Visit to Local Lock Smith: Disses Abloy "Discs jam! <

[v12v12]

I'm going to take a stab at this establishment, though not with pin point accuracy of course to save the ingnorant. Is it the lock shop on Penn campus right next to the 24 hour Philly Diner?

Because I've been to that one, and I had a very nice 6 am before the shop was open talk with the main lockie, and he as with any lockie is usually surprised as <censored> that anyone outside the trade knows more than kwikset in the home depot.

PM me if you feel more comfortable with that

-Eric "Leïto"

Ha ha YUP, sure was the exact place. I've been in there recently and stood in amazement as he yelled and belittled 2 of his workers for making some keying mistake- right in front of me! He told one guy "you idiot..." The other guy in the corner, "Oh shut the hell up, I don't wanna hear it!" I was like wow... these are GROWN men he's yelling at.... geesh. The guy knows locks for sure, but he made a HUGE mistake assuming I don't know the diff between bumpable flawed Mul-T-locks and very superior Abloy/discs based locks. Not to mention the Foiling trick that often works with pin-in-pin based locks, like: Mul-T, octos, etc.... Guy isn't a salesman, and surely isn't a respectable. You do NOT belittle your workers, esp NOT in front of a potential customer! Haha... I'll never buy a lock there. Ebay....

[Bud Wiser]

I agree on what is appropriate for a sales person and the proper techniques they should and should not use.
Though isn't there a possibility that there is such a thing as a *bad sales person*?

Just putting it out there.

Yes of course, but not in this guy's case

[LockNewbie21]

I am going to go at this a diffrent way, every lockie i went to and asked for a medeco turned me down flat out.

But it really is what is there major lock? I mean no houses buiness's or the like have medecos, theres cam locks on stuff like soda machines and junk.. but that's really all.

One lockie did blow me off but really put it into a good perspective in a professional manner. He stated putting a medeco on your door was complete over kill (he did say he would oder me a complete dealblot and install it) but he also said the nearst locksmith he has to direct customers to is roughly 20 minutes away.

So a locksmith is more focusing on price, an buisness aspect. Most claims are simply ther eexpiernce and picking is the last thing on there mind.


H/E there are some extremely rude locksmiths, i mean i really wanted to break there jaw for what they said to me.

I displayed my foley beslaw student card, and kindly asked if they had any cylinders that they were not going to sell that i could use for impression practice and propper pinng and such and so on, also any help or pointer the could give me for help... i thought maybe they might feel good abut helping someone who aspired to be like them.. well... They immediatly shunted me from the store, saying quote

"It will be a cold day in hell before we help future competition", Normally proverbiale lock bull sh*t alk of what's better to buy based on store doesn't bother me.

Well honestly, i was so infuriated at this remark, there was a few other popel in the shop looking at diffrent locks, i told them they could be picked by anyone with two hands, and this store is a joke I was just insulted for inquiring to buy locks. Although i got a funny look they left the store.


Was it immature, very veyr, i never even discuss picking outside my house let along openly say that to someone, but this tops all locksmith expierences.


I'd say the name.. but i wont give the half rate shop and the fools working there the time of day.. or bandwidth.

[v12v12]

Yeah, I would really like to get a hold of some more practice locks, ATM I've got tons of noob kwiksets- Schlage, Yale, Master, American (I still cannot pick it!!!) I would like to try out Best SFICs, but the better locks are expensive and I don't want to get a perfectly new lock and degrade it by practicing on it.... I thought that I'd go in this campus shop and ask, but after guy's temper tantrum, I figure he's not going to help, and would probably raise a suspicious eye about my intentions. I would how he would take it if I ask for a nice large set of blanks, and then whisper the secret password to him "gimme the position-9 special plz," he'd prob cuss me out and tell me to never come back! Anyhow I'll have to poke around for other shops, since this guy has the monopoly in the area...

I'm not sure if there's a lockpicking group around here (EricM you know?) but I would like to talk with some others about sport picking or strategies for the much higher security locks (and my stubborn AM700)... PM me if you want.

Thanks for the posts guys!

[devildog]

Oh my god, I never buy locks retail from lockies, always get them from ebay, you'll save yourself bundles of money. There's always Best SFIC's on ebay for cheap along with just about anything else you want. I'm not saying don't buy from lockies, because most of the guys I buy from on ebay are lockies, and I'm helping them to get rid of surplus stuff and old new stock, so we both win; I'm just saying don't go into a locksmith's shop and buy this stuff retail, not for picking practice.

[Bud Wiser]

Also aren't better new locks harder to pick any way because they are new and have tighter tolorances? As they get older and used more often they loosen up a bit and become easier to pick? Unless of course they are rusted out or too worn.

[LockNewbie21]

Well really i was just inquiring if they would sell them, and if so prices was the next step.

I always buy my stuff off ebay, And really from a customers point of veiw not lockie in training. I thoguth this and other visits to lockies were appualing.

Thus i can't wait till i start my apprenticeshipwith the lockie i spoke of. I will speak for the mafority, based on repsonces.. and the best one well we wil be out of buisness becuase locks iwll be obsolete.. they now little to nothing more that a pick gun. By the way, i wonder if egyption locksmiths that made the first pin tmbler so many moons ago.. geez bud these's things are goingot be abosolete.

My thing i tell people is forget the lockies, ( meaning either friends or family that need help) THese people only becuase i will help them.. well because i am pretty mucha lockie, since my course is over in due time.

But i can't wait to give a customer real info, stating weekness's but also good things, becuase i took the time to sturdy it. If a kid comes in asking for practice cylinders, and i just yanked a bunch from a rekeyed and new lock installed hotel.

I would love to allow him to have them to share the hobby. So as much bashing, i would like to thank there locksmiths for giving me something to remeber on bad days, that if I am that much nicer, like me i might sell another medeco.. or maybe jsut make a friend who is a kid, or 20 years old like me, and one day might help me.




Sorry for the long post, but i think an open minded lockie.. not one discussing bypass and such to a kid just asking about picks. BUt more or less taking it for what its worth ya know? I mean when i first went in there, i admired them, the knowldge they must have, and while yes the key scrap and sweeping, but helping people it rewarding, and if i would not have had this place, shunted off someone who could help others as well.

[Bud Wiser]

... By the way, i wonder if egyption locksmiths that made the first pin tmbler so many moons ago.. geez bud these's things are goingot be abosolete.

WHAT? The pin tumbler obsolete?!

That is locksmith blasphemy! It's been here for 4000 years and by golly will be here for another 4000 years!

To anoint yourself with 3in1 oil on your hair and wear a master #3 chained around your neck for one week! Forgive him lord for he knows not what he says!