Ikea is one of my favourite stores and my house is full of their furniture and accessories. I have lots of experience with Ikea. And for the most part they provide a great customer experience.
Today I went to pick up a mattress that I saw in their flyer. Checking online is always a good idea -- after many experiences of "out of stock" items. In fact on many occasions I have felt that Ikea must be Swedish for "out of stock". I was pleased to discover there were 11 of the item I wanted in stock. You can also check online for the Bin and Aisle number of the item in the warehouse so you can find your items with ease.
Sadly when I got to the specified location it was not easy to find the mattress I wanted. I proceeded to ask one of the many staff members on the warehouse floor and one of them was able to sort through the mess of mattresses to find the one I was looking for. Also a good idea to take note of the item number since the labels are not always easy to understand. I finally figured out by the time i left that there are different icons for firm and plush on the mattress labels.
I successfully purchased the mattress (rolled for easy transport) and loaded it in my car without assistance. Then I headed back inside to grab lunch at the restaurant. The Swedish meatballs are a staple - the menu selections are minimal and there are really only a few options now. If you are a member of the Ikea Family loyalty program you get $1 off the meatballs. I have to say that their carts for multiple trays are a great addition - I only wish they had those when I used to go with little kids in tow and not enough hands to manage multiple trays.
Overall it was a good experience this trip. I will be back.