A Walk Through IKEA: A Test of Stamina, Direction, and Job Flexibility…read more January 10, 2026 My first serious trip to IKEA made me realize that this is not just a furniture store. It's a carefully designed one-way journey. The layout is extremely thoughtful--so thoughtful that it's almost impossible to visit just one section. Whether you're there to buy a single mug or simply "have a look," you will be guided through the entire store. I managed to do even better than that. I got lost. Not only did I get lost, I walked part of it twice. The most important detail: I was wearing four-inch stilettos. In IKEA, those are not shoes. They're a personal challenge. After what felt like a full hike, I finally reached the exit and thought I was done. That's when the real test began - checkout. Most stores at least give you options: self-checkout or cashier-assisted checkout. IKEA is very decisive. Self-checkout only. So there I was, scanning items, bagging them myself, slowly realizing I had taken on a new role. The screen even politely asked: "Are you a member?" I couldn't help laughing. I had just become a temporary cashier, without an employee discount, and without a paycheck. And then came the final surprise. At the exit - nothing. At Costco, for example, there's always someone checking receipts. At IKEA, the exit is completely empty. For a moment, you might think this reflects IKEA's deep trust in its customers. Then another thought occurs to you: maybe they also saved the salary of that employee. By the end of this IKEA trip, I had completed: a full-store walk, a detour with repetition, a high-heel endurance test, a self-checkout internship, and a quiet reflection on trust and cost control. Next time, I'll wear flat shoes. As for the salary and staff discount - I won't get my hopes up. I spent $53.69 in total that day. $29.95 went to pear-flavored sparkling water. Which means over half of my IKEA budget was... hydration. IKEA: where your legs get a workout, your patience is tested, and your self-checkout skills improve... all in one visit. I guess I overestimated my ability to wear high heels. I may have slightly overestimated my high-heel endurance. In hindsight, I clearly overestimated my ability to survive IKEA in high heels. I confidently assumed I could handle high heels at IKEA. I was wrong.

The Swedish meatballs are the best ever! And paired with lingonberry sauce was superb. The…read morecucumber salad was perfectly balanced with vinegar and dill. The chocolate cake was so creamy and not overly sweet. The cost of the food was a bargain considering we got three entrees, sides, desserts and two drinks. Love the self service and the staff were all friendly.

My wife and I used Florida Surfaces to install a new Silestone counter and sink in our kitchen…read moreabout 22 months ago. The install went great without any issues. Recently, we noticed a small gap where the under-mount sink connects to the counter top. It was very unusual to have this happen so I reached out to Florida Surfaces and despite the 1-year warranty being expired they didn't hesitate to promptly re-mount the sink to the counter with additional support to ensure it doesn't happen again. Their employees showed up early, were professional and cleaned up thoroughly. It was a pleasant surprise and breath of fresh air to have a company go above and beyond when it comes to customer service and stand behind their reputation for quality even when they didn't have to do anything. I will definitely recommend Florida Surfaces in the future! Sylvan McElroy New Smyrna Beach, FL

Very unprofessional, they came 3 hrs late from appointment, incomplete job and materials just bring…read morekitchen countertops not the bathrooms and one piece had few scratchers

I meannnn... it's Ross. Dress for Less. Whatever you need (and don't), you'll probably find it if…read moreyou dig long enough for a decent price. Key word: Dig. They do have a lot of options if you have the patience. Pro tip: don't be like me and please remember to complete the short survey on your receipt for a change to win a $1000 gift card!

Stopped in advance to pick up some kitchen towels because we are cleaning out our kitchen and…read morere-organizing it. Got the kitchen towels they were a couple of Clorox ones for five dollars. Then I grabbed some headbands, I picked up the famous ugg sweater - for $40. However in the store I guess it's retailing for $128. I also picked up some air fresheners for my car - I found out that Ross also has a car air fresheners and they are actually very cheap. The lady who checked me out set up my UGG sweater is an amazing find and I said heck yes. She also asked if I had any children for the blue water bottle and I said nope that is for myself. Hi absolutely love Ross and I shop here honestly way too much but I feel like if you want to find a good deal you gotta check out Ross!

We recently chose Josh the owner of Nu Kitchens to remodel and install a new kitchen. One…read more challenge for Josh is that our kitchen space is limited. His design acumen is amazing and so was his responsiveness to our needs and desires. After a few meetings Josh began work on our project. I am a very detailed person and so is Josh. We love our kitchen! It turned out spectacular!!! We have more storage space than before and more counter area where we needed it most. Everything has a place. Josh's design which included a custom made under-counter decorative panel, under cabinet lighting and other details that exceeded our expectations. We would not hesitate to recommend Josh for any kitchen or home project. Further, he was a delight to work with!

I can't give a review on the product since I never received a quote! The representative came out to…read moreour home spoke to my husband in length and never heard back from him. I called a week later and was told that "oh yeah, I remember you. I have been busy and you fell through the cracks. Ummmm, I'll try to get back with you maybe sometime later today or tomorrow". Still waiting 4 days after my follow up call and 2 weeks since our in home consult. Incredibly BAD customer service.

I didn't know such a mecca existed until this past weekend. The only thing that could possibly top…read morethis for me is an All Clad Outlet. We love Calphalon & they're products at our house. Most all our tools (spatulas, etc) come from them and we have a couple non-stick pans as well. I'm in big trouble next time I hit this store with my husband. He'll love this like a fat kid loves cake. Better start preparing the wallet now.

The Tile Shop is a great store. They have a wonderful selection of products, especially designer…read moreand high-end tiles you won't see in other local stores. Do yourself a favor and request to work with Steven!! He knows all the products inside and out and was quickly able to guide us to things that were a perfect match for what we wanted. I was able to find tiles I loved for all my home projects almost immediately with Steven's assistance. The experience was above and beyond my expectations in every way because Steven is so kind, considerate, helpful, intelligent with an amazing sense of humor to boot! We had an absolute blast working with him and we loved everything we bought! I can't wait to have all these gorgeous tiles in my home! Five stars - A+++ - Cannot recommend any more highly!!! Thank you for giving us such a great experience!!! We will be back for our kitchen backsplash soon!

We recently went to the store as we are redoing the backsplash of our kitchen remodel. We were…read moreimmediately greeted by David and offered assistance during our visit. The shop has quite a few options, however, they are a bit pricey however understandable as it is in the Millennia area. Very clean store and a lot of options and ideas to inspire you. I would recommend this to anyone.