breakfast at IKEA...

[zhihau]

went to IKEA Tampines this morning at about 9.25 am, was 5 minutes before the official opening hours of the cafeteria. the next 5 minutes was like re-living the Malaysian Cup days.

hungry folks were at crowding at the doors before it was opened, folks of all shapes and sizes were chatting and in anticipation of the opening of the doors. you could almost felt the surge forward as folks from the rear inched a lil' forward as it hits seconds before 9.30 sharp.

before you knew it, a gush of cool air greeted your face as you are being squeezed into the premises of IKEA. the good crowd knew exactly where to head to instinctively, namely the escalator and the elevator, found a good spot on the escalator as it carried the folks to their destination.

the queue for the food was orderly and efficient as per our military cookhouse, the aunties dished out plates after plates of chicken wings, croissants, pancakes, siewmai, maikai, and of course its signature meat balls.

what fascinates me was the queue for its coffee machines. the queues started promptly at 9.30 there about and was still there after my empty plates were cleared some 45 minutes later...

are we gluttons for coffee? hmm...

 

[THE_CHANSTER]

What you describe is normal typical Sinkie behavior at Tampines Ikea. The Cafè is always packed at weekends and is always difficult to get a table (much like hawker centers in the CBD at lunchtime).

To be fair, the food is actually not too bad good and reasonably priced especially the signature meatballs. Be thankful they still use pork in their recipe otherwise you'd have the Malays joining you in the queuing line.

As for the coffee, where else in Singapore can you get quality freshly ground coffee for $0.50 a cup? Certainly not Starbucks!

 

[garlic]

IKEA freshly ground coffee is the best value for money beverage in peesai... free refill some more..

 

[zhihau]

As for the coffee, where else in Singapore can you get quality freshly ground coffee for $0.50 a cup?

free refill some more..

exactly what bothers me. if IKEA can serve freshly ground coffee of decent quality with free refills at 50cents, why are kopitiams around the island increasing their coffee price to SGD$1.10???

 

[THE_CHANSTER]

exactly what bothers me. if IKEA can serve freshly ground coffee of decent quality with free refills at 50cents, why are kopitiams around the island increasing their coffee price to SGD$1.10???

Ikea's philosophy has always been very customer centric, make good affordable quality products and always put the customer first. All their stores always have a Kiddies playpen centers, an in-house Swedish market and restaurant plus a very reasonable 'returns' policy with no questions asked if what you bought was not suitable. Keep the customers happy and they will always keep coming back.

It's hard to see how they can make a profit or even break even on coffee but I'm sure that any loss is more than offset by the humungous amount of meatballs they sell.
The bottom line is that they will still make a healthy profit.

 

[Sinkie]

How come open at 9.30am?

You mean we take breakfast so late?

 

[peppertail]

exactly what bothers me. if IKEA can serve freshly ground coffee of decent quality with free refills at 50cents, why are kopitiams around the island increasing their coffee price to SGD$1.10???

Because they are buying huge quantities for their stores worlwide at dirt cheap prices. Their restaurants are not out to make huge profits, its mainly to attract attention and get the crowds into their stores.

Most Ikea stores 'force' you to walk through their whole building before you reach the restaurant. Impulse buying is one of their main sales strategies. A lot of peoples end up buying stuff they did not go there for.

 

[zhihau]

Because they are buying huge quantities for their stores worlwide at dirt cheap prices. Their restaurants are not out to make huge profits, its mainly to attract attention and get the crowds into their stores.

will up your points at the next available cycle
Singaporeans must go global!

 

[zhihau]

Ikea's philosophy has always been very customer centric, make good affordable quality products and always put the customer first.

agree, noted that they had recently added a special table for the visually impaired individuals with guide dogs.

 

[zhihau]

You mean we take breakfast so late?

it was like brunch for me :o

 

[eatshitndie]

same with ikea store in east palo alto. east palo alto is notorious for black and hispanic gangs on the peninsula pushing and trafficking drugs, and at one time was the murder capital on this side of the bay. the store is packed with tiongs, nehs and whites, but no blacks nor hispanics who live in the area. it's wierd. while whites do brisk shopping and checking out at cashiers, tiongs and nehs dominate the cafeteria for the cheap breakfast.

i don't eat there. so many other places to dine out.

 

[garlic]

exactly what bothers me. if IKEA can serve freshly ground coffee of decent quality with free refills at 50cents, why are kopitiams around the island increasing their coffee price to SGD$1.10???

The difference between renting and buying the place...

Few days before, i was at AMK S11 coffeeshop near the jubillee there and ordered a Kopi-C peng and it was $1.60. Shock is an understatement.

 

[winnipegjets]

Ikea's philosophy has always been very customer centric, make good affordable quality products and always put the customer first. All their stores always have a Kiddies playpen centers, an in-house Swedish market and restaurant plus a very reasonable 'returns' policy with no questions asked if what you bought was not suitable. Keep the customers happy and they will always keep coming back.

It's hard to see how they can make a profit or even break even on coffee but I'm sure that any loss is more than offset by the humungous amount of meatballs they sell.
The bottom line is that they will still make a healthy profit.

It is a private company. It does not need to see double digit growth in profits every year ...an unrealistic expectation put out by Wall Street. Ikea is a reflection of the Swedish society - a social-democratic economy.

 

[winnipegjets]

Most Ikea stores 'force' you to walk through their whole building before you reach the restaurant. Impulse buying is one of their main sales strategies. A lot of peoples end up buying stuff they did not go there for.

Impulse buying of furniture? I think not.

 

[Leongsam]

exactly what bothers me. if IKEA can serve freshly ground coffee of decent quality with free refills at 50cents, why are kopitiams around the island increasing their coffee price to SGD$1.10???

Their coffee is a "loss leader" whereas coffee shops have to make a profit.

 

[zhihau]

tiongs and nehs dominate the cafeteria for the cheap breakfast.

a family of tiong was sitting adjacent to me, two adults with two kids. seemed rather affluent to me :o

 

[zhihau]

The difference between renting and buying the place...

no thanks to the REITs :(

 

[zhihau]

Ikea is a reflection of the Swedish society - a social-democratic economy

wondering if any bloke would be wanking inside the IKEA store... :o

 

[chootchiew]

Me too went to Ikea for breakfast and shopping but was at Alexandra branch. Ordered meatball kids meal at $2.90 and got a cup for plain water foc. Could not find any plain water hence use the cup to get some coke. Cup was small and I refill it with coffee. Noone bothers me Good deal $2.90 for meatball and 1 cup of coke and coffee machiam pickup cowball :p

 

[red amoeba]

I like IKEA one if the rare shops I will happily patronise bcos they hire fellow singaporeans ...many if them. I love their chicken wings. n bcos they hire singaporeans first I dun mind paying a bit more