IKEA customer support

busspot

i had terrible experience in IKEA, did any of you had this issue or is it only me? i know its quite big, but please read below:- this happend in Cardiff,Wales Branch

I went to the Ground Floor restaurant for to buy quorn hotdog meal for myself and my two kids. When i went to the counter i discussed with my kids what they want before i make any purchase, suddenly that counter lady went to other counter left me and my kids. I was puzzled and looked when a lady called "Nan" said "what do I want".

I felt a bit rude by asking what I want instead of "what would I like to have" so i asked Nan "because other serving lady went off without saying anything so I thought of waiting for her". Nan said "because you were discussing with your kids I asked her to go to the other till as customers came to that till". Felt reasonable but not nice as I was standing there, didn’t mention anything to me but left.

Anyhow I ordered what I want, but before I went to collect the food I noticed the hotdog wasn’t quorn instead it was vegetarian sausage which I didn’t like when I tried before in there. So I told her that I do not like these sausages, she said this is what going to be now on as quorn sausages were temperamental for shorter period. So I explained to her that I didn’t realise they would be serving these sausages but still I need to ask my kids whether they want to change their food selection.

So while I was discussing with my kids she waited for a minute and then put my food she packed for me in the bin. I asked where is my food and she said because it was taking a while so she put the food in the bin as it was getting cold and also she said that I do not need to have the food and she will refund the money what I paid.

I was really annoyed and told her that I paid for my food and I still want my food but might change the veggie sausage to hotdog. As my kids came nearby I was convincing my kids to have vegetarian sausage meanwhile she went off to serve someone else. I was watching her smiling with other customer and talking very polite. I waited for more than two minutes but she didn’t come back even though she wasn’t serving anymore customers after. But she was talking with her colleague and doing something in the cash till machine. So I waved my hand and said excuse me by getting her attention, she came back after a minute and said what I want again in rude voice. I was really irritated but managed to order what I want but couldn’t take the way she treated me.

So I asked her that why she is acting so rude to me. She said I was the one rude to her in first place. I was puzzled and asked what did I do, she said that I was disturbing her. I explained her that I called her by saying excuse me and what I said rude in it.

She said I was so rude and she does not want to talk to me anymore. Immediately she went off from the counter to the other counter with her colleague and they were talking. I was so confused but was very upset.

When still looking at her and passed by to complain to customer support she was smirking at me. Everyone was watching, I was embarrassed by the way I been treated…

I went to complain to IKEA customer support, a customer support lady came and comforted me which was nice; she said she will call the restaurants manager so I could explain to him.

I waited for 5 minutes, "Alun" the restaurant manager came and asked me what the problem was, when I explained he said he talked to that "nan" lady and understood what happened over there. He was explaining that either she was upset with something or else I was, he was sorry for whatever happened and he will enquire more about this problem. And he asked is there anything else I wanted. I said no because I wasn’t really convinced.

I sent the letter to IKEA and waiting for reply.... so embarrashed and decided not to visit IKEA again.

bris

Bit of a non event, get a life springs to mind.

SuperHan

You may get a free meal voucher.

If the store was busy (as it sounds like it may have been when you arrived at the counter), they may have not had time for you to discuss while at the counter, and that's why they went to serve other people.

But really, you got an apology. End of story.

There is no consumer rights issue here - better placed on the Praise, Vent & Warnings Board.

sweetcheekz

I would stick with the meatballs and move on!

unholyangel

By discussing choices with your children, in what detail/length are we talking?

What I'm thinking is that possibly, you were taking your time and she was annoyed as there were other people to serve. If that is the case, I can understand her annoyance a bit. It also explains why she sent the other lady off to serve other people.

Personally I hang back from the server/till until I know what i want. That way people who know what they want can be served while I make up my mind - rather than keep everybody waiting.

I may be way off the mark here just I remember how much it used to annoy me when I worked in jobs like that (serving public) as a teen. I never could understand why they would queue for 10 mins and not discuss what they would be ordering until they reached the server. Even in proper restaurants they don't do that, they give you a menu then attend other people while you make up your mind.

tomtontom

* Feels sorry for Nan *

wealdroam

unholyangel wrote: »

Even in proper restaurants they don't do that, they give you a menu then attend other people while you make up your mind.

Shock horror!!

Aren't IKEA Restaurants proper restaurants then?

unholyangel

wealdroam wrote: »

Shock horror!!

Aren't IKEA Restaurants proper restaurants then?

Personally no, but then I don't class wetherspoons as a proper restaurant either!

RuthnJasper

Where's a meatball Subway when you need one...?!

It was a non-issue, OP. Not ideal service, but certainly not worth creating a scene over.

visidigi

busspot wrote: »

i had terrible experience in IKEA, did any of you had this issue or is it only me? i know its quite big, but please read below:- this happend in Cardiff,Wales Branch

I went to the Ground Floor restaurant for to buy quorn hotdog meal for myself and my two kids. When i went to the counter i discussed with my kids what they want before i make any purchase, suddenly that counter lady went to other counter left me and my kids. I was puzzled and looked when a lady called "Nan" said "what do I want".

I felt a bit rude by asking what I want instead of "what would I like to have" so i asked Nan "because other serving lady went off without saying anything so I thought of waiting for her". Nan said "because you were discussing with your kids I asked her to go to the other till as customers came to that till". Felt reasonable but not nice as I was standing there, didn’t mention anything to me but left.

Anyhow I ordered what I want, but before I went to collect the food I noticed the hotdog wasn’t quorn instead it was vegetarian sausage which I didn’t like when I tried before in there. So I told her that I do not like these sausages, she said this is what going to be now on as quorn sausages were temperamental for shorter period. So I explained to her that I didn’t realise they would be serving these sausages but still I need to ask my kids whether they want to change their food selection.

So while I was discussing with my kids she waited for a minute and then put my food she packed for me in the bin. I asked where is my food and she said because it was taking a while so she put the food in the bin as it was getting cold and also she said that I do not need to have the food and she will refund the money what I paid.

I was really annoyed and told her that I paid for my food and I still want my food but might change the veggie sausage to hotdog. As my kids came nearby I was convincing my kids to have vegetarian sausage meanwhile she went off to serve someone else. I was watching her smiling with other customer and talking very polite. I waited for more than two minutes but she didn’t come back even though she wasn’t serving anymore customers after. But she was talking with her colleague and doing something in the cash till machine. So I waved my hand and said excuse me by getting her attention, she came back after a minute and said what I want again in rude voice. I was really irritated but managed to order what I want but couldn’t take the way she treated me.

So I asked her that why she is acting so rude to me. She said I was the one rude to her in first place. I was puzzled and asked what did I do, she said that I was disturbing her. I explained her that I called her by saying excuse me and what I said rude in it.

She said I was so rude and she does not want to talk to me anymore. Immediately she went off from the counter to the other counter with her colleague and they were talking. I was so confused but was very upset.

When still looking at her and passed by to complain to customer support she was smirking at me. Everyone was watching, I was embarrassed by the way I been treated…

I went to complain to IKEA customer support, a customer support lady came and comforted me which was nice; she said she will call the restaurants manager so I could explain to him.

I waited for 5 minutes, "Alun" the restaurant manager came and asked me what the problem was, when I explained he said he talked to that "nan" lady and understood what happened over there. He was explaining that either she was upset with something or else I was, he was sorry for whatever happened and he will enquire more about this problem. And he asked is there anything else I wanted. I said no because I wasn’t really convinced.

I sent the letter to IKEA and waiting for reply.... so embarrashed and decided not to visit IKEA again.

You go to a counter to be served, so know what you want before you get there and there is no issue.

I can't see why you think they did something wrong - they served customers who knew what they wanted and were happy to take what they ordered.

If you expect M&S service in an Ikea then you will be permanently disappointed.

iclayt

busspot wrote: »

he was sorry for whatever happened and he will enquire more about this problem. And he asked is there anything else I wanted. I said no.

Well there was your chance to say what you wanted. Did you want Nan to come over and apologise in person? Did you want a free meal or vouchers? What have you put in the letter to IKEA? What can they say to you that the manager hasn't already?

Sounds like she was having a bad day, and maybe so were you. Unless you have a clear idea of what you want the outcome to be - apology (again), vouchers etc - just chalk it up to one of those things. People bite sometimes, even people in customer service, and the customer is not always right.