Can't pick, won't pick

[chip]

I was doing a bit of researce the other day on pricing in my area.

Told them i had a 3U114 on the door and to my surprise, most of them said it needed to be drilled, and to top it all, I'd pay for a new one?

Even if they can't pick it by hand, which isn't hard, there are other options than to go for a drill first.

Told me a price to get me in and change the lock, I charge less than half for an entry, and they keep their own lock

[horsefeathers]

Who did you call - Nationwides? or other local self employed chaps?

I have got the occasional 'test' call like the one you made. I am always suspicious if the 'customer' actually spouts the model number of the lock at me! Most times you are lucky to get 'it might be a chubb, thats what it says on the key'.!!

What area by the way?

regards

[chip]

Being a small business myself, I called the self empoyed and small firms, not the nationals. I called about 8 within the kent area from all over.

Must admit, probably did sound like I knew a bit too much, but still, got the answers I was looking for.

I'm sure I'vehad them in the past, but as I have set prices for everything and set distances, it is quite easy for me to calculate the differences.

[Shrub]

Lol i only get the dumb ones, had a couple of people from essex wanting a price for a specific safe and yet i dont sell them

[Shrub]

Sorry i didnt make that clear, they are dumb because im nearly 5 hours away from essex,

[mark davis]

Chip,
I get locksmiths phoning for prices all the time. you can spot them a mile off and they get on my nerves since i'm paying for the call .

You can't base a business on what other people are charging, you need to establish how much the job will cost you to do and how much profit you need to make in order to run a business and be able to reinvest so your business can grow.

If you try to undercut your competitors, they will then undercut you, locksmithing is a skilled profession and as such commands a premium rate bring the price down only hurts yourself.

The customers who phone every advert in the yellow pages looking for the cheapest price are not the customers you want.

Every year more and more people are trying to get a slice of a pie that is shirinking, if you lose your keys do you call a locksmith? no you call your insurance company first to find out if there going to pay for it and guess what most of them will send someone round and you won't even have to pay them, the insurance company will pay them direct.

What i am trying to say is stick to your price, never be the cheapest or the most expensive you will still get your fair share of the work and if you find it's not enough then deverseify, openings are just one of the many services you can offer as a locksmith.

[xorb]

In responce to this thread.

I agree with what is happening out there. Too many people are doing the locksmith thing, most know jack all about how a multilocking system works which is funny.

I base my work on house target hardening not locksmithing as such, I had to go at it in an entirely new angle as i rearly get a call out nowerdays.

It's mainly a call out to sort out a "look at me I spent £3000 on a f**king locksmith course, now I know everything the pros do". Sorry but that is how the unregulated lockie trade has become, no substitute for experience. Most don't know anything about metal work as well, which is a must if your gonna do any repairs. THIS IS REAL LOCKSMITHERY!

[SteveW]

Is locksmithery a real word ?

[raimundo]

Drillin' perhaps they are just lowering expectations in case they run into a difficult lock I have known of locksmiths who jack up the price if they are asked for an estimate, since they figure that the job may go sideways and get complicated, they then may do the job quicker for less labor charge and not encountering problems, they deliver a bill lighter than the customer was expecting, and the customer is relieved, of course the guy i knew who thought this way had regular industrial customers, so he was talking price with a hired manager, who had a budget, but it wasn't his money.

[xorb]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/locksmithery

Yes it is

[SteveW]

Cool !

[panalman]

[quote="xorb"]In responce to this thread.

I agree with what is happening out there. Too many people are doing the locksmith thing, most know jack all about how a multilocking system works which is funny.

new angle as i rearly get a call out nowerdays.

It's mainly a call out to sort out a "look at me I spent £3000 on a f**king locksmith course, now I know everything the pros do". Sorry but that is how the unregulated lockie trade has become.

Great Post and a warning to the many people who have or are going to pay for a course as the orginal post states its conpletley unregulated and any tom dick or harry can offer training in fact the one's that do train are often dictated by greed and never fulfill there promises and thats because they cannot as they never had the skills at hand in the first place.

And the last thing they want is a person who actually tries to go out there and make it work and don't forget that saying if you get stuck give me a call again a load of crap as most don't answer there phone's.

Its a great game but bloody hard to make a realistic wage most weeks unless you are prepared to go out there and look for the work and its not just about picking locks that will pay your mortgage you will need to do a lot more.

[caffn8me]

I am always suspicious if the 'customer' actually spouts the model number of the lock at me! Most times you are lucky to get 'it might be a chubb, thats what it says on the key'.!!

That's still a whole load better than "It's a Timpson, that's what it says on the key"