[bilbo baggins]

Anyone have any further information on Ikea opening in Aukland. We have just go our shipping quotes umm! However given the fact that the few bits we have are pobably not worth shipping I quite fancy a mega shop at Ikea! Any news?

[clairelouise]

A friend of mine told me that it was not going to happen :(
Not sure how reliable it is, would LOVE to be corrected..... :D!!

[TheNaylors]

I've read that it was stopped by the Environment Court as it would have been too popular and would cause traffic problems...hmmm, may have to pay Ikea Leeds a visit before we leave and endure the traffic problems there instead :D!!!

[Mrs Pony]

Nothing from the BIL yet and I'm sure he would tell us as soon as he found out.

(He works for Ikea... traveling around the world setting up new Ikea stores)

[Arwen]

I'm sorry guys but I just don't get the whole 'IKEA' thing!!! :uhoh

Only visited one of their stores in the UK once, and well, all I can say is NEVER AGAIN!!! :exit

Looks like that won't be a problem here anyway. :clap

[Scotty69]

It's not happening, read that it is all to do with the traffic :wah

[Wooly_Cow]

It's not happening, read that it is all to do with the traffic :wah

I don't get the traffic arguement....I mean Auckland traffic is chaos anyway espescially at busy times, so one store won't make such a difference. There's an Ikea in Wembley just of the North Circular and you don't get much busier than that.

Wouldn't be surprised if there aren't 'interested parties' 'lobbying'...

....and if there is a lot of people wanting to go there doesn't that;

a) prove the market need for reasonable quality, medium priced furniture
b) provide a market opportunity for other shops to set up in the area
c) stimulate the ecconomy by consumer activity (just what governments want these days)
d) provide employment opportunities

Finally, why don't the town planners insist on a reasonably priced internet & mail order / delivery service for any new store, thereby cuttin down the ammount of visits.

[Arwen]

Finally, why don't the town planners insist on a reasonably priced internet & mail order / delivery service for any new store, thereby cuttin down the ammount of visits.

That's a good idea Jan. I would love to see an online 'Argos' type store in NZ. :)

[Peter&Liz]

I've read that it was stopped by the Environment Court as it would have been too popular and would cause traffic problems...hmmm, may have to pay Ikea Leeds a visit before we leave and endure the traffic problems there instead :D!!!

Yip there was theard a while ago on this subject, and that was the reason given, Ikea couldn't open a store because it would be too popular! :confused:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/shopping/news/article.cfm?c_id=318&objectid=10490969

Seriously thinking the same, if we have room on our Container stock up on a visit to Ikea.

Peter

[batgirl1001]

Is traffic really the main concern here or is it something else? I mean NZ has a lot of land, it shouldn't be too hard to find a place to fit an IKEA store.

Take it from me, I used to live near a huge IKEA warehouse just across the highway and the traffic situation is not as bad as it goes. And I live in Singapore where there are far more people than Auckland and more cars in total. There is an occassional congestion on weekends that takes no more than 5-10 mins on average.

My guess....I think business interests against the IKEA model.

[TheBigSaxon]

While I love Ikea, the one thing that I will say is that the Ikea/Wal-Marts/ etc of the world really hurt local businesses. I think traffic is a convenient excuse to say no.

[bob_the_engineer]

Maybe the reason we don't have ikea is because we don't really want it

Bob

[Rocket]

Maybe the reason we don't have ikea is because we don't really want it

Bob

yes, i love buying terrible quality furniture at the warehouse :laugh

[bob_the_engineer]

yes, i love buying terrible quality furniture at the warehouse :laugh

don't they have proper shops in Auckland :laugh

Bob

[monkey tennis]

Does anyone know if items can be purchased in an Australian store then delivered to NZ ?

[TheBigSaxon]

Does anyone know if items can be purchased in an Australian store then delivered to NZ ?

You can do that mate, but be prepared to spend more money in shipping than what the actual product cost. Ikea's shipping & handling rates are extremely overpriced because their focus is getting people in the store. Impulse shopping is what drives a large percentage of Ikea revenue, something they will likely not change anytime soon.

If you are determined to purchase Ikea-like furniture, you will be better served ordering from West Elm and importing that.

There are a number of NZ based furniture shops that produce Ikea like furniture locally and at much better quality. I don't know about you, but with our economy a bit stagnant right now, I'd rather keep my money at home right now.

I went to NZ Google and entered "Modern Furniture" and came back with pages of stuff. Try that route first.

Dan

[Philip10]

I was told by a recruitment agency :uhoh before I came to NZ that IKEA are opening two stores, one in Auckland and the other in Welly or ChCh. None in Invercargill though :) We have the local "She'll be allright store" come clothes shop, come electrical goods, come cycles, come heat pumps, come food, come etc etc.etc and guns :exit

[xanctus]

Naaah, IKEA ain't going to happen in my opinion...
about traffic system...well to begin with, traffic system and infra structure of NZ system to me just SAD fact. It's not going to get any better.

[bobo]

As unemployment levels etc rise it may get harder to say no to a company willing to invest in NZ.