Jessica Kelso

This morning I woke up early to take a friend to the airport and decided on the way home I would return some curtains to Ikea. I bought them for the nursery hoping they weren’t too dark but once I hung them up, they just weren’t what I had in mind. I made sure to set the receipt aside with the curtains for a trip just like today. I made it to the airport, left the airport, and to Ikea with no problems. I easily get lost even if I know exactly where I’m going, since sometimes I just don’t pay enough attention. I really love going to Ikea so I was pretty set for it to be a great day. On the way, I decided to look at the receipt and make sure it was right and the curtains were on there. Turns out, it was the wrong receipt. Same day, same time, everything. I just managed to end up with somebody else’s receipt. I was planning on buying a book shelf and a couple of other things we have left to purchase for the nursery so I figured they could just give me store credit and all will be fine.

The lady listened to my story and let out a big sigh and said, “Sure. . . I can give you store credit but it’ll only be for the sale amount these curtains are on which is now $10″. So I paid $60 for curtains, they gave me the wrong receipt, and gave me a store credit of $20. She said there was no way for them to look up my credit card number and find the transaction. After walking the store and fuming over the $40 I’d just lost, I decided to ask for a manger to speak to. I don’t have the type of personality that likes confrontation. I usually run from it at any cost. I’m the type of person to always tip no matter how poor the service is, usually will eat my food no matter how messed up it is. . . just to not have to deal with it. Kevin has stepped in on my behalf quite a few times and gotten things straight and even that I hate. But here I was in this huge store, contemplating if I should spend money on the things I had planned to purchase after I feel like they just screwed me out of my money.

I was really hoping the manager would be able to save me from wanting to go on an Ikea strike. After little to no help, I finally decided to go ahead and make my purchase and never return. There were two lanes open, and both were self-checkout. Well with a $20 Ikea card, some cash I wanted to spend, and a card. . . that’s not exactly the lane I wanted to use. That in itself was a huge mess and having to find someone to help me get the bookshelf into my car was even more fun. On the drive back I had written a complaint e-mail in my head to get home and discover there was not a single person to contact at Ikea about a complaint. How convenient. After furnishing over half of my home at Ikea and never having one single problem, this makes me sad. They offered no apologies, not a single discount off anything I was purchasing, nada. I know it’s only $40 and that is nothing to get worked up over, I was just surprised by their lack of customer service. I guess I shouldn’t have been.

I want to say I will never go back, but that’s like saying I will never eat chocolate again. It sounds like a good idea now, but when everyone else is doing it. . . I might give in.