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Old 09-30-2008, 06:08 PM
Autodoc's Avatar
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Default Real eye opener

Our Assistant Manager was helping a friend move to Burleson Texas last week and got his eyes opened.

They needed to find a storage unit for her "excess" stuff so they started calling around.

They called about 10 facilities - the majority they called answered the phone - "Hello" after they asked if this was ____________ storage the most common answer was " Yea, what do you want?"

They decided to drive out to a few - the first one they stopped at (name held back to protect the lame), the "Good old boy" they met there told them he lived in the barn and would watch out for their stuff. They passed when he told them that if they were bringing in a large truck they could go through the gate in the back that was "only fake locked"

The next two facilities they passed on without stopping because they had no fencing or resident managers.

The fourth facility Dial's Mini Storage was professionally run and very clean and well cared for. The office staff was very helpful and handled everything the same as we do here. He couldn't say enough good things about them and their facility.

They did see another new facility, but didn't want to store there - the place was behind the Wall-Mart and had flooded a few years ago!

I guess we just need to look at others to know how we are doing - I feel pretty good about what we are doing now.
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Old 10-01-2008, 08:00 AM
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I hear ya! We have dealt with some of the same type of managers here in Tampa. We would walk and get a greeting " Hi i will be right with you" with out looking up from there computer. While they finished there work and cigeratte they will help us. Not to professional in my opion, we always stand and greet each person in our door.
A warm greeting and a smile goes a long way!!
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Last edited by discountmini : 10-01-2008 at 08:02 AM.
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Old 10-02-2008, 09:06 AM
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I had a customer call (after calling other facilities) the other day. she had just been on the phone with one of our competitors and they were having a fight with their boyfriend while on the phone to that customer. FUNNY!
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Old 10-02-2008, 09:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatorgal View Post
I had a customer call (after calling other facilities) the other day. she had just been on the phone with one of our competitors and they were having a fight with their boyfriend while on the phone to that customer. FUNNY!
Now THAT is professionalism at it's best!!
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Old 10-02-2008, 06:18 PM
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We call around to our competitors alot. If our customers need a size that we don't have or even a box that we don't carry, we call around to find someone who does.

Do you find that some of your competitors can be kinda rude to you on the phone, even if you are referring business to them?

It's really strange. I'm always VERY appreciative if a competitor refers someone my way...I'll even bring them a goody bag to say thanks!
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