Offered a job by Pop-A-Lock

[skeleton_keys]

Hey all, long time no see! I've come for advice. :)

I've been offered an on-call job with Pop-A-Lock. The first thing I did after getting the offer was search these forums, and I found the 4-year-old thread about them and bad experiences working for them.

So has anyone here had any *good* experiences with them, making enough money and not seriously regretting signing that 2-year noncompete agreement? Maybe I'm lucky and since that thread was posted the company has changed that policy? :/

Also, previous workers...did you get to set specific times off for your on-call, so you weren't just sleep deprived 24-hour slaves? I tried working that way once 9 years ago and couldn't handle it. (Although I've been doing overnight work for 6 years now and deprived is my ground state. :)

I'd appreciate any advice and stories of woe/satisfaction. Thanks all!

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Hey all, long time no see! I've come for advice.

I've been offered an on-call job with Pop-A-Lock. The first thing I did after getting the offer was search these forums, and I found the 4-year-old thread about them and bad experiences working for them.

So has anyone here had any *good* experiences with them, making enough money and not seriously regretting signing that 2-year noncompete agreement? Maybe I'm lucky and since that thread was posted the company has changed that policy? :/

Also, previous workers...did you get to set specific times off for your on-call, so you weren't just sleep deprived 24-hour slaves? I tried working that way once 9 years ago and couldn't handle it. (Although I've been doing overnight work for 6 years now and deprived is my ground state.

I'd appreciate any advice and stories of woe/satisfaction. Thanks all!

Does the 2-year non-compete clause take effect AFTER your employment with them ends OR from the start of employment?

I've never worked for Pop-A-Lock but I've had to fix a bunch of their technicians work, haha. I guess opening cars is their real bread and butter because the craftsmanship of their technicians in my area is deplorable at best. The last call I went out to fix was a deadbolt that their technician couldn't install. He apparently spent 3 hours trying to install it before giving up. I had it on the door and working in less than 30 minutes.

I know they do a TON of car openings in my city, I mean a TON. The fact that an overtime lockout is only $59.95 is going to mean you're going to be getting A LOT of business after hours, especially if you're in a large city. I see their Honda Elements driving around the city at night all the time when I'm out.

If I was going to bet on your situation, I'd say you're going to be opening A LOT of cars at all hours of the night (I base that on conversations I've had with their techs at the local supplier). If you enjoy that sort of work, then you've found a keeper. They route their calls from a central location so at least you don't have to deal with the hassle of taking information, scheduling, etc. That's one plus. I mean, I definitely wouldn't mind going around and opening cars all day or night, provided it paid well. That's very easy work. Kind of envious now that I think about it.

[globallockytoo]

AFAIK,

Their training regimen is excellent. Rob Reynolds is a stand up guy and doesnt see the world through rose colored glasses.

They tried to establish a franchise in St Louis and failed miserably. Their advertising still gets them calls but they cannot service this area.

As far as car openings. I charge $60 and dont get all that much call. Maybe 3-4 a week.

I believe they do fuel refills and tire changes and free unlocks for babies or dogs in locked cars.

IMHO, nothing is free in this world and someone stupid enough to lock a living organism in a car should pay a penalty, not get it open for free.

I have heard that there are a few (very few) satisfied technicians, but in this economy, a job is a job, right?

[Eyes_Only]

It's a franchise just like any other franchise, whether it be a restaurant, an auto parts store or whatever. But I heard it's better and less demanding than AAA.

I just don't like how they advertise themselves as the "hero" you should call and depend on if you lock your newborn in your black Chevy Tahoe with the engine off in the blazing mid-day heat of the summer season. They're locksmiths, NOT emergency personnel like the fire department or the police. If you call a locksmith for a situation like that, you need to understand that the technician that's coming out does not have any special siren and horns or any legal right of way (as far as I know) to blaze through every red light and stop sign at 80 mph to get to you to save the day in an instant like the police or fire department can.

Stuff like this should be left to the real emergency professionals. All they'll do is maybe break a window in most cases but what's more important? The child's life or not having to pay for a replacement window?

[Pandawdy]

Something tells me their non-compete agreement won't holder water in right to work states.