An IKEA Store in Bangkok, Thailand

[STEVE G]

Is it actually open yet?

[dtaai-maai]

Think so - Wasn't bapak looking for someone to drive up and collect some stuff from them?

[poosmate]

Opened Nov. Bought a kitchen on opening day. Going tomorrow to buy another. Top tip - check on-line to ensure in stock.

[STEVE G]

Ok, thanks for that; I need to furnish a house so might pop in next time I'm out seeing as I drive past it on the way up North.

[elem]

It's open since November, and have all the usual IKEA stuff, restaruant and a great Scandi food selection shop at the exit, which you could visit without actually having to go threough the whole furniture department.

[caller]

Anyone started a business yet, putting all those flat packs together!

[Dr Mike]

Their web site is excellent. You can make a shopping list and check the availability very easily

[The understudy]

Hi there Y'all friends'n fellas of HHAD!!!

I went there to IKEA @ Mega Bang Na a few days after it opened to scan out the store and my very first impression was "Man it feels like right @ Home in Berlin, or Burbank in California. This store was much larger than both stores so you hafta have enough energy in Leg muscle to browse the Ilse of Products.
The Restaurant Area was clean and cozy and they had all the Good Food from Europe & those famous Swedish Meat Balls. Plus for all who don't stand Swedish & Eurofood there's one dish Asian or Thai on that day they had Khao Na Gai or Rice with ChickenGravy.

A few weeks later when my Sisters arrived from the US, I went there and bought this

SMÖRBOLL Pillow & Blanked Cowers

But a few Major Bummers I had noticed along the way.
They have only a few Wasa Corn Bread available.
They haven't got the AS-IS Area where allready assembled products returned by customers or from the Showrooms in Good condition it would than be sold in AS-IS state.
The major downer was that IKEA THailand does not have Lingonberry juice in stock.
I'd asked why the delay? He said the Thai-FDA haven't been able to aprove in time.

Your's The understudy!!!

[poosmate]

Their web site is excellent. You can make a shopping list and check the availability very easily

I must disagree, the concept of the website is very good. In practice it is next to useless. Items in stock are not updated frequently so information should not be relied upon. I have purchased 2 kitchens, the first was not fully in stock ( although the website showed it was). I was promised the missing items in December - I am still waiting.The website still shows the items as in stock!
The second kitchen I checked to ensure all was on stock before going to the store - it was.
2 items are out of stock, when I asked when they will be in the computer shows them as already in stock!!.
The Ikea concept is good but it is staffed by the same quality of staff as Homepro.I arrived at opening time ( 10am) but the only one person capable of using the kitchen department computer did not show for 30 minutes.( I suspect he was applying his makeup )
The kitchen design part of the website does not function, the customer service telephone number was busy for three days and I could not find an email address. I resorted to asking for an address on the Ikea Facebook page. The address given was ignored. I again asked on Facebook and was given another address - this too was ignored. After three weeks I eventually got a telephone call from an English guy the sales manager. He promised to keep me informed and would let me know when my missing items would be available - " maximum 2 weeks" . I am still waiting.
Why you may ask did i return to purchase a second kitchen? I am confident that Ikea as a company ( maybe not the Thai franchisee) will come up with the goods. The price is much less than similar products available locally. It is also new to Thailand and I think should be given a chance.
Another small gripe for me was although some items were displayed ( some several times ) and as I already said showed on the website as in stock ( large amounts so unlikely to have been sold)were not available and the usual Homepro stock answer when requesting if I could buy the display item " for show"
Food in the resurant was cold and disgusting all food including french fries and the famous meatballs served from non heated containers - maybe this is how the Swedes like it! This is not an issue for me as I did not go to eat but I have heard people rave about Ikea food so I thought I would give it a go.
Oh and one more thing as pointed out previously Ikea has a food section. On opening day it was fully stocked with many Swedish Items for sale. This week several large freezers had been removed and unless you count pallets of jam and pasta the food section was almost empty.
Would I go again? - Yes.
Would I go again if there was some competitor able to offer a real European type shopping experience with trained staff who believe the customer is important ( and do not lie to save face)?
NO.

[Dr Mike]

I stand corrected-- the site identifies if items are in stock and in fact how many they have--but I have not tried to buy at the store and verify this.
A friend told me that if it is listed and at the store they say NO--ask to see a supervisor to check this