Fuming IKEA customers get stuck in £10m store’s car park for nearly THREE hours without water or food before they can get out
- Some festive customers were stranded with their children without food or water
- Others said that their mental health was affected and vowed never to go back
- One accused the Swedish furniture giant of letting staff leave before shoppers
- It is the third time it has happened at £10million branch, which opened in 2016
Shoppers have slammed IKEA after they were left marooned in a store car park for more than three hours.
Festive customers were stranded with their children without food or water, while others said their mental health was affected and vowed never to go back.
One accused the Swedish furniture giant of letting staff leave in their cars before shoppers.
Another said she was going to let her children loose in the store in protest.
Drivers blasted the lack of staff to organise vehicles leaving the congested multi-storey in Reading, Berkshire, yesterday.
Drivers blasted the lack of staff to organise vehicles leaving the congested multi-storey in Reading, Berkshire, yesterday (pictured)
One man finally managed to get out after being stuck nearly three hours with his seven-month-old son
Some festive customers were stranded with their children without food or water, while others said their mental health was affected and vowed never to go back to the store (file photo)
Nicola Cook posted online: ‘Currently been stuck in the car park for two hours. The most shocking LACK of organisation or care from IKEA. Never AGAIN!’
Another shopper said: ‘This is increasing people’s frustrations and decreasing mental well-being. Avoid IKEA Reading, gridlocked again.’
Kirsty Bedingfield claimed: ‘Been in the #IKEAReading car park queuing to get out – haven’t moved in 35mins, and we are on the top floor. Sort it out @IKEAUK!’
She added: ‘We are still queuing – nearly an hour now and moved about 10m. Just needs more people to organise the traffic.’
Angry shoppers tweeted at the Swedish furniture store’s account to voice their outrage at the wait
One man finally managed to get out after being stuck nearly three hours with his seven-month-old son.
He said: ‘So today went into IKEA Reading, the shop taking roughly just over an hour to complete.
‘It took 2.44 hours to exit the carpark. We were promised water and biscuits, which were never seen. The duty manager wasn’t even aware of the issues.’
A shopper called James said: ‘Two hours 25mins trying to get out of #ikeareading and still on 3rd level of car park.
It is the third time it has happened at the same £10million branch – which only opened in 2016
‘No info, no water, no apologies, just car fumes. Staff leaving before customers.’
Michelle Walley said: ‘@IKEAReading been stuck in your carpark with 2 children this is ridiculous.
‘Have tried to call your store but can only get through to call centre who say they can’t help.
‘Five more mins and I’m letting my frustrated kids loose in your shop @readingcarpark @IKEA.
Richie’s Dits joked: ‘Absolute standstill in the @IKEAReading car park.
An IKEA spokesman said the congestion was due to a crash close by. He said: ‘We are aware of traffic congestion following an accident nearby the Reading store. We apologise for any inconvenience caused’
‘I thought people were supposed to get stuck in the store, not here.’
Hannah Sheehy said: ‘An hour so far and we’re not moving anywhere any time soon – sort it out! #IKEAReading.’
It is the third time it has happened at the same £10million branch – which only opened in 2016.
It previously happened in September 2017 and July 2018.
An IKEA spokesman said the congestion was due to a crash close by.
He said: ‘We are aware of traffic congestion following an accident nearby the Reading store.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused.’
When the superstore first opened in 2016, some people had queued for more than 27 hours to be first through the doors.
It is thought there were more than 600 people in the store in the first 15 minutes alone.