Schedule your visit at an earlier time slot

The place is huge AF. (It is the *biggest* IKEA store in the world after all.) So you would need hours and hours to explore the whole place. And there’s a lot of people wanting to go, too. Which is why IKEA imposed a reservation scheme for visitors. Our tip: book your visit during the morning slots, so you don’t have to worry as much about the time or the crowds that will grow increasingly large as the day progresses.

The earliest slot is at 10 AM, with a new slot every thirty minutes or so until 8:30 PM. You can book your visit through the IKEA PH website. The furniture brand didn’t indicate if there’s a maximum number of hours you can stay, and visitors on the opening day were able to stay as much as they can. But the store’s regulations might change, so make sure to watch out for any announcements on their website or social media pages.

Sign up for IKEA Family

If you still haven’t joined the IKEA Family, you definitely should do it before your visit. You’ll find discounts and rewards you can use during your visit — and signing up is free!

Make a shopping list

Before your scheduled visit date, make a list of what you need. This is going to be absolutely helpful during your visit because the physical store is huge. Each section would take you a lot of time to explore, so you wouldn’t want to forget anything that would make you go back to a section you’ve already visited. Plus, focusing on a list of items you need would also be helpful in saving your wallet.

Still not sure about what to buy? Or do you just want to check out the store? You might get some ideas from others who have already made a visit. Some content creators have been invited for an initial look at the store, and even Day 1 visitors might have already shared their own hauls from their visit. Go online and scroll through your feed, and you’d probably find a lot of haul ideas.

Take measurements beforehand

Make sure you set aside enough time before your visit to measure your space. You need to know if the items you want would actually fit wherever you want to place them. Prepare a detailed list of measurements and take photos on your phone for easier reference. Some important measurements are: room sizes, door height and width, staircase height and width, ceiling heights, and bed sizes.

Check online if the item you want is available at the physical store

When you’ve got a list of the furniture and items you’ll be shopping for, head on to the IKEA website to see if it’s available. Yes, you can do that! The furniture brand has put their whole catalog in their website, so you can freely browse for all the items they’re selling online and offline. The website also indicates if the item is available in their Pasay store or not, so checking would definitely save you time and effort.

Know where to get the best deals

While every section in the physical store is a must-see, there are a couple that you shouldn’t ever pass up when you visit — namely, Open the Wallet and Circular Hub. Open the Wallet is full of various products of all shapes, sizes, and uses all under PHP 100! You can shop for products like bags, kitchenware, and bathroom items. So sulit!

Meanwhile, the Circular Hub is the section where IKEA gives a second life to their furniture. It’s another sulit hub where you can score slightly damaged yet still usable items at a bargain price.

Take a picture of the price tag

On top of the actual item price, all the details you need to know are there! The price tag tells you where the pick-up location is or where you can find contact staff in regards to the item you’re interested in. You should also take a picture of the full price tag, so you can easily find it later when you go to the self-serve furniture area.

Try the food

While you’re there, make sure to try one of the few offline-only experiences at IKEA — their food! A set of 16 pieces of the infamous IKEA meatballs and mushroom soup is available for PHP 250 for IKEA Family members and PHP 284 for other guests. You can also get it for PHP 159 with 8 pieces and you can choose from classic, plant-based, veggie, and spaghetti versions. It’s the perfect, filling meal after a long day of walking around the store!

Have any other hacks when shopping at IKEA? Share them with us!

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