Tricked by Brinks. 5 pin 'max security' question

[atticRR]

Ok I just started picking. The first real lock i opened was a 6 pin 'chalet' lock (brass). Im all excited, have read tons and tons of lock theory opened the same lock lots more times and so i want another lock (shocking, right?) So off to the 'mart i go and look over the lock selection. Brinks and master was what i have to choose from so I grab a massive 5 pin 'pick resistant' lock, then to save a couple of bucks iend up with a brass lock (brinks 661-50001) that sounds like it has the same guts just with weaker shackle. Anyway, i picked this lock in under 2min and after trying a few picks Ive now picked it quite a few times. This makes me happy of course, now i'm wondering what makes it 'MAX SECURITY' worthy? From what ive been able figure it doesnt even have special pins. What gives? Any thoughts on a comprably priced lock that does have security pins of some sort, i really want to try my hand at some. Thanks all.

[raimundo]

the words are put on the package to sell the thing. tell the customer what he wants to hear, and if the ink sticks to the paper it must be true.

[atticRR]

i returned that stupid crap lock. Walmart says "why you no like?" i said "i picked it less than a minute, its not 'max secure' at all". "OK" she said.

next i'll try something that actually does have some security in it.

[Scajaquada87]

"Pick resistant" and "maximum security" are both very subjective and ambiguous terms. "Maximum security" could also mean that the lock is fairly resistant to brute force attacks even if it could be picked open by someone with minimal training/skill. Now if they claimed that the lock featured spool pins and it only utilized regular drivers then they would probably be vulnerable to a false advertising suit. While "pick resistant" is thought by some to refer to the usage of mushroom, spool or serrated pins, this is only an informal definition used by some. Therefore since "pick resistant" and "maximum security" do not refer to a specific measurable standard (unless the manufacturer has their own grading system) companies can get away with marketing their locks as such.

[Sl8r]

Walmart says "why you no like?" i said "i picked it less than a minute, its not 'max secure' at all". "OK" she said.

Best customer service ever!

[Buzo]

I bought a lock similar to the one you are describing at walmart as well. On the packaging it claimed being pick resistant because it had security pins. I picked it open with ease and was wondering what the deal was as I bought the thing to get the feel of a security pin. I figured out later that there indeed was a mushroom pin in the very first stack, but the first pin in the binding order was in the back so I had inadvertently pushed the first pin above the shear line before I got to it. In order to get the feel for it I had to be very careful not to touch the first pin stack until it came up in the binding order (last). Only then did I feel the counter-rotation on the plug that these forums had described when encountering a mushroom pin.

[dauce]

Yeah but I mean it really isn't that surprising. I heard a quote which sorta stuck with me; something like 'locks don't keep criminals out, they only keep regular people honest'. Very true. Locks are also piece-of-mind for their owners.

The strength of the container more-often-than-not is nothing compared to the strength of the lock. Get my idea?