<p>Wondering if anyone has used the AU summer storage option offered by University Housing through UPS. How was the service? And is it necessary to reserve space early?</p>
<p>D has used it for two summers. I can’t recall how far in advance she made arrangements, but she’s not much of a planner, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she just walked in to the UPS store and bought the boxes the same day she packed. The first time her boxes were not delivered to her new dorm on the promised day (somehow they had gotten sent to the wrong school—they are stored at some central UPS location, not at AU), and she had to borrow sheets and towels from her roommate for a few days. The next year it all went swimmingly. The convenience can’t be beat. But I wouldn’t store anything that is absolutely needed on Day 1, just in case of a delivery glitch.</p>
<p>D used the service last summer. It was fine, although D had more stuff that she thought she did. She ended up sending a suitcase home with a friend with a car rather than pay for extra storage. But, overall, it was very convenient and they delivered straight to her room this fall.</p>
<p>Thanks MommaJ and megpmom! LOL MommaJ about D not being much of a planner. Sounds like my D. The UPS store is giving a discount for early reservation but it means shelling out the $200+ now (by Feb 15) rather than later. I think I’ll do it later…</p>
<p>D used the service last summer and they were very flexible even including a change of plans (she ended up staying for summer school). There’s no need to sign up early but you do want to give them ample notice on your return date (and apparently location). They give you a time window that they will deliver your stuff.
You pay per box so it’s definitely worth emphasizing efficient packing!</p>
<p>Thanks srco14! How do they handle fridges? Does it have to go into a box?</p>
<p>According to the website, fridges (which I doubt would fit in one of the boxes used by the program) can be stored unboxed for a separate (hefty) charge:
[AU</a> Storage - Other Storage Items](<a href=“http://www.austorage.com/otherStorage.html]AU”>http://www.austorage.com/otherStorage.html)</p>
<p>D and her roommate shared the cost of a fridge freshman year and ended up abandoning it in the spring since it hadn’t cost much to start with and figuring out what to do with it was more trouble and cost than it was worth. I bet they weren’t the only ones. I think this is why a lot of students just rent them.</p>
<p>My D lives in driving distance, but her roomie is from west coast, so my D was the one to purchase fridge. Her roommate used the storage boxes for some of her belongings. So I would coordinate purchase after communicating with prospective roommate. Also lots of kids are in nearby apts for the summer, so perhaps a friend could store it for a few months also.</p>
<p>Thanks MommaJ, wow… that sure is a hefty charge! That’s more than half of what the fridge cost! Hmmm… Maybe we’ll just sell the darned thing or as bhmomma suggested, find some friend to store it for the summer.</p>