The self-storage craze

Gerald · 08-31-11, 09:31 PM

People are leaving their possessions in self-storage warehouses for longer than ever. But why are people paying to store stuff they rarely use?

It's a monument to our acquisitive society - the brightly lit shed on the edge of town offering "storage solutions".

Society has always had its hoarders. But in the 21st Century people are farming out their junk to the growing number of self-storage facilities.

It begins as a temporary solution. You load up the car with the retired pushchair, an African sculpture you never found room for, old letters, bin bags full of clothes, BetaMax tapes, and your cherished back issues of National Geographic.

Shortly afterwards you're at one or other of the huge hangars offering space for your beloved objects.

With summer the busiest time of year to move, many will have recently contemplated a similar scenario.

The mania for storage centres began in the US in the 1960s and the country now has over 50,000 such facilities. They arrived in London in the 1990s but didn't take off across the UK until 2000. Britain has 800 major self storage units, the same as the rest of Europe put together.

It's the ideal stop-gap while you get organised and there are knock-down three month offers to entice you.

But out of sight is out of mind. Recent statistics show that people are leaving their junk in storage units for longer and longer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14718478

Note: 1 September 2011 Last updated at 01:02 GMT

Platapus · 08-31-11, 09:36 PM

Let us consult with the great philosopher on this

Gerald · 08-31-11, 09:41 PM

George Carlin, I remember this, classical

Torplexed · 08-31-11, 11:23 PM

There's actually two reality TV shows (Auction Hunters and Storage Wars) based on what happens when you fail to pay your rent (or just forget to) on these self storage units.

GoldenRivet · 08-31-11, 11:37 PM

My wife is the worst in this department.

She will save up all the old useless crap she can get her hands on. I dont see the point. My logic is simple... if it hasnt been touched or let alone USED in the past year, what makes you think you will miss it at all in the next year - or even realize its missing for that matter.

I admit, we have a storage unit, but its a small one about the size of a closet and contains a desk and a couple of filing cabinets we havnt room for.

Sailor Steve · 09-01-11, 12:03 AM

I got a storage unit while I was homeless. Now I have an apartment which will hold everything, and when I can get the help to move all my stuff and the money for a U-Haul at the same time I'll go get it. I miss my books. And after two months my apartment is still empty.

08-31-11, 09:31 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	The self-storage craze People are leaving their possessions in self-storage warehouses for longer than ever. But why are people paying to store stuff they rarely use? It's a monument to our acquisitive society - the brightly lit shed on the edge of town offering "storage solutions". Society has always had its hoarders. But in the 21st Century people are farming out their junk to the growing number of self-storage facilities. It begins as a temporary solution. You load up the car with the retired pushchair, an African sculpture you never found room for, old letters, bin bags full of clothes, BetaMax tapes, and your cherished back issues of National Geographic. Shortly afterwards you're at one or other of the huge hangars offering space for your beloved objects. With summer the busiest time of year to move, many will have recently contemplated a similar scenario. The mania for storage centres began in the US in the 1960s and the country now has over 50,000 such facilities. They arrived in London in the 1990s but didn't take off across the UK until 2000. Britain has 800 major self storage units, the same as the rest of Europe put together. It's the ideal stop-gap while you get organised and there are knock-down three month offers to entice you. But out of sight is out of mind. Recent statistics show that people are leaving their junk in storage units for longer and longer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14718478 Note: 1 September 2011 Last updated at 01:02 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-31-11, 09:36 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Let us consult with the great philosopher on this __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-31-11, 09:41 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	George Carlin, I remember this, classical __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-31-11, 11:23 PM	#4
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	There's actually two reality TV shows (Auction Hunters and Storage Wars) based on what happens when you fail to pay your rent (or just forget to) on these self storage units. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

08-31-11, 11:37 PM	#5
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	My wife is the worst in this department. She will save up all the old useless crap she can get her hands on. I dont see the point. My logic is simple... if it hasnt been touched or let alone USED in the past year, what makes you think you will miss it at all in the next year - or even realize its missing for that matter. I admit, we have a storage unit, but its a small one about the size of a closet and contains a desk and a couple of filing cabinets we havnt room for. __________________

09-01-11, 12:03 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I got a storage unit while I was homeless. Now I have an apartment which will hold everything, and when I can get the help to move all my stuff and the money for a U-Haul at the same time I'll go get it. I miss my books. And after two months my apartment is still empty. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo