New Service: store your personal vacation gear

[rsschneck]

Just a quick post to thank everyone for the incredible response we've been receiving and to thank fellow DIS members for their comments. It's fun to hear so many people think that an idea that has been my dream and passion could really work!
We've done lots of research but have had to make assumptions--the size of the Locker, how it's configured, the price of the service, etc. One of the reasons we're conducting the test is to get the views of people who are living with the actual service. As much as we have tried to get it right, we're always ready to change. We firmly believe that we're just implementers of Owner's Locker and that it will be our Members that point us in the direction they want us to go.
We also know that we're dealing with extremely personal areas where people just have different views (do I drive or do I fly?;do I rent a car or use the bus?) so there will never be a service that each and every person will think is right for them.
Be assured that we're listening intently to your comments-keep 'em coming!
John

Our family was chosen as a test family. I am so excited to try this service! Thanks John! I will gladly provide feedback. Our trip isn't until March so I will be trying to figure out what to put in the locker for our families needs!

 

[JPC]

Sure, John contacted the owner of the DIS with his proposal and was granted permission for the posts on the DVC Boards. When I was sent the information about what was going on last week , I went to the OwnersLocker website and submitted a trial request and the box was at the resort when I checked in the next day. There are a number of others (several have posted in these threads) who have already been part of the trial for several months, but this is my first experience with the program.

We're still making a list of items to store in the box, but are excited about the opportunity to have a number of personal items waiting for us on each trip!

Doc, from what I see you run a tight but fair ship around here. I have no reason to believe that this freebie (if so a freebie) would influence you in any way and I sure I may hear that. But, appearance wise, I do not think that it looks good for the moderator to receive such a freebie. Do not worry, I have no high-horse to get off of. It is just based on a basic principle of ethics.

 

[Boston5602]

I think John did a fantastic service to the rest of us by giving ( did he ? ) Webmasterdoc a locker. I find HIS input and recommendations invaluable ! I can't wait to see how he is going to use it.


I leave next weekend and just signed up so I broke out my suitcase and filled with I always wanted down at WDW , I just didn't want to schlep most of it back and forth.

Some of that is extra poncho's , candles , ziplock bags , my hat I only wear at Disney , toiletries like tooth brush and paste, hair brush , battery charger and batteries , laundry stuff a first aid kit a sewing kit , a lint brush and more. Oh I went a bought a copy of my favorite coffee mug to leave too!!!!!

I'm looking forward to trying this out . I vacation on Cape Cod during the summer . My friends and I rent townhomes and they have an " Owners Closet " too , I thought how convenient to leave stuff there all the time!

Let you all know how it works out for me!

 

[BoatBoy]

Doc, from what I see you run a tight but fair ship around here. I have no reason to believe that this freebie (if so a freebie) would influence you in any way and I sure I may hear that. But, appearance wise, I do not think that it looks good for the moderator to receive such a freebie. Do not worry, I have no high-horse to get off of. It is just based on a basic principle of ethics.

'scuse me, Miss Buttinski here....

Doc was given a locker because he's a consumer, his capacity as a moderator doesn't eliminate him from taking advantage of the same great deals we all come to the DIS to find out about. Anyone who is going to WDW soon was eligible to send in an application for the test phase.
I know you clearly stated you do not have a "high horse" to get off of, but it seems as thought your comments were unfair and unwarranted.

 

[CarolA]

Doc, from what I see you run a tight but fair ship around here. I have no reason to believe that this freebie (if so a freebie) would influence you in any way and I sure I may hear that. But, appearance wise, I do not think that it looks good for the moderator to receive such a freebie. Do not worry, I have no high-horse to get off of. It is just based on a basic principle of ethics.

Sounds like HIGH HORSE to me.

Just in case you are NOT aware, the DIS MODS are VOLUNTEERS. They are NOT paid and are not OWNERS of the board. So there is NO financial incentive between Doc and the board. Now I am willing to lay money the board owners agreed to this "free trial" in the hopes that the OP will be successful and pay them an advertising fee. (That's how these boards remains FREE!)

 

[Boston5602]

I have a question for John and if I should ask privately please let me know.

If Gosh forbid something extreme happens and after a year a two of using your service they pack up the box , you collect it and they go home , only to NEVER return to Disney.Say death in the family . lost job , repo from Disney! Do you have a way to get it back to them , like shipping it for a fee or something?

 

[jdvm]

Boston,
Absolutely there is a mechanism for cancellation. I firmly believe in the phrase that to everything there is a season. That's one of the reasons, I'm not fond of the contract concept that some are suggesting (not to say we wouldn't consider their suggestions). My thought is Members can cancel at any time with no questions asked. We will refund any storage charges that have been prepaid and will either deliver it to the resort one last time, destroy it or ship it to their home for a charge. Things happen in life that we can't control and you've just named a few! We're all about convenience--not complications.
Thanks for the question.
John

 

[JPC]

Sounds like HIGH HORSE to me.

QUOTE]

On that note, I will excuse myself from this discussion and let this lead to wherever it leads to.

 

[rigsby25]

I special order laundry tablets to use at Disney ( no mess packing/storing ) Hmmmm could I order them to be delivered to my box someday? QUOTE]


I would like to know more about the laundry tablets.

 

[Bexx]

I don't mind the initial charge and as we travel such a long distance we tend to have one longer break rather then a few smaller ones so the extra collection / delivery charges wouldn't affect us but I think $12.50 per month a bit steep. I would be more inclined to use the service if it were $100 or under. Perhaps there could be a sliding scale of fees - the longer you took out your contract for the cheaper the monthly storage fee.

Another DVCer from across the pond here! For the forseeable future we will only be travelling to WDW every two or three years, but because I like to bring a ton of stuff to make our villa feel even more like home for the two weeks we're in it, then this service sounds great (if possibly rather an extravagance, in our case!! ) It would certainly be helpful for us to pay a bit less per month, if we're definitely going to store stuff for several years, and would there be any sort of discount to take into account our delivery-less years?!!

Fantastic idea though. Whether it ends up benefiting me or not, I wish you the very best of luck with this venture!

 

[jdvm]

Hi Bexx,

Holey Moley, that's a good question. Every time I think I've considered every aspect of this service, a really good one like yours comes out of the blue. Not only have we not thought about it, I'm not sure we have a quick answer. Brian and I were both speechless for a few minutes on this one but I think you may have just started the ball rolling for setting up a process to allow Members to "bank" their free yearly delivery if it is not used every year.

Are you coming over soon? It would be great to have you as a test Member to advise us on issues like this!

I lived in England for 15 years, by the way, so I know what you're dealing with! There was soooooo much stuff that we only used in Florida. Which is part of the story of where this business idea came from...but I digress.

Thanks for a great question Bexx

John

 

[Bexx]

I'm very glad it was a useful question! I worried afterwards that it sounded a bit cheeky and opportunistic!!

Are you coming over soon? It would be great to have you as a test Member to advise us on issues like this!

I would love to help out on this, but sadly we're not due back to WDW for another year yet.

 

[Boston5602]

I special order laundry tablets to use at Disney ( no mess packing/storing ) Hmmmm could I order them to be delivered to my box someday?


I would like to know more about the laundry tablets.

Ok since last night my computer crashed , not software , hardware. I need to drop it off somewhere before I leave for Disney this week. So much for all the info I had waiting to be printed out to use at WDW.

ANYWAYS I found a link in the Disney Tip board for laundry tablets . It cost about $36.00 for 96 loads ( not cheap IMO ) but worth it to bring to WDW. They are packed in sets of two and so easy to pack and no mess!

When/If I get my computer up and running I'll post the link here ( I have it in my favorites) I'm on my sisters now.


waaahhhh wahhhhh

 

[disneykidatheart]

I went to your website and tried to read through it thoroughly. I think I read that you will be offering your service at a select number of resorts. I don't know if you follow the disboards--I am posing this question here so others may benefit from your answer.

It is not unusual for DVC members to start a vacation at one resort and finish at another. It is also common that they will stay at a value or moderate resort on the weekends for cash to save points for future stays. My question is, "What resorts will you be serving?" I don't expect you to name each one. I am wondering if you will be serving all Disney resorts, not just DVC. How about the hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard or other nearby hotels? Other timeshares like Marriott or Fairfield at Bonnet Creek? I know you are just dipping your toes into the Storage Locker pond but wonder how wide your service area is to begin. We, for example, will arrive and stay in Sanford (north of Orlando for those of you who do not know) for the first couple days before continuing on to Vero Beach for a couple days and ultimately end up at Old Key West for the last five days. I don't expect that Sanford will be on your route but used my example for those who will be staying in the Orlando area but not on Disney property.

Just thought of another question. "Are the storage lockers insured against loss or damage?" How would those situations be addressed? Heaven forbid I arrive in Orlando to find my locker rolled off the truck on I-4 and my personal and maybe unmentionables are scattered across six lanes.

I have been reading about a lot of good items to store so far. I will add an extra pair of sunglasses and also reading glasses--I need them everywhere. Also my Clorox wipes! Thanks for your time.

 

[jdvm]

Hi disneykid,

Great questions. First the hotels. When you schedule a visit on our website, you'll be able to specifiy your arrival resort as well as your departure resort. They don't have to be the same but they do need to both be on the list in the drop down box. Generally hotels within a 10 mile radius of the attractions will be OK. We do this because we know a lot of people are exactly like you. In your example,however, Sanford area hotels won't be on our delivery list(because you and I know how far out it is!!).

Now for the liability question. Our contract will state that Owner's Locker's liability will be limited to $100 for damage or loss of the Locker or its contents. In our research, we've found that homeowner's policies normally cover your personal items that would be stored in a Locker....and don't even joke about Lockers on the I-4!!! I'll never get to sleep.
john

 

[TinkTatoo]

What I meant by a long term "contract" is the fact that it wouldn't be advantageous for visitors from Europe to pay a monthly fee. In my own case rates between the Euro and the $$ means I would prefer the option to pay upfront so that I can work out the currency rate and know exactly what the locker will cost for a full year (or longer) Also most credit card companies charge an additional fee for each and every International transactions. My own CC charges 2.75% on all transactions with a minimum amount so again a one off payment would help me keep this fee to a minimum.

Also due to the long distances involved we rarely take a quick or impromptu trip and would plan our trips usually at least 18 months in advance. I have a trip booked for July this year and am in the planning stages for our summer 2008 trip, so again If I were getting a locker I'd probably want to pay for at least two years use in one go - hence my suggestion of some sort of fee reduction for this type of commitment.

Just some more ideas for you to think about - It's a great venture and one I'm sure will be a success for you.

Take care
Tink

 

[jdvm]

Sorry, Tink, I misunderstood the question. The storage fee will be charged once per year at the rate of $12.50 per month. I think paying a storage charge each month would drive us both nuts!!
John

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I am happy to say I am one of the first actual users of an owner's locker. I wasn't too sure what I'd put in there, but once I started putting things in I found more and more things that made sense to leave. Here is the list of what will be waiting for me in my locker when I return to BWV this coming Sunday (I made a list so I wouldn't forget)

Vase (I always buy flowers for the room)
Can of Tuna
Jar of Peanut Butter and Jelly (unopened)
Mustard Packets
Mayonaisse Packets
Catsup Packets
Hot Chocolate
AA batteries
Washcloth
Band Aids
Other first aid stuff
Body Lotion
Lighter
Salt
Pepper
Tin foil
Half a bottle of Rum
Room air freshener
Dental Floss
Towel
2 water (empty) water bottles
bathing cap
2 containers body wash
bubblebath
Nail Polish remover
Razor
Shampoo
Conditioner
Sugar packets
Deodorant

And even with all that the locker was in no way stuffed. I am buying a gallon of detergent this trip, and I'm leaving a set of King Sized sheets. I am sure both will easily fit.

 

[graygables]

Half a bottle of Rum

For some reason, this had me I kept imagining stopping by and robbing your treasure chest! I like your list, though...lots of great ideas!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

For some reason, this had me I kept imagining stopping by and robbing your treasure chest! I like your list, though...lots of great ideas!

LOL I was thinking about POTC when I listed the rum--"But why is the rum gone?"