HELP!! Duplication Prohibited Keys. (Best Locks)

[gswimfrk]

So the other day I received my best cores in the mail (ebay) , the next day I took them into my local lock shop to have keys duplicated. The locksmith looked at me coldly and told me he cannot duplicate it because it says DUPLICATION PROHIBITED. He had told me that he needed the system owner's permission to make the keys, I told him I was the system owner and showed him the control, masters, and the cores. But he still tole me that he needed other proof of ownership like an escrow of a building they are installed in, I had told him that the cores are not installed in anything and needed keys. The keys are the best K keyway (not restricted), but it turns out that the local Kaiser and Community Colleges uses the same keyway. Even with 10 cores, 2 controls, and 3 masters in hand he still wanted proof of ownership. How do I obtain keys locally? So I asked him to rekey it but he says he does not know how! WTF? I need keys so I can distribute them to my tenants!!! I don't have an IC core professional in my area either?

HELP!!!

[Ortin468]

Wouldn't the Ebay bill be considered proof of ownership ?

Since he claims he doesn't t know how to do them, seek out another locksmith. Let the fingers do the walking..

A location would be helpful.

[gswimfrk]

Well I am located in Northern California, near San Francisco and there are NO city ordinances or laws having to do with not allowing"DUPLICATION PROHIBITED KEYS" to be duplicated. The locksmith had the blank and knew how to duplicate it but he wanted proof of ownership. The ebay bill was not sufficient =(.

[Legion303]

There are no laws anywhere that deal with keys stamped DND, to my knowledge, unless the key blanks in question are actually patent protected--which yours are not. If the locksmith doesn't want your money that's his business, but nothing's stopping you from taking it elsewhere.

-steve

[yono]

you cant blame the lockshop for not duplicating your key. they are just playing by the rule. this "do not duplicate" word is your protection also for unauthorized duplication of you key/s when you issued it to somebody. I know its a little bit of a hassle to do all that kind of requirement (duplicating keys with restrictions) but you are not just helping yourself in the future but your community as well. help locksmith work honestly. regards

[Evan]

So the other day I received my best cores in the mail (ebay) , the next day I took them into my local lock shop to have keys duplicated. The locksmith looked at me coldly and told me he cannot duplicate it because it says DUPLICATION PROHIBITED. He had told me that he needed the system owner's permission to make the keys, I told him I was the system owner and showed him the control, masters, and the cores. But he still tole me that he needed other proof of ownership like an escrow of a building they are installed in, I had told him that the cores are not installed in anything and needed keys. The keys are the best K keyway (not restricted), but it turns out that the local Kaiser and Community Colleges uses the same keyway. Even with 10 cores, 2 controls, and 3 masters in hand he still wanted proof of ownership. How do I obtain keys locally? So I asked him to rekey it but he says he does not know how! WTF? I need keys so I can distribute them to my tenants!!! I don't have an IC core professional in my area either?

HELP!!!

Well look at this from the locksmith's perspective:

-- You are not his customer...
-- You did not purchase the cores or keys from him...
-- You could have stolen those cores and keys from an institutional facility...

The locksmith has chosen to assume a higher "duty of care" than his industry generally practices and there is not much you can do about it...

Can you obtain additional cut keys from the eBay seller who sold you the cores ?

It also sounds like your attitude while in the shop prompted the answer to your question of rekeying the cores...

If you want to obtain keys from that locksmith it sounds like you have to be a customer using a system that lock shop originated and sold you the cores for... If you are unable to deal with that I suggest looking in the phone book for another locksmith, but be aware that you might find yourself facing the same song and dance there...

Also, question: Why on earth would you buy cores off eBay and just obtain additional copies of the keys when you really have no idea where the cores came from or how large a system they were a part of before you bought them ? That doesn't sound like a very secure solution from a property management viewpoint to me...

~~ Evan

[keysman]

Well I am located in Northern California, near San Francisco and there are NO city ordinances or laws having to do with not allowing"DUPLICATION PROHIBITED KEYS" to be duplicated. The locksmith had the blank and knew how to duplicate it but he wanted proof of ownership. The ebay bill was not sufficient =(.

Yes there is .. check the california state laws more carefully.

But if the locksmith is unable to rekey the locks he should have his license revoked!

Pm me and I will put you with someone who can help

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Well I am located in Northern California, near San Francisco and there are NO city ordinances or laws having to do with not allowing"DUPLICATION PROHIBITED KEYS" to be duplicated. The locksmith had the blank and knew how to duplicate it but he wanted proof of ownership. The ebay bill was not sufficient =(.

Yes there is .. check the california state laws more carefully.

But if the locksmith is unable to rekey the locks he should have his license revoked!

Pm me and I will put you with someone who can help

There are no laws against duplication of Best/Falcon interchangeable core keys. They are no longer protected in the U.S. by any sort of utility patent (haven't been for decades).

More than likely the guy is just trying to uphold his image as a reputable locksmith (yet he can't service or re-key them, haha). Can't fault him for that, I guess, but shop around because I guarantee there are plenty of people in town who will duplicate that key for you. It's not the most popular key but it's definitely not the most rare of the Best/Falcon family.

[David Swearingen]

If you can't get it done any other way, I can do it for you....just that I'm about as far away from you as I can get and still be in the country. My own personal system used to be on K keyway; at the time, that was considered one of the most restricted keyways in the country. Colonel Schnorterhauser had a cat fit when he found out I had it.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

I get that it's ultimately the locksmith's decision as to whether or not he performs the work, but I'm pretty surprised in this case. The OP comes in with multiple locks, the control keys for them, the change keys, and proof of purchase, and he still won't service them? Come on, it's not like he brought in half a sawed-off door with a lock hanging out of it... sounds kinda ridiculous to me.

Then again, there seem to be classes of locksmiths out there that are just wholesale scared by SFIC for some reason or another. The fact that this guy said he couldn't recombinate the cores has to make you wonder, doesn't it...