Police are called to IKEA as anger boils over and shoppers threaten staff as they are forced to queue for three hours to get their click and collect purchases
- Drivers approaching Ikea’s Greater Manchester store sat in gridlocked traffic
- Some waited without being able to pick up purchase in Ashton-under-Lyne
- Ikea confirmed police were called to deal with ‘an isolated customer issue’
- Company apologised for delays and blamed it on ‘unprecedented demand’
Police have been called to an Ikea store after its click and collect service descended into ‘chaos’ with furious shoppers threatening staff as they waited in three-hour queues.
Drivers hoping to collect their items from the flat-pack furniture giant’s Greater Manchester store sat in gridlocked traffic as hoards of shoppers descended on the site.
Some waited for hours without being able to pick up their purchase in Ashton-under-Lyne.
While IKEA stopped in-store purchases during the country’s second lockdown – as all non-essential shops were forced to close – click and collect and home delivery is still available.
A spokesperson for Ikea confirmed police were called to deal with ‘an isolated customer issue’ and apologised for the delays which were blamed on ‘unprecedented demand.’
Police have been called to Ikea’s Greater Manchester store after its click and collect service descended into ‘chaos’ with furious shoppers threatening staff as they waited in three-hour queues (pictured)
Their apology came after furious shoppers and passersby alike took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
Witness Jo Griffin tweeted: ‘Lots of traffic around Ikea at Ashton Moss.
‘People getting out of their cars and shouting abuse and threatening IKEA staff. It’s really no way to behave – they are only trying to keep people safe. Police now on site.’
Sam Scholes drove from near Preston with her partner to pick up some kitchen shelving – but gave up after waiting for 45 minutes in standstill traffic.
‘We got the text yesterday to say come and pick it up any time on Sunday,’ said Sam.
‘They said ring us when you get here.
Drivers hoping to collect their items from the flat-pack furniture giant’s Greater Manchester store sat in gridlocked traffic as hoards of shoppers descended on the site (pictured)
‘The traffic was backed up pretty much from the first roundabout as you come off the M60. ‘
‘My partner rang and they said ‘you might have to wait, there’s nothing else you can do.’
‘We sat their waiting patiently for 45 minutes and then it was becoming chaos.
‘People were going across the yellow hatchings.
IKEA’s apology came after furious shoppers and passersby alike took to Twitter to vent their frustration
‘Eventually police came round and pushed their way to the front and parked across the entrance.
‘From what I could see the police officer was trying to get people to move on.’
Mr Scholes added: ‘It’s ridiculous to be honest. How could it take such a long process?’
‘They must have known the volume of people that would turn up.
‘Something has gone wrong.’
Earlier this month the company announced that it was cutting the cost of its click and collect service to £5 or free if orders are £100 or more.
While IKEA (the store in Greater Manchester, pictured) stopped in-store purchases during the country’s second lockdown – as all non-essential shops were forced to close – click and collect and home delivery is still available
An IKEA spokesperson said: ‘We are really sorry for the disruption at IKEA Manchester today.
‘This was caused by unprecedented demand during these exceptional times where life at home has never been more important.
‘We can confirm that police were called to deal with an isolated customer issue and have now left the site.
‘We have been doing everything that we can to serve customers on this incredibly busy Sunday and we have increased staff capacity in our store to manage the click & collect service.
‘We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and for shopping with IKEA.’
Greater Manchester Police were unable to be reached for comment.