Hello All,

Happy New Year! As many of you know my business started right here on TTOL... if not for god rest his soul Ray introducing me here and at that time I still remember what he told me ... the day he met me.
“ There is this forum called travel talk and if I go post something there people will listen because they respect me and they know I will only post something I believe in...” these were his exact words to me…

So now it is my turn to pay it forward and I told them the exact same thing Ray told me ...I will post on TTOL and people respect me there so they will listen if I post lol. Two ladies that are starting this they are customers of mine for number of years who order their groceries for pre stocking. I have met with them and I really believe this is a solution to many frequent travelers problem.

Many have told me including some of you on this site to start this business but I have enough on my plate and am glad they have decided to do this ...

So here it goes... it is a mini storage solution where you can rent a barrel for an annual fee and store your things that you use frequently when you travel to the island. They will have someone do both the pick up and delivery.

Here is their website www.timeshareministorage,com. You can contact the owners at laura@timeshareministorage.com

Carol I will speak to them about becoming a sponsor as well...

I think another innovative idea and will be well received by many. Just to let you know I do not know what the cost are for renting it is best you post the questions here and I will alert the owners to respond.

Thanks
jeannie

It's a good idea, but they need to have more info on their website if they want to be successful, like cost..are they insured...what can be store

Agreed, that website is not going to cut it. They need a LOT more information on there. No one will sign up based on that website.

Hey Jeannie, you know what happens when you try to help someone out--you get 'stuff' for your trouble! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

The concept is good as you know I have been suggesting this for years. However, as Carol stated they definitely need help with the website as most people will stop there and not look into it any further if this is all they see. Also I am curious about a "barrel"? I know some objects like tables and beach chairs will not fit into a barrel. Something square or rectangular would provide better storage.
Hopefully they will get things together to enable more success as I do believe this is something many regular island vacationers could use.

Agreed... I will pass on the information. I think they will iron out all the issues and work on them and address your concerns as they are asked as they are just starting out and will probably like all the feedback they can get to start things moving forward in the right direction.

I rememeber when I first started there were many things about my webesite not even remotely close to what I have now. Many were very sceptical about placing orders with me and now I have customers who shop with me year after year. But all the feedback and info I received when I first started here really helped me grow. I listen to all the things that were not rightabout my website and made the necessary changes to meet all my customers needs...

I have learned when you are running a business negative and postive comments should be taken very seriously to determine what works and what needs to be improved.

So I am sure they will appareicate all the feedback so feel free to comment and I am sure they can respond here ... Bottom line I really belive the idea is a great one and will really assist alot of travellers who want things stored here.

Agree with what others have said. It is a great concept but lacking in details. With airline restrictions getting tighter and tighter many frequent visitors would love a place to store floats, snorkel gear, umbrellas, leftover liquor, etc.... but a barrel does not sound very secure or safe against the elements or practical in size for what many would want to store. People would also want to know if they could obtain insurance for what is stored since most of our homeowners policies would not cover out of country storage.

I wish your friend much success but their website needs to have all the information needed to make an informed decision. The owner cannot rely on people calling to get the information - not in 2015.

Jeannie--tell them to work on the website and then check with us about a sponsorship, once it's done. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> The concept is a good one, but that website should be the first priority.

...and it's a gigantic waste of THEIR time, answering those questions by phone, when everyone will have exactly the same questions..

Agreed... I will pass this info on...

Just a thought, but that insurance question would probably be a deal breaker for many. We have a private arrangement for holding some items on the island but we leave nothing of any value and nothing that would really be an issue if lost, beyond the inconvenience of having to replace them on island, that is. I've often thought it would be a great business opportunity but the devil's always in the details. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I don't know, for ME, personally I would never keep anything of value there, I wouldn't really worry about the insurance question so much. I think how I would handle that is to just have a specific liability limit of say $100, unless they pay extra for some extra insurance.

There is a company in Orlando that does this mostly for Disney timeshare guests, it's called Owner's Locker, www.ownerslocker.com May be worth looking into for an idea on how it' works

Wow...in a bin that size costing $99 a year (plus the initial $75 membership fee)...I think I could buy all that crap while on vacation...lol Or pay an extra baggage fee.

But it is a very good idea. I've often wanted things like my own frying pan, chef knives, candlesticks, pillows, floats, etc

Along with the insurance question already mentioned, would be climate controlled atmosphere? How quickly one can access their belongings with notice, etc.

I have never used it but people on the Disney boards rave about the service (but they are of a different "breed"!!!) I couldn't be bothered, but thats me.

I agree or, perhaps a disclaimer that all is left at the owner's risk with no absolute guaranty at all?

Funny aside - when we left things after one of our April trips, we left a pair of John's Teva beach sandals in a plastic bag and somehow, when we returned that November they were lost. Oh, well, that's life, right? No big deal and it gave me something to get him for Christmas.

This year the person who holds our belongings came to the Towers and knocked on our door one day with the sandals in the bag in hand, wanting to know if they were the ones that had gone missing. They had gotten lost on a shelf in the persons closet, and when they were found, no one in the household claimed them and then it all clicked. So now, he has two pairs.....

For me, that would probably be good enough, no guaranty at all, but it is an issue which would need to be specifically addressed, one way or another.

Funny, We always leave stuff at divi and most of it comes back, nothing really of value. I always thought this would be a good idea. interested to learn more when they get the website up to speed

Great idea, we at Sonesta Great Bay have been trying to get Condo lockers and is proving difficult. Off-Site mini storage sounds very interesting and is a gap I haven't seen filled on the island.

As others have stated there are many questions:
- would the storage location be climate controlled to avoid mold issues
- insurance and liability needs further explanation
- access and security is also of question

I have signed up, hopefully these questions can be answered. As stated a great idea if you can do it right!!

I have to say...i am a bit intrigued at the idea...but being a timeshare owner myself I really don't know what would be worth ''leaving'' year to year. All our kitchen stuff provided is more than we ever need....the idea of paying to store a couple of ''noodles'' etc don't make sense since they can be purchased for 3-4 bucks a piece. Some carry on chairs (which we don't use) maybe ...but the cost of storing them would probably be more than the purchase price. So...my question is...what would people really use a storage solution for???? Inquiring minds would love to know. Just wondering if i am missing something here.

Thanks.

Ed,

So many possibilities .......

We store:

John's Tevis which take up a lot of room and are heavy, too.
My Tevis which are usually too sandy to put in my suitcase.
Left over sun lotions ranging from #55 and down to #8.
Left over shampoos, skin lotions, and lots of personal stuff like that.
A sharp carving knife, rubber spatula and cheese slicer.
Some seasonings and left over rum - on the rare occasion there should happen to be any.
A small beach cooler.
A huge beach bag.
A grocery store carrier (left over from the days before Jeannie.....)
Sun hats for both of us.
Mosquito repellent and a citronella candle for the porch.
Night lights
A deck of playing cards
A small jack knife
Pool and beach pillows

And a ton of other little things, none of which are valuable or expensive and many of which I used to want each trip and often forgot to pack and ended up replacing every trip until we started doing this.

But don't forget, we come down twice a year so for us it's worth it where it might not be for others. It doesn't cost us a ton of money to do this and we don't have to race around finding and buying the same things I 'can't live without' and wasting all that time.

I really do hate to shop..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I've been storing a locked Rubbermaid tub with a local for 100.00 a year for the last ten years or so. Its brought to our timeshare the day we arrive and picked up the day we leave. I also keep a list on word as wevpack the tub so we remember what we left. Nice to have those items there when we get there.

Is there AC at the storage location? Is every item placed in there bacteria free?

We have left things in storage in the tropics and I would never do it again without a guarantee of climate controlled space.

Hello All,

Firstly, I am sharing this info only as an information source for all the questions you had posted.

The two ladies about to launch this business are customers of mine who have used my grocery delivery service when they vacation on the island.

I understand they have requested to be signed up as a member on TTOL but have not got their approval yet to post themselves. So on their behalf I am posting this and hopfully answers most of your questions...

Hopefully by tomorow they will be able to post themselves and answer any addtional questions...

Hello Jeannie,

Thank you so much for your support in promoting our business! Timeshare Mini Storage is not operational at this point as we are in final stages of opening, slated for launch in March 2015. Our website is under construction and when complete will provide interested timeshare owners all the information they need about the details of our service and sign up forms.

In the interim, and as it appears that there is a lot of interest in our new business, the following gives a brief overview of what is to come….

At Timeshare Mini Storage, our mission is simple….We will provide our island neighbors in St. Maarten with the security and safety of their goods and belongings while at home.

So if there are things that you’d like to leave behind and use again when you return, Timeshare Mini Storage offers timeshare owners a worry free, cost effective storage solution.

How our service works…
1. Our friendly island concierge will deliver an empty, water tight, heat resistant 30” X 16” X 16” container to your timeshare or hotel.
2. You pack and secure your items.
3. We pick up your container(s) and transport them to our secure storage site in St. Maarten. Your belongings are secured and insured up to $100.00 per container.
4. Notify us when you are planning to return to the island and your belongings will be delivered upon your arrival.

Storage of Larger items such as surfboards, umbrellas and beach chairs will be stored for additional charge.

Fees start as low as $12.00 per month (US Dollars) per container which includes a one time pick up and delivery. Additional services will be outlined on our website at launch.

Once again, we are thrilled with the enthusiasm and excitement that the members of Travel Talk Online have expressed for our business and look forward to providing those interested with professional and exceptional service in the coming year.

We will be signing up for travel talk on line in the near future.

Thank you again!

Laura

Timeshare Mini Storage SXM, USA
P- 267-373-7000
F- 810-222-1039

Thanks for the answers....i guess i just have gotten spoiled having the little store right across the street to buy extra sunscreen, booze, etc..so usually there really isn't anything left by the time we leave. Plus, living in Florida, i live in Tevas.. I can see leaving some extras there, but i think the 12/month would cost more than the stuff that would be stored....but that's just our way of doing things. This could be a very viable business....and wish nothing but good luck to the entrepreneurs in this venture.

It's probably a small thing and probably it wouldn't bother other people, but I am not a timeshare person and I'm not sure that they should limit their business by calling it a timeshare business. Frankly, I think the non timeshare people might be a bigger audience, because they come more than once a year, and many t/s people only come once a year.

Not trying to throw cold water on the idea but starting at $144 a year..way too much.. chairs/umbrella/cooler/towels/ small items in older suitcase you leave for $75 a year renter drops it off/picks it up works..for $50RT you can bring an extra suit case down on the plane or use Craig/BOB at Packlight for chairs/umbrellas/cooler.

"Heat resistant"? Kinda doubt it. Seems as if it would be MORE prone to heating what was sealed inside. Unless it's in A/C.

Yep. My point earlier, ..that you could buy the sundries or bring them yourself in an extra piece of luggage.

And if the insured value is only $100......why would you spend more than that to store what should be inexpensive things?

Im with Beachkitten on this one.....144 year to store fifty bucks maybe worth of leftovers just doesnt make sense to me. 144 bucks sure buys a lot of bottles of alcohol, sundries, toiletries, etc. and to be insured up to a hundred bucks.....smh.

As I said before. I pay 100.00 a year. 144.00 is too much for me to justify.

I guess IF I was paying the $144.00 a year or anywhere near that, which I'm not, I might find it a lot of money too, but it's not always about money but about the convenience of having the things you want to make your trip more enjoyable without having to pack and bring or shop for them after arrival for every trip. Hey! We all enjoy our trips the way we want to, right? My solution works for me and I'm sure this one may work for others.

What I would never do is leave any items behind that I would care or worry about and I wouldn't leave anything that might require special care or attention. And if I used the service, I'd happily waive responsibility or financial liability, but again, that's me. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I missed it, but I don't think we even know how much these ladies are going to charge?

$12/month was mentioned...they pick up container

OK, I missed that.

They will need to get their fees ( maybe yearly?) up front or they are going to have alot of stuff to get rid of.

SXM??? Wendell

I would have to assume that is the only way to do it.

Jeannie, it is so bittersweet reading this. Chuck and I discussed a similar enterprise about 10 years ago. We obviously never brought it to fruition ... and of course, now "we" can't.

Also, it was bittersweet reading that it was Ray's encouragement that got you started.

I miss you ... because of you ... and also because of this horribly cold weather here <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Hi Kathy,

Happy new year! I miss you too... I will connect with you via facebook ...

Hopefully Laura and her business partner are able to respond soon with their own sign in ID...

Regards
Jeannie

Eric approved their registration this morning..

We have friends that use the service at Disney, they go 2-3 times a year. In addition to Pat's list, our friends leave: Booze, cooking spices, 2 nice cooking knives, bluetooth speakers, Vinturi and a Kuerig.