lockpickshop.com to UK?

[Keyser Soze]

Hello,

I know lockpickshop.com ship internationally but I am wondering if anybody from the UK has ordered picks from them.

I am about to checkout an order but are unsure whether any duty will be charged once the item/s get into the UK.

Also is there any problem with picks getting through customs? I would hate for them to be seized.

It works out cheaper than from UK suppliers (assuming no tax will be added).

Thanks.

[TheSkyer]

Hey Hey, it should be fine if I am not mistaken. No additional charges or customs problems

[Bas2888]

Shipped to The Netherlands without any problems, so I assume the UK will be fine too...

U can also try to contact Lockpickshop and ask if they have ever encountered any problems when shipping to the UK.

[Keyser Soze]

Thanks for the replys but after some consideration I have decided to use a UK supplier this time.

For the sake of a few £'s I will get my order this week.

Good to know for future reference though.

Now to find a suitable lock for a beginner,

[Bas2888]

Just go to your closest hardware shop and buy some cheap padlocks and cilinderlocks.

[Engineer]

Look in local ironmongers for a cylinder lock (the sort you have in doors) by a company called "Security" they are nice and easy, withouth being too easy. I think they are probably just about the right sort of level to be starting off with.

[Keyser Soze]

I will do, thanks

glad I found this forum otherwise I would have almost definately bought the wrong thing.

[Keyser Soze]

Look in local ironmongers for a cylinder lock (the sort you have in doors) by a company called "Security" they are nice and easy, withouth being too easy. I think they are probably just about the right sort of level to be starting off with.

Unfortunately I live out in the sticks, and don't really have anything local.

There is a B & Q about 10 miles away but usually seems expensive.

What about trade catalogues? (screwfix etc)

[Bas2888]

Try a marketplace on the internet, something like Ebay. Or Google around and try to find online hardwaresellers in the UK.

[Engineer]

Sorry, forgot to add...

Import duty is on orders over £18, but once you hit charges, you get charges on the charges and then VAT on everything sort of thing. See:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001454&propertyType=document

I know you have decided to buy within the UK now, but incase the link is of use to anyone else in the UK thinking of ordering from overseas - Think of possibly making many smaller orders from somewhere that doesn't charge postage, like possibly Dealextreme.

[Keyser Soze]

Good info thanks for that.

I think I will ask around also.
Someone must have some spare old locks they don't want.
I found a few in the shed but they are the lever type with the long keys (don't fancy having a crack at these with a paperclip )

[Engineer]

Hi Keyser Soze!

I think "Security" are only in the smaller ironmongers type shops (independants), the big stores like B & Q all seem to have own brands and the typical Yale, Abus type locks.

I WISH I could tell you of somewhere that sold nice padlocks and cylinders cheaply, but I cannot. I always keep an eye open, but they all seem much the same prices wherever I look. Even trade only places seem comparable to Screwfix & Winkinsons (http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/bin/venda?ex=co_wizr-locayta&template=wz_locayta&pageno=1&perpage=10&collate=pdxttype%3Apdxtcolourn%3Apdxtbrandn%3Apdxtsizen&threshold=50&fieldrtype=type&termtextrtype=invt&typertype=exact&typekeywordsearch=keyword&termtextkeywordsearch=padlock).

The best prices generally I find are from CPC (mail order - free delivery if it's £40 I think?). CPC are predominantly trade suppliers, but just ring them with your credit card, or send them a cheque and there is no problem if you are a private individual at all. BUT please remember that their prices are exclusive of VAT, so you will have to add that on.

They have a wonderfully large range as well:

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/results.jsp?N=411+500001+1001732&Ntk=gensearch_003&Ntt=padlock&Ntx=&isGoback=false&isRedirect=false

I'm sorry I cannot find anywhere better, but "locky" bargains seem impossible to find. B & Q do a £1 combination lock, but don't expect too much from it. "Pound Shops" will often have padlocks in for £1 as well, but while they seem really good out of the packet, they are very cheap Chinese imports and rust like mad if you put them outside in my experience!

[Keyser Soze]

Thanks for the links I will definately check those out.

Thanks again for your help

[Engineer]

My top tips for finding old locks cheap in the UK are:

1. Don't be afraid to ask relatives and friends - Probably best to say you are collecting them. I've had some quite extreme reactions from the few people I've ever told I pick locks - They all seem to think it is tantermount to being a thief, when to me it is more a geeky Rubik's Cube toy puzzle.

2. Any building work going on - Actually more like renovation and/or demolition? Go in and politely ask if you can speak to the site manager. Tell him you are training to be locksmith and are looking for old locks, do they have any on the old doors they are removing you could have if you remove them yourself? (Generally considered "good form" to take them in a pack of 6-, 12-, or 24 beers the next day if they say "yes" and you get some good stuff!)

3. Does your council encourage recycling? If so, then your rubbish will probably get sorted somewhere not too far away from you, where you can ask to speak the yard manager and ask them the same about removing old locks from doors.

4. If you have any really good relatives or friends, you could ask them if they would mind asking maintenance where they work, or maintenance for the flats if they live in one of those. Maintenance always have a boxful of odd locks with no keys and keys without locks - Ask my wife! Only on my honeymoon did I get talking to maintenance for our hotel and come away with a resealable plastic boxful of odd lever locks & keys! It looked so odd there in the room amongst all the wedding presents...

5. If you can find any old locksmith shops, especially the older family-run ones that look like they have been there for years. Politely give them some explanation and ask if they have anything odd, broken etc. that you could have, or wouldn't cost too much. Most times you might not get anything, but just occasionally you can strike real gold! I know you said there wasn't many things where you were, but everytime you travel somewhere else, check the Yellow Pages, ask the people who live around there and so on.

Good hunting!

[Bas2888]

Great tips, Engineer! Thanks