![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1012013-100x100.png\")
That's weird, I do the same thing right here in the U.S. I don't think I've made it past the first furniture set-up in 10 trips to IKEA. Right to the couches and chairs with a magazine, have fun wife.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
@SLAAB: I don't completely understand the concept of husbands chilling out while the wife shops. FWIW, I'm a chick, and I hate shopping, so maybe I'm coming at this from the wrong angle. If a husband doesn't like shopping, why does he go to the mall with his wife? Why not just stay home?
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-660502-100x100.png\")
@mechteach: Wow thank you. The best answer I have come up with with is a two parter. First is to have someone to talk with on the way to the mall so they don't feel like a loser going by themselves. Second is to ask you opinion on various purchases so it can be summarily discarded because she knows better than you.
Logic 0
Women emotional craziness 1
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-537475-100x100.png\")
@Munchie: I don't need assurance from anyone.
I love shopping, and I'd much rather shop alone. I have absolutely no problem being at the mall by myself. I get things done much faster that way. So when I go shopping, I'm by myself or with a friend, and Mr. Pi doesn't go.
This gets flipped when he needs clothes - then he's okay with going to the mall, but for the least time necessary.
@mechteach: In my mom's case (me, not my dad, because he's away on business half the time) it's because she buys so much she has trouble carrying it all to the car (she has eagle eyes, capable of spotting sales halfway across the mall; she naturally gets carried away). And if I don't fill this role naturally I get guilt-tripped (because I'm the only guy in the family with my dad away for business all the time).
@mechteach:
wife needs reassurance for clothes she buys, maybe he's needed to approve of some major purchase but in between that there is a LOT of browsing going on
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-159929-100x100.png\")
@SLAAB:
I live very close to an Ikea - I'll go there pretty often just to hit the snack bar. $1 frozen yogurt ftw!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-917643-100x100.png\")
@SLAAB: There's a reason why the benches and other seating in malls and stores is called \"husband parking.\" After being renovated and redone, a local mall here set up nice living room-like areas with couches, fireplaces, and TVs tuned to ESPN.
@Laura Northrup:
I don't get that, why bother going to the mall just to sit? Are women that oblivious the pain they inflict on their husbands when they could make both parties happy and just go themselves :p Damn I hate shopping...
@Laura Northrup: Yep! Cox has put a stranglehold on one of my local malls by setting up shiny TVs in constantly tuned to various ESPNs in HD. Every weekend there are men who sit down and just watch for however long it takes.
@Laura Northrup: They updated the nearby mall. Instead of the really uncomfortable wood benches they put in sitting areas with cushy leather sofas and club chairs. It is a far improvement if you have to wait on someone. The mall also has free wifi.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-457717-100x100.png\")
@Laura Northrup: Now, if they provided somewhere with coffee and a table covered with Lego or K'nex, husbands could be parked for hours and never fret.
Not needed in our house - the wife doesn't like shopping, even for clothes.
@Laura Northrup: Colonie Center I'm guessing? Used to be Albany's red headed step child and now it's the place to be.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-389492-100x100.png\")
@Laura Northrup: i try hard to avoid malls but had to take a friend recently to lenscrafters and while he was getting his glasses adjusted i was looking around and noticing that the mall now has several rows of large luxury recliners for 'husband parking'....
with coin slots for massages.
magic fingers anyone?
@catastrophegirl: There's a bank of those set up in front of the store where my friend works. Very handy.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-12654-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1261540-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1236-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-16563-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-542520-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-55601-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-391013-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-356584-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-430750-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-17616-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-111564-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-451623-100x100.png\")
![[www.cockeyed.com]](\"http://www.cockeyed.com/pranks/ikea_party/ikea02.jpg%5B/img\"){kind=link}
I read the article this morning at work.
\"...how do we get people to open up their wallets and spend money?\"
By telling them to buy something or GTFO? I don't know. But I do know that if I was working there, I'd be seriously pissed off at having to re-make beds, re-arrange furniture, etc. after loiters arrived just to dick around for hours.
@G.O.B.: Come on!: \"By telling them to buy something or GTFO? I don't know. But I do know that if I was working there, I'd be seriously pissed off at having to re-make beds, re-arrange furniture, etc. after loiters arrived just to dick around for hours. \"
I'm not sure you've ever been to an IKEA, but that's how most of them are - loiterers or not. Customers are encouraged to bring their kids, so the employees would need to do it anyways.
Also, the furniture is cheap, good quality and looks better than any other \"lowest price $1,999 bedroom set\".
@G.O.B.: Come on!: I think this may be a cultural thing. Here in Japan, I've noticed that shopping is very much a pastime, not so much something done out of necessity for things. As such, the Ikea's near Yokohama and Tokyo seem to have a lot of people roaming the aisles AND buying things at the checkout, but the ratio of looking/buying is heavily in favor of looking. Browsing and just \"going shopping,\" though not necessarily with the intent to buy, seems to be a very big favorite among the Japanese. I'm wondering if it's the same in China.
@G.O.B.: Come on!: it would be funny though if other people thought they were mannequins and poked them or sat on them...or put embarrassing things on them. am i 10 years old?--maybe.
the cleanup isn't much different than having to pick up after customers at other stores. and at least at ikea, the point is to try out the merch, though not to that degree. i can't tell you how many times i had to clean up paint/glitter/etc while working at a craft store for 2 years--now that was shitty!