September 1, 2012 -- How do you say suffering in Swedish? See Answer below.
Well, we said good-bye to the Park Hotel Residence. No tears over that good-bye. We are officially in our home.
We were still missing some key items so off we went to the Nordwest Zentrum in Frankfurt and IKEA. First stop, lunch then Media Markt to get a coffee machine. In the mall at Frankfurt, you can smoke in the Atrium area -- something to which we are not accustomed. After braving the smoking and a small parking garage, we had lunch, purchased our coffee machine and were off to IKEA.
IKEA WAS AN EXPERIENCE. For those who have not visited an IKEA -- DON'T DO IT!!! We had already visited IKEA several times. During those visits we measured, figured out the system (so we thought) and picked out our items. The only purchase we made at that time was a silverware holder that did not fit in the drawer. We began our day at 3 pm. Our first task was to return the silverware holder. In order to return it, you go to customer service and push a button. You get a number. Our number indicated there were 20 people ahead of us. 20 minutes later I was able to return my silverware holder and begin another purchasing event at IKEA.
We had to purchase a number of items. For some items, you enter the numbers and have to retrieve the items at the warehouse yourself. Other items, you go to a desk and they give you a slip with a number. Once you pay, you go to an area where they bring you your goods. Of course, there is a wait there as well. We did both. I paid for the ordered items and sent S off to collect those. I then met back up with C who was pulling the warehouse items and placing them on our cart. Some of the items are large and ridiculously heavy. He befriended a Japanese family by helping them move their wardrobes onto the cart. They in turn helped him. C got on line to pay for the items. The line was long so we waited 25 minutes. C finally paid for the items in his cart, but they were too large for his car. Next stop, transport (delivery service). The way IKEA works is that you have to take all of the items that you want delivered to the transport desk (yes, another line). The woman at the Transport Desk checks the items in, they put them together. Once you give them your address and pay, they put the items in the transport room and deliver them on a set date. So we figured the worst of our day was over -- we were finally at the last stage of the process. Nope -- that was not the case. The woman starts checking off our items and she discovers that we have the wrong box 2 for the wardrobe (there are two parts -- box 1 and box 2). We are sent to customer service (hit a button and wait on line). Once again, there are 20 people ahead of us. Finally, our number is called. Customer service says that they will switch the items. She tells us she will be right back. She returns empty handed. Guess What? Our item is out of stock, but will be in on Monday. After some negotiation, IKEA agrees to add the new item to our delivery on Monday and ship it together. As we are finalizing our delivery, the woman at the desk asks us where the other wardrobe is that is on our bill. We reply-- "We only got one." She says -- well you were charged for two, how come you didn't check your bill? C, despite her tone, responded politely explaining that German was not his native tongue and that the process had been somewhat challenging. We finished the delivery order and now we asked how we would be credited for the extra wardrobe. You guessed it! We had to go back to the customer service area and punch the button. Despite their error, we waited another 20 minutes (their were 17 people ahead of us). By the time we left IKEA, it was 7:20 pm -- four plus hours after we arrived. One of the more painful events we have ever experienced.
Bottom line -- what is the Swedish word for suffering? Answer: IKEA
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