Comments on: Just “hanging out” at IKEA in Beijing http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing Global Perspectives for an American Audience Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Susan http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1582 Susan Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:51:20 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1582 Don't really hang out, but it sure is fun to browse and the cafeteria is rather nice too. Don’t really hang out, but it sure is fun to browse and the cafeteria is rather nice too.

]]> By: Nancy Kaufmann http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 Nancy Kaufmann Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:41:32 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1580 A little known perk at IKEA is that every store keeps a microwave for parents to warm up baby food. Cheapskate that I am, I take my own lunch or dinner in a proper container, avail myself of IKEA's microwave and enjoy a cheap home-cooked meal. This feature is everywhere (I've used it in Berlin and Chicago) and can be depended on! THen, I always stop by IKEA's suggestion box and enter my complaint--to date never heeded. The piped in music, often corrupted soul or pop gospel, blasts away and gets on my nerves. The managers in both Berlin and Chicago have never seen fit to change this. A little known perk at IKEA is that every store keeps a microwave for parents to warm up baby food. Cheapskate that I am, I take my own lunch or dinner in a proper container, avail myself of IKEA’s microwave and enjoy a cheap home-cooked meal. This feature is everywhere (I’ve used it in Berlin and Chicago) and can be depended on!
THen, I always stop by IKEA’s suggestion box and enter my complaint–to date never heeded. The piped in music, often corrupted soul or pop gospel, blasts away and gets on my nerves. The managers in both Berlin and Chicago have never seen fit to change this.

]]> By: John Jaramillo http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1579 John Jaramillo Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:06:32 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1579 Okay, you caught me. My girlfriend and I have actually made IKEA one of our dating spots (though we keep the public displays of affection to a minimum). We do always buy something, mostly because IKEA specializes in things for the small-apartment dwellers here in Sacramento. It's the window-shoppers' paradise Okay, you caught me. My girlfriend and I have actually made IKEA one of our dating spots (though we keep the public displays of affection to a minimum). We do always buy something, mostly because IKEA specializes in things for the small-apartment dwellers here in Sacramento. It’s the window-shoppers’ paradise

]]> By: carol http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1572 carol Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:00:26 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1572 I lived in Saudi Arabia from 1992-1996. Being a single woman, there were many times when it felt as if there was no place to go. When Ikea opened, several friends and I would go to just be in an environment that felt safe and familiar. It was a big night out... I lived in Saudi Arabia from 1992-1996. Being a single woman, there were many times when it felt as if there was no place to go. When Ikea opened, several friends and I would go to just be in an environment that felt safe and familiar. It was a big night out…

]]> By: Looloo http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1565 Looloo Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:45:52 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1565 I'm a Beijinger, but have never been to the new IKEA since it moved out of city center, and I have few small stuff from there such as photo frames, cups, friends around me never did (maybe they did but i don't know, lol)something mentioned in this piece, but we all love IKEA style in general. Btw, it’s not unusual to hang out in shopping mall with AC in summer, I’ve seen some in other places too. Great story anyway, it's funny to hear how foreigners view this. I’m a Beijinger, but have never been to the new IKEA since it moved out of city center, and I have few small stuff from there such as photo frames, cups, friends around me never did (maybe they did but i don’t know, lol)something mentioned in this piece, but we all love IKEA style in general. Btw, it’s not unusual to hang out in shopping mall with AC in summer, I’ve seen some in other places too.
Great story anyway, it’s funny to hear how foreigners view this.

]]> By: Grace http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1559 Grace Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:55:32 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1559 Inspiration. About once each month I take "the walk". The walk through IKEA for the simple pleasure of seeing the designs and worship the fact that they do design to a price tag target. Suggestion: Take "the walk", it will do your mind some good. Haven't left yet without buying something useful. Inspiration. About once each month I take “the walk”. The walk through IKEA for the simple pleasure of seeing the designs and worship the fact that they do design to a price tag target. Suggestion: Take “the walk”, it will do your mind some good. Haven’t left yet without buying something useful.

]]> By: jean riordan http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1549 jean riordan Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:06:01 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1549 when my kids were younger (they had never been in a department store before we took them to Ikea) they saw every room display as a theatre set. They would completely immerse themselves into these sets and perform their plays, oblivious to all. Doors, closets, curtains were entrances etc. My husband, who had no interest in shopping/ browsing would sit on these sets ,reading one of the many books on the bookshelf displ ay, oblivious to all as well. And I was free to wander. when my kids were younger (they had never been in a department store before we took them to Ikea) they saw every room display as a theatre set. They would completely immerse themselves into these sets and perform their plays, oblivious to all. Doors, closets, curtains were entrances etc. My husband, who had no interest in shopping/ browsing would sit on these sets ,reading one of the many books on the bookshelf displ ay, oblivious to all as well. And I was free to wander.

]]> By: Nancy Brown http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1548 Nancy Brown Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:55:59 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1548 Are you kidding? I just did this yesterday. I have two young kids and meet another mom friend there. What do we do? We moms stroll while our kids, run, climb, hide in the wardrobes and kitchen pantries, play with kid stations in every department, climb on couches, on beds, into cribs, open cabinet doors, try the toys, climb the stairs, ride the elevator, run in between the hanging rugs, and that's just the warm-up before the cheap, healthy, kid-friendly food, which we enjoy at lunchtime. The bonus: kids falling asleep in the car on the way home. Oh, and p.s., the Chinese aren't the only ones escaping the heat in August--the air conditioning is definitely another draw. As is the knowledge that you can leave without buying anything and no one will know the difference (not that we do). Are you kidding? I just did this yesterday. I have two young kids and meet another mom friend there. What do we do? We moms stroll while our kids, run, climb, hide in the wardrobes and kitchen pantries, play with kid stations in every department, climb on couches, on beds, into cribs, open cabinet doors, try the toys, climb the stairs, ride the elevator, run in between the hanging rugs, and that’s just the warm-up before the cheap, healthy, kid-friendly food, which we enjoy at lunchtime. The bonus: kids falling asleep in the car on the way home. Oh, and p.s., the Chinese aren’t the only ones escaping the heat in August–the air conditioning is definitely another draw. As is the knowledge that you can leave without buying anything and no one will know the difference (not that we do).

]]> By: Vanessa Will http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1547 Vanessa Will Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:55:47 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1547 I now live in NZ, where there is no IKEA (boo!), but a few years ago, I was back in Berlin, Germany, taking care of my mother who was dying from cancer. It was very hot that summer, and one of the 3 (!) IKEAs in Berlin was on the way to her hospital. After spending the day with my mom in her un-air-conditioned hospital room, I would stop there for a cheap dinner and, more importantly, the air-conditioning. There was also something incredibly soothing about the predictability of the store lay-out and displays, which I walked by every time on the way to the restaurant, to savor the cool air and release some of the emotional stress I was going through. I now live in NZ, where there is no IKEA (boo!), but a few years ago, I was back in Berlin, Germany, taking care of my mother who was dying from cancer. It was very hot that summer, and one of the 3 (!) IKEAs in Berlin was on the way to her hospital. After spending the day with my mom in her un-air-conditioned hospital room, I would stop there for a cheap dinner and, more importantly, the air-conditioning. There was also something incredibly soothing about the predictability of the store lay-out and displays, which I walked by every time on the way to the restaurant, to savor the cool air and release some of the emotional stress I was going through.

]]> By: Joan http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1539 Joan Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:09:58 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1539 Not just the Chinese! When I lived in Stockholm in the 70's, long before IKEA went international, my kids and I would make the trek (subway + bus) out to IKEA (pronounced EE-KAY-AH in Swedish) for a family outing. The kids loved the playroom, we all liked the food and I would wander around looking for home decorating inspiration. There were even times I bought something! Not just the Chinese!
When I lived in Stockholm in the 70′s, long before IKEA went international, my kids and I would make the trek (subway + bus) out to IKEA (pronounced EE-KAY-AH in Swedish) for a family outing. The kids loved the playroom, we all liked the food and I would wander around looking for home decorating inspiration. There were even times I bought something!

]]> By: Alexandra van Niekerk http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1538 Alexandra van Niekerk Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:55:44 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1538 When living in the netherlands, with two small children, my children would like to hang out at smalland (play area) on rainy days. While my kids were playing I would just have a coffee or walk around. Today my kids are too tall and Ikea is one and a half hour driving from our house in Tucson, AZ. When living in the netherlands, with two small children, my children would like to hang out at smalland (play area) on rainy days. While my kids were playing I would just have a coffee or walk around. Today my kids are too tall and Ikea is one and a half hour driving from our house in Tucson, AZ.

]]> By: Kenna http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 Kenna Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:50:43 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1537 My friends have gone to IKEA to play hide and seek a few times. It's surprisingly fun. My friends have gone to IKEA to play hide and seek a few times. It’s surprisingly fun.

]]> By: Jorge Eguiarte http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Jorge Eguiarte Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:59:10 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1533 It is so funny... I live in Denver, Colorado and we do NOT have IKEA, thanks to MR.Jake Jabs from American Furniture Warehouse. So I was in California last weekend and we went to the IKEA on Covina California and it was super funny to me that only the Asian people where the only ones seating and sleeping on the display furniture... like in Beijin, I think they are out of China, But China is not out of them. It is so funny… I live in Denver, Colorado and we do NOT have IKEA, thanks to MR.Jake Jabs from American Furniture Warehouse. So I was in California last weekend and we went to the IKEA on Covina California and it was super funny to me that only the Asian people where the only ones seating and sleeping on the display furniture… like in Beijin, I think they are out of China, But China is not out of them.

]]> By: clinton http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 clinton Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:54:11 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1532 I must say that while I don't go just to hang out, I probably COULD. It's just that I usually end up buying at least something. Oh, the power they have over me and my interior decorating choices... It isn't so much the bins full of stuff for $1.99, but rather those elaborately staged, idyllic rooms they have. I must say that while I don’t go just to hang out, I probably COULD. It’s just that I usually end up buying at least something.

Oh, the power they have over me and my interior decorating choices…

It isn’t so much the bins full of stuff for $1.99, but rather those elaborately staged, idyllic rooms they have.

]]> By: kate in NC http://www.theworld.org/2009/08/just-hanging-out-at-ikea-in-beijing/comment-page-1/#comment-1530 kate in NC Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:31:41 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=10764#comment-1530 I've never gone just to hang out, but I have gone for the food! $1.99 Swedish meatballs kids menu? Oh, yeah. In my undergrad years, that happened at least once a month! I’ve never gone just to hang out, but I have gone for the food! $1.99 Swedish meatballs kids menu? Oh, yeah. In my undergrad years, that happened at least once a month!

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