The ship has sailed on free weekday rides to Red Hook.
IKEA announced this week that it would begin charging non−customers who use the store’s free ferry service. The new policy will be enacted August 3.
“We have implemented this policy because our customers are using the water taxi service, but the cost is such that we cannot continue subsidizing it during the week as a commuter service for those who are not IKEA customers,” Mike Baker, IKEA Brooklyn store manager said in a statement. “With the store open for more than one year, we have a strong sense of the shopping and transit pattern, customer expectations and of costs required to support key customer services.”
As of August 3, 2009, a ride on the water taxi from Manhattan’s Pier 11 to IKEA Brooklyn in Red Hook will carry a fee of $5.00 per ride. Customers spending $10.00 or more per person at IKEA will receive a $5.00 credit on their purchase or for use during future visits to the store.
A ride from Red Hook to Manhattan will also cost $5.00 per passenger, but IKEA customers with a purchase of $10.00 or more can show their receipt to ride for free. Children aged 12 or under can still ride for free — even if they just window shop.
Weekend trips will remain free of charge to all riders.
“The system was developed as a convenient service for use by IKEA customers so we could minimize the number of cars on the road. Charging for non−customers who ride the water taxi is one way to help defray slightly the significant costs incurred by IKEA to provide a service which we have kept accessible to the public — and which we have kept free on weekends,” Baker said.
