Scandinavian finds
Melissa Ayala
| July 28, 2010
A few days ago I was at Ikea beginning my back-to-college shopping. It had been a good trip because the store was not packed like usual and I got many of the things I really needed to start school in little less than a month.
It was one of those shopping trips-- ladies-- where you feel accomplished after getting a lot of things done that you really needed to. I got to the checkout line happy because even though I had bought a good amount of Ikea nic-nacks, I had held back from allowing the shopping trip from exploding into a splurge.
But, it wasn't the fact that I shopped, it was what happened next that causes me to write about this.
As I finished in the checkout line, I felt a burning on my arm. To my surprise I looked down and saw a cricket-sized green bug latched to my arm and leaving me with a mole-sized red wound. It flew off, but I was left with the incredibly painful burn it left.
I hurrily ran to the Ikea First Aid, but it was closed; to a checkout clerk, but they were too busy; another clerk and same response. Then finally I found a manager who, yet again, directed me to someone else. I finally got to talk with-- the person who was originally suppose to be in the First Aid office. Anyways, he took my information and gave me my first dose of medication for what was, at this point, swelling to a quarter size. He assured me that he would stay on my condition and call the next day.
Well, it has now been two days and no call. The swelling has gone down and I feel much better, but no thanks to Ikea.
Don't get me wrong, I think Ikea is a fantastic store with great products, but their bedside manner needs incredible attention. What happened to the days when people took responsibility for what happened in their stores? Next time you check out the yellow and blue make sure you look out for their $7 side tables, but also those green stinging bugs.
It was one of those shopping trips-- ladies-- where you feel accomplished after getting a lot of things done that you really needed to. I got to the checkout line happy because even though I had bought a good amount of Ikea nic-nacks, I had held back from allowing the shopping trip from exploding into a splurge.
But, it wasn't the fact that I shopped, it was what happened next that causes me to write about this.
As I finished in the checkout line, I felt a burning on my arm. To my surprise I looked down and saw a cricket-sized green bug latched to my arm and leaving me with a mole-sized red wound. It flew off, but I was left with the incredibly painful burn it left.
I hurrily ran to the Ikea First Aid, but it was closed; to a checkout clerk, but they were too busy; another clerk and same response. Then finally I found a manager who, yet again, directed me to someone else. I finally got to talk with-- the person who was originally suppose to be in the First Aid office. Anyways, he took my information and gave me my first dose of medication for what was, at this point, swelling to a quarter size. He assured me that he would stay on my condition and call the next day.
Well, it has now been two days and no call. The swelling has gone down and I feel much better, but no thanks to Ikea.
Don't get me wrong, I think Ikea is a fantastic store with great products, but their bedside manner needs incredible attention. What happened to the days when people took responsibility for what happened in their stores? Next time you check out the yellow and blue make sure you look out for their $7 side tables, but also those green stinging bugs.
Melissa is an intern for Zetify and a jouralism major at UT