Public Storage — Local services in Saint Petersburg

ONLY NEW CUSTOMERS IMPORTANT

Stay for the move in deal and then move on.

Updating my review based on recent experiences with customer service. I've been dealing with this location for many, many years and been satisfied with the facility and the customer service. Recently though, prices have been creeping up and service has taken a nosedive.

Last night the city experienced some severe flooding (pre Helene) and we called first thing in the morning to see if it had impacted this location. Seven hours later and no call back. No email with updates, no text. Nothing. (Unlike when they're notifying us of a price increase!) So we drove over . The team member on duty was in the office with what appeared to be a friend rather than a customer and the door was locked. Zero urgency in opening for us. When asked why we hadn't received a call back, email, or text, I was told by the friend, rather than the clerk, how busy they had been.

Nope.

The whole time we were on site, we saw one (1!) other customer. And no ringing phone. Not once . When the team member said she'd been on the phone all day, I asked why, then, we hadn't been a priority. Just a two minute call to let us know whether our unit was dry or under water. No answer - except from the slouchy friend, who continued to insert herself into the conversation... mostly because the team member just didn't say anything.

My take away is that once you're established in a unit, you're no longer important. Certainly not as important as entertaining a friend in a locked office.

This kind of service, in combination with continual price increases, has us re-evaluating our plans to go forward with this company.

Received a call from management - no answer as to why we didn't receive a call back. None. No ownership for team member's disengaged attitude. Pretty clear as to why the team is the way they are.

Update :Received a response online asking for clarification to help them better understand the issue. Just what was unclear? Your team member was sloughing off on the office and couldn't be bothered to return a call from a customer. In 7 hours. Your management thinks that's kind of okay, as calling back (in response to a message) after a catastrophic weather event ' isn't part of their process' . Nor is emailing customers to let them know that the retention pond, 30 ft from the property, didn't flood and their belongings are safe.

I can set up an email push w/Mail Chimp in 15 minutes (or less). Clearly no one there can...

If i could leave a zero star i would. I had a storage unit there for 4 years. Zero problems Eric was amazing there, with extra space storage, then public storage bought them, eric left. No body is ever in office to help, public storage took away the 24/7 access, they changed everyone's lease to the 1st so all the people currently renting there had to pay a month rent then a prorated portion, doesnt public storage make enough money to help out current customers and want to retain then,instead of charging them more money? I met several employees, all were nice, when they were actually there,which was rare,I had to drive to 3 different locations to find some one. I met the regional one day ,which when I asked about the 24/7,he profiled me and made me feel like I was a thief or something cause I wanted to come to my storage unit in the middle of the time. Also they were charging me an extra $100 for the month cause of that week from my old lease to the 1st that they changed, so I tols them i couldn't afford it ,and he made a joke as he was walking out" its only 100" yeah in the worst economic times the usa has seen alot of people in the usa dont have a random 100 a week later to pay a bill. So I was very unhappy with how he treated me. Another nice employee gave me 3 numbers to call for customer service, which one was titled" we care" 1-800 number ...they literally didnt help me out at all, nor showed me any care. Other than black and white you owe this now or else. Not a care at all ,never tried to help me out at all, never suggested anything to help me, not a hey I know you can't pay that hundred on the 1st ,maybe we can do this to help out,nothing at all ! Also went from 24/ to 9pm ,which they lock you in the gate after 9pm and have to call someone to verify you,and read lotsof reviews online about how they put you on like a "naughty list" if you do that a few times and change your gate access times or terminate your lease,now thats bs!! So now they pretty much forced me out of there and zero help. I will never go to another public storage place ever again after how they treated me and showed me zero...

I went to your facility on 7th Ave and 16th At in At Petersburg Fl. I dealt with Greg who showed me what we thought would be good for my needs. I don’t have any big items, mostly paperwork and files, boxes of things, etc. Unfortunately all were larger than I need. I say unfortunately because I live five minutes from that address, but also because I would have loved to do business with Greg. He is very proficient and helpful, but also so pleasant and thoughtful. However, you have another place just a little farther away in 22nd Ave. and 25th St. Greg called ahead so they were waiting for me. I was now dealing with Heather and William, who are, like Greg, so helpful and knowledgeable. They knew exactly what I needed. Your 3 x 3 is probably all I need, however Heather tells me if not I can have the one underneath it joined with the original one. I will almost certainly have to do that and that will be plenty of room. Again, such nice people to deal with. It actually made my day. Heather has a lovely quiet sense of humor and William was also a good sport. It was so nice to be around such pleasant people, I’m afraid I talked way too much ! I will start moving my things this coming week.

I’ve been around awhile and have often worked with people in the service industry. I’ve noticed that some companies have a genius for hiring the right people whose job it is to deal regularly with customers. Very quickly coming to mind is first UPS. I’ve dealt with many of them and never once had one that was anything but efficient, helpful and so pleasant. Another company is Publix Grocery Stores. There are more but I will now add your company. Granted I’ve only met three of your employees but I have a feeling any that I might meet would be just as efficient and pleasant as Greg, Heather and William. When I refer to it as “genius” I mean that sincerely. It makes a world of difference for a company if they hire the right people. Customers feel so much better about that company and enjoy doing business with them.

I’ll stop now and continue packing things.

Thank...