Thread: Turned someone away

So I just turned my first customer away and I hope it was a good judgment call. The guy comes in asking if we have electricity to all of our units, and looks like a meth addict he is all squirly and cant sit still and just something is off about him. So then he wants the biggest unit he can get, which right now since our 10x30's and 10x25's are sold out is a 10x20. I asked what he needed power for and after a moment he says for power tools. I asked power tools for what he said you know to work on cars. He wants to use it as his own personal cars to work on cars and bikes. I said we cant have you using it as a garage to to work out of it, this is for storage. Not to mention having him staining our floors in fluids, trans, oil, coolant, ect. just seemed like a bad deal from the start, then he says well down in florida they let you do whatever you want in your unit, I wanted to say well then I guess I would go back to Florida. Some people just are out of this world.

so what would you have done?

I would do the same thing. No one likes to turn away a rental, but you have your rules in place and I would advise you don't bend for anyone. I've learned that if you trust your gut, you avoid future migraines. Trust me, each time I've ignored 'that feeling' we've lived to regret it. That 6th sense is a good thing to listen to.

I managed a storage facility in Florida for 3 years, and no, we didn't let them do whatever they wanted in their unit...at least not in the facility we managed.

However, as in all states, there were those managers who turned a blind eye to just about anything going on in the facility.

I'd have to say the same. You could hear the 'red flags' through your post. Good job.

Then later I saw his car parked in the parking lot and I was like what the heck, then about 20 minutes later I see him trying to do his pimp walk across the street back to his car. Im so glad this one didnt come here. what a creep

Good call, the liability issues of letting someone work on their cars, trucks, etc. are tremendous. I used to rent a garage space in an industrial park and the manager there would share some of the horror stories of what happened in some of the small garages he rented. I left after a large fire in an adjacent building convinced me not to risk damage to my property let alone myself.

Originally Posted by Oms.mgr.Dustin

So I just turned my first customer away and I hope it was a good judgment call. The guy comes in asking if we have electricity to all of our units, and looks like a meth addict he is all squirly and cant sit still and just something is off about him. So then he wants the biggest unit he can get, which right now since our 10x30's and 10x25's are sold out is a 10x20. I asked what he needed power for and after a moment he says for power tools. I asked power tools for what he said you know to work on cars. He wants to use it as his own personal cars to work on cars and bikes. I said we cant have you using it as a garage to to work out of it, this is for storage. Not to mention having him staining our floors in fluids, trans, oil, coolant, ect. just seemed like a bad deal from the start, then he says well down in florida they let you do whatever you want in your unit, I wanted to say well then I guess I would go back to Florida. Some people just are out of this world.

so what would you have done?

Same darn thing! We've had similar requests, not all for cars, though. I've been most clear, as you were, that we aren't set up f/ people working in the units on mowers, cars, or other similar items. I usually don't have do push the point since we don't have power to the units but I have had folks who wanted to run "flea market" type deals - still "NO".

On the "in Florida they let you..." comment - I worked as a manager for Farm Store Foods (a convenience store chain that used to operate in Florida and Georgia). Back in the 70s-80s, the Fort Lauderdale area was mecca f/ the Yankee retirees, mostly from NY. I was forever hearing similar sentiments that "in NY, we'd do it..." - I can understand your wanting to tell them to hit 95 and go North!!! Soooooo many times, I too, wanted to say the same thing.

We have had all these kinds of request and we all ways say no for many reasons. BUT we do offer warehouses for auto shops and Store Fronts for small business's. Most times they walk away, and if they insist on being a PITA I call the owner down and wellllllll...lets just say she makes sure they get the message clear and in a professional manner...Man I love my boss lady! hehe