Top ten (or more) things that piss a locksmith off!

[timy]

"do you cut keys?"
Must be the in the top 3!!

[globallockytoo]

"do you cut keys?"
Must be the in the top 3!!

Sure! How many pieces would you like the keys cut into?

[xBMW M3 GTR]

I know this thread is pretty much dead, but id still like to give my 2 cents.

I work as a personal locksmith (18 years old, yes I'm young, but very helpful) for my father and uncle who are both contractors. Well long story short, the home owners never give them the key to the house (like 98% of them are empty houses in the rougher parts of Detroit). Well it has been my job for quite some time, to get us into the houses that we arent given keys to which is almost every single time. My father and uncle are expected to drill out the locks, yet they usually kick down the door and repair the frame since they dont know how to drill a lock properly and just end up jamming everything up, and are left with no choice but to kick in the door anyway...alright theres the back story, now...

They bring me in to pick the lock. I deal with a semi-wide range of residential locks, but of course Kwikset and Defiant are going to be the most common. I always get those open within about 15-25 seconds and theyre all impressed and such, while im wishing it was more of a challenge. Well on the tougher locks to pick, im getting nagged at because im not quick enough or that im switching tools quite often trying to find the right one for that lock. They get on my case about "how come you picked the one at the last job so quickly but cant do this one?!" I constantly try to explain to them that all locks are different, picking isnt about quickness, that picking requires much patience and precision, etc. etc... but they just dont get it. I doubt they ever will.

Anyone else get constant nagging about something related around those lines?

Also, word somehow got out around my school about what I do...I get constant questions, I refuse to answer and give out that kind of knowledge to someone who might abuse it (I also let them know not to even try since illegal use of picks is a felony and an automatic 10 year prison sentence in the state of Michigan) Its all just kinda aggravating .

[gswimfrk]

@ xBMW M3 GTR

I totally understand... I do work for my parent's multiplexes... When I order locks from my distributor, say for example a grade one lock for a common entry door that gets abused often... they ask me... "why did you spend $200.00 on a lock when you can get a defiant at home depot for only $10.00???"... "Isn't the higher the grade # the better the lock??"

Actually no.... they make grade 1 locks for a reason...


*sigh* hopeless people...

[Theist17]

Being told by local cops that I'm on the suspect list for any kind of B&E stuff that goes on in my area is nice. Forget the ALOA card in my wallet, I guess I'm a thief.

[Rickthepick]

A new one have encountered is customers that sit there googling lock prices whilst you are working and then showing you "this one on ebay is only £2.99"

[Mutzy]

Tell them that they're welcome to order it themselves, just as long as they are happy with a lock-shaped hole in the door and no way of locking it for the x many days it will take for the eBay seller to ship the lock.

Global, that's hilarious, I hadn't heard of that one before!

One issue I have is when you quote a price and they *somehow* have $100 less than the agreed cost when I finish the work and expect me to do a discount.

Other times when I do a lockout and the customer has a whinge about how much it costs versus how long it takes. Never mind the fact that the lockout charge is about $50 less than most competitors, but I always say 'that's almost 6-and-a-half years of practice to do it that quick. Would you rather still be outside?'

There's much more gripes I have, but paperwork calls. Oh wait...

[Doctor Hexagon]

I like this this thread.
It's giving me some great insight on the kinds of things I'm going to be dealing with.

By all means everyone, please continue.

[SALocksmith]

Customer walks in the shop and hands you an "oddball key" your looking at the key blank wall, trying to match up the broaching (side milling) and they start helping you out, pointing to keys with a similar head but completely wrong, you don't want to be rude so you have to waste time looking at their suggestions and playing a game.

Customer hands a key back to me and says "make sure to brush it real good! You did not brush it long enough, I want it to work smooth". When the point of brushing a key is nothing more then removing the burrs from the key cutting process, and has no effect on how well it works, if the depth's are correct the key works if not, no amount of brushing will fix it.

Corporate accounts that call in and say "I need 10 ic cores on our system keyed up to key no xxx, im on the way, i'll be there in 3 minutes to pick it up"

People who want to learn locksmithing in their spare time, and imply that our trade is nothing more then a hobby and that any dumbass can learn it in a day.

People who oversimplify our trade and have no respect for how large and dynamic it truly is.

[David Swearingen]

Lots of good hair-pullers, guys. I had most of these, but the three that made me the maddest:

(1) A woman called me when she got home at 2AM because she had lost her house key. I not only had to pick her door lock (a Dexter, which was no picnic because they use Swiss Alps keys), but then I had to make a key for it. The whole time I'm taking it apart and filing a key by hand (I didn't have enough money to have a fully equiped truck, or even a truck), she was fussing up a storm at me because I was doing the work inside her house instead of out in my car "like the last locksmith did". And after all that, her check bounced and I never could catch up with her to make good on it...

(2) Another time I got called out at 2AM by an auto club to service a customer who they said had lost her Chevrolet key. They only pay a small fixed rate, but I don't usually have much trouble with General Motors locks, so I took the call. My method is to use tryout keys to find a working key, then progress the cuts until I have a key that works all the locks smoothly. But this one wouldn't cooperate, and two hours later I'm still pulling my hair out. THEN she says, "I didn't really lose the key, it broke and I have both pieces here if that helps you any."

(3) I'm a masterkeying specialist, not an automotive expert, but of course most of my calls are automotive lockouts. Due to my fear of damaging an airbag or other part of the customer's car, I limit myself to opening the lock- either with tryout keys, impressioning, picking, or cutting a key if I can see theirs well enough to cut one like it. Well, I used tryout keys to open this particular customer's car (coincidentally, at 2AM - nobody ever calls me in the daytime) and it just turned around and around without unlocking the door. So I tried it on the other door, and the same thing happened there. Then they told me they'd already had another locksmith out there, who had used a Slim Jim on it. Yep, he had pulled the linkage off the locks on both doors. Big waste of time for me, and they ended up having their car towed in to the dealership, where they broke the window to get in.

By the way, I design and make my own tryout keys. Through countless hours studying the way the locks are made, depths that are used, and rules that are followed in determining the patterns of cuts, I can usually eliminate half the theoretical combinations and arrange the remaining possibilities in order of how likely that particular key is to work, which makes this method highly efficient for me. Occasionally I'll run into another locksmith who doesn't understand the science behind my keys and criticizes me for using "an unprofessional method thaat anybody could do." That's the fourth thing that gives me that "urge to kill!"

[Eyes_Only]

I get called to a auto lockout today, I'm about 30 KM away and tell the guy I'll be about 30 min. I arrive to find some CAA dude with his opening tool stuck in the door trying to open the lock. So the tell the guy next time don't bother to call me lol.

If a customer is gonna drag you out that far, it's better to get their credit card number first (if they have one). Otherwise, I wouldn't travel that far.

i hate it when someone just hands over a lock and doesnt say anything, like he thinks i can read his mind and know whats wrong. like is it broken, need a key, need a rekey, etc.

Well of course. You're a locksmith!

3. When you do work at a liquor store and the owner tries to get a lower price after you already quoted a price before you come out. (just because he gave me a water to drink while i was working doesnt mean im going to lower the price.

Never accept anything free from a customer. Especially if they're a first time customer.

I totally understand... I do work for my parent's multiplexes... When I order locks from my distributor, say for example a grade one lock for a common entry door that gets abused often... they ask me... "why did you spend $200.00 on a lock when you can get a defiant at home depot for only $10.00???"... "Isn't the higher the grade # the better the lock?

Ask them, "If I offered to pay for your vacation to anywhere in the world, would you prefer to fly 1st or 2nd Class?"

By the way, I design and make my own tryout keys. Through countless hours studying the way the locks are made, depths that are used, and rules that are followed in determining the patterns of cuts, I can usually eliminate half the theoretical combinations and arrange the remaining possibilities in order of how likely that particular key is to work, which makes this method highly efficient for me. Occasionally I'll run into another locksmith who doesn't understand the science behind my keys and criticizes me for using "an unprofessional method that anybody could do." That's the fourth thing that gives me that "urge to kill!"

Ok, now that's probably the worst one of them all. Little do they realize, it's that kind of attitude in the industry that keeps these kinds of forums alive.

[MrSheerLine]

Customer walks in the shop and hands you an "oddball key" your looking at the key blank wall, trying to match up the broaching (side milling) and they start helping you out, pointing to keys with a similar head but completely wrong, you don't want to be rude so you have to waste time looking at their suggestions and playing a game.

Customer hands a key back to me and says "make sure to brush it real good! You did not brush it long enough, I want it to work smooth". When the point of brushing a key is nothing more then removing the burrs from the key cutting process, and has no effect on how well it works, if the depth's are correct the key works if not, no amount of brushing will fix it.

Corporate accounts that call in and say "I need 10 ic cores on our system keyed up to key no xxx, im on the way, i'll be there in 3 minutes to pick it up"

People who want to learn locksmithing in their spare time, and imply that our trade is nothing more then a hobby and that any dumbass can learn it in a day.

People who oversimplify our trade and have no respect for how large and dynamic it truly is.

F**k mate, i hope people dont think im like that, im starting as a hobby to eventually make a decent life in the industry, i never take of what i call a skilled job, no serious, i love what im doing and im learning so much every day, i fully respect every locksmith in the industry and i dont believe that anyone can do it. I can see why some people get bored quickly, but i LOVE IT.

[cledry]

One of my peeves is you ask the customer after completing a job, "will that be all you need today" they answer it is. You write the bill up and then after walking back in they say oh I need this lock keyed. So you write another bill and then they say oh and I need 6 more of these keys. I know I shouldn't get angry as they are adding to the bill but for some reason I just think why did they wait until the bill was totalled.

Another peeve is getting a call for a job about an hour away at 6:30 PM that goes like this.

We need you to go out and do a temporary repair on an electric bolt lock on a cash advance store. They need the work completed by 8:00 PM. Then they casually add that another locksmith has been attempting to repair it for the past 5 hours and gave up. When you tell them that it will likely not be repaired by 8:00 PM they get all upset. BTW, the job was completed before 8:00 PM. We are still waiting for payment though.

Another one last week. I repair a couple of vertical rod panic bars and the customer hands be a lever cylinder and his MK and a classroom key. Claims it suddenly stopped working and that we had not long ago rekeyed the lock. First thing I notice is the plug is in backwards. I drop all the pins only to discover .230 bottom pins in the top chambers points down. Something we would never do. So I ask him are you sure nobody has worked on this lock since we were out. Hesitantly he says an employee who is experimenting with locks said he could master key the cylinder and save the school some money. So I get the lock masterkeyed and go to put it back on the lever only to discover the tailpiece is wrong and they tried to force the handle pack on bending the retainer. I repair this, and put the correct tailpiece on. OK job done right... not so fast. I get a call from the school about 9 PM, they cannot lock the door. I explain that this is a classroom function lock with a clutch and how it works. Ten minutes later a call, no sorry it won't lock. So I drive to the school and sure enough the lock works perfectly.

The joys of locksmithing.

[gibson]

the one about people googling a price and then telling you what it should cost...that one I totally agree with. This is something that building managers are becoming more frequent with. As I said in another post, the police where I live will open cars (and houses), for nothing. If they can't get it open , they wind up calling an Emergency Services unit. This aren't situations where someone's life is in danger. This reminds me of the 70's when this was a issue, and I think ALOA got involved.

[keysman]

..., the police where I live will open cars (and houses), for nothing. If they can't get it open , they wind up calling an Emergency Services unit. This aren't situations where someone's life is in danger. This reminds me of the 70's when this was a issue, and I think ALOA got involved.

Several things you can do about that ..... Keep in mind "when it is their idea, it is a good Idea when it is your idea it's stupid.
So what you want to do it make it their Idea

This is where a local locksmith group can make a huge difference.
Ask them ( local emergency services) nicely to refer stranded motorists / homeowners to a call list of licensed locksmiths, If they ( the police fire dept ect ) give you the line about helping the people , here to protect and serve , or any other police , public servant propaganda., just agree with them. Get the name(s) of the person(s) (preferably a supervisor or local chief.)who refused to abide by the rules. This is where you have to ALL stand together. When you get a lockout call within their jurisdiction refer the caller to the local police. Have them mention that “ Chief Smith “ feels that non emergency lockout call are within the domain of the police dept. Additionally have all your friends , neighbors, and their friends call at least once or twice a month to have the local PD “ assist” them.
Take it one step further: print up cards and fliers advertising FREE LOCK-OUT services. Put the police non emergency number on the advertisement. Pass out the cards / fliers anywhere people go and might get locked out ( bars ,restaurants, shopping centers , gas stations,etc ) paste a card on the front of every phone book you can find.
Flood the police dept. with non-emergency calls. The local doughnut shop owner might get a little miffed, but eventually they might catch on.
Keep track of the calls , keep track of any damage done to homes, vehicles, ect , suggest to any customer who has paid for the damage done by public servant to send the bill to the city for reimbursement.
When City Budget time comes around the police / emergency services will be 1st in line to ask for more $. They can't do all that is expected of them with the tiny budget they have ( this is SOP for ALL Police dept) get a cost per call from THEIR numbers
When it is your turn to speak break out the numbers.. How many non emergency ( non life threatening ) lock out calls did the local PD do. How many man hours did this take , how much damage was done at what cost to the city . Using their numbers show that they don't need a budget increase . They need to quit doing the work of local businesses and asking the ( citizens) government to pay for it.

No you won't make friends with the local PD

I have also seen the same practice work much quicker … when they are flooded with calls for a short while , sometimes they just “ see the light”
Other things you can do is Demand the license dept enforce the license law... most places require a license to perform services, whether for compensation or not , how come you are required to have a license to operate but the local PD is not to do the EXACT same job? The mere mention of Nepotism sometimes will get them out of the chair.