why i picked foley belsaw

[bpc293]

i have always had an intrest in being a locksmith. so 8 years into my current business i finaly have some time to my self. i have read alot of books and bought some tools. but reading about something sometimes is just not enough. also i did not want to get in trouble with the law for having these tools i like having a clean recored. i live in buffalo new york
first i called city hall they told me i needed nothing from them and told me to call the local collage small business help center they didnt have a clue and told my to call albany the state capital for info. it finaly came down to all i needed was a dba and a tax number. so i did get my dba i am now b&r locksmith so at least i cant get put in jail or something. i realy wanted to learn and there are no schools near me and i didnt want to get ripped off on the internet. i picked up my phone book and found a wholesale place and called them up and ask if they new of any schools that where real and good he was stumped at first then he told me any one that came in with a foley belsaw certifercet was atomaticly put in there computer as a registerd locksmith. so now i am waiting for my first course. i feel like i did everything backwards. but this is what i have gone threw so far and now i might have some one to teach me. hope this might help someone



sorry about the spelling

[jimb]

A few weeks ago I stopped into a local locksmith shop and talked to the owner. I drive by this shop a couple of times a week and had thought about stopping several times before but was concerned of what kind of a reaction I would get.

I wanted to see if I could get some locks from him that he might be tossing in the trash. I went in and introduced myself as a recent Foley-Belsaw graduate and found out he was too! He had completed the classes 35 years ago and had been a locksmith ever since.

This course won’t teach you everything but it will teach you the basics of the most common locksmith duties.

Good luck

[bpc293]

in no way was i saying foley was the best school. i think anyone interested should pick up there phonebook and call some wholesalers or locksmiths in there area to see what schools they recognize or accept from people. the one i called couldnt think of one excecpt for foley belsaw.

[LockNewbie21]

Hey buddy i am awaiting my first packet as well, did you do the pay it at once deal? I figured since it wsa summer and college is over, its a great time to begin it and also my buddies friends dads owns a locksmith shop that he said needs help.. or maybe he is just going to get me and apprentice with that exscuse Any way hope it turns out great for you i can wait to start it, although relitive to school work it does look like a low stress enjoyable course that i will learn from, let me know how your first lesson goes mine should be here on monday or tuesday.


Andy

[bpc293]

i paid all at once. first lessons you get to easy.

[TheMikeMan]

how expensive is it?

[bpc293]

if you ask for them to send you info they want like $750. if you wait they will keep sending you stuff and the price goes down. i called them up and told them i read this and what was the best price they could give they gave it to me for $599. if any one got this course for less please post it.

[Locksmoker]

best i could get out of them was 649 on the pay as you learn and 599 on the full payment plan. Sending in my last lessons soon and feel it was worth it. No regrets.

[bpc293]

man i have been being lazy i better get on it every one is going to finish befor me. seems like every grade card i get one dumb one wrong.

[Spossum]

So, has anyone ever finished the course? Are you satisfied? Is the certificate worth anything or did it help you get a job? Does it make you a "certified" locksmith?

[jimb]

So, has anyone ever finished the course? Are you satisfied? Is the certificate worth anything or did it help you get a job? Does it make you a "certified" locksmith?

I'm a fb graduate. I learned a lot from the course, but the more you know about locksmithing the less you will get from the course. I knew very little so I learned a lot. I have also been employed as a locksmith for 3 months now, mostly doing unlocks.

You are considered a certified locksmith upon completion of the course. Unless your local laws require you to be certified then the certification is pretty much useless.

[Spossum]

Thanks Jim,I received the packet in the mail, but haven't contacted them yet. I really think I would like to get in this line of work in a few years. I will be able to retire pretty young and want to do something else I enjoy to stay busy.
I have decided for now to learn everything I can for free, using this sight and I have checked out a couple of books at the library. That way, I can make sure it is what I want to do before I spend the money on the course. So far I am loving it, and have learned alot. I actually have some free time at my current job (truck driver) so I have been carrying my locks and picks and books with me to work. Hopefully by the time I take the course it will be easy for me. Thanks again. I really love this sight.

[lt6206]

I just graduated from foley belsaw and I must say it was worth the money to me. I think it could have been better if you were able to keep the practice locks and they gave you more hands on practice. But overall I feel like I learned a great deal and I have slowly been building my tools from the start so I havent had to outlay a bunch of cash once the course was completed.

[PolishSumgai]

I took the Foley Belsaw course in 1977 and have been employed p/t as a locksmith for 30 years. I just retired from my full time job and plan to get more active in locksmithing . A lot has changed in 30 years, and I have a lot to catch up on, but I sort of pick and choose my jobs as to my current abilities.

[Bud Wiser]

Welcome to LP101!

Andrew forgive me for asking, but how old are you?

I'm tired of being the oldest kid on the block here (50)