The detailed tag on each item at IKEA will let you know the price, size, material, color choices, care instructions, and where you can pick up the item in the store. After you've browsed, and visualized, and planned, and calculated, you are ready to check out. Many items, like tables, and chairs, and shelving, will have yellow tags that will let you know where you can pick up the item yourself. If you are purchasing a larger item, like a sofa or a mattress, an IKEA associate will assist you. Of course there are many smaller items, like candles, and frames, and placemats, that you can just pick up as you shop. There are handy yellow shopping bags available for you to carry those smaller items. Utilizing the self-serve warehouse, and taking your purchase home and putting it together yourself, allows IKEA to keep the prices lower. Of course, if all you brought to the store was your 1972 Ford Pinto, and you purchased an entire furnished room full of furniture, IKEA can arrange to have it delivered for a reasonable charge.
IKEA Fact: All the furniture that you see displayed at the Tempe IKEA store was put together by the IKEA employees. They have first hand experience, and can give you advice if you are concerned about how much expertise it takes to put something together.