M E Duffels looking for good 2 in 1 and curtain picks

[toomush2drink]

I disagree strongly romstar, i set up after doing a 2 day course plus some other training but i practiced like mad before setting up and also spent £sssss so i could provide a proper service. If you cant get an apprenticeship then get good training by spending the money and then spend even more money going it alone.
The only people ive seen succeed in the time ive been doing it have spent the money, the rest have all disappeared.
Opening a few cylinders is hardly a start up business lets face it, doesi t sound like this guy has a business plan ? Err get a tool a week and in 2 months i should be ok ? yeah right !!

[Romstar]

I know, the whole thing sucks the whole way round.

The way you did it is best if you have the money, but you know from that very experience just how expensive it was.

I agree that in some cases you should wait, and maybe our fellow here jumped the gun, but we don't know exactly how he does things, so we can't go too crazy on him just yet.

I certainly hope he gets his tools and experience and gets fitted up, otherwise he will run into the very problems you have mentioned.

Romstar

[SEVEN]

Everyone has to start somewhere everyone has to make a living.In England there are a lot of self taught locksmith,s including auto.The lesser skilled do not last long. Picking up the smaller work passing on the work you cant handle is not a bad thing.Not all locksmith,s specialise in all areas.Money can be made with the drill and minimum picking skills but investment in tools and training are needed for advancement.

[toomush2drink]

Everyone has to start somewhere everyone has to make a living.In England there are a lot of self taught locksmith,s including auto.The lesser skilled do not last long. Picking up the smaller work passing on the work you cant handle is not a bad thing.Not all locksmith,s specialise in all areas.Money can be made with the drill and minimum picking skills but investment in tools and training are needed for advancement.

True but how would you react if the garage or mechanic you took your car to to be serviced by, and they could only do the oil and filter but not the brake pads and other service items ?

Sure we all start somewhere but do you think this guy advertises as a trainee locksmith ?

[SEVEN]

I would phone someone who provided the full service.That does not mean if I only wanted an oil change or a tyre changed I would not give the work to someone with less experience who I considered competent.Most student accomadation have bird cylinders or three lever mortice locks and door frames that have been forced a dozen times but landlords want locks as cheap as possible and do not like to use locksmiths.I think it may be a foot in the door for him.Personly it is not worth the time as most I know deal in cash only.

[natastna2]

Just been away for a while came back not expecting many replies but i c you've all been busy, I object to Bump's comments about tradign standards blah blah blah, if you'd actually read my post instead of getting your nickers in twist i'm advertising as a students' locksmith, i.e a locksmith who opens the interior doors of student housing. I rarely come across lever locks in this situation and find students and landlords also rarely want to spend a minumum call out fee of 50 quid just to have someone open an easy lock. Bump if your not getting enough money out of it maybe you shoudl just listen to waht people are saying instead of just getting angry because someone is using their initative. I'm not a driller and will only be using NDE, i also havea no fix no fee policy which includes teh callout. I really can't see any problems with this, just because you've spent 50 grand to set up a shat business doesn't mean you ahev to get angry when someoen else sets something up. Sorry to be rude but your comments strike me as both rude and elitist and I was under the impression this forum was here in order to share information, not to hoard it. I'll let you all know how it goes. pS i am fully intending to take the information off the customer before turning up and if its a job i dont think i can do then i will pass it on to a locksmith i like, probably someone the exact opposite of you.

[SEVEN]

Most landlords want the lock changed as tenants tend to keep keys,as they are mostly cheap well worn locks they are seldom worth keeping,it makes no differance to them how you remove them as long as you dont damage the door.Keep your options open a good clean finish and tidy job are often more important. NDE may sound the way to go but is not allways possible.Natastna2 you cant expect all to agree with your set up and ability as locksmithing is flooded with two day course locksmiths struggling to make a living.

[toomush2drink]

Just been away for a while came back not expecting many replies but i c you've all been busy, I object to Bump's comments about tradign standards blah blah blah, if you'd actually read my post instead of getting your nickers in twist i'm advertising as a students' locksmith, i.e a locksmith who opens the interior doors of student housing. I rarely come across lever locks in this situation and find students and landlords also rarely want to spend a minumum call out fee of 50 quid just to have someone open an easy lock. Bump if your not getting enough money out of it maybe you shoudl just listen to waht people are saying instead of just getting angry because someone is using their initative. I'm not a driller and will only be using NDE, i also havea no fix no fee policy which includes teh callout. I really can't see any problems with this, just because you've spent 50 grand to set up a shat business doesn't mean you ahev to get angry when someoen else sets something up. Sorry to be rude but your comments strike me as both rude and elitist and I was under the impression this forum was here in order to share information, not to hoard it. I'll let you all know how it goes. pS i am fully intending to take the information off the customer before turning up and if its a job i dont think i can do then i will pass it on to a locksmith i like, probably someone the exact opposite of you.

If it was that easy to open why do they need to ring someone ? Also the trade is getting hammered by people like yourself forcing prices down as it suits your own set up, then when you realise its not feasible to trade at those prices you give up the trade leaving the proffesionals to deal with the mess left behind.
Got liability insurance ,a business account, declared it to the tax office etc ?
Bump wasnt being elitist but its statements like yours that stop me and others giving out useful information as it only helps people like yourself help kill the trade.
You can take the information off the customer all you like but i know from experience what a customer explains and what they have isnt always the same.
To say your a locksmith is certainly a lie weather you call yourself a students locksmith or other,a locksmith you are not , hobby picker yes (although a lot of hobby pickers can open mortice locks)

[natastna2]

yeah ive got liability insurance a reigstered business and ive declared it to the taxman, didn't you say you started after a 2 day course? I wasn't expecting so much negative feedback about me trying to start up my own business and I really don't understand it.

[natastna2]

If it was that easy to open why do they need to ring someone ? Because nto everyone has the tools to open even easy cylinder locks.

Also the trade is getting hammered by people like yourself forcing prices down as it suits your own set up, its called BUSINESS mate.

hen when you realise its not feasible to trade at those prices you give up the trade leaving the proffesionals to deal with the mess left behind. What mess, im not going to do any jobs I dont think I can do, i'll pass them on.

Got liability insurance ,a business account, declared it to the tax office etc ? YES

kill the trade? What you mean take away money from people like you who overcharge for waht is a simple service?

ou can take the information off the customer all you like but i know from experience what a customer explains and what they have isnt always the same. What? I can easily discren if its a cylinder lock im dealing with over the phone.

To say your a locksmith is certainly a lie weather you call yourself a students locksmith or other,a locksmith you are not , hobby picker yes (although a lot of hobby pickers can open mortice locks) Whereas your two day training makes you a PRO locksmith? And as ive already mentioned I'm buying the tools and practicing so I can open lever locks. I have to start somewhere.

[Rockford]

natastna2: I've just seen your posting on another forum, where you state .......

"Hey I've just graduiated from Sheffield Uni and am hanging around for a while longer, I was thinking of using my lockpicking expertise for the good of others while making some money so if anyone needs any help with having locked yourself out, I'll come round to your house as long as its nearish broomhill and help you out, I'm charging fifteen pounds a time and as its a 50 pound minimum call out charge for a "real" locksmith then i'm a bargain. If i can't help at all, it's free. Anyway my number is ########### and ask for ###. pS I will only open interior doors and padlocks, I will not open front or back doors as I do not want to be an accidental burglar."

Your rate of £15 a call will soon put you under mate, as there is no way you will cover the costs of running a business and make a profit. BTW, £40 is the average charge around your area for an opening, and all the landlords I deal with in your area are asking me to install Euro driven mortice locks rather than night latches - to save on repair costs to doors/frame when students lock themselves out.

Do you have a business plan showing your operating costs, and do you know how many jobs at £15 you need to do in order to break even (before making a profit)?

This is not a dig mate, but you really need to sit down and work out the costs of running a business before slating other peoples minimum charges. Best of luck.

[toomush2drink]

How on earth do you think i overcharge ? I charge the going rate for the area. Ive seen so many people come and go in the the 3 years ive been trading. From the sounds of it you still live with your parents or have another job or else you wouldnt talk the way you do about prices. Sure it may seem easy to you but people are prepared to pay for the service so why devalue it ?
I carry loads of stock on the van so i can provide a good service for the customer, being able to say yes i can open it does seem helpful as far as the customers are concerned.This is what the customers are paying more for, the fact i CAN do the job, its not overcharging as you claim.

You may wake up and realise your not building a business but playing at picking locks for some cash, if you dont your bound to wind it up like most other start ups.

Sure charge what you charge but i bet once your free banking ends and your overheads increase you will soon change your tune or go out of business.
Also just think about the reputation your building " he only does cylinder locks on internal doors". When the day comes you want to charge more, most likely your customers will leave you as customers hate price increases and see it as you being greedy even though you may be cheaper than the competition, thats something i discovered whilst working for someone else.

[EvoRed]

ou can take the information off the customer all you like but i know from experience what a customer explains and what they have isnt always the same. What? I can easily discren if its a cylinder lock im dealing with over the phone.

You obviously haven't much experience have you? Try arriving to expect a nightlatch and it's a mortice... Try even arriving to expect a UPVC door and it's timber... Not irregular occurances.

You try to drastically drive prices down offering an amateur bit part service and you expect people to wish you all the best?

[natastna2]

Hi i was just wondering what you meant by overheads? If my business was to be an emergency lock opening business based from home, then surely the only overheads i would have would be the cost of the tools which i have already stated I would be buying piece by piece.

[Tyler Durden]

Its not the "two day course" that should have a bad name. Its the "two day course student who thinks he's a professional locksmith" that has the bad name. Like toomush says, there are many locksmiths out there that have done the 2 day course. but before they start trading they go away, build up thier stock and tools, and practice opening locks(all types) and fitting locks until they're at a point where they can enter the industry.
A two day course doesn't make you unprofessional, lack of practice and motivation does.
And as for saying not everyones got £XXXX,s to spend on tools and stock. If your gonna set up a business that requires £XXXX's you should have it. Find out. It's called research.
I don't think anyone in their right mind would try to set up any type of business before they knew waht it was going to cost.