What DVD???

[oaksy]

Could you tell me any good lockpicking DVDs forsale....

Im thinking of getting Lockpicking for the New Millenium DVD is this one anygood..

[vector40]

Yes, it's pretty good.

[kwc]

I found it helpful.
kev

[Raccoon]

Does anyone have any information on this locksmithing course?

The Lockout Specialist Course

It's buy some guy in Las Cruces New Mexico, about 4 hours south of me, and claims to cover everything one should know about starting their own locksmithing business. Reason why this interests me is the fact that I'd have to contend with the same legalities he would have, so odds are good that it covers everything I'd need to know.

Just thought I'd ask before buying it, only to find out that everyone here knows of him and hates his guts for some reason or another.

[vector40]

Jeez Raccoon, you're lining up everything I've paid money for

That's Chris Pearcy's lockout course. If you're thinking of doing this professionally, I'd unequivocally recommend it. I'm not saying it's necessarily the best option, having tried no others, nor that it's flawless, but it does exactly what *I* wanted it to and that's probably not far from what you want.

Chris himself isn't actually a full-service locksmith, far as I know, so the focus really is just lockouts. But it's comprehensive, which is the big thing; techniques aside, he goes into (actually focuses on) marketing, legalities, business issues, and the like. Basically, he does what I used to call in web design "laying the landscape." You get through this course and you'll know where you stand and how the business works. You may not know every detail and obviously you may not actually be able to perform (m)any of these skills without practice. But you'll understand what's important, what's not, how to do x and y to get to z, and what it all means, and most of all have a general level of comfort that you've got the hang of it and there's not some massive sector of this cr*p you're not aware of.

Essentially what I did was hang around this site for a while, then got the interest in pursuing this professionally, bought Chris's course, and stuck around here to round out mah knowledge. You can indeed learn all sorts of goofy stuff that the course won't mention. But remember that he really is giving you everything you need to know -- not everything he knows, because he's been doing this for a while and has picked up plenty of knowledge, but everything you actually need to do the job, assuming you acquire the skills he teaches.

And yes, you can keep hanging around here and pick up weird padlock vulnerabilities and stuff like bump keys. You can also email him at any time with questions and receive full and responsive help.

The videos with the course have pretty poor quality, but they do the trick.

I'd recommend it.

[Raccoon]

Thanks. That's what I had preceived from his email, and now I've got someone to confirm what I wanted to know.

The only thing that bothers me is that I asked him to explain what hoops he had to jump through with insurance and bonding, so I'd know whether or not it's even worth wasting my time on starting a new business. I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on such things, and only wanted a yes or no answer from him. His response was "Buy my course, chapter 9 explains all." I about deleted his email and the bookmark to his site. But his saving grace is his locality in New Mexico, so he's familiar with the laws and practices that affect me, which would save me a lot of grief.

I'm already moving ahead with the business license and such. Need to buy a cellphone with a local number as mine followed me here from Chicago. Even designing business cards and custom receipt slips with my rates. So when I can afford his course, it'll be simply to fill in any gaps.

On another note, since you probably focus on lock-out, what do you think about these rates and my style of charging?

[Shrub]

youve spelt cheques wrong at the bottom, the vehicle is perhaps a little cheap and why should the business rates be differant to residential?

Also why charge extra if an alarm goes off?

Keeping personal details like vin numbers etc may not go down to well either.

Otherwise ok but only my thoughts.

[Raccoon]

They're spelled "checks" here in America.

I did have higher prices all across, but ended up dropping them all roughly $10~20 on the advice of some friends.

I charge extra for presence of car alarms because it means taking extra care in opening the vehicle (and gives me an excuse to charge extra). Business rates are higher because there is more risk involved, and I charge extra in the event an alarm goes off because then I need to call the security company and explain that I forced entry into a home under contract as a locksmith. I would also phone the police to file a report or simply let them know that entry was made were an alarm went off (or where no ID was immediately present) in the event the house or business be burglarized.

I intend to keep information such as VIN because it is public information for one (visible on your windshield), and because it gives me a paper trail should the vehicle actually become stolen. I intend to take polaroid pictures of customers when I feel any level of suspicion, which will eliminate 99% of all bad intent.

So, that all said. Anything you'd still change?

[vector40]

Just so you understand that most of those practices are unorthodox. And I would personally recommend charging nothing at all if you could not effect an entry -- indeed, if you end up causing damage (drilling), you should take that charge yourself.

He does describe how to go about (at least one way, the way he did it) bonding/insurance, but to be fair, it's really pretty straightforward. I'm not going to short him by describing it, but don't hinge your purchase on that info either way.

[Raccoon]

I also failed to mention that I fully intend to give breaks here-and-there for most customers. A customer will be spending a fair deal on a lock-out already, so the sense of receiving a "break" will only make them happy and content with their "bargaining powers". Ie, I would only charge that after-hours fail-to-enter fee of $20 if the call were at 2AM and the customer was a total , or if they suddenly found their key in their coat pocket by the time I arrived. It's just a bargaining chip, and some added insurance.

I would also accept checks from individuals whom I felt comfortable accepting checks from. That too gives me the power of discrimination where necessary.

I will definitely order his course and apply that knowledge to my general business sense. Though, I wouldn't mind incite on your own personal style, whether or not it happens to be mentioned in his video. I don't think that should be a hindrance in the free exchange of information on this forum.

[vector40]

Are you saying that you'll only accept cash on a general basis?

[Raccoon]

No. Quite the opposite. I understand that most people don't walk around with more than $40 in their pocket-- if that. I would prefer cash though, and accept checks as a last resort. People in this town are poor and most stores refuse checks already.

[davidgjr]

It looks a bit complicated to me. I really didnt understand it much. Why is a business rate and home rate different ? I charge an initial service call fee no matter where it is at. Then I charge for the work that is done. You dont want to make it complicated. A customer locked out in the freezing weather or rain is likely to hang up on you and call someone else. am not knocking your rates but I would get some more advice before putting it "in stone".

[Raccoon]

I agree. I got some good advice last night and agree with simplicity. My remaining worries were being called out somewhere only to find the customer found their key in their coat pocket, and that I can go on my marry way now (without pay). I like your idea of a manditory call-fee, then charge for services.

[pip]

some people may not like having their picture taken
so maybe have a video cam on your dashboard like the police do
this may help you in the future
when you get an uncooperative customer