A day at the biggest IKEA in the world

As my siblings and I were having our weekly lunch at my mom’s house last Sunday, my sister Penny mentioned that she was going to IKEA the next day (Dec. 6) to buy furniture for the rest house of her in-laws. It turns out that her sister-in-law, hairstylist-to-the-stars Celeste Tuviera, was able to book a slot online days before. And because IKEA allows those who reserve slots to bring two companions along, Penny was one of Celeste’s “plus twos.”

IKEA shoppers have to make sure, though, that they have their QR codes with them. This is because there are several layers of staff and security who will check your date and time slot and guide you to your designated lane because there are several (e.g. some lanes are for seniors/PWDs, others are for “late” shoppers).

Here’s Penny’s narration of her IKEA experience.

“I got to IKEA at 10:45 a.m. for our 11 a.m. timeslot. 11 a.m. is still good…not too many people. It’s very cold and yes, as confirmed by several store associates, this IKEA is the largest in the world so wear your comfiest shoes. There are lots of nice ‘sample rooms,’ just like in other IKEAs internationally, including a Pinoy-themed room. There are design consultants per section to help inspire and advise you for your bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom. Just like in other IKEAs, the Manila branch allows you to customize your needs with the huge selection of options they have in their furniture systems.

“The Marketplace is enormous. Already, many items have sold out. A bedside lamp I really wanted and a pull-out bed were no longer in-stock. I was fortunate to get the very last table top I wanted but had to settle for white legs because the black had sold out. Lots of comfort rooms, too. Just look up and look for the blue signs to find them.

“By around 1 p.m., the crowd began to swell, particularly at the Marketplace. There would be pockets of areas with less people, so I’d take a detour there momentarily to wait for crowds to lessen. But the kitchen and bedroom areas seemed to be of particular interest to a lot of people.

“The outdoor furniture section is so extensive. Lots of nice pots in all different sizes, including a wide variety of artificial plants and flowers and patio furniture.

“The restaurant is huge but there was a long line of diners waiting in line for a table. We opted instead to eat outside IKEA, but still within the building. If you do that, make sure to speak to the staff to make sure they remember you to let you back in.

“There’s also the fast-food area where hotdogs are an amazing P29! I didn’t get to try one, but if memory serves, they’re smaller than their US$1 counterparts based on what I saw from people who’d bought them.

“The grocery looks well-stocked. One freezer was full of frozen salmon and another with Swedish pancakes. The freezers were both full when I took a peek, but 20 minutes later I took another look and all but maybe five packs remained from each freezer, so the stocks went really fast.

“We lined up at the cashier at 3 p.m. and only waited maybe five minutes till I was served. Thankfully, most if not all the counters were open at that time.

“I heard several times customers say that after they checked out, they belatedly realized that what they bought couldn’t possibly fit in their cars. There’s a Mober kiosk to the side of Home Delivery that’s making good money as a result.

“Be warned that if you need items you can’t get yourself from the self-serve section, you might have a long wait. These items are usually the ones which are customized, like cabinets or big items like sofas.

“Remember that the staff are on dry run, so expect delays. Don’t forget your jacket and comfy shoes so you can enjoy all the hours you’ll lose yourself in the biggest IKEA in the world.”