For many households and businesses, self storage seems to have addressed their storage needs and improved their living and working environment. The number of warehouses in Hong Kong is on the increase in recent years. There are dozens of operators providing different types of services.
Consumer Council has recently published a report regarding storage services, reminding consumers of important considerations before making up their minds.
【Retrieval Fee for Unlimited Access? 】
Consumer Council found that some movable storages require a minimum of 2 hours to 1 working day prior appointment for collecting or depositing items. One of the companies even require a retrieval fee for 24 hours unlimited access.
In general, conventional self-service mini-storage opens 24 hours a day, so that customers can deposit or collect their own items with an access card whenever they wish, and should not be charged any additional fees. Moreover, some storages even offer door-to-store delivery services for customers, some for free and some at a cost. It is therefore advisable to study carefully the relevant terms and conditions.
【Monthly plans differ hugely, how to choose the most value-for-money plan?】
The report pointed out that the range of monthly rental of regular self-storage can be large. The largest differences in monthly rental is three times for a same-sized unit, and even when comparing within the same district, it is also talking about nearly two times.
It is worth noting that apart from location, the volume of a storage unit can contribute to such price differences, as the height of a unit can be different even they are of the same area in terms of square feet. For instance, some units have a height of less than 1.8 meters, while some having 2.35 meters, maximum achievable under the current FSD guidelines. In other words, even two units are of the same rental and same size, a taller unit will in fact be more value for money.
Moreover, consumers can get different offers or discount by signing up different storage plans of different length. Apart from mere rental discount, free upgrade to a larger-sized unit or free delivery service are some other examples that consumers could get. Consumers should make a comprehensive comparison and understand any special terms of service.
【Everything can be charged, even for registration? 】
The devil is in the detail. The report also mentioned that there are cases where self-storage charge a $75 registration fee, and customers are also required to purchase access card at a price of $30 to $60 for gaining access.
A good self storage operator will usually be open with their charges, including any additional services, handling or equipments needed and take a further step to understand the requirement of each customer and make suitable recommendations.
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Before you could enjoy a high quality and comfy storage environment, it is important to understand your storage needs and make a more comprehensive comparison between operators. You should also study carefully of the terms and conditions prior to signing it. Be a smart consumer!
Source: Consumer Council HK
