Customers Who Do It Themselves and FAIL

[ldnlksmth]

Can't say I've ever run into that before... Usually just 'keys don't work' to get extras for free.

I was visiting a friend today (former employer, locksmith). At his shop, he showed me a cabinet lock a guy brought into him. The customer had lost the key and tried to drill out the lock to get in. In his haste, the customer used a 1" masonry bit in a hammer drill to open it. Can't say I've ever seen that kind of destruction on a lock before.

I know a few cops who threaten to shoot locks out, anyone ever actually SEEN it?

[pauly003]

About 6 months ago, before I ever got into lockpicking, I accidentally locked the keys inside my dad's 2000 VW Jetta way out in the country while I was picking up my little sister. Me and her friend's dad tried to open it by putting a coathanger in over the window, which was open just a hair, and opening the latch. It didn't work, but we certainley didn't damage the car. I called a locksmith and he said no problem. We had been trying on the drivers door, so he went around to the rear rightside door. He couldn't open it, so we called another guy who easily opened the door I had been trying to open. After pressing the unlock button to open all the doors, I went around to the door the first guy had worked on to let my sisters friend in, and I realised the guy had broken it!!!!! It would start to open, but the latch would not release all the way. We never ended up doing anything about it as it was a company car which they were going to replace very soon. I think this guy must have been an amateur, as we had never had a problem with the door. But this clown did seriously bugger it up.

[lockdr]

I know a few cops who threaten to shoot locks out, anyone ever actually SEEN it?
_________________

I've seen Gene Autry do it in a couple of old movies on late night TV. Actually, some cheap padlocks WILL open with a severe shock. Same principle as a lockpick gun (bounce the retainer back) but usually dents the lock pretty bad. One of those things that happen all the time in movies but not in real life. Ever watch 007 or someone like that pick a lock in the movies? Ever notice that they never use a tension wrench?

[ldnlksmth]

It is amusing... my wife calls it 'they're doing it wrong' syndrome... she reminds me that it's "JUST A MOVIE" and tells me to relax.

[Ermis]

wow this is some funny stuff. I had the funniest car opening ever, and i'm sorry to say but it beats everything i've read here (i did not read all of them, but majority). OK here's my best car opening story.
I was on another job so the customer had to wait in my shop until i came back. I took at least 45 minutes to show up, She locked the keys in her car right outside my store and I'm the only automotive guy here. So i crossed the street i walked up to her driver side door and i pull the handle and the car door opens. I started laughing so hard i had to wave my hand saying "no payment" as i turned my back and walked back into my shop. This is by far the stupidest thing i've seen. Second stupid. A mother locked her two infant children in the van, one was under 1 year old another kid was 1 year old, crying like crazy, in some big mother haste she locked both children inside and started to panic. I opened that van quick for her, no tip....

The best key extraction - somebody jammed a schalge sc1 key into their ignition and snapped it off. This key could not be removed without a mechanic removing the ignition from the car (as i do not touch air bagged steering wheel columns) infact i no longer do any interior work to cars, i only open them, i quit doing extractions after the buggers and annoying people in this city turned me off from it all together, residential keys in an ignition really pissed me off.

When i do automotive work i carry a pad with me that states "I -----my name---- is not responsible for any damage to the vehical that may have already occured or may occure during this opening" I fill out their Drivers license number, license plate number, i put on the date and location and i get them to sign it. You can't go wrong with this piece of paper, it keeps you in the clear no matter what. If you are impressioning and the key snaps in their lock, and the customer is being such a pain in the ass that you want to leave, with that piece of paper in hand you can get up and go and leave the piece of key behind as a present. i've only encountered a few customers that i can't stand but i like to cover my bases and i know we've all had a few that you wanted to punch.

[lockdr]

She locked the keys in her car right outside my store and I'm the only automotive guy here. So i crossed the street i walked up to her driver side door and i pull the handle and the car door opens...

I've had that happen several times in my tow truck driving days. People would see that they left their keys hanging in the ignition and instantly call the friendly towing co. First thing I do is a walkaround and check all (2 or 4) doors to see if it's unlocked, also back tailgate on station wagons. It's amazing how many people lock their car and a back door is left unlocked. Also answered a lot of "Car won't start, need a tow" type calls where it turns out gearshift was not in Neutral. It's considered poor manners to laugh until you get back to the shop.

[87ELC2]

I had a customer (a national chain store) whose personnel constantly broke the key in the lock of their storeroom door. And almost every time they did, they would try to Krazy Glue the broken bow section to the piece in the cylinder. I don't know if it ever worked for them, but I was called many times to remove the broken piece that was now glued into the keyway...

My other favorite is maintenance men who FLOOD a worn-out KIK cylinder with WD-40 before calling for service. I'd show up and pull the knob to replace the cylinder, only to be rewarded with a couple of ounces of filthy WD-40 spilling out onto my uniform or the floor when I pulled the knob off.

[n2oah]

Same principle as a lockpick gun (bounce the retainer back) but usually dents the lock pretty bad

They're not even remotely similar.

[prag]

I have had a couple of these jobs. If I see tampering on the job to be done, I charge extra.

[straightpick]

Next time, Racoon, be sure to get pics and post them, I could use some new wall art! Me, I would have opened the door that didn't have all the hangers in it and let THEM remove their tools!

[overmind64]

Well I suppose you could make a bit more cash by removing/ fixing their handy work if you knew you could, but it would serve as a lesson to have them fix it. I doubt they would be happy about it though.

[Challenger909]

Funny story about my friend who locked his keys in his car

I'll keep it short

Friend locked keys in car (his trunk was open though)
Tries to climb through little opening in back seat
Once enters car, trunk somehow closes (not really sure how)
After trunk closes he tries to call friends but realizes dad didn't pay cell bill so his phone doesn't work
Eventually kicks trunk open

[Brett McMenimon]

Any time ANYONE does a project that they have no prior experience with is cause for SOMETHING to be ruined. If my faucet springs a leak, I'm not going to even attempt to fix it. I'll call a plumber and get the job done the right way, the first time.

Unfortunately, the common person does not think along these lines. FAR to often, I am asked to fix the lock that a customer has installed on their brand spanking new, elegant mahogany door only to find that they have decided to cut in the latch plate and strike with a hack saw. Not to mention they just closed on a beautiful $400,000 home and have decided to put Home Depot's $10 "high security" locks on it. It never ceases to amaze me.

There's really nothing we can do as Locksmiths. I make it a point of showing the customer exactly why it is going to look terrible and what they did wrong. Hell, I will even give them tips for the next time. There's nothing wrong with passing on some knowledge. But like Racoon said, take a picture before hand. You never want to get blamed for someone's mistake.

[Brett McMenimon]

Any time ANYONE does a project that they have no prior experience with is cause for SOMETHING to be ruined. If my faucet springs a leak, I'm not going to even attempt to fix it. I'll call a plumber and get the job done the right way, the first time.

Unfortunately, the common person does not think along these lines. FAR to often, I am asked to fix the lock that a customer has installed on their brand spanking new, elegant mahogany door only to find that they have decided to cut in the latch plate and strike with a hack saw. Not to mention they just closed on a beautiful $400,000 home and have decided to put Home Depot's $10 "high security" locks on it. It never ceases to amaze me.

There's really nothing we can do as Locksmiths. I make it a point of showing the customer exactly why it is going to look terrible and what they did wrong. Hell, I will even give them tips for the next time. There's nothing wrong with passing on some knowledge. But like Racoon said, take a picture before hand. You never want to get blamed for someone's mistake.
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[lockguy8]

one of my favorites was a farmer who locked his keys in the combine tractor, he tried to wedge the door open with a pitchfork and got it stuck in the door, i picked the lock open and let him open the door he almost got the pitchfork stuck when the door opened.