Job Discussion Forums

double agent · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:06 pm Post subject: to die shopping

Wednesday 01 September 2004, 16:11 Makka Time, 13:11 GMT

The Ikea store in Jidda was the first to open in Saudi Arabia

Related:
Shia die in Pakistan stampede
Pilgrims killed in Hajj stampede

Three men have been trampled to death in a rush to claim vouchers at the first Ikea furniture showroom in Saudi Arabia, hospital officials said.
Sixteen shoppers were injured at the Sweden-based furniture store's showroom in the Red Sea city of Jiddah on Wednesday.

Medics revived some 20 customers who had fainted in the crush.
The stampede was triggered by an offer for the first 50 shoppers to received $150 vouchers.

An official at Ikea's Saudi agent said more than 7,000 people showed up at the Jidda branch.

Hospital officials said the three dead included a Pakistani and a Saudi national.

Ikea is known for simple, reasonably priced products.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

I saw this in this morning's paper. There is a new, second, Ikea in town?

Where is it, exactly. Give me a landmark.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

One link is :

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=50867&d=2&m=9&y=2004

The IKEA I went to when I lived in Jeddah was near KAAU. I still use stuff that I bought there including a specially comfortable chair.

I am glad that I am not the PR man at IKEA that has to explain away what went wrong with the publicity stunt.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

I like the pots & pans, nice heavy stainless. Still the old (or first?) location out on the Ring Road is too hard to get to.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

They'd closed down the old one and opened the new one.

Nearly 100,000 people; the road impassible for over a kilometre. And all to save SR500 for a maximum of 200 people. At least we'll be spared fr a week or two hearing how the Saudis aren't materialistic like the decadent West!

Incidentally the best bargain I found at IKEA were the cast iron frying pans. Really heavy and a snip at SR29.

I wish they had a branch of IKEA in Sri Lanka. I'll soon have a house to furnish.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

So I ask again, where is the new store?

jeddahteacher · Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 291 Location: Arabia

Shara Sitteen and Shara Tahlia.
JT

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

I drove by it the other day on my way to the National Falcon Hospital.

What was I doing there you ask? None of your falcon business I reply!