BEWARE and DO NOT RENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Due to a recent transition, I moved out of my Public Storage unit of 3 years and my mom rented a unit to offload her items from my unit. I submitted a move out in December but scheduled the actual move for Jan 3rd because I couldn't move out on New Years Eve. I thought surely I wouldn't be charged the full month if we only used 3 days in January. However on Jan 3rd, I received a charge of $460 for the full month of January. I called the office to confirm I would get a partial refund and was told "I can't prorate and we don't prorate". I explained we had been customers since 1985 and after some back and forth it was obvious they had no intent to refund or discount part of the month's charges. That means instead of paying $44.49 for 3 days of usage, we paid $153.33/day in January. Also, I and my family have rented units from public storage for 40 years. Sometimes we had 1 unit, others we had as many as 3 units but the money paid to Public Storage is roughly $200,000 over that 40 years. Rent has always gone up here an there but about 8 years, Public Storage started an obscene fee increase campaign which resulted in about $50/mo to $100/mo increases every year. My mom is retired and on a fixed income. As a result, we started spending every Christmas holiday purging things from our storage units. However, because city living is so tight we would always require some form of external storage. With the high costs of moving facilities we never had much choice but to accept the increases. A couple years ago, I learned Public Storage was charging new customers a quarter of the rent they had charged us for years. I periodically checked and new customer rates are still much much lower than existing customers. So as a big thank you to long term customers for spending so much, they give discounts to new customers and drain us financially. So now after 40 years, I'm done. I will NEVER RENT FROM PUBLIC STORAGE AGAIN, I'm moving my elderly mother out of the unit she just rented and I will make sure everybody in the U.S. learns of our experience and DON'T rent from them. Signed, VERY dissatisfied and customer never again! read more

Jennifer, in Bren Mar Alexandria gave outstanding customer service. She was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and answered every question that I had. read more

This is my first experience renting a storage unit and it has not been a good one. I'm very disappointed. The app doesn't work at all for me. I can't make payments on the app, they canceled my autopay. I keep getting charged late fees because the online/remote payment options don't work. Before you say call your bank, I have and have been assured that it is an issue with public storage not having the correct address on file. I checked the app and the address is correct, I called the office and was told the billing address on file looks correct but to change it I have to come into the office. She told me she was in today, I shower and get dressed drive 15 minutes to get there and the office is locked and no one is in. There wasn't even a "be back in 30 minutes" sign. This is the second time this has happened to me and the manager says well sometimes they walk the property? No apology no removal of the late fee because of their issue nothing. I forgot to mention that it's been months and my light has never worked. They first told me the switch is outside the unit? Huh, there is nothing to control lights outside the unit. Then they told me to leave a key, but I said that is rather just meet them there in case I have to move things around. They said no they manage so many properties they can't promise they'll be able to wait until I arrive. I care and leave a key but now I can't even access the unit since there is no one in the office to manually process my payment. If these issues are resolved I will update the review. read more

Public Storage - Self Storage Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Avoid this place. Poorly maintained despite fresh coat of paint on exterior. Elevators chronically out of order -- which you don't know until it's too late. Management office frequently closed and unstaffed during working hours -- making it impossible to conduct business or even get access to moving carts. Strong smell of marijuana from staff. Overpriced for neighborhood with frequent prices increases. Balky access via app. read more

Milka at public storage 880 s pickett st alexandria was great in helping me read more

Holly has been a tremendous help in assisting me with a storage unit. The facility is kept clean and well lite. Holly and her staff are always very professional read more

Property Manager, Manny, was helpful, courteous and knowledgeable regarding his advice as to the size of storage unit I needed. He also helped me with the use of the Public Storage app for my phone, which has made coming and going in and out through the main gate very easy. I would like to recommend this facility to prospective customers as it is clean, safe and easy to get in and out of. read more

I wish I could give 0 stars. PLEASE GO ELSEWHERE! I had this unit from October 2018 until September 2019. My unit was supposed to be climate control for my professional equipment and professional skincare products, and I've had to throw out quite a bit because the temperatures were not as regulated as expected. I found a new unit with way better prices, less than half the rate for exact same unit with significant improvement of climate control, sanitation, security and customer service. The service elevator was almost always screwed up in one way or another and I have been there when it would be completely out of service several times. My number one complaint was rat feces all over my entire belongings, I had to throw away a lot of clothes, bedding, furniture, and give away a lot of furniture and other items not to mention all of the hard work cleaning up stuff that I kept. I still have not gotten all of my dry cleaning coats dry cleaned from the damage. I just haven't had the extra money but to give you an idea there's at least six or seven coats that are anywhere from $300-$600 apiece and hopefully they are not completely destroyedThere's no excuse for that. With as much as these people are making per unit for these "climate control units" that you're calling them... You can pay for pest control. It's absolutely beyond ridiculous. I believe my rent started out at $198 per month for a 10 x 10 unit, and after a few months the rent went up to $222 for my same unit. Not to mention that when you're late there's a $50 late charge so when you're paying $222 a month that's more than 25% added onto your bill. Get real! Yes I paid it, yes my account is in good standing, and no I didn't clean up the rat poop you can keep it along with any business you think that you'll ever get from me again. read more

Raquel was AMAZING!!! Super helpful and the sweetest ever! Antoine was also incredibly nice and helpful. They have great vibes and I am so comfortable working with them. HIGHLY RECOMMEND -Alexandra and Jacqueline read more

Very helpful and friendly made me feel very comfortable. Brandon helped me explore all my options with no complaints! Also a very clean storage I can't wait to move my things in! I'd give give 10 read more

I have to tell you what a wonderful experience I had at Public Storage on S Pickett Street. William went above and beyond with helping me get the perfect storage unit for me. I was very happy with the professional and patience William has. Keep that smile going William!!! read more

Full of pest! I had to throw away all my furniture, worst experience ever, DO NOT RECOMMEND. RAT FECES EVERYWHERE! Disgusting! Ur better off giving your things away. read more

This location is pretty good. I'll start by saying that the staff are very friendly, Lexi got me set up on an indoor unit, she was very informative and professional. I would give her five stars if I could rate staff. They have flatbeds that they loan out to you to bring large items to your unit, they only request an ID, which is reasonable, as I understand that some renters have stolen or even stored carts in their lockers before. I didn't really have any issues, per say, but parking out front is a little tricky with limited spaces, and the passageways are somewhat cramped in. If more than two or three cars are nearby, its hard to park up and unload your cargo. You can tell the facility is a bit dated, but I don't expect storage lockers to look like a fancy structure. The units appear to be climate controlled, which is good, as it is not some crazy exorbitant price to rent each month. They even pro-rated my first month for me. I rented the smallest locker, which had space to spare after loading all of my junk in. Overall, great place to store your stuff, if not a bit small in scale. read more

Clean facility. Helpful staff. Great location. Elevators are fine. Numbering system of units is pretty random, like it's a little hard to figure out, but once you do, it's all great. read more

Very positive experience with renting a unit. Quick, contactless, mobile app, lock and key in unit, gate code sent to your phone. Amazing!!! Very convenient process. read more

I recommend Public Storage for all your storage needs. Sebastian was very helpful when it came to getting rid of the furniture that was broken. He was extremely helpful with breaking the dresser down. His customers service was right on point. Sebastian was very polite as well. read more

Everything went smoothly. After storing my things, I left and thought I may not have locked it properly. I called and they checked it for...so friendly. The space was as expected and I appreciate their service read more

I needed a place short-term to store some furniture, and also all the stuff that accumlates when you're planning a wedding with a bunch of DIY elements. Mr. Anjum was in the office when I signed the contract. I reserved a unit online, and I knew that there would be extra costs not identified in the advertisements. Mr. Anjum recommended insurance, for example, and knowing the cost of what I was putting into the unit, I opted to take it because we do get strong storms and high winds, and even the occassional tornado - it depends on what stuff you have, and what's important to you. It's very inexpensive. I read the fine print, so I knew that I could bring my own lock, but the standard ones you buy at CVS are not very strong, and I didn't feel like going to Home Depot to get an industrial-strength one. the cost of the lock on site is more than elsewhere, but for what I planned to buy, I spent an extra $8, which didn't bother me. With all storage units, as with any contract, you MUST read the fine print. Yes, it's a pain, but it won't take you more than 5-10 minutes extra, and you should know what the terms are, especially if you are renting long-term. This is incumbant on the renter - remember that it's legally binding when you sign it, and "I didn't read the fine print" doesn't give you any standing if you get into a dispute. The facility is always clean, the office well-stocked, and the dumpster emptied frequently. The lights are on timers and always work. There's a bathroom on site, and plenty of parking. Mr. Anjum is wonderful, always ready with a smile, and immensely patient with customers explaining the options, and helping them find the right unit for their needs. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that there are too few carts for this size facility, leaving you to often unload the car by hand and if you're on a second floor unit it adds significant time to moving items in and out, especially if you have heavy items you must have a cart, and have to wait for someone to finish using one, or go hunting around all the entrances to find one. A very reasonably-priced option, and the best value in the area if you need basic storage. NOTE ON AUTO PAY: sign up for auto-pay to avoid missing a payment and risking having your unit contents sold... but remember when you are closing your account, you will get a pro-rated bill for the last months's days, and they are NOT auto-paid, so you will need to cash out your balance at the end of your term. read more

We needed a short term storage space to assist us in staging our home for sale. We simply stopped in and Emily walked us through the process. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. We have yet to use said storage space (we just got it this morning), but I am confident it will be great. read more

Do NOT use this Public Storage facility under any circumstances! I rented a storage unit in July and have paid each month, in full and on time. Nevertheless, I have received repeated notices about "late" payments and warnings that my account was in default and that my household goods would be auctioned. I called the national customer service line many times and was assured that this was a mistake and that my account was in good order. The warnings and bogus charges to my account continued - I am moving out this weekend to stop the harassment. This is not a reputable business! read more

Property manager Jazmin was very wonderful with my needs. She was quick, polite, and answered all my questions i needed. I will update my review later. So far great customer service. read more

First off, let me start by saying the staff is hard working, and do the best that they can. The issue is the support they get to keep the facility up and running: - The elevators work about 70% of the time; when they do go out, they rarely get fixed in a reasonable time frame. - Homeless "renters" can be found on the property after hours. - They are severely short-staffed, so you're pretty much on your own dealing with people who block access to your unit, take over the enter/exit ways, or who leave trash inside. I wish Public Storage would take more pride in their company. read more

DO NOT RENT HERE. The management is terrible: they do not respond to customers needs but will sweat you (call you multiple times per day) so that they can go on a lunch break. The elevator never works. The digital/automated charge system fails and then the customer is stuck with the bill. When you call the main customer service line they are extra rude until you tell them you are recording and then they want to hang up the phone right away because they know that they are being disrespectful. Save yourself. Do not do it. read more

Had a great experience until Jazmin came on board. Quite honestly the place was revolving door of workers. Jazmin is quite the upcoming professional! Let's see, she's hung up on me, I've video'd here so hard at work on being professional, lucky here and the company I didn't post it (so hard not too)! The District Manager? Do we really need to keep wasting money on salaries for people who don't do their job? Get outta here already! Took weeks to receive a refund of charges they made up and constantly denied my phone calls. Anywho, choose other locations! Not this one. Pro's, place was clean and never had an issue with break in's or safety. read more

The facility is fine, nothing special, but just fine. Clean and easy to park and access. As another reviewer said, there are far too few carts for the size and I have frequently had to manage without one or wait. A half dozen carts would totally solve the problem. Really, how hard can that be? Automatic payment makes it easy. I haven't had much interaction with the staff but they are pleasant and helpful. My main reason for the 3 stars is Public Storage, not this particular facility. Be prepared for the rent to go up on a regular basis. Mine goes up about $10 each year. I started at about $85 a few years ago for a 5x5 and I just received notice that it now going to be $126. It had been $115 for the past year etc. I see the current online price for a 5x10 is $126, the same as I'm paying for half the space. read more

Absolutely horrible. Charged us for a 5X10 locker and when we got stuff into it we realized it was actually less than 4 ft wide and 9 ft deep. When we asked to be moved to another unit, we were told we'd not only have to pay the increased rent (it had been 6 days between signing and moving stuff in) but we also would have to pay the registration fee again. The excuse was: the paperwork says approximate and that's why we show it to you and ask "will this work for you?" Of course it's just an empty room at that point with no context, so how can you even know for certain? On top of it all, one of the girls working there was completely rude, condescending and argumentative. I'd stay as far away as possible. Ultimately, we found a CubeSmart just down the road, comparable pricing but the attitude is 1000 times better. read more

What a great staff! They helped me figure out the most cost effective way to store my belongings. I have used this facility for over a year and have yet to be disappointed. I highly recommend them. read more

I am glad I am renting a storage unit from this location. Emily and Smokey are the best. Emily walked the property with me to make sure I liked my unit. I was able to change with the online price while there because I began the process on line. Smokey completed the paperwork and made me laugh while taking my money$$$. Online and going into the property is easier. Again, when having to place your belongings in a safe environment, this is a great and convenient location. The staff is kind, courteous, professional and patient. One satisfied customer!! read more

I rented this storage unit for one price, then 3 months later they raised it by $40 something dollars a month. Bait and switch, just like another review before me mentioned. They also rent by the month and do not prorate. I moved out on the 2nd of the month, yet I still had to pay for the storage unit for the rest of the month. So I am sure they now have rented the unit to someone else, so they have my rent money for this month along with a new tenants money. These policies to me seem unethical and sleazy. I would not rent from here again. The woman who checked me into my unit a few years ago was very friend and polite, however the last few people I have dealt with at this facility have been rude. I also dealt with a very rude person on the customer service number I called recently. Not a good experience. My biggest complaint at this point is that they would not prorate my payment for this month. I should have left my lock on the door to my unit until the end of the month so that they couldn't rent it out to someone else and collect two rents for the unit for this month. read more

The perfect place to go...if you don't care about your storage.. I have been a long-term customer of this location - and over the last year, I have seen the quality of the location decline to an all-time low. The staff tries to help - but it seems like every problem is beyond their control. Whether it be homeless people that stay overnight in the building, trash left for days at a time by people leaving, no carts available for use, etc., it's become a very unattractive location. This past weekend I came by to my "climate-controlled unit" - it was 78 degrees outside, and 82 degrees inside. To add insult to injury, rates get raised constantly - to the point that I pay $100 more a month than people who would rent the SAME size unit/type online today. Why don't I leave? As I said, I've been here a long time. But the day is coming.... read more

You get what you pay for. This is one of the cheaper storage units in the area and I passed by several to save a few bucks. When I signed up, they told me it was required to buy their $20 lock even though I had one in my hand. I asked them three times if that was company policy and they assured me it was. When I got home and had time to read through the entire lease agreement in detail, nothing indicated it was required to use their lock. Contacted their corporate office which forwarded me to their district manager. He told me he'd refund the cost of the lock and that it wasn't company policy to buy it. Never saw that money.... They also tacked on insurance. I asked why and they said it was required. I told them I had home insurance which I thought covered it and they indicated that I had to do this unless I could show them something right then. They said I could show something later and they'd refund the money. Contacted my insurance at a later time to confirm and then followed up at a later time with this location. They kept telling me to go online and opt out of the insurance......there is no place online to do so. After calling three times to tell them this, and their continued insistence to go online, I finally got in touch with someone at their corporate office and voiced my frustration. He told me the only way to opt out was to go to the local office and sign something, you'd think the office would know that. He also said he'd forward my frustrations to the district manager....never heard from him and never received a refund. There were other issues I encountered with storing my things here, but the issues above of being lied to and being given the run around were the worst. Each time I managed to get in touch with someone at the corporate office...they worked to try and resolve it, but that mostly meant forwarding me back to the local facility which didn't care. Next time, I'll pay a few more bucks and go somewhere else. read more

I just signed a contract and overall am pleased with my first day's experience. ShaQuam is a very customer service oriented representative and clearly wanted to provide the best support possible. My only concern at this point is there is currently no way to collect payment for a prorated amount if I move out prior to the end of the month. Specifically, rent is collected on the 1st of each month for the preceding month. If a renter pays for rent on March 1st, provides the required 2 day notice of vacating the storage unit on March 8th to terminate the service on March 10th, there is currently no way for Public Storage to return prorated funds back to the customer for March 11th through March 31st. Apparently up until July 2017 the prorated amount was returned to the customer. This is really a bad business practice and I question if it's legal. Other than that, my first impression is overall good. read more

This was a perfect location for me. I felt the place was secure and clean. Anjum in the office was a nice person. I thought it was a bit expensive but I have never rented a storage unit before. read more

I had a need to do this quickly. Signed up online. Greeted by Emily the next day when I dropped in. Friendly and knowledgeable. Gave me a tour of the space. Very trouble-free so far. There are some extras you might want to get like insurance, but it's a really small part of the bill. Good price too. The place is gated and they've indoor space. Personally, think it's a good deal. read more

I work for a educational non-profit and we have a storage unit at this property. We were hosting a four day conference nearby for about 350 attendees and needed to access several things in our storage room the day before the event began. Our chief of staff had been at the storage room the Thursday before and inadvertently taken our only key home with him for the weekend. While in Florida for the weekend he became ill and had to hospitalized. Our storage key was locked up in his house with no one to retrieve it for us. One of our employee's brought her husband's bolt cutter in on Monday. When the president and I went over to cut the lock, we saw that it was a disc lock, so the bolt cutter was useless. We went to the office and learned that the account had been opened up over 15 years ago and the contract had never been updated. That former president is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Unable to find a locksmith who could come cut the lock off that morning, the manager on duty went much beyond the extra mile for us and called someone she knew, who was there in 15 minutes. We got our stuff and were out of there in 30 minutes! The staff there at Public Storage truly saved us! We now have updated paperwork and an emergency key in their office. Great job Public Storage! read more

This location was very clean and the staff was very helpful. Shawnte and Danielle were very professional and informative. I would definitely recommend this location if you're looking for a storage unit in the area. read more

I had a good experience. Erin helped me identify space that would work for my needs. She took the time to explain the contract. Overall I was very satisfied with the level of detail. read more

In my opinion this is a clean facility with competent staff. The manager I have been dealing with was especially helpful and always courteous. read more

I stopped by on my way home to pick up some boxes for my move. I meet Smokey and Emily. They seemed to really want to help me find everything I was going to possible need for my move. They had a ton of great suggestions I had not even thought about. I will definitely be going back for move supplies. This is a great one stop shop for all your moving needs. read more

Just wanted to thank Shawnte for her great customer service! She was very knowledgeable and helpful. Glad to have signed in thru her.