GOOD MORNING AMERICA EXPOSES PHONY LOCKSMITHS!

[keysman]

GOOD MORNING AMERICA EXPOSES PHONY LOCKSMITHS!
ALOA has just received word that "Good Morning America" will air the story on Phony Locksmiths TOMORROW, Tuesday, January 1, 2008.
The piece will feature ALOA Executive Director, Bill Gibson,Jr. CAE. Also featured are Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, Illinois/Indiana Locksmith Association President, Mike Bronzell (who has worked closely with ALOA on this issue), a phony locksmith victim, Ray Miller and Investigator Kent Paluga from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Even some phony locksmiths make it on the air!
"Good Morning America" is shown on your ABC affiliate, check your local listing for broadcast times.
What a great way to start 2008 – an expose on phony locksmiths!
A blast email will go out to the members shortly, and we'll try to get something up on the front page of the website.
Let everyone you know to set their VCR/DVR's!
Tim McMullen, JD, CAE
Legislative Manager
Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc.

[Eyes_Only]

This will be one new years day that I will be getting up early for.

[Beyond]

About time, this was supposed to be on over a month ago.

[dougfarre]

What constitutes a phony locksmith? Anyone see this yet?

[jgor]

I recorded it, just finished watching it. Basically they were exposing locksmiths who were drilling and replacing locks as a first resort, is what I got out of it.

[Beyond]

And apparently there is some huge Israeli conspiracy to ruin our names as locksmiths. Lol.

Come to think of it, when I was googling locksmith shops in Atlanta to approach to apprentice under, I saw a few of the websites they mentioned, that gave a national number to call instead of something local.

[dougfarre]

I recorded it, just finished watching it. Basically they were exposing locksmiths who were drilling and replacing locks as a first resort, is what I got out of it.

Big deal.

[jgor]

I recorded it, just finished watching it. Basically they were exposing locksmiths who were drilling and replacing locks as a first resort, is what I got out of it.

Big deal.

I think the point was that as a consequence, the customers' bills were much higher than they should have been.

[dougfarre]

A locksmith is one of those people you probably avoid having to call. Its somone who you want to come in and get the job done, and then leave. Its not really a service that involves sharing a personal experience with (in most cases). I mean when your building a pool, or a house, you want to talk about the details of the the pool. How you want the lighting to look, and how you want the color contrasts of the building materials they use to make you feel. You pay extra for an experts point of view on these things. If a locksmith comes in and drills the doors open because you are locked out and charges you extra cause he didn't try to pick the lock first, then he just made extra money on selling you a new lock, the cost of installing the lock, and the cost of visiting your location. I mean, its a much better idea then just coming and picking the lock open. In fact, I think if I couldn't open the lock by trying to pick it in the first 3 mins, I would do this because ultimately it would mean more profit to me. Otherwise, (theoretically) my job as a locksmith is essentially low income. If you are going to call me to come unlock your residence because you don't have an extra key hidden somewhere, or stashed with a friend, then I am going to squeeze as much money as I can out of you because I am a business man and I am not going to go bankrupt. And your going to pay me because you need my services. If you don't use my services you are going to be w/o shelter.

[Eyes_Only]

Thats true but I doubt you'll build a lot of repeat business with your customers if all you do is drill and charge up the butt to replace the locks.

[linty]

haven't seen the broadcast, but if they provide quality service in a timely manner and charge the amount they quoted beforehand (regardless of how high it may be) then they are doing their job.

If they damage more than the lock, or charge more than they quoted then there is an issue, but it is a consumer's job to shop for good prices and choose the service that is most appropriate for them.

[Beyond]

A locksmith is one of those people you probably avoid having to call. Its somone who you want to come in and get the job done, and then leave. Its not really a service that involves sharing a personal experience with (in most cases). I mean when your building a pool, or a house, you want to talk about the details of the the pool. How you want the lighting to look, and how you want the color contrasts of the building materials they use to make you feel. You pay extra for an experts point of view on these things. If a locksmith comes in and drills the doors open because you are locked out and charges you extra cause he didn't try to pick the lock first, then he just made extra money on selling you a new lock, the cost of installing the lock, and the cost of visiting your location. I mean, its a much better idea then just coming and picking the lock open. In fact, I think if I couldn't open the lock by trying to pick it in the first 3 mins, I would do this because ultimately it would mean more profit to me. Otherwise, (theoretically) my job as a locksmith is essentially low income. If you are going to call me to come unlock your residence because you don't have an extra key hidden somewhere, or stashed with a friend, then I am going to squeeze as much money as I can out of you because I am a business man and I am not going to go bankrupt. And your going to pay me because you need my services. If you don't use my services you are going to be w/o shelter.

If everyone had your attitude as far as business went then I could make millions undercutting you. Luckily, everyone knows that fair pricing towards customers ultimately wins them over, even if you possess something they so desperately need. After all, computers used to costs tens of thousands, now they're practically a throw-away commodity thanks to low and fair pricing to win customer loyalty.

Thank god most locksmith business owners have enough integrity to charge fair amounts and thank god the owners of my shop instilled these kinds of principles in me from day 1 of my apprenticeship.

[maintenanceguy]

Unfortunately a "fair price" is hard to agree on and usually depends on how deep the customer's pockets are.

Most people will consider any price too high because they didn't plan on spending any money on a locksmith.


Most customers think they want the cheapest there is. Of course the cheapest means someone who has to cut corners and work sloppy to get to the next job since they aren't making enough on each job. Cheap also means junk hardware and very poor service later.

A very few customers will understand that quality costs and will be willing to pay a bit more for someone who charges enough to stick around long enough do do the job well, who can provide the best materials, who has made enough in their career to invest in their own education, and is solvent enough to still be around if you need warranty work or some other service in the future.

So who's right about what's a "fair price".

Does Good Morning America know? If the AOLA is involved, I'd suspect that anyone who isn't a member of the AOLA is a con artist.

[Beyond]

Unfortunately a "fair price" is hard to agree on and usually depends on how deep the customer's pockets are.

Most people will consider any price too high because they didn't plan on spending any money on a locksmith.


Most customers think they want the cheapest there is. Of course the cheapest means someone who has to cut corners and work sloppy to get to the next job since they aren't making enough on each job. Cheap also means junk hardware and very poor service later.

A very few customers will understand that quality costs and will be willing to pay a bit more for someone who charges enough to stick around long enough do do the job well, who can provide the best materials, who has made enough in their career to invest in their own education, and is solvent enough to still be around if you need warranty work or some other service in the future.

So who's right about what's a "fair price".

Does Good Morning America know? If the AOLA is involved, I'd suspect that anyone who isn't a member of the AOLA is a con artist.

Well, one guy charged $1700 for a lockout the report said. That's far from fair, by any stretch of the imagination.

Prices depend on location, situation, individual, etc. but purposely charging customers, mainly elderly ones, that much? That's a pathetic human, in my books.

[dougfarre]

Unfortunately a "fair price" is hard to agree on and usually depends on how deep the customer's pockets are.

Most people will consider any price too high because they didn't plan on spending any money on a locksmith.


Most customers think they want the cheapest there is. Of course the cheapest means someone who has to cut corners and work sloppy to get to the next job since they aren't making enough on each job. Cheap also means junk hardware and very poor service later.

A very few customers will understand that quality costs and will be willing to pay a bit more for someone who charges enough to stick around long enough do do the job well, who can provide the best materials, who has made enough in their career to invest in their own education, and is solvent enough to still be around if you need warranty work or some other service in the future.

So who's right about what's a "fair price".

Does Good Morning America know? If the AOLA is involved, I'd suspect that anyone who isn't a member of the AOLA is a con artist.

Well, one guy charged $1700 for a lockout the report said. That's far from fair, by any stretch of the imagination.

Prices depend on location, situation, individual, etc. but purposely charging customers, mainly elderly ones, that much? That's a pathetic human, in my books.

Well, this sounds like it has nothing really to do with locksmiths, and a lot more to do with phony businesses in general.

Eyes -> Well what if i don't get repeat business, but all the other locksmiths who charge less become bankrupt? Then everyone WILL be forced to use my services. We could argue business all day...