Safe and Vault Work

by **Father Time** » 12 Dec 2006 1:58

As many locksmiths go on to this speciality practice, I was wondering what you charge for openings and service work?

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by **devildog** » 12 Dec 2006 2:01

Hmm, good question, I'm looking at possibly doing this at some point in the distant future so I'd be interested in knowing what safemen usually charge...

by **Raccoon** » 12 Dec 2006 2:44

Locksmithing is a highly subjective field when it comes to fees. See another thread in this forum about Lock-Out Rates.

To give you a general idea, assuming a safe job needs no replacement parts or repairs, just an opening, I would say that most locksmiths would charge their standard service fee for this. My service fee is $15/hr, 2 hr minimum. Larger cities around me jump to $20 and $30/hr often 2 hr minimum. And I've heard of people charging as much as $50 $75 and $100 an hour in other big cities and countries.

So again, highly subjective. It really depends on where you live.

by **Biaxial Ranger** » 14 Dec 2006 17:22

Wow, you guys are quite inexpensive compared to out here in Oregon. Last retail shop I ran charged $55/hr. with a minimum of 2 hours charged + plus service call and any parts required of course. Some of the fellows I know up in Portland are getting around $80/hr. for some of the master level guys.

Guess it's all about location. :shock:

by **jordyh** » 14 Dec 2006 17:29

Partly, also an important fact is that these guys do it partly for fun.
They're hobby pickers who became/are becoming locksmiths because of the passion for locks.

by **lockdr** » 14 Dec 2006 23:29

Falt rate manual for Locksmiths: http://www.thenationallocksmith.com/pub ... i,jp-frm-1

by **Shrub** » 15 Dec 2006 10:31

Safe work will be charged per opening and not time from what i belive, some books suggest that a safe tech would or could ask for 10% of the safes contents instead but ive never heard of real world examples of this,

Safe work is considerably higher rates than standard call outs, a simple cash box or such like would be swallowed up in a normal lockies date rate and opened easily but things like bank vaults and shop safes etc its a safe opening rate which is always a lot higher than a general callout charge for a normal lockie,

by **EvoRed** » 15 Dec 2006 14:00

Shrub wrote:its a safe opening rate which is always a lot higher than a general callout charge for a normal lockie,

Apart from when my missus answers the call and quotes them that is, eh Mr acl?

by **acl** » 15 Dec 2006 16:31

Bless her!! if you buy her a soap on arope for christmas id say you were being too generous!
Ill elaborate for others only if Mr New gives me the go ahead

by **Father Time** » 15 Dec 2006 17:48

I would think that emergency safe and vault openings would pay rather well.

You get a 8am call from a frantic bank president saying the vault won't open, whats he going to do but pay you what you want?

Same applies for jewelry stores, grocery stores, etc.

Time is money to them, it should be to you too.

x

by **EvoRed** » 15 Dec 2006 20:41

No probs Mr Collier, easily over two hours to open that fellow, and for what?

Worse was to come, just about to step outside for the pub at half six and in comes a call keeping me away from there 'til eight.

One of those days, eh?

by **acl** » 15 Dec 2006 22:06

Ok ill elaborate for Shaun,like many of us he gets his good lady to answer the phone now and again.mrs new answers the phone and tells the customer he will open their safe for them for Â£45 !(not enough ,for those thinking yeh and?) The young man in question then spends a good couple of hours on site and opens said safe.Trys to charge the customer Â£60 but she wont have it so ends up spending a couple of hours opening a safe for the pricely sum of 45qid which isnt enough i can esure you.
He no doubt shot of to the pub thinking what a crap day hed had
I disagree though,he can tell his pals he opened a safe today how many other guys can say that over a pint of stella ,not many id wager.
Shaun it may have taken you a while but at the end of the the day "an openings... you know the rest.. Fair play mate.

Weds morning young Steven thought hed have a go at at Chatwood double bitted keylock and 4 hours and a 6mm hole later he had the bugger open,first one hed ever tackled and altough the drill came out id say he did pretty well(i can almost let him off losing his phone,getting his sat nav stolen and the van breaking down all in a week!)

by **Father Time** » 15 Dec 2006 22:50

6mm?

Isn't that a bit large today? I know there are borescopes out there as small as .5mm.

$$$ though.

I'd charge more for a smaller hole. Ha ha.

.

by **acl** » 15 Dec 2006 23:06

A bit large?? i dunno .For a young guy whos been a locksmith(and i reiterate a locksmith) for a couple of years , to open a pretty good safelock in a few hours on site and ill say that again ON SITE. This is what annoys me a little im forever hearing how so and so can open this or that BUT they are doing it on the the bench ,no pressure no aggro ,things are a whole lot different with someone breathing down your neck

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 15 Dec 2006 23:09

$250 an opening if it is nothing serious
repair is extra and parts
usually $250 to $300 to repair

usually 2 -3 hours opening and repair if it goes smooth

general safe work is $125 an hour

Safe and Vault Work

Safe and Vault Work

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