IKEA’s Stock Not As It Should Be
We’re seeing a lot of customers being disappointed when they reach IKEA and find out that their desired item is not in stock.
Disappointment is one way of putting it. Distressed is another – if you’ve arranged for a babysitter, booked in delivery, and braved the rain. I can only say that you have our sympathies. And, once you let us know that you’re not going to be fulfilling your order, we can postpone everything until IKEA has your stock.
It seems that the IKEA online system and phone systems are not matching the reality of the system.
A case in point: a customer today viewed 18 items in stock online. She telephoned to confirm that and was told 5 items were in stock. When she went to the store, she was told that they were out of stock of that particular item for the past few days.
Shocking re. stocking.
I’ve not been able to come up with a solution yet. For now, just know that once you inform us in time, we can postpone your order until another day.
Not fool proof, but you could suggest that people include item codes when they’re making a booking. Then IF one of your guys is hanging around and IF he notices that something is out of stock earlier in the day, he could send a courtesy text letting the shopper know?
I wouldn’t guarantee the service as it might not always be feasible, but it could be a nice “value-add”.
For the record, I once drove to Belfast, having checked online, called the store etc. There were oodles of the bulky bookshelves in stock. When I got there, and there were none (but still some showing on the store computer), an employee told me “Sometimes people steal things”. I can understand people stealing smaller items, but I can’t think of anyone other than other employees who could manage to walk out of a store with something that size.
Thanks for your suggestion. I’d love if our guys had time to hang around, but sadly they have never experienced the IKEA coffee as they’re in and out quicker than a furniture assembly!