Extra Space Storage Shop

I have an Extra Space Storage shop scheduled and am wondering if it is as easy as it looks on paper. I am required to go to the location during specific days and times when the location will not be open. I rent a unit, via Kiosk, QR Code or phone call. I take a few pictures and that's it. It pays very well so am wondering. What's the catch?

How easy is it to get a refund for the cancelled unit? Also, the instructions have a section for how you interact with a sales agent. Why would you be interacting with an agent if you are renting via a kiosk or QR code? I can see it if you choose to call, but the instructions don't make that clear. There is no section on the report for any discussion with an agent. I have messaged the scheduler but so far no response.

Has anyone done one of these? How did it go?

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I've done that one, it is easy. The hardest part for me was finding the unir itself. And, you have to trust that you will get that initial payment for the rental back, it's pretty high relative to shop pay. But, I sent the email as instructed and it was reversed before the charge showed on my account.

Oh, and there won't be any interaction unless you call to rent. I used the QR, myself.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2025 01:34PM by Deedeezthoughts.

FWIW, I picked mine up last minute, it was probably a flake, and the pay was great. I think some folks are not comfortable going to a place like this when it's unstaffed? I didn't find it frightening but the area where I visited isn't high crime either.

Thanks for the info. Mine shop is scheduled for today and was a little concerned that I might be missing something.

They are the easiest of the ESS scenarios, mainly because there is no human interaction. I have done all their various scenarios over the years depending on how bad I needed to crank some $$$.

I'll have to pay closer attention knowing there are the closed scenarios out there.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

I did one of these with great pay because I don’t think they could get it filled bc of the area was in. It was super easy and my refund was processed the next day. I will definitely do another one of these shops!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2025 01:23PM by kathytwin.

I did not know they had a closed location scenario, as well. The others are so easy, but this would be even easier.

Just got back from mine. It didn't go as planned. The rental process went smoothly. Got a message at the end stating I was all set to go to my unit and there would be a lock available for me to use. I found the unit, but it was locked and inaccessible. Took a photo of the door with the lock on it, but now I am wondering if I should enter the shop just as it occurred, or will I need to return tomorrow to gain access to the unit. The instructions indicate that this might be necessary, but the reason cited was for identity verification. There was no indication on my e-document stating that would be required. I messaged the scheduler and am waiting for a response. The location is about 25 miles away so I am hoping it will not be necessary

Report the shop as it occurred.

You are doing it to evaluate the off-hours process.

If the unit was not accessible then the shop is a fail as far as ESS is concerned, and should be reported as such.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

That's why they do these, the unit should not have been listed as available when it wasn't and they will need to figure out where they went wrong. I wouldn't expect a return visit, the problem was theirs rather than yours. I had a box cutter because it said there might be a zip tie that I would need to remove but my zip tie was fake locked so I just opened it, took my pictures, fake locked it exactly as it was, and headed out.

Update to my storage unit adventure:

Looks like I was wrong to have left the location without accessing the unit. I have been told that a normal customer would have contacted customer service. There was an option to rent the unit via phone, but the instructions said that the shopper had the option of initiating the rental process via phone, QR code, or kiosk. I chose the QR code because I didn't want the hassle of talking to someone. I would have had the problem regardless of which rental option I chose, but apparently, I should have attempted to rectify the situation.

Nowhere in the instructions did it indicate that I should attempt to contact customer service if the unit could not be accessed. The shop will now be sent to the reviewers, I'm not optimistic as to how that will come out. My only hope now is that I can get my refund for the rental.

Lesson here is that these shops appear to be very easy, until something goes wrong.

I had a similar experience to yours. After being on the phone with customer service for 45 minutes, we determined that I typed my email into the kiosk I rented from with one letter off--it did not have a double entry system. Finally got into the unit but was told the location manager had to "approve" my refund and ended up get a check in the mail one and a half weeks later. I am a little hesitant to accept another one of those shops.

@OHGuy wrote:

Update to my storage unit adventure:

Looks like I was wrong to have left the location without accessing the unit. I have been told that a normal customer would have contacted customer service. There was an option to rent the unit via phone, but the instructions said that the shopper had the option of initiating the rental process via phone, QR code, or kiosk. I chose the QR code because I didn't want the hassle of talking to someone. I would have had the problem regardless of which rental option I chose, but apparently, I should have attempted to rectify the situation.

Nowhere in the instructions did it indicate that I should attempt to contact customer service if the unit could not be accessed. The shop will now be sent to the reviewers, I'm not optimistic as to how that will come out. My only hope now is that I can get my refund for the rental.

Lesson here is that these shops appear to be very easy, until something goes wrong.

That's surprising,! I guess customer service is expected to assign you a different unit? That REALLY should be part of the instructions.

Storage Unit Adventure comes to an end!

Since I have been ranting about this shop, I thought I would update everyone on how it has ended. Apparently, the editor thought differently about my actions than the scheduler as I received a 10 on the assignment and it has been forwarded to the client. I am shocked as the scheduler seemed very critical of my decision to leave the location without contacting customer service. Just goes to show, "It ain't over till it's over." I also received notification via email that I will apparently be refunded for the rental unit. It hasn't posted to my account yet but should be there in the next day or two.

Actual lesson learned, follow the instructions to the letter. Side note - I have been shopping on and off since 2006 and it is very difficult sometimes to determine when instructions should be followed exactly and when a shopper has license to freelance when things go south. Usually freelancing is permitted on higher end assignments such as hotels, resorts, etc. but one never knows for sure. I'm just pleased that on this occasion my decision proved to be the correct one.

We have a winner!

Omh I had a similar experience. I was like just my luck. So many times I have done shops where something weird happens that isn’t in the guidelines. so I thought well maybe it’s the unit next to it. I tried to open it but i didn’t know how to. Anyway a guy from the nearby stated location came by just then. He helped me open it and I took a pic just so I’d have an image of what empty units look like even though it was the wrong unit. I then told the guy I was supposed to be renting the unit next door. He said he’d switch me ove to this empty unit. I told him I would come by later to sort it out.

That was pretty weird that the guy would help you get into a unit that was not rented to you. And he did not even verify first.

Are these on ISS?

@Cassiespark wrote:

Are these on ISS?

No, they post on slinger

Tbh it is hard to tell from the way the numbers are placed which unit is which number without going to the start of the row. Partly why I was confused at first. But the unit I had rented was the one to the left of what I was tying to open (number was in between them) and had a padlock on it. He just said he didn’t understand why it would’ve been rented

@ebit123 wrote:

Tbh it is hard to tell from the way the numbers are placed which unit is which number without going to the start of the row. Partly why I was confused at first. But the unit I had rented was the one to the left of what I was tying to open (number was in between them) and had a padlock on it. He just said he didn’t understand why it would’ve been rented

I struggled with the numbering protocol and (lack of) signage and that went in my feedback as well. I am guessing that the unit with the padlock was NOT their unit at all but that both were available when that person rented and they moved their belongings into the wrong one. Whatever was supposed to happen at that point to correct the issue did not happen.

I wonder if those locations with the unit number issues were formally another company before becoming an ESS. Because in my experience, ESS have all units clearly marked.

Good point. The one I went to was a different company before.

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