A few months ago, I was helping A. shop for furniture for her new apartment, and part of that shopping was done in the rat maze of IKEA. Of course, I shared the experience and had some thoughts about the company’s furniture. Readers responded with their experiences as well.
The latest news from Sweden is IKEA will begin selling edible products — more than just what is offered in their restaurants. The food will be inexpensive in the spirit of their furniture pricing. I’ve tried the company’s 50-cent hot dogs and their Swedish meatballs in their restaurant after several hours of shopping, and I’m not a big fan.
I don’t think I’ll be making extra trips to IKEA for my grocery shopping.
Published or updated September 26, 2006. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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Luke Landes founded Consumerism Commentary in 2003 and has been building online communities since 1990. Luke, also known as Flexo, has contributed to PC World Magazine, US News, Forbes, and other publications. 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
For years, I’ve been hearing about IKEA. There’s a store in Seattle, and I’ve known people who have driven from Portland just to shop there. It’s always been a mystery to me, though.
No longer.
Apparently there’s an IKEA store coming to Portland this fall or next spring or sometime soon. I’ll take a look at it once or twice, but I don’t know if it’s the kind of thing that’ll appeal to me…
Never been an Ikea fan. Five years ago I made a couple trips to the store outside of Chicago. It was a fun shopping experience, but I didn’t spend more than a few bucks each time. Their furniture is crap, and their knick-knacks are too trendy for me. I prefer more classic and durable furnishings.
There was an article a few months ago about elderly and low-income folks visiting the Woodbridge Ikea every morning, because the Ikea breakfast was only $0.99.
I think the meatballs are decent, but then again I’m part Swedish. Mmm, lingonberry jam.
I also still have some pieces from them because I might live in another apartment or two before I buy a place, and there’s something to be said for the hex-key-flat-pack furniture when moving.