Questions about purchasing.

[EmrysCPennent]

Hi!
I have purchased sets from lockpicktools.com in the past but they have a very limited selection of tools and forms that I am looking for. I have been browsing over the websites listed in the store/purchasing topic but a lot of them give out the speech of only selling to locksmiths/dealers/auto techs and I know they are trying to make sure not to sell to criminals but how many of them support or are at least okay with selling to the lock sport community? There are sets or tools that I am interested in but sometimes the sites make me feel like I should purchase somewhere else. So I am just searching for advice and suggestions on sites that are friendly to lock sport enthusiasts and if most of the sites listed there are then I am okay with that I just wanted to double check.

Thanks in advance,
Emrys

[ThatOtherGuy]

I've bought from a few different locksmithing supply shops.

Is there a particular tool you're looking for? I could help you search

Besides that, I've never really had the problem of ordering standard picks and various other tools from lockpickshop, but I find their customer service lacking in a pretty specific way.
The biggest restriction I've seen on most lock pick sites is that it has to be shipped to the card-holder.

[MrAnybody]

Welcome to the forum, Emrys.

http://www.lockpickshop.com/ is a good place to start. They are also one of our forum sponsors, so have a search around for our 10% discount code.

http://www.southord.com/ do a good selection of tools, and is the brand that many people start (and continue) with. Good tools at reasonable prices.

http://www.thinkpeterson.com/ do excellent quality tools and they're open to the locksport community, despite the stuff on the base of their front page. Peterson do professional grade tool. Not cheap, but excellent quality. You can also buy their tools from lockpickshop.com, but the prices are a bit more.

That should be a good start for you.

[Legion303]

The only time I've ever heard of a shop demanding proof that the buyer was a locksmith was from HPC, and that was when the person was buying directly from them through their catalog.

-steve

[EmrysCPennent]

Thank you all for the replies. I have been interested mainly in the euro slim picks because I have been trying out smaller key ways and I seem to be over setting in some cases due to thick necks on the picks. Also I have just been interested in trying out other manufactures picks to see how they compare in feel, quality and function. I feel like bigger handles or covered handles could possibly be a little more comfortable but I'm not sure, I am just looking to try some new tools and see how they compare. I may end up sticking with my old set but if I can find a more comfortable tool for when I sit down for long periods and play with my locks then it would be worth it to me.

Thanks again,
Emrys

[daniel22747]

As long as they don't require that you send them proof of being a locksmith, or auto dealer etc..., you should be fine. They are mostly trying to cover their butts and discourage crimminals from buying from them.