Storable just rolled out a credit card surcharging feature for ESS users, and I’m curious where everyone in here stands on this. For those who haven’t seen it yet, the feature basically allows operators to pass the credit card processing fee (up to around 3%) directly to the tenant when they choose to pay with a credit card. So instead of the facility paying the merchant fees, the tenant pays the convenience fee. Pretty simple concept. But operators seem to be split right down the middle on this. Side #1: “It’s Just a Cost of Doing Business” Some operators don’t love the idea of charging tenants extra fees. Their thinking is: If someone is paying you $100–$150 a month for storage, why nickel and dime them over a few dollars? They’d rather focus on increasing revenue through things like: • Better rate management • Tenant protection plans • Operational efficiencies In their mind, credit card fees are just another operating expense like utilities or software. Side #2: “Why Should I Pay for Their Credit Card Rewards?” Then you’ve got the other side of the fence. These operators look at their merchant statements and say: "Wait a minute… I'm paying thousands of dollars a year so tenants can earn airline miles and cashback points?" Their argument is that credit cards are a convenience for the customer, not the operator. So if a tenant wants that convenience, they should pay the fee. Some operators are even encouraging ACH autopay instead, which usually has little or no processing cost. I’ve also heard of a few operators switching software platforms just to get lower merchant fees and the ability to surcharge. Here’s My Real Question For You If you were running a facility today… Would you: A) Absorb the credit card fees as a normal operating expense B) Pass the surcharge to tenants who use credit cards C) Encourage ACH and bank draft and try to move people away from cards altogether No right or wrong answer here. I just think this is one of those interesting operational decisions that affects both NOI and customer experience.

I wanted to share an observation from the Florida Self Storage Association Convention in Orlando. There seems to be a noticeable shift happening with vendors. Over the past few years, self-storage was in a strong spotlight and many vendors had pricing power, higher minimums, and stricter terms. What I’m seeing now is a bit of a reset — increased competition and a more balanced market appear to be humbling some vendors. If there’s a company you previously worked with but stepped away from due to pricing, minimums, or rigid terms, it may be worth reaching back out. There’s a good chance their approach, flexibility, or pricing has changed. Just sharing in the spirit of our group continuing to help each other stay informed and take advantage of market shifts.

This is a great video that may help you define your Buy Box... https://youtube.com/shorts/z5kj5iSfP00?si=7-4aT_kghZXXxJX7

Hey Gang. .. A couple FYI's if your looking to expand your knowledge in Self Storage, meet some great people and many vendors... For 2026, the Self Storage Association (SSA) event that in past years was often held in Las Vegas in April has shifted on the national calendar: the SSA Spring Conference & Trade Show is now scheduled for March 18–20, 2026 and will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas — not Las Vegas. Separately, the large Inside Self-Storage (ISS) World Expo — a major industry trade show frequently held in Las Vegas in April — is still being held in Las Vegas this year (April 7–10, 2026) at the Caesars Forum Conference Center.

Short truth you might need to hear today: Most people don’t lack information.They lack permission to move. This week’s question: What decision have you been delaying because you keep telling yourself you need “just a little more” before acting? 👇 I’ll go first in the comments.