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Thread ID: 51146	2004-11-13 00:38:00	OT: Storage charges for unclaimed goods	Billy T (70)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
291127	2004-11-13 00:38:00	Hi Team I maintain a small workshop for repairs to electronic equipment owned by clients. None of this is small or light enough to be moved by one person and some items weigh in excess of 160 Kg, so lifting aids are required to move them around. Some clients virtually abandon their machinery (or at least develop serious and chronic amnesia) after receiving prices for overhauls, some of which must be done overseas, and their property lies around for months until they make a decision. Unit value is anything from $3000 up to $15,000 so I can't just toss it out. I intend to put in place a policy of charging for storage after the first 10 weeks and I am struggling to find a rationale for the charging regime. It has to be low enough for them to not mind paying if they are just exploring alternatives or redoing their budgets, but high enough to make them want to take some sort of action to avoid the monthly storage invoice. I am currently thinking of charging $25 per week +gst ($100 per calendar month) but if asked to justify that price I can't. It is simply the figure at which I believe that I would stop being annoyed at the lack of action and feel that I wasn't being used for free storage. Any ideas or similar experiences? Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
291128	2004-11-13 00:44:00	Calculator (wwi.srilankancargo.com)	Graham L (2)
291129	2004-11-13 00:48:00	I belive justification of such a charge should be relatively easy. Do you carry insurance? If an item was stolen or damaged while in your care, what is the nature of your cover, and more importantly the level of excess? Such issues do add to the tangible costs for providing the service of storage. There is no compulsion on you to charge (your T&C could state that you may charge)	godfather (25)
291130	2004-11-13 00:52:00	How about ringing around a few carriers as they usually have some form of charge for storage. Also, it must cost you $x.00 for every square foot reguarding rental of buliding or grounds, so that is minimum. Another thpught too, is to charge the storage fees, but they get 50% back if they go through with the repair? Or maybe something along those lines.	Pheonix (280)
291131	2004-11-13 02:17:00	Thanks guys, the calculator was useful and showed that my proposed charges were neither outlandishly high nor ridiculously low . I also like the idea of rebating 50% of the charges if they go ahead with the repair . The money isn't the big issue, it is their casual attitudes that create the problem and at present I end up in an endless cycle of follow-up correspondence (which I now charge for) and some customers get annoyed when charged extra for dealing with their administrative inefficiencies . They'd get twice as annoyed if I didn't correspond then sold their equipment off as abandoned goods . (Thinks!! What a great idea Neddy, I'll add a further time limit to my terms and conditions, including the obligatory registered letter, then sell the stuff at auction . If they complain, I'll refer them to my Barrister: Major Dennis Bloodnock, QC and Bar) Cheers Billy 8-{) :D	Billy T (70)
291132	2004-11-13 02:56:00	Just so you know Billy, you are a voluntary bailee . Its not contagious . ;) As such, you are responsible for the equipment in case of fire, theft, or damage . As GF points out, you carry an insurance cost, and an opportunity cost for the lost space taken up that you could otherwise more profitably use . Charging $25/week sounds fair, although 6 or 8 weeks should be plenty of leeway .	Winston001 (3612)
291133	2004-11-13 03:20:00	Hi ya, Places down here have a rationale of if you dont place an order to fix or pick up the item within so many weeks, the said item is sold to cover costs of past work and for storage . i think the time limit is 3 months . so what you propose is ok i guess . but in past experience if they dont pick it up or order then generally forget it, and get rid of it, as its not in their eyesight they dont care . out of sight out of mind like . the only problem i see is if they havent ordered or done anything about removing the item, you are probably unlikely to also get payment for storage of the item . so you have to then recoup costs somehow i guess . beetle	beetle (243)
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