Are Most Locksmiths Friendly with Competitors

[lancelot6840]

This post will be kinda long. My question is, what is the feeling about locksmiths being friendly with competing locksmiths or people trying to learn their trade. I'm asking because I've seen several post where people are afraid to go ask a local locksmith for any advice on getting started in the business or just general questions about picking locks. I've seen post on both sides of the fence. Their either friendly or not.

I live in a small town of about 15,000 people and we only have 1 locksmith in town. I'm in a pretty good situation right now, and I've got plenty of time to take classes and learn a new trade. I've always been interested in lock picking, and over the past few months, I've been thinking about taking some courses and maybe setting up a small locksmith shop later on. I've went down to my local locksmith quiet a few times over the past few months, and he has helped me a lot. I mean, he has taught me a few things. He's given me locks, pins, shims, locksmith magazines. He's even offered to let me ride with him, so I can get some hands on experience. He told me that people had helped him when he first started, and that he would help me in any way he could. I guess I'm just really surprised that he (or any professional) would be so helpful. I think he knows that I'm not out to take away any business from him. It will be more of a hobby for me. I do want to make a little money doing it, but I'm not looking to get rich from it. I'm more looking to do something that I enjoy. I will probably focus on lock outs more than anything else. I like to learn, and I like the puzzle part of it. I also like to help people.

Anyway, back to my question. Do people here find their local locksmith to be helpful or do they tend to not be very helpful when it comes to someone trying to learn their trade?

[2octops]

It can really go either way depending on the individual.

I am friends with many other locksmiths across the country. Some are closer to me than many members of my family.

Several of us will gladly refer business back and forth when either we are not equipped to do the job professionally or just do not have the time or desire to fool with it.

I have trained many other locksmiths on doing different sorts of work and I have been taught by others. With a lot of us, it's more about helping each other better ourselves and take the industry as a whole to the next step.

I've got one now that I have taken under my wing so to speak and have taught him a lot on high security cars and transponders. After all, someone once took time to teach me.

On the other hand, there are several that would stab me in the back every chance they will get. I know who they are and how they work. I probably know their abilities as a locksmith better than they do because I have had to go behind them so much over the years.

Nobody will ever hear me or my guys say anything degrading about their companies or their work ethics and you will never heard of me helping to get them out of a jam.

It all goes back to karma and treating people like you would want them to treat your mother. If you do good things and help people, then you will receive the same thing in return down the road. If you don't, then karma can be a real b$tch.

[lunchb0x]

my boss wants nothing to do with our compatition, mainly because most of the other locksmiths up hear worked for him at some stage, mostly doing heir apprentaship through him
i cant wait till he finds out on monday that I will be moving to the other side

[lancelot6840]

Thanks for the comments guys. When I first went to see this locksmith, I didn't really expect much. I was just looking to buy some used locks and some pins, but he gave them to me and then gave me a couple of tips. I figured being the only locksmith in a small town, he would be protective of his business, and not want to be very helpful. I was surprised.

[maxxed]

my boss wants nothing to do with our compatition, mainly because most of the other locksmiths up hear worked for him at some stage, mostly doing heir apprentaship through him
i cant wait till he finds out on monday that I will be moving to the other side

Beware of the dark side lunch
Seriously 2octops has hit the nail on the head, I have an excellent relationship with 3 local companies, cooperative with 2 more and I don't give a s%&^t about the rest. I receive work from and send work to the companies that I get along with. 2 firms have my phone # on their after hours answering machine and they know I will not try to take their customers

[lunchb0x]

i personally get along with the other locksmiths hear, and if needed we would help each other out, but some bosses dont see it that way

[Cybernation]

Most of the people I have met nice once they warm up a little... there is a couple that I have met though that always just look out for #1 and probably will never change. 2octops is 100% correct... "It all goes back to karma and treating people like you would want them to treat your mother. If you do good things and help people, then you will receive the same thing in return down the road. If you don't, then karma can be a real b$tch."

[lancelot6840]

You all are absolutely right. What goes around comes around. I always tell my kids to just do the right thing. Even if someone else doesn't, you do the right thing. People will see that and hopefully they will do the right thing too.

[thekeymaker]

i say get to know this guy. i once knew a locksmith who was doing locksmithing for over 50 years. sadly he closed up his shop becacause he was sick. last i checked he might of been in his 90's by now a great guy and a tremendous help. also for the locks to practice on get what you can. go to rummage sales etc. looking for used locks this includes padlocks house locks etc. also get some auto locks it should help you out.

[lancelot6840]

This guy has been in business for about 25 years. He's about 65yo and will probably retire within the next 5 years or so. He's got another guy working for him that will probably take over when he retires. The guy that works for him has been helping me too. I've been getting locks where ever I can. I haven't tried any auto locks yet, but it will come in time. I've got 4 or 5 different kinds of padlocks and 5 or 6 different brands of door locks. I haven't had too much trouble with any of them yet. Right now I'm making a work station to mount them to. I'll post some pics when I'm finished with it. It's gonna look a lot like the ones I've seen on here.

[whiteknight38]

I've found that the vast majority of the guys are more helpful than not. In the early days of running my own business, I would jot down questions I had, about problems I encountered, so I wouldn't forget them. Then when I was in a distributor pick-up area buying supplies, I'd always ask the guy, or guys waiting in line if they knew the solution.
Invariably everyone would freely offer technical advice and suggestions.
My business is small, and limited in scope to installs, rekeying, repairs, and lockouts. Security consults free.
I don't do auto (except lockouts) or safes, or security systems. Just a minimum of closers and panic hardware.
It keeps me as busy as I want to be.
The jobs I don't want, that I think are too big, or outside my knowledge base, (those involving a lot of wiring, or electronics) or just jobs I don't feel like doing, I pass off to a company owner who has always been extremely helpful to me in the past. I'll usually say to a prospective client, to "mention my name," when he calls. That way my colleague knows he's getting some lurative referalls in exchange for all his help and advice.
When you hang up a shingle of your own, you can repay your locksmith contact in kind.

[lancelot6840]

That's a good idea. It would be great to be able to send work to each other if need be. If I do get set up, I'll send him anything that I can't do.

[dab]

If you wanna be a locksmith, you need to work for someone else first. I've seen start-ups co. install a deadbolt with no hole drilled for the bolt, miss-align strike plates, damaged customers locks, take excessive time on jobs, charge so low they attract min- wage, untrained people, ect.

My co. will not help anyone who can't present themselves as SKILLED LABOR, otherwise we are no different that a plumber doing lock work.

With that said, if your licensed,bonded,and insured, we will give you a chance. Untill we see that car lock drilled and the customer left stranded.

[lancelot6840]

I'm not like that, but I know what you're saying. If I do open a shop, it will probably be a year or more down the road. My local locksmith told me I can ride with him anytime. I'll be spending quiet a bit of time with him and taking some courses before I even attempt to do anything on my on.