?

I am still not clear. I could be wrong about it. I think the stuff in self-serve area are DIY.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I am still not clear. I could be wrong about it. I think the stuff in self-serve area are DIY.

Except the smaller bits, the furniture are DIY stuff even now. Even a spice rack I brought was in pieces and had to be assembled. Apart from that in the last few months I have brought a bed, some chairs, bar table, stool which were all DIY. Products are more or less the same as what I had seen in Germany.

In fact yesterday I picked up an easy chair which I had extensively used in Germany here in Bengaluru and everyone at home found it very comfortable.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I am still not clear. I could be wrong about it. I think the stuff in self-serve area are DIY.

I checked with my friends in IKEA in Almhult, Sweden which is where all IKEA products are designed. It is indeed the same product range everywhere. you are not entirely off either. there are a few products that don't need assembly.

[Fillmore]

A bit off topic on a lighter note

Danish Sait..

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Samurai

We also wanted 6 dining chairs from the self-serve area, but they only had 4 pieces and I doubted even that would fit in the i10. So decided to order it online instead.

I ordered the 6 chairs on Monday morning, it was delivered on Wednesday itself.

BTW, now that it is officially open, it has become Kumba Mela...

https://twitter.com/suyogg/status/1540731464437813249

IKEA Bengaluru sees 3-hour wait as store witnesses huge weekend rush

The most crowded place within IKEA last week was the restaurant, I shudder to think of crowd at the restaurant this weekend.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Samurai

BTW, now that it is officially open, it has become Kumba Mela...

We visited Ikea again today to finish up some pending shopping since we ran out of space in the car last weekend. Knowing about yesterday's mess we were there by opening time and compared to last Sunday, parking was still occupied until row B compared to row K last weekend. Hence the overall crowd was less and we finished up leisurely by 12PM and the billing counters were almost empty by then. Hence we were able to exit the property by 1230 after which we got to witness the chaos outside. Entry was shut to both cars and walk in from metro. Looks like they control the overall number inside the compound and building to prevent excessive crowding.d

Almost 70% were non shoppers and came to Ikea just to see what it is about. Compared to this, the housewarming had close to 90% serious shoppers. Today for every person having items in hand, there were at least three taking a leisurely stroll and exiting empty handed or with a small item. Will be curious to see how business goes in the long run. But very well managed and set up.

[volkman10]

IKEA Bengaluru sees 3-hour wait.

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by Samurai

BTW, now that it is officially open, it has become Kumba Mela...

Did a futile attempt to visit the store this Saturday and got stuck in a huge jam, 5.5 hours wasted driving home to home and no chance of getting in.

Would suggest everyone to not even think of paying a visit during weekends. Atleast in Kumbh mela, you get to be part of the mela, no chance here.

[sumathindra]

I Still dont understand why people flock here? It appears to be more of a tourist attraction than a visit to but home furnishing. Moreover its the curiosity of visiting a IKEA store. I have been buying IKEA books since I was in college during the mid 80's and trust me it was always a fascination to have an IKEA at home since then. I even got my local carpenter to design furniture based on some of their designs back then! During the lockdown, got a couple of desks for me and my son and the assembly was fun at home.

The point I am driving here is people act weird and this very nature creates a sort of "not good" image!! The store is not going away tomorrow so what's the rush? Unless they all are of the "1st day 1st show" gang!!

[PreludeSH]

I think going by Metro, looking and feeling the products and ordering online on the spot (subject to availability) would be the best way ?
Anyway, not all furniture can be carried by car.

[shankar.balan]

Ikea Bangalore is an Excellent store. Every bit as good as any Ikea store we’ve seen across the world.
We visited this one on Friday afternoon. Bought a few necessary items. We ve always liked Ikea products especially the kitchen stuff.
Quite a large crowd. But we experienced excellent crowd management and parking management.
I guess the rush of the next couple of days was only because of the weekend plus the novelty factor.