An IKEA customer has called for adults-only shopping hours after a child pushed a shopping trolley into a table they were trying to return, causing significant damage. The incident occurred while the child's parent was distracted by their phone, according to the shopper.
The customer, who wished to remain anonymous, described their frustration on a public forum: "I was just at IKEA a few weeks ago and while I was waiting at the returns area, a kid drove a shopping cart into the table I tried to return, denting the wood badly." The shopper added that they had to return a broken item and ask for a refund, which made them seem like the rude customer.
Customer demands stricter policies
The complaint escalated as the disgruntled shopper insisted that children should be barred from entering IKEA unless they could be properly restrained by their parents. They said: "Kids are just a nuisance to other customers, not to mention store staff who have to clean up their mess politely and not utter a peep."
The shopper also recounted another incident: "Today I was looking at lights and a kid was swinging a pendant light, hitting me in the head. I could have lost an eye. I wish IKEA declared adult-only store hours or something. Enough is enough. This is not a playground."
Mixed reactions from other shoppers
Fellow shoppers disagreed with the complaint in the comments section, with one former employee offering their perspective. One person remarked: "I used to work for IKEA, and we actually got trained that they WANT families to treat it as a day out, especially on a rainy day. Go look at furniture, eat meatballs, get lost in the flatpack maze."
A second commented: "Really? Every IKEA I've ever been to seems geared specifically towards encouraging people to bring their children - toys out they can play with, slides between departments in the kids area etc. It's one of the only Homeware shops I've been that seems to very much have families with kids in mind in all their layouts and design."
A third added: "I notice a lot of parents with kids make IKEA like a day out. They barely buy anything and just go to let their kids run wild and be as much of a nuisance as possible. IKEA is not a theme park. People are actually trying to buy stuff they need. Keep your s**** kids at home."
A fourth said: "It's always been worse on the weekends, if you can try going Monday-Thursday. Much less kids around."
IKEA's family-friendly approach
IKEA is known for its budget and stylish furniture, but also for its family-friendly policies. The retailer actively encourages families to treat a trip as a day out, with play areas, children's menus, and activities designed to keep kids entertained. This approach, however, can lead to friction with customers seeking a quieter shopping experience.
