suggest security improvements to business owner

[victorylocksmith]

how does one go about drumming up more business on the fly? i go around and do the whole card handing out thing to leasing centers and call up realtors. are there any other better strategies? granted, i dont know very much quite yet but, i am giving it the good old college try. i notice that it is quite common for businesses with glass doors to have no ring around their mortise cylinder. having worked on quite a few of these locks that are attacked with pipe wrenches, i have been attempting to tell the business owner that they should let me take a look at it so that i can prevent such an attack from occurring. usually, after i state this, they become irrational and distrustful of me and basically shrug me off impolitely. the irony, is after i come around again, i notice nothing has changed but they somehow have developed some sort of increased disdain toward myself and the suggestions i have made.

[1mrchristopher]

I immediately had two thoughts when I read your post. First: If I was a business owner, who had never experienced a pipe wrench attack on one of my mortise cylinders, and someone came in that I had never met, trying to sell me a solution to a problem I'd never heard of, I might think he was a snake-oil salesman, trying to sell me something I don't need for a problem I haven't got. Second: If you aren't wearing any sort of visible identification and/or driving a marked vehicle, a business owner might even feel that you are threatening burglary on their store if they don't buy your product. Neither of those scenarios is necessarily a reflection on your moral character or credibility, it's more a reflection on the fact that security is a really touchy subject. Nobody wants a guy to walk in off the street and tell them their security sucks and that they're just asking for a break-in (I'm intentionally exaggerating here, I know that wasn't your sales pitch).

If you're going to pound pavement and go door to door, simply introduce yourself in a friendly manner, letting them know that you would be happy to take a look at any locks that might be giving them difficulty, and/or make any keys that they might need. Make sure to leave a card with them, and let them know that if they would be interested in learning about some inexpensive methods of increasing their security that you would be happy to talk to them. When you do talk to them about cylinder gaurds, have a few pictures,or even better a mortise cylinder that has been wrenched out, and a keedex (or brand of your choice) hardened collar to show them how it protects them from that type of break-in.

[billdeserthills]

how does one go about drumming up more business on the fly? i go around and do the whole card handing out thing to leasing centers and call up realtors. are there any other better strategies? granted, i dont know very much quite yet but, i am giving it the good old college try. i notice that it is quite common for businesses with glass doors to have no ring around their mortise cylinder. having worked on quite a few of these locks that are attacked with pipe wrenches, i have been attempting to tell the business owner that they should let me take a look at it so that i can prevent such an attack from occurring. usually, after i state this, they become irrational and distrustful of me and basically shrug me off impolitely. the irony, is after i come around again, i notice nothing has changed but they somehow have developed some sort of increased disdain toward myself and the suggestions i have made.

I gotta tell ya I have a bunch of those armored cyl guard rings too. I have sold hundreds of them but many times I have been humiliated after seeing the effects of an actual break-in, when that ring did NOTHING. The ring, as advertised is only good for defeating a pipe wrench type of attack. Around here the thief uses a crowbar and that ring just gives the thief something substantial to get that crowbar underneath of. Many times I find the mortise cylinder and it isn't pretty either. I bought up a bunch of HPC guard plates which are no longer made, else I would definately get more. This plate fastens over the mortise cylinder and has a hole for the key to enter. I have never seen one destroyed yet in a robbery.

Far as generating business goes, I noticed last month that for the last couple of years it has been getting slower & slower in my business, even though I'm the only locksmith in my town. I mean it got down to where I was doing 2 jobs a week, which was Not paying the bills. Finally someone called me from an internet advertising company, and this time instead of telling them where exactly to cram it I listened and figured, why not? They cost me $200 each month, which is one or two little jobs, right? So I said OK, do me & they sure did! The phone started ringing and I started working 2 or more jobs Each day! It really is almost more than I want to work and I have had to skip on a couple of jobs. For instance this morning some lady had me driving around for 20 minutes trying to find her address while her phone was busy the entire time. I was gonna get mad, but why should I, instead I skipped her job and went on to the next. Because of that I even got home early so it can't all be bad now can it? My dog is thrilled that I had some extra time to pet her and that is just more good news!

Remember, just Now some new customer just locked himself out of something. He is gonna pick up his smart phone next and will Your name be the one that comes up?

I know in my area houses are selling again, somebody is gonna want to rekey that home they just bought, but they don't have a phonebook. You know how they will look for you already, now you just have to be found there when they do look.

[GWiens2001]

Have to agree on the way to approach a business. 1mrchristopher has it pretty well explained on (what I would view as) the best way to 'get in' with the local businesses. And a marked vehicle, perhaps a shirt with a company logo embroidered on it for a professional look, might help.

Another one that gets me is the U-Change locks. Still shake my head when I see them on a business. That said, I do not walk in and tell them how insecure their lock is. Of course, not being a lockie, it is not my business to do so.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

15 years ago I was having a slow summer & I had just gotten a job, rekeying locks at a home in a huge subdivision. Upon noticing the locks were loaded with masterpins (protecto keyed kwiksets) I made a copy of the masterkey, just for fun. After I finished my job I walked to each house up & down the street & on the homes where the door was answered I explained why they should rekey their homes and then got their permission to try my masterkey, which was copied "who knows how ofter" and handed out to uninsured sub-contract laborers (mebbe, it could happen) for the time it took to build the subdivision. Without fail, my key opened Every single home I tried it on, also without fail I heard the same story of righteous indignation from each homeowner who all insisted that Their builder was gonna pay to rekey their whole house.
I didn't get any work but I got a tan from walking up & down the street

In my area lock installers rarely drill the deadbolt strike a full inch. I charge $8.50-$12.50 to drill a this in wood and plenty more in aluminum. Many houses I enter I immediately notice this and then I show the homeowner with his own deadbolt why this is critical to their security. I quickly explain that the deadbolt is not "dead" not until it has moved out 1 inch. I also show them that with their "not fully drilled" strike hole, their door can be opened easily from the outside by pressing the 1/2 way extended bolt back in with my finger. The ones with 1/2 a brain will be shocked to find they could have been killed in their sleep, or worse--Anytime in the last "enter # of years lived in home here" Anyhow, start looking for deadbolt strikes that need drilled, it's easy money & easy to show why! I have seen crimes that took advantage of this method of entry and the police write "No sign of forceable entry" on the report, which I figure prolly doesn't look too good to the insurance company.

[cledry]

Actually your MK shouldn't have worked on protecto keyed locks because the three ball bearings should have been removed when the homeowner used their key the first time. However a set of 5 MKs will work any in the neighbourhood.

[billdeserthills]

Actually your MK shouldn't have worked on protecto keyed locks because the three ball bearings should have been removed when the homeowner used their key the first time. However a set of 5 MKs will work any in the neighbourhood.

Those 3 little ball bearings represent .015, and all kwikset locks have at least that much tolerance engineered into them, not even including the beveled bottom pins they use They had resided in the first pin hole and I didn't hafta lift my key very much to beat that.

[MSL]

If you've got a website you could put a little section of "security improvements" where you show pictures of the product installed, and pictures and descriptions of locks that were defeated with descriptions of how they work. The rings, anti-bump pins/springs, etc.

[billdeserthills]

If you've got a website you could put a little section of "security improvements" where you show pictures of the product installed, and pictures and descriptions of locks that were defeated with descriptions of how they work. The rings, anti-bump pins/springs, etc.

I have something I do that really excited some old broad the other day. No, it wasn't X rated either. It's just that I never charge anything if I can't help a client. Years ago I used to try and collect a service call, but if I couldn't do the work it just never did seem very fair. I consider it the mark of an experienced, honest, professional worker, to never charge a service call if no service is forthcoming. Anyhow it has gotten me many jobs over the years, as anytime a customer seems in doubt about my ability to repair their lock problem, I will immediately let them know that there is no charge if I can't fix it! Folks can't believe that honest workpeople still exist and nothing says Honesty like refusing to take money You don't deserve. Anyhow it sure does seem to set me apart from the competition & it should work for you too.

[cledry]

Actually your MK shouldn't have worked on protecto keyed locks because the three ball bearings should have been removed when the homeowner used their key the first time. However a set of 5 MKs will work any in the neighbourhood.

Those 3 little ball bearings represent .015, and all kwikset locks have at least that much tolerance engineered into them, not even including the beveled bottom pins they use They had resided in the first pin hole and I didn't hafta lift my key very much to beat that.

No it is .023 and even Kwikset doesn't have that much tolerance built in to them. On a new lock you shouldn't be able to wiggle a key .023 up and down.

[cledry]

If you've got a website you could put a little section of "security improvements" where you show pictures of the product installed, and pictures and descriptions of locks that were defeated with descriptions of how they work. The rings, anti-bump pins/springs, etc.

I have something I do that really excited some old broad the other day. No, it wasn't X rated either. It's just that I never charge anything if I can't help a client. Years ago I used to try and collect a service call, but if I couldn't do the work it just never did seem very fair. I consider it the mark of an experienced, honest, professional worker, to never charge a service call if no service is forthcoming. Anyhow it has gotten me many jobs over the years, as anytime a customer seems in doubt about my ability to repair their lock problem, I will immediately let them know that there is no charge if I can't fix it! Folks can't believe that honest workpeople still exist and nothing says Honesty like refusing to take money You don't deserve. Anyhow it sure does seem to set me apart from the competition & it should work for you too.

I would assume not being able to help the client is a rarity though. I can usually tell over the phone if I can help them or not. As you say though occasionally you have to say you cannot help them and then I agree it is best not to charge them. We had a client want to put a door closer on an all glass racquetball court wall and door. Even though technically I could do it, for liability reasons we refused the job after looking at it, so didn't charge anything.

[billdeserthills]

Actually your MK shouldn't have worked on protecto keyed locks because the three ball bearings should have been removed when the homeowner used their key the first time. However a set of 5 MKs will work any in the neighbourhood.

Those 3 little ball bearings represent .015, and all kwikset locks have at least that much tolerance engineered into them, not even including the beveled bottom pins they use They had resided in the first pin hole and I didn't hafta lift my key very much to beat that.

No it is .023 and even Kwikset doesn't have that much tolerance built in to them. On a new lock you shouldn't be able to wiggle a key .023 up and down.

In that case then somebody done a bad thing

[victorylocksmith]

In that case then somebody done a bad thing[/quote]

Maybe somebody is an idiot like me. I file down cylinders to fit the pins I have, even if they are not the right pins

[GWiens2001]

Maybe somebody is an idiot like me. I file down cylinders to fit the pins I have, even if they are not the right pins

Why not use a longer pin and file the pin instead of the cylinder?

I also keep some brass rod stock (available online or at better hardware stores) of the correct diameter to be used as pins. Use it for making security pins with a drill and file. But you can make a pin of any length using that stock.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

In that case then somebody done a bad thing

Maybe somebody is an idiot like me. I file down cylinders to fit the pins I have, even if they are not the right pins[/quote]


Sounds like you took the Foley Belsaw course from 1968 that my Dad took.
Back then the standard pin kit we most all use was not yet invented and folks would use whichever pin kit they owned and simply file the pins (or cylinder) down to fit. I think most smiths would consider folks who do that today to be "hacks" or "a fly by night co." I will admit as much as it lowers security to file a plug, it sure does work nice & smooth
Why not spend a few bucks and buy a universal pin kit? At least I hope you are using a plug holder so you only file a small amount of the plug off.