When traveling, there are times when you don’t want to lug your bags around all day. You might have checked out of your hotel or rental, or you could have a long layover and want to do some sightseeing. What you need is a place to store your bags for a few hours or possibly overnight. This is the situation I found myself in when visiting the United Kingdom.
I began my journey in London and took a train to Wales where I stayed for two nights before returning to London for the remainder of the trip. For this trip, I brought my large suitcase, a carry-on bag, and a backpack. Since I didn’t require the large suitcase for the two nights in Wales, I searched for a place in London where I could safely store it.
The Baseline
We used one of these services when we visited Dublin for the afternoon and needed a place to store our bags when we visited the city.
While this would have done the job, it would have been expensive, as I needed to store my bags for 2+ days.
Luggage Storage Networks
A newer option in this market is the luggage storage networks. Over the years, we’ve written about several of these services, including Luggage Hero and BagBNB (now called Radical Storage), but had never personally used one. I brushed up on the current options and decided to use Bounce. They offered a competitive price, had an easy-to-understand website and app and had a location near the train station. I also liked Bounce because they provide a map of the storage location and type of business while not giving the name of where you’re storing your bag.
The Bounce Experience
Once I booked online with Bounce, I received a QR code that directed me to the Bounce App. From there, I received the name and address of where, near Euston Station, I’d be storing my bags. I also received an email with the name of the storage location and links to a map, phone number and hours of operation.
It was only a five-minute walk from the station when I found the corner market where I was to drop off my bag. As I approached the store, I saw the sign for Bounce outside, so I knew I was in the correct place.
The staff asked me to show my email reservation, and after verifying everything, they put a few price tag stickers on my bag. They also gave me a sticker and asked me to take a picture of it, as it would serve as my claim tag for the bag. Although the process seemed a bit low-tech, Bounce doesn’t provide any explanation about how the drop-off or pick-up of items works.
When I returned to the store two days later, it was a bit more hectic. There was a line at the counter. When I said I was there to collect my suitcase, one employee pointed to someone standing in the store who called a third person and asked for my tag number, which I provided. It took a few minutes, but he returned from a storage room with my bag,
Would I use Bounce again?
I would definitely use Bounce again. They provided the service that they promised, and the price was reasonable compared to the station location. I paid £5.45 (slightly less than $7) per day to store my bag but using the Left Luggage at the station would have cost £15 (about $19) per day. For saving close to £30 ($38) it was worth the 5-minute walk.
Leaving my bag at a convenience store did feel a little strange, as I had no idea where they would keep it. Bounce says they check every partner to make sure there’s a dedicated storage room or at least an area that’s off-limits to general patrons.
I’ll consider the other services because this location’s system of using a price tag to claim your bags seems unreliable. While Bounce offers $10,000 insurance coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags, I would rather not put the system to the test.
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