Word to the wise when buying high end locks used...

[fjardeson]

Just a quick note so maybe others won't get burned on this. If you are buying any sidebar type lock used (EBay, Craig's List, etc), particularly ASSA, make sure the sidebar is in it.

I blew $75 on two ASSA cylinders only to find that they didn't have sidebars; by then, good old "No longer a registered user" showed up by the seller's profile on EBay.

Also watch for ASSA products where they've filed the key code off of the key. Same reason.

I haven't yet seen a Medeco defiled that way, but who knows. Some dufus who got ahold of a lot of old Medecos and just repinned them with standard pins... then sold them for a fat profit. People will do anything these days.

[Squelchtone]

Just a quick note so maybe others won't get burned on this. If you are buying any sidebar type lock used (EBay, Craig's List, etc), particularly ASSA, make sure the sidebar is in it.

I blew $75 on two ASSA cylinders only to find that they didn't have sidebars; by then, good old "No longer a registered user" showed up by the seller's profile on EBay.

Also watch for ASSA products where they've filed the key code off of the key. Same reason.

I haven't yet seen a Medeco defiled that way, but who knows. Some dufus who got ahold of a lot of old Medecos and just repinned them with standard pins... then sold them for a fat profit. People will do anything these days.

oh man, I could have sold you a cylinder with keys for like $20 a piece as many cylinders as you want.

Squelchtone

[n2oah]

I bought some ASSAs on eBay and they didn't come fully pinned. They were missing 3 sidebar pins because the locksmith that sold them to me was having problems with the edge of the sidebar pin chambers deforming. This deformation caused the pins to stick. Thankfully he sent along sidebar pins and springs (and a few extras) after I sent him an e-mail about the issue.