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Extra Space Storage

February 18, 2023 02:16PM
Part of this shop is to complete a rental of a unit, pay for it, and leave. And then in a minute - come back in, show the employee your shopper letter and have him reverse the transaction.

Anyone done these? I'm wondering if a fellow would be less than pleased if I just walked him around the place and did paperwork, and turned down his sacred insurance - -- and then told him it was all for fun. I thought of just shrugging with "sorry man, just doing my job"....but these days people can be iffy?
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February 18, 2023 02:29PM
There are other storage shops with just a tour and no rental that pays more.

From what I’ve seen from previous threads a few people have run into issues with getting refunded. Majority seem to get their refund with no issue.
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February 18, 2023 03:57PM
@BabyBooey19 wrote:

Part of this shop is to complete a rental of a unit, pay for it, and leave. And then in a minute - come back in, show the employee your shopper letter and have him reverse the transaction.

Anyone done these? I'm wondering if a fellow would be less than pleased if I just walked him around the place and did paperwork, and turned down his sacred insurance - -- and then told him it was all for fun. I thought of just shrugging with "sorry man, just doing my job"....but these days people can be iffy?

ESS has prepared their employees with the scenario. They know it's how they are evaluated and know to refund. They will want to know how they did, just say you are not allowed to discuss with them. Other reactions are the employee looking straight at you and saying " You're good, i thought you were a real customer". I have never had an adverse reaction, I could tell some were not happy but no one saying anything or refusing to refund.
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February 18, 2023 05:08PM
I have done these, and I have never had a problem of any type. They are done routinely, and the employees know it will happen. There is nothing in the scenario to make them doubt that you are a regular customer as long as you think through your story in advance.

There are other storage shops where some people have reported problems getting refunded, but this is not the one.
@BabyBooey19 wrote:

Part of this shop is to complete a rental of a unit, pay for it, and leave. And then in a minute - come back in, show the employee your shopper letter and have him reverse the transaction.

Anyone done these? I'm wondering if a fellow would be less than pleased if I just walked him around the place and did paperwork, and turned down his sacred insurance - -- and then told him it was all for fun. I thought of just shrugging with "sorry man, just doing my job"....but these days people can be iffy?

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
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March 03, 2023 08:52PM
Just to complete the thought, I did one - and the rep was very nice about it. As soon as I pulled out the letter he just laughed. Has anyone done multiple Extra Space shops? I ask because the MSC directions say to give a different phone number and name because if not, you'll show up in the database and maybe outed as a shopper. I called the place - got the call center- they said "yeah you need a license". I asked pointedly what if I don't have one - - they said I'd have to give a driver's license number, or a passport number, or show a state ID. Again - that would out me. I want to do more Extra Space -- just dont want to do it if I will be outed. Has anyone done multiple Extra Space? Thanks
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March 03, 2023 08:54PM
I haven't done one in a couple of years. The 'just want a quote' scenario did not require a license.
@BabyBooey19 wrote:

Has anyone done multiple Extra Space? Thanks

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
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March 08, 2023 08:42PM
I did one many years ago and had to rent a unit. After the shop I gave the letter and was assured the charge had been reversed. It was not reversed and I had to contact the shopping company to get it reversed. I would not do another one based on that.
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March 08, 2023 09:22PM
I like these and have done three of them. Never had any problem getting my refund on the spot or any issue with the employee. I think they're easier and more straightforward than the inquiry-only shops. But quite a long time in between because I'm not sure how to handle using the same name, even if a different phone number (as the MSC suggests). I don't know how long your information stays in the system. On the last one I did, I got emails from them for at least two weeks after I'd cancelled.

I asked a scheduler once about the whole not being identified thing if you do the shop again, but never got an answer.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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