365 Self-Storage Questionable Activities?? Prescott Valley Arizona
Last Saturday morning I attended a Public Auction at a Self-Storage facility here in Prescott Valley, Arizona. It was the "first time" I'd attended something like this, but do have a friend in Phoenix who goes occasionally. I was impressed when the Auctioneer, Bill Coles, asked that anyone winning the bid on a unit "please leave" personal items (photo album, legal documents, birth certificates, etc.) in the units - and notify management of such. Bad enough someone had to lose their belongings without losing their baby's first pictures, or baptismal certificate, etc. A group of 20 or so people were in attendance and most had been to many of these type of auctions. The process, as I understand it, is management puts a "second lock" on the unit when the tenant goes into default (THEY DON'T CUT THE TENANT'S LOCK , ENTER THE UNIT OR SEARCH THRU THE ITEMS IN THE UNIT). When the auctioneer arrives he/she, along with the Manager/Owner of the facility, "cut the tenants lock off, open the door, take a picture of the contents, then close and lock the unit". Nothing is to be touched or rummaged thru prior to the actual Public Auction (or so it's suppose to be). I watched 20 or so units being opened for public view (just before bidding started), and it was BLANTANTLY OBVIOUS TO THE PROFESSIONAL BUYERS, AS WELL AS TO ME
(A COMPLETE NOVICE) THAT MANY OF THESE UNITS HAD BEEN "PREVIOUSLY OPENED AND ITEMS GONE THRU". There would be a few broken items right at the entrance where someone was trying to quickly look into boxes, a small path made thru the goods, and the cardboard boxes "opened" as if someone was trying to "cherry pick" the best and most valuable items out of the unit BEFORE THE PUBLIC AUCTION. Being new to all of this I can't point a finger directly - but I would ask the question, WHO HAD ACCESS???? I don't blame the auctioneer, as I'm sure all of this was done prior to his arrival. I am making it a mission to look into this further and monitor upcoming auctions in the future. What's being done "within these units prior to auction" is, I'm sure, BOTH ILLEGAL AND TOTALLY UNETHICAL. Shame on somebody...
Price
Prescott Valley, Arizona
U.S.A.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Chuck
Las Vagas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Tom is right
#10Consumer Suggestion
Thu, June 18, 2009
I agree with Tom and he certainly knows what he is talking about. I just want to add one thing. I think it is very unfortunate that people go out of their way to complain about something that they have absolutely no idea about. While I applaud those that complain about poor business practices and do a service to the public, it is absolutely irresponsible to go out of your way to complain about a fine business with solid practices. In this case, the motive is to try to get people not to patronize this establishment because of something that isnt true. What is worse as this person is not even a customer of this establishment. This type of libel is what tarnishes websites like this when the mission of this website is to legitimately report facts against a truly offending business. Absolutely irresponsible behavior.
Chuck
Las Vagas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Tom is right
#10Consumer Suggestion
Thu, June 18, 2009
I agree with Tom and he certainly knows what he is talking about. I just want to add one thing. I think it is very unfortunate that people go out of their way to complain about something that they have absolutely no idea about. While I applaud those that complain about poor business practices and do a service to the public, it is absolutely irresponsible to go out of your way to complain about a fine business with solid practices. In this case, the motive is to try to get people not to patronize this establishment because of something that isnt true. What is worse as this person is not even a customer of this establishment. This type of libel is what tarnishes websites like this when the mission of this website is to legitimately report facts against a truly offending business. Absolutely irresponsible behavior.
Chuck
Las Vagas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Tom is right
#10Consumer Suggestion
Thu, June 18, 2009
I agree with Tom and he certainly knows what he is talking about. I just want to add one thing. I think it is very unfortunate that people go out of their way to complain about something that they have absolutely no idea about. While I applaud those that complain about poor business practices and do a service to the public, it is absolutely irresponsible to go out of your way to complain about a fine business with solid practices. In this case, the motive is to try to get people not to patronize this establishment because of something that isnt true. What is worse as this person is not even a customer of this establishment. This type of libel is what tarnishes websites like this when the mission of this website is to legitimately report facts against a truly offending business. Absolutely irresponsible behavior.
Chuck
Las Vagas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Tom is right
#10Consumer Suggestion
Thu, June 18, 2009
I agree with Tom and he certainly knows what he is talking about. I just want to add one thing. I think it is very unfortunate that people go out of their way to complain about something that they have absolutely no idea about. While I applaud those that complain about poor business practices and do a service to the public, it is absolutely irresponsible to go out of your way to complain about a fine business with solid practices. In this case, the motive is to try to get people not to patronize this establishment because of something that isnt true. What is worse as this person is not even a customer of this establishment. This type of libel is what tarnishes websites like this when the mission of this website is to legitimately report facts against a truly offending business. Absolutely irresponsible behavior.
Tom-storage Expert
Lodi,California,
U.S.A.
Expert opinion regarding probable cause
#10Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 01, 2009
As a self storage expert that has testified many times in self storage lawsuits, I have an explanation regarding the apparent "riffling" of storage units. Many self storage renters reevaluate their decision to store and determine that storing is simply too expensive. In other cases, the renter is experiencing a divorce, loss of a job or other life changing experience. As an auctioneer myself, I have inventoried and sold over 12,000 self storage spaces. It is very common for customers to make a final visit to their space and to rummage through their own belongings, make small aisles through their belongings and to simply leave the unwanted items behind. They then cease making timely payments and force the self storage facility to foreclose pursuant to the lien statutes of their State.
I have heard this same allegation for years as I have been in the industry since 1965. I have cut many original tenant locks only to find the exact same situation as described by the complaintant in this report. While a few self storage managers may be "cherry pickers", the overwhelming majority are solid, hard working individuals who have no interest in stealing small chattel items from self storage spaces. After all, the manager is always the first suspect in any loss.
365 Self Storage Management
Scottsdale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Unfair Claim about 365 Self Storage
#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, February 20, 2009
To whom ever wrote this letter,I can 100% assure you that no one had rummaged through any of these units that went up for auction. I work for 365 Self Storage and manage about 11 of these 365 Self Storage locations. I was at the location and put the locks behind Bill Cole, i can 100% assure you that my manager's would never rummage through someone's belongings. As we know that it is 100% unethical and illegal. I wanted to rebuttal against this claim because it is un true. Alot of these units were not paid for over a year. We have a heart for people and do not at anytime want to seel people's items. I apologize for you thinking these actions against us. But, they are un true.
Have a great day.
365 Self Storage Management
Scottsdale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Unfair Claim about 365 Self Storage
#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, February 20, 2009
To whom ever wrote this letter,I can 100% assure you that no one had rummaged through any of these units that went up for auction. I work for 365 Self Storage and manage about 11 of these 365 Self Storage locations. I was at the location and put the locks behind Bill Cole, i can 100% assure you that my manager's would never rummage through someone's belongings. As we know that it is 100% unethical and illegal. I wanted to rebuttal against this claim because it is un true. Alot of these units were not paid for over a year. We have a heart for people and do not at anytime want to seel people's items. I apologize for you thinking these actions against us. But, they are un true.
Have a great day.
365 Self Storage Management
Scottsdale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Unfair Claim about 365 Self Storage
#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, February 20, 2009
To whom ever wrote this letter,I can 100% assure you that no one had rummaged through any of these units that went up for auction. I work for 365 Self Storage and manage about 11 of these 365 Self Storage locations. I was at the location and put the locks behind Bill Cole, i can 100% assure you that my manager's would never rummage through someone's belongings. As we know that it is 100% unethical and illegal. I wanted to rebuttal against this claim because it is un true. Alot of these units were not paid for over a year. We have a heart for people and do not at anytime want to seel people's items. I apologize for you thinking these actions against us. But, they are un true.
Have a great day.
365 Self Storage Management
Scottsdale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Unfair Claim about 365 Self Storage
#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, February 20, 2009
To whom ever wrote this letter,I can 100% assure you that no one had rummaged through any of these units that went up for auction. I work for 365 Self Storage and manage about 11 of these 365 Self Storage locations. I was at the location and put the locks behind Bill Cole, i can 100% assure you that my manager's would never rummage through someone's belongings. As we know that it is 100% unethical and illegal. I wanted to rebuttal against this claim because it is un true. Alot of these units were not paid for over a year. We have a heart for people and do not at anytime want to seel people's items. I apologize for you thinking these actions against us. But, they are un true.
Have a great day.