Pop-a-Lock - anyone have info on them?

[Rulenumber3]

I accidentally posted this in a different thread, so Im reposting it as a new topic to see if more people notice it. I already did some searches on the forum and didnt find a whole lot.

Im thinking of applying for a job with them, theres a new one moving into my area.

Does anyone know how long their training lasts? If you currently work there or know someone who is/did how did they like it?

Thanks for any information

[spQQky]

I accidentally posted this in a different thread, so Im reposting it as a new topic to see if more people notice it. I already did some searches on the forum and didnt find a whole lot.

Pop-a-Lock provides services such as unlocking car doors, roadside assistance and locksmithing to individuals as well as motor clubs. Pop-a-Lock also works with 911 through its Emergency Door Unlocking program, offering free service in situations where infants, small children, seniors or people with disabilities are locked in vehicles.
How much do you know about opening locks at 3:00 AM, changing flat tires, bringing gasoline and starting stalled out cars? Are you able to be on call at whatever hours that they need you to be available? This would most likely be ' piece work ', or sub contracted out to you. Can you survive without a fixed hourly wage? They claim you COULD earn as much as $25 - $35 k a year, but your 'mileage' may vary. So your training period would largely depend on how much you already know, and would be on going, as in on the job training. I never worked for them, but a friend did for a short time, he couldn't take the odd hours and unreliable income and quit. It all depends on the market and marketing in your area, and of course YOU, in how successful you will be with this franchise. All in all it would be a good learning experience for you, if you have the time and stability to survive the risks.

[HeadHunterCEO]

The biggest about pop a lock is if they send you to school you can't work for another locksmith for 2 years after you leave.
The guy i knew had to sign a non compete.

Plus the above mentioned issues.
If your interest is to be a real locksmith then get with a real lock and key outfit.

If you want to learn how to rekey locks and fit keys to cars then maybe pop a lock is a good choice for you.

[xmanrocks]

Be very wary of Pop-A-Lock. I did work for them and ended up getting worked by them.
They are owned by a group of ex-police officers out of Florida. Broward county, I believe.
They are some of the theivingest (like my word?) people I have had the displeasure of working for.
They will violate the terms of their own contract again and again.
You don't get paid for a month when you first start. They will pay you only 15% of what you take in, which ain't very much.
I worked my ass off (118 total calls was my best two week period) for $1100 and put over 700 miles on my car.

The employment agreement is worded terribly. Don't be fooled, during your first three months you will be paid EITHER the garaunteed minimum OR the percentage which ever is greater. You do not get BOTH, even though the way the contract is worded you think that you do get both for the first three months. (This is how I got out of my no compete agreement.

Beware of Brad Kistler. He is the regional manager, or the enforcer as I like to call him. He is an ex-police officer as well. He likes to throw people in jail if their deposits are short because they wanted to buy some food for their kids and didn't have any money because they make you wait for a month for your first check (And yhour first check will be wrong as mine and many other people I know were.)

I will say this, they had a pretty good training program, offer a great service, and don't rip their customers off.

Be very careful what you sign and make sure you get a copy of EVERYTHING you sign the day you sign it. They tried to fire me when I insisted that I get a copy of the contract I signed. Funny that when I did finally receive the copy of the contract, on page 5 section 8 was conveiniently covered up with another sheet of paper when they photocopied it. They didn't quite cover all of section 8 though. They left the section heading open. It was the no-compete clause. I requested another copy of that particular page and never got it.

I appologize for the lengthy reply, but I only wanted to share with the members of this web site, who are awesome and there to help, by the way, my experience with Cop-A-Squat.

I have copies of all contracts that I will happily scan and e-mail to anyone interested. Being informed ahead of time can help.

[xmanrocks]

Sorry, one more thought.
The job itself is AWESOME. You meet alot of interesting charachters on your journeys and can make some some good connections. Its also fun to time yourself on openings. Keeps it intersting.

Worst experience was having to take a call down in the hood at 2 in the morning on Martin Luther King Day. I found it odd that they sent me, cause I was the whitest guy they had. Can you say Salt in the Pepper Shaker?

[ameriloc]

after I had been a smith for about 9 years I took a took a job with sig-5 (the parent co. of pop-a-loc) my job was to train the franchise trainers and do suprise inspections of the franchises. the main thing you need to know is the school they send new hires to (usualy around 3 days) does not make you a locksmith, at best it makes you a auto unlocking tech.. they also have contracts in place to keep you from going to another co.. the best way I can describe them is they will try to own you.

[garthman]

In other areas of the country i know the non compete clauses are merely a waste of paper on 2 occasions but in diff type bussiness but still service industry, judge ruled that since i was licensed by the state the company could not take away a workers livelyhood and therefore said company cannot recieve compensation nor make an employer fire an employee because of a non compete clause and i had a very good lawyer