FB Locksmithing crse,,

[mongo]

I finaly took the plunge.
I have the course from FB, being sent as we speak. As a mech I have opened a few locks, and damaged many more. Sometime a drill was involved..,sorry.
I apologize to any lock that may have been hurt. Once I figure it out and ask the right questions, its going to be good.

From a business standpoint, it will help. Not so much in the automotive arena, but, I am a small "c" Contractor and adding Locksmith (lp101) I can generate a new client base...right

I am a realist, but dream when asleep.

mongo likes school

[globallockytoo]

I don't blame you for wanting to learn new skills, but there is more to locksmithing than just meets the eye. I have met many FB graduates and most (if not all) have said that FB gave them a grounding, but they learned way more on the job.

I personally wouldn't recommend FB to anyone wanting to make a long term career from locksmithing. If you want a long term career, hook up with an established locksmith and "tag" along....you will learn a lot more and have a mentor to help you.

I met a guy who had done a correspondence course in locksmithing, many years ago.....after the few months learning and practicing....he became great at pinning up simple house locks....but that was it. He started his business and didn't have any clue about the disassembly of locks. We became fast friends....and I became his mentor....even though he was 10 years older than me. I taught him more in 3 months than he had learned from the correspondence course or ever could.

He still contacts me to this day (12,000Kms away) for advice and instructions on this or that. I taught him to do auto...safes....master keying...installation etc. He learned far more, being shown how and what to do than could be explained in a few lines of text and drawings.

[robotmaxtron]

i have to agree wholeheartedly. I took the FB course and did learn a lot of the basics (although i must say that most of those i picked up running around here) but after a month on the job there are so many little things you pick up working around somebody who is already established, not to mention both good things and bad things about running the shop.

I think mentoring is really underrated and that there are certain things you're going to pick up better from working and having somebody show you a different way to do things, as well as a chance to ask questions.

[mattman]

I'm taking the FB course right now, and am learning a lot. But I do have a question...

I have a full-time job with great benefits, etc., which I am planning on keeping. But for extra income, I want to do lockouts, rekeying, and duplicating keys part-time. At the moment, I'm not planning on doing locksmithing full-time. So, with that in mind, do you all think the FB course would be enough for me to do what I am wanting to do?

Matt

[globallockytoo]

I'm taking the FB course right now, and am learning a lot. But I do have a question...

I have a full-time job with great benefits, etc., which I am planning on keeping. But for extra income, I want to do lockouts, rekeying, and duplicating keys part-time. At the moment, I'm not planning on doing locksmithing full-time. So, with that in mind, do you all think the FB course would be enough for me to do what I am wanting to do?

Matt

in my opinion .....no!
it is a trade better left to the professionals. by becoming a part time locksmith you effectively take work away from full time locksmiths and undervalue their work.

by all means pick locks for a hobby....but leave the jobs to the professionals.....or go out and work as one.

[mattman]

Hello Globallockytoo,

The only problem is that it's not possible for me to go into locksmithing full-time. There's no locksmith shops near enough to me where I can get a job and learn the trade that way, and still support my family of five. The nearest one is over 30 miles away, and with our family expenses and gas prices the way that they are, I would have to start out getting paid at least $15.00 per hour just to break even (no savings, no extra). Needless to say, there's no shop (at least in my area) that will pay a new apprentice $15.00 per hour, plus health insurance.

You see, the thing is, I really love locksmithing. I find myself thinking about it all the time, and studying every lock that I come across to see what kind it is, how I could pick it, etc. I just can't afford to do it full-time, but would like to make some extra money (which my family really needs) doing something that I enjoy doing.

Thanks,
Matt

[mongo]

Not much I can add to what has been said. We have one locksmith within 45 kms. I like the idea of working as an apprentice (again),,,but,,,how do you approach the locky to gain the experience. Without coming off the wrong way.
Any ideas.

[robotmaxtron]

Not much I can add to what has been said. We have one locksmith within 45 kms. I like the idea of working as an apprentice (again),,,but,,,how do you approach the locky to gain the experience. Without coming off the wrong way.
Any ideas.

As far as approaching a lockie for experience, just ask. I left many a message that said basically who i was and that i was looking for a job as a locksmith but that i had no locksmithing experience and was interested in starting the trade. None of mine even called me back, except one who is now my employer. Your experiences may vary.

Good luck to both of you!

[jimb]

I'm taking the FB course right now, and am learning a lot. But I do have a question...

I have a full-time job with great benefits, etc., which I am planning on keeping. But for extra income, I want to do lockouts, rekeying, and duplicating keys part-time. At the moment, I'm not planning on doing locksmithing full-time. So, with that in mind, do you all think the FB course would be enough for me to do what I am wanting to do?

Matt

Go for it, there's no reason you can't do lockouts, rekeys and key duplication. You just need to learn how different locks come apart to rekey, this will be you biggest obstacle in doing the above and common since will enable you to do most locks.

jimb
A FB Graduate, locksmithing for a couple of years now

[globallockytoo]

I'm taking the FB course right now, and am learning a lot. But I do have a question...

I have a full-time job with great benefits, etc., which I am planning on keeping. But for extra income, I want to do lockouts, rekeying, and duplicating keys part-time. At the moment, I'm not planning on doing locksmithing full-time. So, with that in mind, do you all think the FB course would be enough for me to do what I am wanting to do?

Matt

Go for it, there's no reason you can't do lockouts, rekeys and key duplication. You just need to learn how different locks come apart to rekey, this will be you biggest obstacle in doing the above and common since will enable you to do most locks.

jimb
A FB Graduate, locksmithing for a couple of years now

Sure Go for it...if you want.....but understand why so many locksmiths are angry about courses like FB undervaluing the trade. They get people interested with very limited groundings in aspects of the trade, then advise on how to set up a business and what to charge.....but most severely undercharge the client.

Legitimate locksmiths have learned the trade over many years and try to apply a fair compensation to a task when there is this new FB grad...with no experience and very limited training, stealing the thunder with burger and fries prices and no warranty.

Then....when something stuffs up and the client is required to call a "real" professional....they get very annoyed at having to pay extra to get it fixed properly.

I am often attending to clients who had a key cut by this or that "supposed" locksmith.....only to understand that he/she is an FB grad without the basic knowledge to even adjust their machine properly. The keys dont work.

I live in an area of 20,000+ population. The nearest key cutter (other than me) is 10 miles away. There are no locksmith shops or even hardware stores in a 30 mile stretch of one of the busiest roads in the metropolitan area. If I had enough scratch, I would be planting 2 shops...one at each end of the strip....and employ an FB grad to learn the ropes, cos the legit locksmiths will be out earning a quid. After a sufficient "apprenticeship"....I would expect the FB grad to be able to efficiently conduct a business.

Health care? are you serious? The USA is one of the few countries in the world, where workers demand company paid health care. Most other countries dont pay for private health insurance. The locksmiths trade is no different.....you want a job at $15 per hour with health care? forget the locksmith trade.....might as well collect trash.

I've been in the trade 26 years and never NEVER had paid health care. I always paid my own insurance. I wouldnt dream of offering paid health care to any employee......it is ludicrous to expect that perk in todays economic climate.

(shaking my head)

[mattman]

Sure Go for it...if you want.....but understand why so many locksmiths are angry about courses like FB undervaluing the trade. They get people interested with very limited groundings in aspects of the trade, then advise on how to set up a business and what to charge.....but most severely undercharge the client.

Legitimate locksmiths have learned the trade over many years and try to apply a fair compensation to a task when there is this new FB grad...with no experience and very limited training, stealing the thunder with burger and fries prices and no warranty.

Then....when something stuffs up and the client is required to call a "real" professional....they get very annoyed at having to pay extra to get it fixed properly.

I am often attending to clients who had a key cut by this or that "supposed" locksmith.....only to understand that he/she is an FB grad without the basic knowledge to even adjust their machine properly. The keys dont work.

I completely understand your concerns. But I think what you are talking about is more of an issue of the professionalism of the individual, and the pride that they have in their own work. I personally wouldn't dare charge a person for keys that I made that didn't work. That's not professional, nor is it showing pride in my work. Not to mention that it's not a good way not to get repeat business!

But that's what the free enterprise system here in America is all about. Those who aren't professional and good in their trade aren't going to be getting the customers, and those who are professional and good will be. If I end up doing a poor job, the word is going to get around, and I won't have any business.

I've been in the trade 26 years and never NEVER had paid health care. I always paid my own insurance. I wouldnt dream of offering paid health care to any employee......it is ludicrous to expect that perk in todays economic climate.

That's exactly my point. I can't afford to do locksmithing full-time, but I can do it part-time, and have that help support my family. I was reading elsewhere on this site about others that do locksmithing part-time, and no one seemed to have any problem with it. So is your problem with the part-time aspect of it, or is your problem with the FB course itself? Just wondering.

Thanks,
Matt

[globallockytoo]

I do have a problem with FB yes......but....it is only a correspondence course after all....you cant expect much I guess. The point is....FB are ruining the trade by trotting out all these under-qualified personnel. It is the marketplace that suffers as a result.

This does not bode well for the many qualified and experienced locksmiths that have taken the time and training to build their businesses ethically and responsibly over many years. Courses like FB are bringing down the value of the trade IMHO!

I do not have a problem with part-timers. I understand the motivation, but a new entrant to the trade should not think about "part-time" off the bat, IMHO.

After suitable experience (time in the trade), you might want to go back part-time.....that is fine....but first learn the trade.....you cant learn it part-time.

[mattman]

I do have a problem with FB yes......but....it is only a correspondence course after all....you cant expect much I guess. The point is....FB are ruining the trade by trotting out all these under-qualified personnel. It is the marketplace that suffers as a result.

Or it could be that the marketplace is suffering because of those who don't take the trade seriously and professionally, and take jobs that they know they are not qualified to do. I personally would never offer a service to a customer that I didn't how to do well. I respect the trade (and myself) more than that.

I do not have a problem with part-timers. I understand the motivation, but a new entrant to the trade should not think about "part-time" off the bat, IMHO.

After suitable experience (time in the trade), you might want to go back part-time.....that is fine....but first learn the trade.....you cant learn it part-time.

Well, as I have already shared, doing locksmithing full-time is not an option for me financially. So what I am going to do is to learn all I can from the FB courses, and then practice, practice, practice picking, rekeying, and duplicating keys until I am able to do it proficiently and professionally. I'm wise enough to know that just because I have a piece of paper from FB, it doesn't mean that I am automatically ready to hang out my sign and charge people.

Thanks,
Matt

[TYE]

I'm in the same boat as you, Matt. I have a full-time job working in a great industry, but loved when I was self employed. I'm considering the locksmith business, too, but there's no way I can quit to go work for a shop at $10/hr.
I'm considering a course, as well, but the more I read about them, the more I wonder if any of them are really worth the $$. I've been told not to pay more than $500, but most are at least $600. I'm afraid it'll be the only way I can go, due to having to work full-time.
Going part time is also a good way to find out if I'm really into it. I'm not going to quit my day job to find out 6 months later I made a mistake.
I understand what global is saying, but as robot said, he made several calls for mentoring and only got one call back.
I understand about protecting your business, but if nobody is willing to train and pass along the skill, how else are we to learn? It's a double-edged sword.

[mattman]

I understand about protecting your business, but if nobody is willing to train and pass along the skill, how else are we to learn? It's a double-edged sword.

In the small town where I live (which only has around 3,500 people) the nearest locksmith shop is over 30 miles away. So when people in my community have a lockout and they call the locksmith, they have to pay $40 for the lockout, plus $20 for the locksmith's travel time. (Or they can call the local garage, and they will come and do the wire coat hanger trick for $25. ) Not to mention the extra travel costs that local businesses have to pay for rekeying doors, etc.

So, even though I understand Global's point, for me, I look at it as me providing a much needed service for the people of my community, and not as me trying to take business away from another locksmith. But, hey, I guess it depends on a person's point of view, huh?

Matt