Records centers get interesting storage requests
Posted by Scott Hambrick on Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 10:12 AM
I've been running Data Storage for 14 years and have had a lot of interesting storage requests.
In the course of our business we barcode, log, index and store:
- paper records
- well logs
- core samples
- tissue blocks
- microfiche
- microfilm
- x-ray films
- computer backup tapes
- christmas decorations
- printed materials like brochures and forms
- computer hardware
- software
- A snow plow attachment for a pickup truck
- new cardboard boxes (for a customer who needed them for the Christmas season)
Yesterday I got a request I haven't had before. I was asked if we store stamps. I thought about collectible stamps and rubber stamps but needed to know more. After asking some questions, I found this company has bought 6 million first class "forever stamps" and needs them stored safely.
Since stamps are going to .45 for a first class mailing, this potential customer made a play for the forever stamp in hopes to save the difference in the postage prices.
If this story is true, they paid $2,640,000 for the stamps. So far their gross savings are $60,000. I don't know how long it would take to use 6,000,000 stamps, but I'd be concerned if it took more than a few months to recover my 2.64 million bucks.
After some discussion, I recommended climate controlled storage as the stamps have an adhesive backing, but I told them we could not store the stamps. It seems to me like the stamps are a cash equivalent. It'd be like storing 2.64 million dollars in our facility.
While we are a secure facility that takes security and privacy seriously, we are not a bank vault.
This contract scared me. We bowed out.
Anyone want to store 6 million stamps?
I