Storage fees for Gold IRA - anyone else think they're getting out of hand?

• •But lately, I’ve been looking at my annual statements for storage fees, and honestly, they're starting to get under my skin.
• •Feels like they just creep up every year, a little here, a little there, until suddenly it feels like you're bleeding a significant amount.
• •I get the whole security and insured vault argument.

Okay, so I've been doing the gold IRA thing for a while now, probably close to 15 years, ever since I started getting serious about diversifying beyond just real estate. My portfolio with precious metals is comfortably in the mid-seven figures at this point, and overall, I'm happy with the performance and the peace of mind it brings. But lately, I’ve been looking at my annual statements for storage fees, and honestly, they're starting to get under my skin. Feels like they just creep up every year, a little here, a little there, until suddenly it feels like you're bleeding a significant amount.

I get the whole security and insured vault argument. You're not exactly stuffing bars under your mattress when you've got this kind of capital tied up. My current provider, who I won't name publicly but is one of the larger, more reputable ones, charges a flat fee plus a percentage based on the value. That percentage is what's really starting to sting as the value of the metals has increased. It’s not like the physical space my gold takes up has magically expanded, you know? And when you’re talking about high-value assets, even a small percentage adds up fast. I’m out here in Aspen, got a few properties, and I’m used to managing overhead, but this feels… different. Less negotiable, somehow.

Has anyone here successfully negotiated better storage fees, especially with a significant portfolio? Or is it just a take-it-or-leave-it situation? I’ve looked at other companies, but the thought of moving that much metal and dealing with all the paperwork and logistics is a headache I'd rather avoid if possible. I'm also curious if any of you have strong opinions on segregated vs. unsegregated storage in terms of fee structure and value – I've always gone with segregated for obvious reasons given the value, but I'm open to hearing differing viewpoints if it makes sense financially without compromising security too much. I'm always looking for ways to maximize my returns and minimize unnecessary costs. My latest check using a tool like Silver vs Stocks (for comparing silver to stocks) just reinforced that I need to be smart about every dollar.