Hooray for Ikea Israel: The Ikea Israel website is now fully-functioning.
Previously we only had an online catalogue feature availabe. Each page had to be ‘turned’ and the download-waiting time was atrocious. Much like Ikea sites for other countries, the Israel site now includes a lighting guide, seating guide and closet/ storage design feature.
The most important tool to be included – and perhaps the most dangerous to offer – is the all-important ‘check inventory’ option. See, Israel is Ikea-obssessed. So much so that on its opening day in 2001 Ikea welcomed approximately 30,000 shoppers from all over the country. The traffic jam from such excitement wreaked havoc throughout country’s center. In our defense however, Ikea really fills a void in the Israeli furniture and design market. The high taxation for imported furniture or other such ‘luxury’ items for the home demands long-term committment from buyers who cannot afford to change the look of their home easily or purchase something more whimsical. Furthermore, the incredibly generic style and poor make of most Israeli furniture leaves much to be desired. Ikea appeals to the aesthetic Israeli with its color and creativity; the budgeted Israeli with its reasonable prices; and the macho-male with its DIY assembly challenges.
With one Ikea currently in Israel, its soaring popularity means the items you really want have already been snatched up. Sure, Customer service will promise, “it’s on its way next month in the next shipment” but it’s always two more months than they say. And the ‘out of stock’ tag on that Ektorp ottoman stays put. Beware. Check online or call to make sure they have what you’re hunting for. Hopefully the opening of a second Ikea by the end of 2007 in the Southern-Central city of Rishon L’Zion will alleviate some of the traffic at the Northern-Central Netanya branch. And a second storage facility will allow for increased inventory.
The Rishon Ikea further hopes that its on-site synagogue will attract more customers. A clever gimmick. So if they don’t have what you need, at least you can start praying for it.
Now if we can only convince the Israeli branch to adopt the environmentally-friendly practice of charging a nominal fee for their huge plastic bags. More here.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Israelity » Good eats // Aug 18, 2008 at 7:06 pm
[...] of interest that we visited over the course of the week, and not to worry, I’m not including Ikea, although we did spend a very intense morning there amidst the annual summer sale. Never again. [...]
2 Tehilah // Nov 9, 2008 at 5:17 pm
What is the address of Ikea Rishon Lezion, and what buss goes there? (I live in Jersualem)
3 Ziva // Nov 10, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Hi Tehilah,
Sadly, IKEA has not opened a branch in Rishon L’Zion yet. You can get more information about transportation to their Netanya store – the only IKEA around – on their website. Here’s the link
http://www.ikea.co.il/?catid={03400B2A-6FF3-4C2B-BB38-0BCC4A4DCC75}
4 mariana // Jun 29, 2011 at 9:11 pm
How can I purchase a gift card for IKEA-Israel on the Internet? I live in California.
5 Ziva // Jul 5, 2011 at 8:52 am
Hi Mariana,
I just called Customer Service at IKEA to get some answers to your quetsion. And, unfortunately, you can only buy gift certificates *in store* meaning in Israel for someone in Israel.
The Service Rep confirmed that gift certificates from other IKEA branches around the world, are not honored here.
Sorry. Im thinking of writing the CEO however here in Israel since yours is not the first inquiry of how to do this, and it makes perfect sense for family and friends abroad to buy for their loved ones here…
Stay tuned! And thanks for the question
6 Leora // Dec 29, 2011 at 1:21 pm
How do I get to the new ikea in rishon from Jerusalem via bus?
7 Ziva // Dec 30, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Hi Leora,
Looking at their website, there seems to be no direct bus to IKEA from Jerusalem, so you’d have to take a bus from Jerusalem first to the central bus station in Rishon, and then hop on the # 13 Egged bus (or the # 84 Egged bus after 830 pm) to get to IKEA.
You could also take the train to the Rishonim train station in Rishon LeZion and from there take the 22 Egged bus.
Good luck,
Ziva
Leave a Comment