Anyone seen this before?

[globallockytoo]

http://www.changealock.com/?gclid=CJnei ... GgodtxPm7A

Read some of the testimonies.

This will annoy many locksmiths I think......right up LP101's alley

[lunchb0x]

I wounder how many locksmiths are gong to get jobs because if this product from people loosing or damaging springs, not putting their lock back together properly or the lock being worn out and the new key not working, this product is a good idea but I can see it causing a few problems.

[globallockytoo]

Truth be told......if people are changing locks themselves and 1/10 stuff it up requiring locksmith attendance......that's 9 jobs that locksmiths have lost out on.

Further truth too...there will still be many customers who would prefer to have a locksmith do the job....but this is another example of someone attempting to corner the market and take potential $$$ away from fellow like professionals.

I have a good mind to try to copy his moves exactly....advertise everywhere he does...right next to him.....and sell the product cheaper....just to stuff him up

(I wont do it - just letting off steam) Maybe I should sue him for potential lost earnings?

[Eyes_Only]

Here's how I see it. If such el-cheapo customers are lucky or bright enough they won't pull the plug follower out when there is no plug to follow.

But here's the thing, most of us on this site who learned how to re-key a simple lock usually have made a mistake like that early on in this hobby and the top pins and springs disappear into the living room carpet. And we all know how eye straining and hand crampingly painful it was putting that back together.

I really don't worry about losing too many re-key jobs to this crappy little kit.

[Squelchtone]

... and take potential $$$ away from fellow like professionals....
.... Maybe I should sue him for potential lost earnings?

I don't disagree with you often but I have to speak up on this issue. I'm not a locksmith. All of my friends keep telling me I should just take the plunge and become one based on how much I know. But tonight I write this as a hobby lockpicker and DIY store junkie.

There is a movement in America to go to Home Depot or Lowes or Ace Hardware, buy a bunch of stuff and do nothing short of building an entire house from the stuff found on the store shelf. People have learned that they can install their own ceiling fans, lights, hang drywall and replace their old windows with off the shelf vinyl replacements. They have been empowered and every weekend warrior thinks he can build a shed, pour a foundation, and build a deck. As their home repair list shifts from building a deck to insulating the attic, their "honey do" list carefully written up by their wives who are equally as bored on the weekend, things like squeaky doors and old door locks start to make the list. If you can practically build an entire house from the things inside a DIY store, what more natural progression exists than to eventually put lock repinning kits on the shelf to satisfy the do it yourselfers.

The reason I write this, is again and again we hear a lot about how due to lockpickers, or do it yourselfers and weekend warriors, who do sidejobs for friends here and there, that real locksmiths are loosing money and work.

Why is it then that we never hear plumbers, electricians, window installers, and wood floor refinishers complain that these stores, and that these wanna be tradesmen are taking money and opportunity away from them? It just seems locksmiths are very touchy that if some home owner, or hobby lockpicker installs a Schlage from the DIY store, instead of visiting the local lockie, that the lockie will have to close up shop because that $75 lock he didn't sell is going to put him under. I disagree.

I believe this land is large enough and customer base varied enough that there will always be business for locksmiths, be it residential, commercial, or institutional. Besides, I'd rather install a small system for a local store, or a businesss office, than to install a lock for some old lady who's gonna piss and moan about how much more it is than a Defiant deadbolt from the local hardware store, and how after I put it in the door doesnt close as nice as it use to and that I tracked wood chips on her nice carpet. Or worse yet that ever since my visit and working on her front door lock, her garage door opener makes a noise, as if my visit had any effect on that. (you ever get one of those customers? the perpetual complainer and linker of things that are completely unrelated, but since you were at their house a week ago, it must be your fault) I say let those people go to the store and do their own.

Squelchtone

[kodierer]

I'm not worried. Its been out for a while, and most people don't know about it. Locks are esoteric to most people, and rekeying their lock will seem like too much complicated effort. Plus if they do it wrong, which I'm guessing some will, then their new key and their old key will no longer work on their lock, and then they'll have to call a locksmith anyways.

[globallockytoo]

I like the way you wrote that squelchy.......the primary reason plumbers and electricians are not in that list is the dirty nature or potential life threatening nature of those jobs. Wood finishers require substantial equipment to do their work.

I also agree that the potential for customer mistakes is definitely high and consequent calls to locksmiths might be likely.

I would like to think that I could charge more to fix someone elses stuff up too.

I was just blowing off steam!

[Engineer]

Probably a vein hope, but perhaps it might educate customers that locks CAN be rekeyed?

Here in the UK, only larger businesses seem to know they can be rekeyed, homeowners just replace the lock it seems.

[mkultra23]

This is good. EPD is never accurate. Send the failed DIyer's to me.

[prag]

Haven't seen anything like this in South Africa but I can just imagine pin and spring shooting all over. Should be a good laugh.

With older lock I prefer to change the whole lock because the mechanism can be worn with time. If a client really wants a rekeying job, we will do it for them but I find that the labour and time it takes basically is similar to a new lock. There are exception where a lock is in good form and is an expensive lock or a replacement can't be found.

[yoyoboy]

I can't find the sign, but it goes something like this:
$20 to fix it.
$40 if you tried to fix it first.
$65 if you watch.

[foghorn]

I can't find the sign, but it goes something like this:
$20 to fix it.
$40 if you tried to fix it first.
$65 if you watch.

Us tech support guys should start using that rubric. We'd make so many problems of user stupidity go away...

[Raymond]

I love this thread! I have never felt any threat from do-it-yourselfers. We work next to a large everything supply store and I can buy a common lock cheaper there than I can order one from any of my suppliers. I also see those same plumbers and electricians, etc., using the store to keep from going back across town to their shop or having to order very small volumes of product. The point I am trying to make is that the customer will come to you when they have reached their level of frustration. I have been very up front and honest with many of my customers. I have told them that many of the jobs they are hiring me to do, they could do themselves and save money. Most reply that they want it done right and would rather trust me or just do not have the time to do it themselves. Besides, I get called to change the locks and safe for the big store next door. How about that!

[globallockytoo]

Ray,

Do you charge more to DIY'ers?