Frequently Asked Questions

     It does happen. Whether it might be drugs or the paraphernalia, you will eventually find some. If still at facility, you can have manager call the police and they will remove it from the unit. If you get home with it, well, you can pitch it or you can talk to your local police and see what they recommend. I give a receipt with your purchase, so you will have proof that you bought it in a load. Always keep your receipt with you when hauling for proof items are not your personal belongings.  Another recent beware is the cooking of meth in storage units. ​I wouldn't know until this picture what a meth lab looks like as I'm sure most of you wouldn't either. This isn't at good as I would like it to be to show you, but the bottle all have a white residue in them. Yes, this picture was taken and items found in the St. Louis area storage unit sold. Inside the bags, there is different cold medicines, Coleman fuels, etc. It is the powder after the drugs are mixed together that is what they sell from what I understand. Talking to the police, as these chemicals do their thing, boil, burn whatever it is, it puts off a vapor. This vapor contaminates everything in the unit. It can make people sick. It can make you sick loading the unit. I am told by the police that if anyone knowingly sells clothing, dishware, etc. from a storage unit that has been used for meth making, the seller can be held responsible for any injuries. Even though the person who found this was wearing gloves, he reported burning of the skin and a general unwell feeling. He is fine now. If you find this kind of stuff in a unit, you should contact the manager immediately and they will contact the police to have the items safely removed. Please remember, these bottles depending on the "cooking" stage could be explosive.

What if there is a car in the unit? 

  Missouri law requires any titled vehicle not to be sold with out a title. Yes, storage facilities can apply for the titles. Most storage companies do not find it worth their time to do the paperwork and hold out for the auction. Keys are never provided and very seldom is it known if a vehicle even runs, meaning the vehicle does not bring enough to even cover storage fees. There are some companies in the area that will tell you that you can get a copy of the title or file for the title yourself. This is not true. Only the original title owner can file for lost title. You, buying it an auction, do not have a "lien" to apply for a title. Some will tell you there are loop holes, don't believe them. There are a lot of people in the area who have "yard ornaments" of cars that they can't sell. A salvage yard will not even buy them without a title. Please visit Missouri Department of Revenue website and you will find the information you need. 

Can I rent the unit? 

   Depending on the company and circumstances, yes. However, sometimes, a certain size unit is on a waiting/reserve list. If that is the case, you can not rent the unit. No, you will not be eligible for their "special prices" such as rent first month for $1 or a "name your price" special. Most will not pro-rate either.

Parking lot etiquette 

-Park on the lot, not in the office's small parking lots. The managers like to leave them for their paying or new renting customers.

-Do not block gates and driveways.

Do managers go through the units prior to auction? 

   No. As mentioned above, the units can be paid for by the owner before the auction. Our company cuts the locks in front of you at the auction. Occasionally, we open the door and the locker is empty. Sometimes people who are delinquent are actually smart enough to know that they will not pay their bill and will come get out items before being locked out. Specially if they have already been charged all the late fees and other fees that go with them being late. Not everyone rents a unit, puts stuff in and never comes back to it until the auction. Some people even use their units to hide Christmas gifts during holidays. So, stop and think before accusing a manager of doing something like that just because you can see a dirt ring of where something use to be. You are bidding on what is in the unit in front of you, not what seems to have been in the unit.