It’s always a big day out heading to Ikea.
So whether you love a trip there – or your heart sinks at the very thought, you’ll want to make the most of it.
Step in the Money Saving Expert website, founded by financial guru Martin Lewis.
The site’s experts and users have put together a huge list of hacks to help you next time you plan on heading down the M69 to Coventry.
Here are our favourite tips and tricks, from the Money Saving Expert Deals Hunter team and from the comments section on their round-up too – you can read their post in full here which has a few more suggestions.
Dodge the queues
Want to know when to head to Ikea, and when to avoid it?
If you use Google’s free ‘popular times’ service you can see when the store is usually busiest.
It seems 2pm on Saturday is the worst time to visit Ikea Giltbrook, while the last few hours before they shut on Mondays or Tuesdays are quietest.
Free tea and coffee
Yep, that’s right – on weekdays, if you’ve signed up for a free Ikea Family card, you can have free tea or free filter coffee.
Skip to the warehouse
If you know what you need, Money Saving Expert says you should avoid the main store and head to exits.
You can check online what aisle and location the product is and either head in through the out doors or skip through the shortcuts to get right to the correct place without picking up a load of cushions and cacti while you wander through the store.
Don’t even go
Did you know that Ikea replaces missing parts for free, and will deliver them to your door – so you might not even have to go back there.
You can call Ikea customer service on 02036450000 and arrange for the spare part to be delivered for free.
Take your measurements
Write down measurements of spaces to fill or furniture that needs replacing before you go.
And take a tape measure if you’re after something sizeable.
Ikea do have tape measures to use, but they’re only 1m long.
Check out the bargain corner
Reduced goods can be found near the tills in bargain corner.
Sometimes it’s end of lines or damaged packaging found there – so you might land what you’re after for a knock down price.
Haggle
According to several commenters on Money Saving Expert, you can even talk yourself into a cheaper price of items in the bargain corner.
But you probably won’t get any joy trying to haggle over new items!
Free insurance
If you swipe your Ikea Family card at the till, your purchases will be insured for the journey home, and even while they’re being built.
This only applies to items bought in store and excludes Bargain Corner items, cut fabric and custom made goods. If you need to claim, present your Family card and receipt in store within 90 days of the date you purchased.
Ikea says damaged items will be replaced on a like-for-like basis or you’ll be given a store card for the item’s current selling price.
Free childcare
A godsend for families this one – you can book children into Ikea’s Smaland creches while shopping.
These are for an hour, or 45 minutes when busy.
Beware though, you can’t pre-book and they can easily get full so you might not get a spot for your tot every time.
Bring your own bags
Most of us do this when popping to the supermarket with small carriers.
Ikea bags are bigger than your average and pretty sturdy, but at 50p each, the cost can soon add up. So, if you’ve already loads under your kitchen sink, remember to re-use them.
