Already secured both job (from 1 Jan) and apartment (from 16 Dec). The apartment is unfurnished of course and I am still living abroad. I am going to collect the keys at noon of 16 Dec. Since IKEA sells the same furniture all over the world I was thinking of browsing its offer here, buying it online on the Swiss website and arranging a delivery for 16 Dec late afternoon.
The payment amount will be quite substantial, therefore I would prefer to pay with a transfer from my Currency Fair account rather than with Euro debit card. Thus I would save on exchange rates.
Can anyone please tell me how to arrange such a payment with IKEA? I was thinking of using a Swiss prepaid card, but I cannot purchase any of them because I do not have Swiss bank account yet. Also, please let me know if there are better ways of getting my apartment furnished while staying abroad.
I don’t think you’d be able to do that Oliver. Ikea only take cash, debit cards and maybe credit cards I believe and I’m not sure they’d take a non-Swiss card. Most of the Swiss still pay in cash or by debit card, although credit cards are more popular than they were when we moved to Switzerland 14 years ago.
So near Christmas it’s going to be difficult to get anything delivered. I’m not sure you could arrange a specific date for delivery either. I’d suggest you hire one of their vans and do it yourself, but you’d need a Swiss driving licence to do that.
Are you planning on being here over Christmas or is it just a quick visit to sort out the apartment?
Can't help you with the payment issue, but for delivery and setup, take a look here on the Forum for "man with a van."
There are several guys that do this, and you might be able to hire one to help you pick up the furniture, take it to your new place, and assemble it. Not sure how much they would charge hourly, but it may be a tad cheaper and easier to organize than trying to have IKEA deliver at that time of year.
Yes, that might be the best way to do it 3Wishes. Oliver, you could contact one of them (do a search for man van here on the forum) and arrange to use them to go to Ikea with you on the 16th. You can check on the Ikea website which items are in stock in which stores so you could do that a day or two before the 16th. Then get what you need at the nearest Ikea and take it back to the apartment. If you bring enough Swiss francs with you it should be fine.
Actually, I'd love to do a whole apartment challenge just using one or two of the big charity/second hand stores. I reckon I could deck out a whole apartment from just the Zuercher brockenhaus and Brockiland in Zurich.
Oh, forgot to add, I would not be confident to recommend using the ikea delivery service. Much better to just pick up and know it will be delivered the same day or next day.
You could also try micasa online and even the Swiss 'postshop' and also Bon prix.ch I have had positive experiences with prompt delivery with all of them. My post parcel person delivers normally between 12-1pm on weekdays and 7:30 - 8:30 am on weekends, and is very reliable. Of course if they miss you or if the item is particularly big and heavy, you might have to go get it from your local post office.
This is a really good point. We ordered a wardrobe from ikea and they brought some wrong doors. In the end, it took 3 trips for delivery and installation. Almost comical.
Been to IKEA today and did not find anything interesting. Could you please recommend me some other furniture stores in Zurich? Zuercher brockenhaus is actually quite close to where I am going to live, but not sure if I can get there everything I need.
Brockenhaus is a very good option, we found lots of almost antique furniture for a very reasonable price. Even better is ricardo.ch, the Swiss equivalent to ebay but it takes patience to find the right piece for the right price and you have to pick it up.
I'm sure you'll find all you need in IKEA, Micasa, TopTip, Möbelpfister, Fly, all in Spreitenbach. Glattzentrum in Dietlikon and the adjoining area has probably pretty much the same shops.
He’s living abroad at the moment so yes, Ikea is probably open on a Sunday.
Another possibility if you don’t mind secondhand is to find the nearest HIOB store to your new place. They have all kinds of stuff at very reasonable prices. Check on their website www.hiob.ch for your nearest branch. And they will also deliver.
Thanks everybody for your responses - much appreciated! IKEA is indeed open on Sundays in some countries.
I found Möbel Ferrari from Linnea's post particularly interesting. For example, they offer a bed, a wardrobe and two night tabels for a total of 790 CHF:
I am not so experienced with the variety of furniture stores here but the photo looks A LOT like some of the furniture available at Conforama.
The only problem I have with Conforama is that I have the impression that much of it tends to be starter / temporary furniture, not really intended to last through multiple moves (lots of pressboard with veneers to make it look like hard wood). So, ok if you want something for now and have no intention of taking it with you (or it lasting to pass on to your grandkids someday).
Perhaps your Möbel Ferrari isn't that same sort of thing - or perhaps even if it is, it would suit you alright for what you have in mind.