Anyone know about the basics of Australian keys?

[SCUstudent]

Hello,

I'm new here and I'm doing a research project for my university (American) in regards to the key market in Australia. I was wondering if anyone familiar with the country could help me out.

Here are a list of questions I was hoping someone could please answer.


1. What are the majority of keys / locks (types) used in the country? Are they easy to duplicate?
2. Have you guys ever seen any type of key duplication kiosks at any major grocery/department/hardwood stores like Bunnings or Coles/Woolsworths? When I say kiosk, I mean like this. Also, are kiosks like (for movie rentals) at these stores? Redbox for example is extremely popular in the US.

http://www.minutekey.com/
3. In your opinion, is key duplication popular or demand? Or is it just an industry holding one for those who occasionally need key duplication?
4. Are some keyways more popular than others? What is the price of duplicating a brass key or are brass keys not even desired?
5. Do people like customized or painted keys? Have you ever bought one? In your opinion, would sports keys preferred (football, rugby, cricket) vs. national pride (Australian flag) keys be preferred?

[lunchb0x]

1. Most of what is used in Australia is inline 5 or 6 pin locks, knob sets would be the most common followed by rim locks. Yes they are easy to duplicate.

2. I have never seen or heard about there being any key cutting kiosks around Australia, but one of the hardware places was talking about it a while ago, it is possible that they now have it ( they are in a different state than me so it's hard to confirm)

3. Most of my customers only get a key copied when they need one, rarely are they thinking ahead and getting spares .Even when I I go make keys to a car when the customer looses their keys they normally only want one key.

4. Most common profile would be LW4 ( C4) which is used by Australia's biggest Lock manufacture, Lockwood, a lot of other brands also use this profile so their locks can be keyed alike. Most key blanks are brass with Nickel coating. A normal key copy is around $7 from a Locksmith and can be a couple of dollars cheaper from hardware stores.

5. Most customers are happy with the nickel plated keys, the ones that have the coloured keys soon realise that they are weaker (Aluminium) and don't last as long. One of the places that I worked still has a heap of their sports keys from a couple of years ago, not many people were interested in them.

Does that help at all?

[SCUstudent]

@lunchbox

Thank you. Those are extremely useful answers. I found it quite difficult to gather up that information by contacting the hardwood/home improvement stores or locksmith companies themselves who for the most part ignored our group's effort no matter how many times we emailed or called them (several times each).

Just some follow up questions if you don't mind.

1. I assume the keys for these inline 5 or 6 pin locks are one-sided pin tumbler lock keys? Also, can you provide a picture example if possible.

2. Are there any other 1-2 very commonly used profiles besides LW4 (C4)?

3. How does the "do not duplicate" engraving on keys work in Australia? In the US, for example, it's just a suggestion or request, and has no legal weight. I found some differing/contrasting opinions on this based on my research of Australian laws.

Sort of more opinionated and less about key/locks business questions and more about Australian culture:

3. Are kiosks (DVD/Blu-ray or otherwise) considered popular enough in Australia? I know the country does have some like Hoyt's (Oovie). Do you think a key kiosk like minutekey be successful in a smaller market like Australia compared to the US where it has achieved success? Would people be willing to just swipe their credit/debit card in a kiosk machine and wait a few minutes for a duplicate key rather than get it cut at a hardware store or a professional locksmith?

http://www.minutekey.com/

4. How do Australian companies/stores operate in your opinion? In terms of a revenue share model, what would you prefer or think a company like Woolsworth or Master's Home Improvement would prefer? I'm asking because Lowe's and Home Depot in the US just the current model.

Current Model

minuteKEY collects all the revenue from the kiosk
mK pays a commission (between 15% to 25%) paid to the retailer mK pays for the kiosk, and inventory
mK establishes its own field service network

New
mK sells the kiosk and the retailer or partner collects the revenue mK sells keys to retailer or partner
mK charges a monthly licensing fee for its software

Hybrid
mK collects all revenue from kiosk
mK pays a commission to the retailer
mK partners with an existing kiosk service organization

Anyways, no need to answer them all. Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and will definitely credit the website and your username if you don't mind when I list our group's resources. I spent an hour chatting with Master's Home Improvement yesterday and all I got out of them was the price of a regular and painted key which were roughly $2.50 (AUD) and $4.00. They said they cut all one sided keys. That's all their customer service team knew but I guess they aren't professionals to be fair and would expect the same at Lowe's or Home Depot here in the US.

Lastly, are you a professional locksmith yourself? It seemed like it when you suggested "my customers."

[lunchb0x]

1. yes, these are single sided, really the only double sided keys that you will get are for screen door locks but they are fading out. - http://www.lsc.com.au/Products/Keys-Acc ... /SLW4.html

2. Yes, there are a couple of other common key profiles, there are probably half a dozen that will do 80% of residential stuff.

3. Do not duplicate doesn't mean anything, but if a customer comes to me with a key with that stamped on it, depending on how they go about it depends if they get the key cut, if they have a legitimate reason for the key copy I will cut it, if I think they are being shady I tell them to get the owner of the key to come see us. Most hardware shops wont cut them either.

4. I think that they will work but personally I do not like the idea of them, some customers want a copy of a key because there is a problem with the lock ( clicky because the pins are worn) making a copy of it wont fix it, also unless the machine is always calibrated keys could be cut incorrect. And there are other reasons why I don't like them. As for people happy to swipe their card for a key, with RFID being more common in bank cards more people will be happy to swipe and pay.

5. This sounds like you want my opinion on if I think these places would like to offer key cutting services using minutekey, I'm sure in a couple of years they will be getting onto this anyway, why wouldn't you, it's convenient.

Yes I am a professional Locksmith.

Can you please share a bit about yourself, it really sounds like you work for Minutekey and want to know if it will work here in Australia. Do you work for them or have any part to do with them? bit of an odd subject for University isn't it?

[SCUstudent]

@lunchbox

Thanks again for the quick response. Just 1-2 more questions and I'll answer your concerns about me being a minuteKey employee as well.

1. You stated "Yes, there are a couple of other common key profiles, there are probably half a dozen that will do 80% of residential stuff." I was curious what are 1-2 names of the other common key profiles?

About myself:

I'm a junior Finance major in the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California which is known as part of Silicon Valley and where all the major tech companies in the world are located.

http://www.scu.edu/

http://www.scu.edu/business/

http://www.scu.edu/business/management/ ... rofile.cfm

I'm doing a case study project for my MGMT 80: International Business course on minuteKey. Our professor John Toppel learned about the company awhile ago and decided to make it the subject for the international expansion case study. Each group of 4-5 members is assigned a country from one of the following: Australia, UK, Spain, Argentina, Germany, China, Japan and Philippines. We are assigned to do research on the key duplication market in each country along with the country's economy, culture, demographics, etc. In 1 week we are presenting our research and turning in a business formatted paper describing how to enter our assigned country as if we were minuteKey.

Here are some pictures of the syllabus and grading rubric for the paper/project. I will delete the pictures once you've had a chance to comment.


http://oi49.tinypic.com/34rsyoj.jpg

http://oi48.tinypic.com/2wf5nyt.jpg

http://oi46.tinypic.com/nocaiv.jpg

[lunchb0x]

1. Lane is one of the other common profiles that I come across with the CB34R profile, another one being LF37, the LF standing for Lowe and Fletcher. Another common brand is Yale, I think the profile is YA5 ( I don't want to walk out to the car to confirm )

Thanks for the bit of info about yourself and your subject.

[SCUstudent]

@lunchbox

Thanks again for the keyway information and no problem. I really appreciate it. Also, no problem. I wanted to make sure you knew I was actually a student and not an employee interested in the info for personal gain.

[minifhncc]

1. You stated "Yes, there are a couple of other common key profiles, there are probably half a dozen that will do 80% of residential stuff." I was curious what are 1-2 names of the other common key profiles?

Gainsborough (Silca TE2) is also quite popular.

Lane is fading out though, because IPT Proline sold their Lane division, who made all their Lane products on the Silca CB34R profile, to Garfield Engineering and apparently they decided to make all their Lane products on the C4 profile. I believe the reason is partially because their broach for the Silca CB34R is broken and would cost a few thousand dollars to fix...