The beauty about everyone’s favourite home furnishing store IKEA is the physical shopping experience. Browsing the aisles, putting things in the yellow IKEA bag, jotting down notes, trying out the sofas, taking a break and having meatballs. But sometimes, we’re too busy or too lazy to trot down to the store. We want to be able to browse for stuff we like via our smartphones and buy them online. Well, the good news, IKEA fans, is that now you can.
The IKEA Malaysia online store is live. As our friends at SoyaCincau discovered, IKEA’s online store is up and running today, and you can browse and shop from the store right now.
The site operates just like any other e-commerce site, with a whole bunch of main categories to browse from – desks & computer desks, tables, bedroom, beds, chairs, kids, you name it. It’s a great big IKEA catalogue, only now it’s online. Note that not every IKEA product is available for purchase online.
It’s not the best-looking e-commerce site, to be honest, but it is simple and clean, just as how IKEA products are. Options are clearly listed, and in a product page you’ll be able to also check stock availability at different IKEA stores. Once you’re ready to purchase, just click on the Buy Online button and the item will be added to the shopping cart.
Clicking on the cart will show you the items that are in your cart. You can review your purchase, and when you’re ready hit the Checkout button. What you’ll need to do is either Login or Register for a new account to proceed further.
In terms of delivery options, you can opt for Parcel Delivery or Truck Delivery. Parcel delivery covers small items and it will costs MYR40 per order. Truck delivery on the other hand will set you back at least MYR98 (Yellow zone) depending on your location/zone. Other zones include Blue (MYR140) and Pink (MYR235).
If you live in East Malaysia, you’re not left out although it will cost slightly more. For parcel deliveries, it’s MYR100; while truck (Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu) will cost MYR675. Click and Collect will set you back MYR575 (this includes shipping to East Malaysia, then you pick up your order from a collection centre).
IKEA also supports corporate or bulk orders. You’ll need to email them via this link.
I’d really love to see free shipping thrown in to encourage people to shop online though.
Now, not everyone likes DIY or consider themselves competent in the art of assembling things, but trust IKEA to help you with that. As you know, you can have the option of having the IKEA team assemble some of the products for you. This will naturally cost extra (equivalent of 10 percent of the price of the item) and you can check this option in the “Shipping” tab during checkout.
Payment-wise, it is currently limited to credit or debit cards. Let’s hope IKEA will support more options, especially online banking in the near future.
Initial thoughts
It’s nice to see IKEA joining the e-commerce fray; we are after all in the day and age of mobile shopping, flash sales and digital payments. Yes, they’re late to the party, but as they say, it’s better late than never.
Let’s be honest, it will never replace the experience of stepping into and shopping at a brick-and-mortar IKEA store. That said, having the option to shop for your favourite IKEA products from the comfort of your home is a welcomed bonus.
Now all they need to do is offer the option to deliver Swedish meatballs, as well.
Source: IKEA via SoyaCincau
