Yes i am a very very good lockie

[lockey1963]

because its not what they want to hear, they want to hear its low set up and big money.

[pauly003]

why doesnt somebody ban that %#$@ing *^&$%@#. What an a hole

[kendale]

Just worked out my advertising bill for last year between the 3 different company's I run involved in General locksmithing & safes, it comes our at £27,500 im curious to know what other locksmiths spend in advertising, and Mr Lockey you think the picks are expensive, take a look at your advertising.

[toomush2drink]

Ive done about just under 10k this year on various forms of advertising, some has been successful some hasnt. The only way to find out what works is to spend the money and monitor it.

[lockey1963]

ive done £14800 this year

[Sbecspeledrx]

£2,200 if you aren't counting shop frontage or sign written van. But on top of that I've pressed a lot of flesh and handed out a lot of cards. I had plans to ramp up my advertising to £10,000 this year but have put that on hold. I'm writting the letters canceling the adverts now. I have two jobs a day on £2,200 and added to sitting in the shop all day I reckon that's enough.

I will be spending £3,200 next year.

[HeadHunterCEO]

you forgot to add modest

[barry dale]

HI
This is my first ever post on 101 and im very surprised that there is someone who is saying they are me, just for the record quick picker is not who he says he is as iam kens son and i dont have a very big head although iam very flattered that someone would like to be me, yes i can pick locks very well but i dont go on about it.
in future quickpicker dont tell lies you sad......

[stevea]

hi,

im not interested in all the avove really as it is all very boring.

id like to put mr dale right on something though.

warrant work will not die out any time soon. infact ill proberly be dead or retired by the time it does.
the rumour of smart meters, gas or electric being a cause to end the locksmiths job is totally wrong.
the utility companys do not want to take this route as costs would be much much higher than keeping it as it is.
it is also a very good tax break for them anyhow.
i have this information from a manager of operations for southern electric who is based in slough.
at tops it would take 20 years to have remote operated meters in every property any how.
it isnt going to happen so mr dale please get your facts right.
cheers

[kendale]

If its starting in the midlands now it will also happen where you are, at your reckoning of 20 years to change all meters are you saying in 5 years they will need 25% less locksmiths and in 10 years 50% less etc?.

Was it not southern electric that started a trial of buying out locksmith businesses to cut costs only a few years ago to cover their work.

It was more recent they tried out what was dyno-locks to find in a couple of months they had changed more locks than all the locksmiths in the previous year.

Locksmiths will always be needed to some degree by utility companys I just cant see it being in the same numbers as it is now.

Powergen have already trained most of the revenue protection teams to do the locksmith work themselves, 1 living close by also advertises in YP as a locksmith and works it part time, if they expanded that you would be out of work in a few years.

If Richburns continues the way its going with who ever submits the lowest quote gets the work you would be better off getting your own contracts for alternative locksmith work, I know the quote submitted by a locksmith in Northampton was £75.00 FOR A FULL DAYS WARRANTS, if they would tell me who it is I would employ him myself I would even give the pratt a bag of peanuts every fridays.

To be honest after the odd 12 years doing it I rarely do warrant work any more I really can't be asked, it used to pay a decent wage but with muppets under cutting each other constantly to the point of £75.00 for a days work I would rather sit back and wait for the likes of him to go broke.

While you have the likes of Absolute emergency, Reactfast, Richburns etc offering a hand full peanuts and locksmiths excepting the terms I really can't understand the locksmiths who accept working for them, I dont blame the company's offering peanuts its big business, I blame the locksmiths that work for them and continue to support them by doing their work and constantly complain about the rates.
Simple answer is kick start your own business, get your own contracts and stop working for peanuts and complaining about it.
If you think im wrong I really dont care post it on here for all to see your comments.
Had my winge for the day, if you would like to whine to post it here
best regards
_________________
Just Locks and Security

[stevea]

its never going to happen.

it would be a collosal task and would infringe on peoples human rights.

it wont happen anywhere.

they still have to get acces to the meters

if there is no contact the meters could be bypassed or rigged in some way.