Ohh you guys will love this

[LockNewbie21]

Ok lets explain. I went to lowes for an interview in the locks hardware department. I told the interveiwer over the phone that i had extensive knowledge of door saftey from locks to actual door assemblies since i have been installing them for my job for about what five years? So anyway i get in there, and he asks the dumbest question to me, do you speak spanish? I said no but I do know locks and would best be suited for a job. He told me that he wasnt interested becuase he had a spanish man working who could speak both languages and was very wise about locking key making ect. So i was like ok beating fair and square. BUT!!! heres were the fun begins. He said he was going to keep me on the list and going to show me what would actually be involved in the job. So we go for a walk and the guy working was arrogant, so i bit my teeth listened to the job discription. Then he said i will call you if i need you but would suggest i apply somehwere else, well that did it. So i went into informed customer mode and was like well thanks for your time but i have a few questions about some locks for my house and and a pd lock for my shed and a key i needed cut for a lock while i was there. Soo i asked the man what he thought was the ideal lock for a front door, somthing htat couldnt be picked and was very strong. So he said well i have the best lock for you, so i followed.. he showed me a kwickset .. i said no really whats a good deadbolt, he insisted this was the best so i said okay then how many pins are in the cylinder and which security pin would he suggest be the best.. he had no idea what i was talking abut so i said well nevermind, but i do need a padlock, i said my shed has a lawn mower and other power tools that need a good pick proof lock, he said quote " hands down sir the master locks are best in the buisness, and from what i hear just about pick proof, he handed me a large master number five, so i told him how many pins were in it and that there were no security pins.. once again he was baffeled and getting annoyed, so i said will come back and get those locks i trust you but i just need a key cut, so i told him i needed a KW1 cut to the lowest depths becuase the lock is old.... he said no problem sir one moment, he came back and said that he only had kwickset keys and not what i said i was like thinking.... how did i lose this job? anyway he cut me a perfect bump key and i left. Moral of the story NEVER EVER go to lowes for sercurity advice.
And i thought i had the job so i put that i worked for lowes in my profile guess i have to change that due to store idiocy

Andy

[What]

wow, that sucks...

i had some extra time last weekend and so i went and did some "research"

i got almost the same responses, except for the deadbolt the guy actually said a schlage was the best they had....

at least he knew something...

[raimundo]

It would only have been soul destroying to have to work with the guy anyway. And selling crap to people who are asking legitimate questions is also a bringdown. Don't think that enlightening people about what you know would sell many locks for that place either, telling people the truth would only get you in trouble with the bosses. You oughta try a good lockshop where what you know is an asset, not a liability.

[LockNewbie21]

Lol i totally agree ray, i would mostly be able to convince them to get a reienforced door frame, i am pretty good with door flames.. lol then be like well see theres medeco and abloy and such, they say well were are these locks, then you whisper go to the (insert local locksmith) lol atleast iw ould be able to sell good door frames Yes but that is one the the funniest stories i have to date.


Andy

[pinsetter]

Yeah, it's really amazing at how many "uninformed" people will preach Kwikset as "the best you can buy!" It really is sad to "know" how many people are duped into believing they really bought a super secure door knob, but on the other hand, most of those people will never know the difference!

[raimundo]

I was in the jewelry business once, but I wasnt popular, I told people the truth, Many of those stones are made in machines and cost a very small amount, but are actually more perfect than the natural stones. Many of the ones that come from the ground are found by poor peasants in sri lanka or cambodia and they get a dollar or two from the middlemen. Vinny van gogh never made more than pin money for his paintings either, middlemen scam the price and they don't like people who tell the truth about it.

[LockNewbie21]

Amen to rays thoughts. You know i was watching this stupid movie anarchist cookbook.. my uncle thought it was halarious and let me see it. I see us a sort of a revelance to them. Were not criminals, just knowledgable and not gulible, so we can beat the middle man by passing information along about locks to give people the best and not let the middle man get his profits...lol but as it will be they employ you so biteing the hand that feeds you never works either.. society well anyway i atleast know i can protect my family and anyone willing to listen to me so thats good enough for me.


Andy

[h3x1lu2]

ah employee ignorance is the best form of entertainment sometimes...for even more fun, go to CompUSA and ask what a good lap top would be...prepare yourself for a load of crap...or the best type of computer security...good times

[thequantaleaper]

I've gotta say my favorite part was where he made the bump key for ya. I'm tempted to see if our local store has an employee willing to cut one out for me!

[sams choice]

I tried to get a specific key cut at walmart and the guy said he is not allowed to cut specific keys, he has to have a copy of the key to do it. I wonder if they ever got a memo about bump keys and what not. They are becoming popular and are scaring people in some areas.

[Omikron]

I tried to get a specific key cut at walmart and the guy said he is not allowed to cut specific keys, he has to have a copy of the key to do it. I wonder if they ever got a memo about bump keys and what not. They are becoming popular and are scaring people in some areas.

No, Walmart just doesn't have code cutting machines. If they did, I assure you they would be trying to profit form it. Purchasing simple duplicators are for more convenient and cost effective for Walmart.

[grit1]

Walmarts around here use the Axxess plus duplicating system, which is a complete no-brainer to operate. It also never gets calibrated, and thus makes crappy keys. If you've ever watched them do it, they take your key, and if it's an unusual one they'll try it in their keyway checker until one fits, find that key, find the cassette they need, put it in the automatic duplicator and press the button - i think it even automatically deburrs them. They usually compare the new key to the original, though sometimes they don't even do that! I hate Axxess plus, and will not get keys made at a place that uses it, that is if I can't cut them myself...

[LockNewbie21]

I couldnt tell ya what type of key machine it was but it the bump key worked, i always was interested to see how well these keys worked, i go ta quickset becuase its on our back door parents are cheap dont ask lol, but i put the key in and picked up a cut off of wood and gave it a tap took me maybe three tries with it but it worked, my buddy said he wanted to try it so he put it in his door and nailed the key i forgot to tlel him to be gentle anyway it worked again, its pretty neat for like th buck fifty the charged for it, but i must admit it collects dust in my tool box becuase till i get my liscnce and get into the field i have no use for it, was a fun time to be had i would suggest it to anybody bored and wants a good laugh.. even a bump key lol just go to lowes or homedepot and mess with the guys and pretty soon lowes will be rioting agianst lp101 but hey were just informed people having fun... kinda like the U.S goverment ehh?


Andy

[vector40]

On one interesting note, I was picking up a blank I needed from the local locksmith, and none of the places I wandered into (well, I only tried two -- hey, my legs aren't made of steel) would sell me individual blanks off the board. They'd order me a box if I wanted, but hell, I could do that myself.

Seems their blanks are all already stamped with their name and they don't want them wandering off and getting into trouble. Or something. I had the second guy just cut me one to all 1's, which was apparently not a problem. Who knows.

[lockedin]

so i said well nevermind, but i do need a padlock, i said my shed has a lawn mower and other power tools that need a good pick proof lock, he said quote " hands down sir the master locks are best in the buisness, and from what i hear just about pick proof, he handed me a large master number five

Home depot carries two brands of padlocks-- Master and Fortress (or some other generic brand like Magnum). While he didn't have to give you that speal about it being "pick proof," he also didn't have too many alternatives. It puzzles me that he didn't offer you one of the commerical or pro Masters assuming that you asked for the most secure lock, but this may have been because you specifically said you needed to secure a shed which in most people's mind require the bare minimun in locks.