The purpose of appointing agents to mystery shop is to retain the maximum number of old clients and attract new ones. The success of a business is determined by the strength of its client base. Earlier the complaints of the end users and clients were taken in the form of written feedbacks. The unsatisfied clients would leave the premises of the retail outlet disgusted. They did not have the patience or the time to fill in the complaint forms. Hence this method of taking customer feedback turned out to be a failure. Employing agents to get a firsthand experience of the satisfactory and dissatisfactory aspects of the clients is a much better option.

The agents are instructed by the firms to mystery shop for the non tangible issues of client satisfaction as the tangible elements like delivering whatever was promised is not very difficult to gauge. The intangible factors are the ones that are going to affect the client impression and satisfaction. Hence they are more important. There are many intangible factors. The clients tend to compare the level of their actual satisfaction to the level of the satisfaction they expected. Another intangible factor is the degree to which the clients trust the products and the facilities offered by the firm.

The clients are the makers or breakers of the career of a firm. Nowadays there are too many firms vying with each other to satisfy their clients. The clients have a tendency to compare the satisfaction that they get from one firm with that they get from another firm. The agent appointed by a firm to mystery shop finds out the degree of client satisfaction of individual clients by interviewing each and every one of them. He also senses the degree to which a client under consideration is satisfied and if he has developed any loyalty to the firm or its products and amenities. He also observes very finely if the extent to which the clients feel they are being respected and their needs are being attended to well by the staff that they interact with. Each and every buyer likes to be regarded as a unique person with creative tastes. Hence every buyer expects to be paid special attention however common it may be in reality.

The agent whose sole purpose of visiting a retail outlet is to mystery shop for his firm, checks other factors also apart from client satisfaction. He is entrusted with the responsibility to see if the staff is following the legal guidelines conveyed to them by their employing authorities. The next most vital thing that they check is that if the salespersons of the firm are being honest in every step of the transaction. The salesperson is supposed to give accurate information about a product or a feature to his client. He should not suppress any relevant information or use dishonesty to make a sale.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Linda works for mystery shopper services . When she got the call to go to Amandas store, it was one of many that she would be doing for the week. Linda has a child who she usually gets to take with her on most of her jobs, so she loaded up her daughter and headed to Amandas local retail store. She knew from what the mystery shopper services had told her and the forms they had given her, what she would need to especially keep an eye out for.

When she arrived at the store, she met with two very friendly and helpful employees, both of whom at different times during her shop helped her with things she needed or questions she had. She noted that the facility was fairly clean and very well organized. Linda was pleased with most of what she saw. When she and her daughter got to the register to pay for what they were going to purchase, the woman running the register did not smile at her. She barely lifted her head as she completed the transaction and handed Linda the change due to her. Linda smiled and asked how she was doing, and the employee frowned and said she would be doing better if she did not work at this store, she was way underpaid. Linda nodded in understanding and made a mental note.

When Linda got home that afternoon she filled out her report thoroughly, noting everything she had noticed, and emailed it immediately to the mystery shopper services . They in turn, after reviewing it and send it directly to Amanda, the district manager. The total turnover time from when Linda sat down to write her report to when it reached Amandas hands was approximately 48 hours. Amanda was very well pleased. She read over the report and noticed the employee who had been less than friendly. She was happy that the store had had no other problems, though and was generally clean and organized. Amanda ended up having a meeting with her rude employee to help her with tactics to be more agreeable and helpful to customers. The entire process was just what Amanda had wanted and expected.

Columbia RV Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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There are actually, as you probably know, a lot of scams out there that are related to things like working for a secret shopping company . It seems like a straightforward job, but now days anyone will take something and try to twist it around. That is why you have to watch out for scams, or at the very least people who try to make working for a secret shopping company harder than it needs to be.

First of all, you have to watch for website or various businesses that offer to give you a list of various places you can work for a fee. Do not do this! There should be no reason that you should give money to anyone for this, there are certain websites with lists of these same places on them for free.

Secondly, do not think that this will be an easy job that will make you rich. It is surprising how many people think that working for a secret shopping company will earn them bundles of extra spending cash, when in reality it is a job that will only ever pay decently if you put much more than 100 percent into it. There is usually much traveling involved, and only rarely will you get reimbursed for gasoline expenditure. And while the time you travel does count toward the hours you eventually get paid for, even with this included, the time usually will not amount to much more than an hour or two, as most of these jobs do not take hardly any time at all. You will want to make sure that you know ahead of time if you will be getting paid in addition to the gift cards or reimbursement for merchandise.

Doing this kind of work is not always as simple as it sounds, either. It sounds easy. Just go to a store, shop around and observe the service, and then get paid for it, right? Well, there is of course a form to fill out afterward, and while this is not at all difficult in itself, the form is usually required to be sent back in within a very tight time frame, usually with a turnaround time of 48 hours at the most. Thus, when you think your job is done and you get home after a day of shopping or restaurant bouncing, you have to do your paperwork before you can truly relax!

Lastly, if this is the type of job you think you want to get into, whether full or part time, make sure you are on the same page with your employer. Talk to someone, in person if necessary, to know that you have the details ironed out and you know what to expect, and what is expected of you. This type of understanding can make it well worth it.

Aurora Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Basically, merchandisers are responsible for maintaining the products a manufacturer is selling in a particular store or area. The products need to be presented in the best possible way to produce more sales. This way, the store selling the product for the manufacturer is able to sell more without having to hire its own sales people to keep the displays looking good. The merchandiser is responsible for straightening displays and setting up related products nearby, taking inventory and restocking shelves, reordering and product recalls. They will assemble promotional displays and coupon displays, as well as demonstrate the product. They will set up any marketing material such as banners and brochures. 

On the other hand, companies offering mystery shopping jobs hire someone to anonymously evaluate products, report on services and observe employee performances. The independent contracted shopper acts as a customer. They speak with employees, purchase products and sometimes make returns. They are responsible for reporting their observations related to their visit on an evaluation form.

Merchandising jobs are found in most retail stores representing industries such as home and garden items, toys, electronics, groceries, auto parts, and more. Mystery shopping jobs deal with any public business such as stores, restaurants and banks. They visit hair and nail salons, apartment complexes and gas stations as well as movie theaters, amusement parks and auto dealers. The shopper is paid to get haircuts, eat dinner, stop at the bank and watch a movie.

The pay between merchandising jobs and mystery shopping jobs vary. Merchandising pays around 9 dollars to 20 dollars an hour and is a high demand service. This means you can work as often as you like and basically on your own schedule. The work is not physically or mentally difficult making it ideal for all ages and situations. Assignments last between one to three hours from beginning to finish, although the complexity of the display requirements may take longer. You are being paid hourly for the work.

Mystery jobs are often done in your spare time and pay anywhere from 10 dollars up to 50 or 100 dollars or more, depending on the time and difficulty involved. Pay includes any reimbursement of purchases. Working in their spare time, someone can earn 100 dollars or more a month while a full time consistent shopper can earn over forty thousand dollars a year. The full time shopper will have to balance assignments that have different requirements, due dates and reporting styles. The shopper needs to be organized and very systematic. 

To be a shopper you can be any adult aged female or male, employed, unemployed, self employed or full time home maker or retiree. You should be observant and reliable with good communication skills and the ability to follow directions. No degree is required but experience in customer service is helpful. 

Merchandising jobs tend to be physical with less paperwork and very little evaluation. Mystery buyers spend a lot of time filling out the necessary reports and questionnaires.

The difference between merchandising jobs or a mystery shopping jobs are minimal. The similarities of the merchandiser and the shopper include visiting retail establishments to check on products and services while the differences are mainly in the pay and consistency. Secrecy shopping and merchandising can be combined to create an ideal balance of assignments to give you the maximum amount of work and experience.

Self-Storage 

Oregon Furniture Storage

Oakland Storage

August 2006 Self Storage Blog Archive

Car Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Secret shopping helps address some of the things that bother most people in the self storage world. One of them is the lack of personalized service. Some managers out there in the self storage world just treat callers and customers as if they are just a transaction. The caller asks for a price and then their wishes are met. We give them the price. Unfortunately, that is usually the end of the call. Many of us reading this blog might not know a lot about self storage, but we do not know the ins and outs of all business we need to do. With secret shopping, we can ensure that our associates are taking care of the caller completely. This is the best way to know what is truly being said in the interactions between our managers and the clients we want to turn into renters. All associates should step in to the customers shoes when trying to serve them. How would you like to be treated when you are shopping for something that you are in need of?

With secret shopping, we get the unique opportunity to try to understand what the caller or customer truly wants and we can see what else we need to do to get more clients into our rental facility. Take a step back. How do you like to be treated when you enter a customer service environment when you know someone is going to try to sell you something? Most would say they like to be treated as if they are a person wherever they go. They want to feel that their needs are different from the next person. Now most people despise the over the top, wishy washy, hey would like you a drink of water sales environments. On that note, it still makes most feel good that someone is at least trying to be different. Most people do not visit places that do not even try to be helpful. Sometimes, as customers, we are forced to go to those non-helpful places to get our needs satisfied. You do not want to be that self storage facility that people just go to because they have to. You should want your environment to be inviting. 

With most environments, it is hard for most managers to see how their employees are treating the customers. With secret shopping, it allows us to get a true gage how the customer is served. To all the self storage managers out there, next time you are on the phone or a customer walks in, just think about how you want to be treated. Do not let the last customer who was angry deter you from better servicing the next. Do not let what is going on at home hinder you from blowing the next customers socks off with your service. You can never know if you are talking to a secret shopping agent who is evaluating your level of customer service. Put yourself in their shoes, how do you want to be treated if you walked through the doors of a self storage facility?

Training

Nebraska RV Storage

Helotis Storage

November 2007 Self Storage Owner Blog Archive

Self Storage Rates Revisited

Self Storage Article Directory – Climate Controlled Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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If two self storage facilities are located very close to each other, and offer virtually the same amenities and prices, then what differentiates the two of them? A mystery shopping evaluator knows that it is the people. And the excellent customer service that these people are able to provide. 

Everyone is accustomed to okay customer service in this day and age. We see it everyday at the bank and the grocery store and the dry cleaners. If someone was extremely rude or incompetent, then that would stand out in our minds. But as long as the customer service is all right, then everything is, well, okay. A mystery shopping evaluator is able to improve the customer service from just ho hum to fantastic!

The customer service at a top notched self storage facility needs to be more than just okay. Okay is what everyone has, and what every patron is expecting. A mystery shopping evaluator knows that going above and beyond okay, to excellent customer service, is what is going bring about devoted customers. 

These elated tenants are the people that are going to rave about the self storage facility, tell their friends and families and coworkers how fantastic this location is. And all mystery shopping evaluators know that word of mouth is the best and the least expensive form of advertising available. Plus, these loyal customers will keep coming back to this self storage location anytime they need storage, or boxes, or a rental truck, etc. This alone pays for the costs of hiring a mystery shopping company!

A mystery shopping evaluator knows all self storage employees need to have excellent product knowledge. They need to be able to give a good visual of a unit size over the telephone or via email to a customer. They need to know what size of a self storage unit is going to work the best in each individual situation. Staff members should be able to give advice as to how a renter should stack their boxes to best take advantage of the unit height. And employees need to be able to assist customers with purchasing moving and storage supplies.

A mystery shopping evaluator checks to make certain that all employees must be able to give excellent directions to the facility. They need to be aware of well known landmarks to give to the locals, while at the same time giving detailed and easy to follow directions to out of towners or someone new to the area. If there are several self storage facilities in the area, then the worker needs to make it easy for the customer to know which location to go to. For example, tell a caller that it is the first driveway past the stoplight, or the building with the red roof. However, telling a potential customer that you are the facility located next to Moms self storage is not a good idea.

A mystery shopping evaluator knows that excellent customer service includes self storage employees being able to recommend movers to tenants that are moving into or out of a self storage unit. Great employees can also recommend nonprofit organizations that are willing to haul away unwanted furniture and appliances.

Above all else, a mystery shopping evaluator is looking for self storage employees that appear happy and excited about their job. This attitude will show in their customer service skills and in the way they treat people around them.

Parts Storage

Minnesota Car Storage

Frankfort Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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These interactive computer terminals are user friendly and take up very little space. They are connected to the Internet so everything is in real time. These features make the kiosk a perfect property management tool for any sized self storage company, from a small satellite location all the way up to a huge facility located in the middle of a big city. 

The kiosk can rent storage units, take payments, and sell locks and insurance. It is able to do many of the things that a self storage employee can do. The advantage to having a person working at a storage facility is the warm and fuzzy feeling that can come with human contact. The advantage to employing an automated property management kiosk at the location is that the machine does not call in sick, ask for a raise, or demand benefits. 

The kiosk allows customers to rent a new self storage unit without having to rely on a self storage employee. It lets the tenant see a virtual map of the various sized units that are available. This property management device then shows them the different prices and any specials that are currently going on. The customer next picks which unit will work the best for them and proceeds to rent their unit using the kiosk. The new lessee can pay for the unit, get their gate code, and then move into the storage space immediately.

The property management kiosk usually has a camera to take pictures of the new renter and scanners for a copy of a fingerprint and drivers license. The customer signs a digital signature reader. They are able to pay using cash, check, or credit or debit card. Everything is completely legal and secure. An intercom is often available that connects to a self storage employee located offsite or in a call center, in case the new tenant has any questions or problems.

A small self storage location or a satellite property can benefit from using a kiosk. The self storage property management company does not have to hire a person to simply sit around the location, waiting for a customer to arrive. 

A medium sized self storage location can take advantage of a kiosk as well. Customers are able to come to the location after hours and on holidays to pay their bill. They do not have to worry about their money being lost in the mail or misplaced in a drop box. And the property management company can keep costs down by not having to pay an employee overtime, or differential for working Sundays, or time and a half for working holidays.  

A large self storage facility can also benefit from a kiosk. These locations are usually extremely busy and very hectic, with a lot of customers and employees milling around. Tenants do not have to stand in line waiting for a self storage worker in order to rent a unit or make a payment. They can use the property management kiosk and help themselves.

Labor is a large chunk of the costs for running any business, including self storage. The kiosk is a great property management tool that can help alleviate the cost of that labor. This of course means a larger profit for the proprietor of the self storage company.

Self Storage Locations By State

Maine RV Storage

Basalt Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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There are many self storage and secret shopping facilities in the US. Some self storage companies have many facilities and their facilities fill up completely. And they are big stores, lots of self storage and the need for secret shopping services. It is not only the students that fill them up but they do take the majority of the units. Do not think that if you have great business coming in the door that you do not need secret shopping services. Secret shopping is a great way to monitor your self storage business.
 
Most students want a 5×5 space. All they have are dorm things, a 5×5 space is about the size of small bathroom so this size works perfect for them. And besides they are so excited about leaving for the summer they just throw their things in there. Now the ones who are smart about it, will get with several of there friends and get a larger self storage unit and split the cost. That really saves then some money, and we all have heard of the poor college students who eat noodles all semester long. So they like saving money.
 
The 10×10 size usually works well for them. That is a size like a small bedroom size. And really it would hold a full bedroom and living room, some kitchen things and maybe even a washer and dryer just depending on how they utilize the space. So the students will get with three or four friends put their things in together and save money. Only thing with this is one person does have to be responsible for the bill.
 
The self storage and secret shopping industry has grown so much in college towns like Columbia, Missouri. The self storage companies with many locations can still grow. So they will be for sure to help accommodate a lot of students in their self storage needs. And they will probably need more secret shopping services as well. Secret shopping can help your business grow. Try secret shopping for your self storage buisness.  

Now May will come and those procrastinators will call and we will try to the best of our ability to find them a self storage unit. If there is not a small one left then we will suggest maybe sharing with friends but nonetheless we will try to help, and hope we still have something left.

So spring is here. The birds are singing the daffodils are blooming and if you are a student do not procrastinate try something new this year, call early.

Self Storage Owner

Iowa Furniture Storage

Columbia Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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People have a lot of different choices when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. They can buy one that is foreign or domestic, new or used, economically friendly or a gas guzzler. They can purchase it from a neighbor or an auto auction or a franchise. They can buy a car for the family or one for a teenager or a fun sports car for themselves. The choices just go on and on.
 
Because of all of the choices available to the consumer, the retail end of the automotive industry is very competitive. And what better way to keep up with the competition than to hire a mystery shopper!

A mystery shopper for the car business can be employed by any number of different people or companies.  The home office of a major brand may hire a mystery shopper to see how well the local franchise is doing, and how well they are abiding by the national guidelines. Are sales down at the local dealership because the employees are not taking advantage of the national rebate campaign that is underway?  Are the salespeople not emphasizing all of the extras that come standard with the newest model?  Is the branch manager not encouraging her sales staff to get customers to use their in-house financing options?  The home office can keep an eye on local dealerships by hiring a mystery shopper to report to them.

A rival car dealer may hire a mystery shopper to secretly shop the competition. The rival may use a mystery shopper to see if they can pick up any new tips or ideas. Does the competition have better sales gimmicks in place? Are their salespeople happier or maybe hungrier? Do they have a better product?  A mystery shopper can report back with the details.

Recently a local magazine hired a female mystery shopper to secretly shop a neighborhood car dealership.  The mystery shopper was to make note of things such as how seriously she was treated as a customer, how well salespeople listened to her, and how she felt about her overall experience. 

The mystery shopper went to a large dealership that sold both new and used cars. She rode up and down the different aisles of autos with her husband at the wheel of their car. The mystery shopper was impressed that even thought the weather was dreary and cold, a salesman quickly came to their car. Once the salesman found out the female in the car was doing the buying he immediately focused his attention on her. This got high marks from the mystery shopper. From there however, the experience of the mystery shopper went downhill. 

Once everyone went inside to the large showroom floor, the mystery shopper explained to the salesmen what she was looking to purchase. She wanted a used, reliable sedan that was safe and economical to drive. She also explained the small monthly allotment she had for a payment. The salesmen nodded his head and said he completely understood. 

Within minutes, however, the salesman was talking about how he could get her into a brand new SUV with all of the extras. And he told her it was just a few dollars more than the cost of a used sedan. The few dollars more turned out to be over one and a half times more for a car payment and twice as much more for auto insurance.
 
And the mystery shopper was left to ponder. Did the salesman not hear what she was saying because he was not listening to her, or because she was a female, or because he could make a higher commission on the SUV?

Always listen to your customer!

Self Storage

Idaho RV Storage

Chicago Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Do you have a secret shopping company for your business? There are many different types of secret shopping companies out there that specialize in certain types of mystery shopping. Some shopping malls will even shop their own stores to make sure the customer service is being delivered to each and every customer. If you are looking for a secret shopping company to evaluate your staff, your best bet is to look on the Internet.

Our secret shopping company has found that you just cannot hire someone to answer the phone at your self storage facility. That person has to be able to multi task with all their daily duties and provide great customer service. The phone ringing in the background can sometimes cause a headache to those employees who do not know how to handle it. The person answering the phone at your self storage facility must be able to be courteous, helpful, professional, knowledgeable and more to get the callers business. If the person answering the phone at your self storage facility sounds and acts like a dud, then chances are the caller will not ever make it to the site. Heck, you might be able to train a parrot to answer the phone, rattle off prices and say goodbye. And that parrot will work for food! But that is not what we want. We want a warm smiling face, a friendly handshake, and a professional person in the office. And if that person can be all of those things, they should be able to convey that warmness, professionalism and friendliness over the phone as well.

Our companies advice to your company, hire a secret shopping company. When you do, you will find that when you company uses the mystery shopping evaluation and calls that your sales will increase. Will your sales increase? Yes, because you are providing your self storage employees with the tools to make their sales presentation better. And once their sales presentation is better they will gain more self storage rentals. And more self storage rentals will help your self storage business grow.

Customer service is so important these days and the difference in companies could be the level of customer service that they offer. Competition is stiff and with inflated gas prices, potential customers are looking for a quality self storage rental that meets their needs. Let a secret shopping company help your business with their customer service and sales skills. It will be an investment that will pay off for you, your employees and your business.

Self Storage

Georgia Motorcycle Storage

Miami Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Restaurant mystery shopping is exactly what you think it is, eating in a restaurant and getting paid for your opinion of the food quality and quality of service.  Not only do you get your meal for free, you get paid to tell them what you think!  This can be an ideal way to go for a night out without it costing you any money. 

Some people who do restaurant mystery shopping get paid a nominal sum for eating in the restaurant and giving their opinion.  Others exchange the night out for their opinions.  Some restaurant mystery shopping opportunities will allow you to take a guest, pay for your meals, and reimburse you for your expenses, including the tip.  Restaurant mystery shopping can be an ideal way for couples who do not have a lot of money to get out once in a while. It is also a great way for anyone who likes to save a buck or two to enjoy dining out.

There are many different restaurant mystery shopping opportunities available from fast food, to coffee shops, to five star dining.  You will be acting as a food critic when you embark on your restaurant mystery shopping expedition.  The mystery shopping provider will give you a budget and you have to make your meal stay within the budget.  If you go over the budget, you have to pay for the overage. 

Some restaurant mystery shopping opportunities will just pay you for reviewing the restaurant as a customer.  This can also be a great way to earn cash if you dine out a lot.  You do not have to tell your companion that you are restaurant mystery shopping, no one needs to know.  It can be a great way for you to get paid for eating out. 

Anyone can get into restaurant mystery shopping.  Simply take a look at the restaurant mystery shopping sites available on the internet to discover how to sign up.  It is totally free.  The only thing you need to have is an appreciation for good food and service and the ability to fill out forms. 

After your restaurant mystery shopping experience, you will return home and fill out a form about the restaurant.  Be sure to answer all of the questions so that you can either get paid or reimbursed for your time and money. 

You will get an offer for a restaurant mystery shopping experience in your e-mail.  It will be up to you to accept the assignment or not accept.  The more you do, the more offers you will receive. 

Doing this often not only gives you an opportunity to get out of the house more often for free, but also exposes you to restaurants that you might otherwise skip.  If you are the type who likes to dine out and enjoys good food, why not think about taking up restaurant mystery shopping?  This can be a great way for you to spend a Saturday evening and actually earn some money. 

Indiana Storage Units

StorageMart Halsted & Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60622

Self Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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From previous experience with self storage and secret shopping, the managers can typically be under the wrong impression about the moving supplies. To correct their assumption, just because they have the supplies displayed in the office, does not mean that people will notice them or that they will buy them. Selling accessory items is not that simple, that is why secret shopping is aimed at helping managers sell their facility. These tenants are already giving the self storage facility they chose money for their storage unit, so why should they spend more? There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is that these tenants will need the supplies no matter what. They might as well give the self storage facility their business instead of going somewhere else. The second reason is that it is convenient to get everything from the same place. Even the basic secret shopping evaluation has a section about moving and packing supplies. As was mentioned earlier, these tenants are busy people with busy lives. It is safe to say that they would rather not spend any more time getting supplies. In fact they are probably still worrying about how to have time to work and pack while maintaining family life on top of everything. In this respect, it is important for the employees of the self storage facility to purposely show their tenants what kinds of supplies are available in their office. Just a quick mention to potential secret shopping clients on the phone will earn the manager points towards a great evaluation.
 
Moving supplies can come in a variety of forms, so it is important for an employee of a self storage facility to be very familiar with their stock. It is a great customer service tool to include moving and packing supplies in your sales script. Secret shopping evaluators will pick up on the mentioning of these products. The many different supplies that self storage facilities may sell include, mattress covers, locks, bubble wrap, packing tape, anti-moisture products, and of course boxes. The easy way to get out of having to buy these supplies is to get them free. Instead of mattress covers, some people use garbage bags. While this does provide the same kind of protection, the garbage bags are not clear. The clear mattress covers ensures the visibility of the mattress. Tenants may also have their own lock from a previous rental at another self storage facility. However, the self storage facility may sell high security locks that are also better for all different weather conditions. Secret shopping your competitor to see what they are selling their locks for, then you can price your locks a little lower.  Boxes are the key product and should be mentioned for secret shopping points. These can be found at grocery stores, furniture stores, from work, etc. Instead of letting the tenants use these used boxes that may have their integrity compromised, the self storage employee can sell the boxes in the offices. These are brand new boxes that are durable and sturdy.

So next time you sell storage, do not forget to include everything to ensure a complete solution for the tenant. Save them time, save them money, and add money to your bottom line. Not everyone is going to have a perfect secret shopping score, but you can add value to your units and sell some packing supplies along with the rental. Make every call seem like you have a secret shopping evaluator on the other end of the phone and you will see a difference in your sales techniques.

Alaska Storage Units

StorageMart Halsted & Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60622

Car Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Alliance Real Estate Management  provides a property management search engine to businesses including, but not limited to single homes and condos ranging in value from 300,000 dollars to over one million dollars, homeowners associations (HOAs) and condominium associations with anywhere from 2 to over 100 households and multi-family properties with just 2 units or countless units. Alliance Real Estate Management also offers the convenience of finding a property management services for vacation properties with two or more units available as well as property management for hotels and resorts.

Alliance Real Estate Management does not stop with residential and vacation properties, they also specialize in locating real estate management companies for retail space ranging from 1 to 100,000 square feet or more as well as office space for small businesses or large corporations. Warehouse distribution and light manufacturing company space can also be contracted through Alliance Real Estate Management services. The company also offers property management locating services to parking garage owners and biotech centers.

With such a vast difference in real estate property management services, one might consider that Alliance Real Estate Management has spread their expertise farther than their industry knowledge can reach. However, consider that the massive amount of content held on the World Wide Web often brings irrelevant results if one were to search for property management via a major search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Niche search engines such as Alliance Real Estate Management allows a business owner results that focus on their specific business.

Vertical search engines like Alliance Real Estate Management are not new to the Internet, however the numbers of specialized search engines have rapidly increased. The benefit of niche search engines delivers online surfers results that are relevant to their needs without the hassle of wading through exhausting amounts of irrelevant results. Vertical search engines such as Alliance Real Estate Management simplify the online shopping process for consumers and remove the need for complex keyword combinations.

Alliance Real Estate Management states in their About Us field of their webpage that they are committed to being the most comprehensive, useful and informative resource for business or property owners searching for a property management company. The company offers property management listings in the United States and Canada.

Alliance Real Estate Management offers some tips and answers commonly asked questions on their web page.  These tips can help those researching a property management service better understand the benefits of what property management companies have to offer. Some of the tips they offer are how to choose the right property management company, why a professional property management company is beneficial to individual owners and businesses, what some of the common duties of a property management service should be and more. The website also answers some common legal questions that one may have about how a property management service will handle legal matters such as collections and evictions, licensing, local, state and federal law and how property management companies may limit the liability exposure a business or property owner would otherwise assume while operating a business on their own.

Colorado Storage Units

JP Morgan Asset Management Real Estate

StorageMart US Hwy 1 & 3rd St. Key West, FL 33040

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Word of mouth is the best form of advertising available, and the cheapest. If your customers feel like you care and that you keep a good property they will probably encourage their friends and relatives to rent from you. Some self storage facilities offer referral bonuses to current tenants who refer a potential customer who ends up renting. What did that cost you? Hardly anything and now you have another self storage renter.
 
People tend to be more honest and open with you if they do not feel threatened by you. If they are having a difficult time and will not be able to pay their rent by the due date they will be more likely to come to you about it and make arrangements, as opposed to avoiding you and your phone calls. You do not have to give away the shop, just be open to your customer needs and plights and you will save time in the long run with any possible legal matters that might arise.
 
Customers can be your eyes and ears when you are not around. They can report to you if the gate is broken, or the tenant next to them is acting suspiciously, or if the elevator is making odd noises. Strangers will simply ignore the situation and hope somebody else takes care of the problem. If the customer has some investment in the self storage property then they will do their best to keep the site clean and safe for all that use it.
 
Most members of a property management team tend to be outgoing. Encouraging them to use their bubbly personality with the customers is a great way of doing business. Good, positive vibes will come back to you as you give them. Treat your customers well and your customers will treat you well.

Knowing a few things about your customers will help your self storage business a little easier to manage. If you know that Mr. Smith likes to pay his bill in person on the 8th of the month, then you know not to call him on the 5th to remind him to pay his self storage bill. If you know that Ms. White likes to go through her self storage unit in the spring and clean out some unwanted items, you will know to have the dumpster on the property emptied. If you know that Mr. Doe likes to rent a boat storage unit every winter along with his regular self storage, then you can keep one aside. Remembering your customer’s names and little habits will help you give your best customer service. Go that extra distance for your customers and they will go the extra distance for you.

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage, Storage Unit, Car Storage, RV Storage, Furniture Storage, Boat Storage, Yacht Storage, Self Storage finder.

Colorado Storage Units

Storage Units

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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What a fantastic marketing ploy! They did not advertise this event whatsoever; it was simply word of mouth. And how the word spread!!

Our office heard of it from a coworker that received an email from a friend two hours away. We all spent the day staggering our lunch breaks so everyone could get in on the giveaway. Of course the line was rather long, but the weather was fairly nice and the mood of the crowd was festive. (Free can do that to people.)

What a win-win situation! The restaurant’s new employees got to put their training to good use, the company relied on Word of Mouth advertising to promote their new location, and customers got a free meal. Secret shoppers co-mingled with the hungry patrons to help the store managers know what went well and what needed more work.  And there is no doubt this restaurant gained several new loyal consumers – as they do have a good product!

Written by Ann Sheehan

TN Storage Units

Self Storage Article Directory. Visit our Climate Controlled Storage Section.

Storage Units Location

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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• Employee Training- we offer a comprehensive self storage training packet that is set up to be used classroom style.
• Call Center services- our call center can provide you with that extra sales person that you do not have to employ. We can take 100% of your calls or set up the system to answer when you managers cannot come to the phone.
• Secret Shopping or Mystery Shopping- this is a great tool for monitoring, compliance or incentive based evaluations of your self storage managers.
• Feedback Shops- similar to the secret shop but at the end of the call our trained evaluators revel themselves to the manager and go over the call right then. This allows the self storage manager to talk with the evaluators and go over any sections of the call that they might need help on.
• Role Play Helpline- your managers call our dedicated sales staff and role play any part of the sales call that they want to work on. Many of our clients love this service.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS agent.

Storage 

Self Storage Article Directory.  Visit our Self Storage Section

Secret Shopping 

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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One of our newest types of secret shopping is our Feedback Shop where we mystery shop the self storage manager and then right before the call ends we revel ourselves. We then ask if the manager has time to go over the call and then the call is discussed. We offer tips and advice on how to make the call better. The instant feedback is great because the call is still fresh in the manager’s mind and they have input on how the call went also.

Sometimes when we are going over the call the manager will hint that they have been selling self storage for a long time and that’s the way they always rent units. Why should I have to change my routine now when it has always worked in the past? It sort of reminds me of the saying; You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But the saying is not true, you can teach an old dog new tricks just like you can teach a seasoned self storage manager new sales techniques, you just have to have the correct approach. Call 866-639-1715 and ask for the Total Quality Assurance Department, better known as secret shopping for information on how to teach your self storage managers new sales techniques.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

Total quality Assurance Services is brought to you by PhoneSmart – A quality assurance firm.

Self Storage Locations 

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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In the 21st Century, with the self storage market becoming even more saturated, many companies are finding new ways to increase profits and to attract more customers.  One easy way to make new monies is through allowing cell phone companies to lease land to install a cell tower.  Many self storage facilities have a lot of land and buildings, so this is a perfect meld between the two industries.

Attracting new customers is another plus.  Installing ATMs, fax machines, and wireless internet allows people with hectic lifestyles to do several things at once, which is very popular today.  Records Storage, retrieval, and destruction services are very convenient for businesses with a lot of sensitive paperwork. 

Here are some other ideas that self storage and property mangers are using to increase their profit margin:

Mobile Storage
Carpet Cleaning Rental
Propane-Tank Rental and Refill
Kid’s Play Area
Car Wash

Written by Ann Sheehan, call center phone representative.

Total quality Assurance Services is brought to you by PhoneSmart – A quality assurance firm.

Self Storage Locations 

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Be cheerful, friendly and helpful and chances are by the end of the day, your mood will have turned around. Make yourself smile at every customer that comes in and that calls you. The positive vibes will be returned, by sharing a joke or a laugh together. Don’t be grumpy; be happy that you have a job that you get to help people with their self storage dilemmas. A little customer service goes a long way in any business.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive and business blog writer.

Thanks for reading our TQAS blog, a blog about the items needed to have a successful business.

Find your next car storage, boat storage or self storage at your StorageConcierge – Your premier national and local self storage search engine and free quote provider.

Storage available at 625 Lowther Rd, Lewisberry, PA 17339

66221 Self Storage

Planning a move to Chicago, Illinois? Visit our partners at the Chicago, Illinois moving information center.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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The first call I took today was from a woman that had issues with her Ipod. She dropped it in some water and that ruined the Ipod. Well, I can’t replace her product due to water damage but she bought our service plan. So, she wanted to get her service plan prorated back to her.

She went to my customer service girls and they told the customer that we were unable to process this request in our store and referred her to our 800 number. So, the caller called the 800 number and they told him that she needs to go into a store. Obviously the customer was pretty upset having to go back and forth with no one giving her a resolution. 

I was able to find that we could process her request in the store. I immediately called the customer back and told them that we could get her all taken care of. At the end of the day, she was happy. I was dealing with this problem for over an hour and I was glad to have come to a resolution made the customer happy.

When you are in an environment in which you can make the customer happy and go the extra mile for them, do so. The customer will appreciate it and realize that your customer service is second to none.

Written by: Joel Little

Thanks for reading our property management blog and inside view of the customer service industry.

PhoneSmart is your offsite sales force and call center Columbia, Missouri.

Self storage is around the corner at 3006 Druid Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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