OP here. My frustration is with the accuracy and user experience of the website, not with the very real supply chain issues. |
This has been driving me nuts. I gave up. |
Yes. They should tell you it’s out of stock before you go to check out. Like, you know, all other online retailers do. |
Go to the store. They probably have it in stock and if they don’t, you can ask them to ship it — it’s easier to get it shipped from the store than it is to get it shipped online. I did this last year — same issue — and the gentleman who helped me was able to get it shipped for me. |
Well, IKEA isn't all other retailers. Just go to the store. It's the only way. Their prices are a small fraction of other retailers given the quality. Their selection is generally much larger. Adjust to the IKEA mindset and play the game. It's the only way. Or adjust to paying more. |
I wasn’t asking for advice. |
If IKEA has fewer than a certain number (5 for Billy bookcases) it doesn't let you order for pickup or delivery.
You should be able to call the store and they can tell you how many they have in store or give you an approximate date when the item will be restocked. I am not in the DMV, but my IKEA is great. Not sure if all of them offer it, but I am 30 miles away and they will delivery of an entire cart of items on the site for $69. The problem is lately, some of the items I need go in and out of stock so quickly. And when I called on Monday, they no longer guarantee the restock dates - saying that their systems aren't being updated regularly. |
I don’t think it’s an online retailer at all. I think the website is just trying to deal with stock in the physical stores. I don’t think there’s a central warehouse full of Billys ready to ship. |
The Ikea product says available for pick up in the store. I bought the item, then received an email saying it is no longer in the store but delivery is available. I bought the item again for delivery and it now says no trucks can be booked and can not be delivered, but pick up is available at the "fulfillment center" in Staten Island. SO now I have to travel two and a half hours each way out of my way and I'm sure it won't be there either. Ikea sucks. |
I just bought a kitchen and laundry room cabinets and I guess was lucky. I got everything delivered within a few days. One door seems to be missing but not a big deal. I may go yo the store or call to try to get it. |
Yeah, the pick up and delivery system is like…maybe 90%? So on the one hand that’s not bad. But on the other hand the 10% is going to f$& you. And once it does, there is no chance any of the people working in the system will be able to help you. |
It's just going to get worse as trade wars ramp up |
I think their either their inventory system is busted or their connection between inventory and their web site is busted.
If their root issue is that (example) less than 10 widgets show as in-stock and they will not ship with such a low quantity at the warehouse, then just have the web site show the inventory as “low, unable to ship”. Either way, Ikea can and should fix the web site so it doesn’t frustrate so many people. My other Ikea issue is that when I order stuff online for home delivery, about half the time their contractor tries to deliver the wrong items to me. Now, I always verify each box being delivered against MY paper copy of the original order — and I refuse delivery of the incorrect boxes. The root cause for this is sloppy box picking by Ikea employees at the Ikea warehouse, which should be fixable. |
We broke down and bought a Ford Expedition as our way of solving the Ikea delivery problems.
UPS and FedEx Ground both are reliable in North America. Both give volume discounts to larger shippers. Ikea should use those to deliver instead of the cockamamie system they have now. All the other retailers have figured this out — look at Walmart or Target both of which adapted early in the pandemic. |
Ikea has always been a place where you need to just go and buy the thing. Alternatively, you can buy the thing on Ebay and the shipper will ship you the Ikea thing. Works best for small items. It will save you a trip and you only pay a few extra dollars to have someone go to the store and buy the thing for you. |