U CHANGE

[cledry]

Unfortunately these businesses that use U-change receive their keys from corporate and corporate will usually not let you change the lock to another type of lock. If they were left on the door by a previous tenant then by all means swap them out.

Many of the businesses in my area (mostly retail chains) which used to swear by U-Change have been switching over to instaKey SFIC... Same protection against key duplication, same ability to instantly rekey...

Advantages of InstaKey over U-Change: Multi-Unit employees like District?Regional Management and Loss Prevention can possess a master key rather than a large keyring of every U-Change key in field use...

Drawbacks of InstaKey: Once you use a step key, the control key used to install the cores won't work anymore and you would have to request another one through the end-user supply chain... Since some configurations of SFIC hardware require the core be removed from the housing in order to access a cylinder security screw for disassembly, an operable control key should be included in each step key set with the replacement keys...

Unless you are doing the initial install of InstaKey, it is basically just as difficult to deal with as a customer using U-Change...

~~ Evan

We have more calls to service problematic Falcon Instakeys than we ever had with U-Change. Personally I don't like either option.

[Evan]

We have more calls to service problematic Falcon Instakeys than we ever had with U-Change. Personally I don't like either option.

Oh, trust me I have destroyed quite a few of the InstaKey cores that have failed...

U-Change is a must more robustly built product for sure, you have to really want to mess it up to screw up a rekey with them... But they have a blatant and basic security design flaw and shouldn't be used without an alarm system also protecting the premises...

I merely noted that it seems like more retail chain stores have decided to migrate to a product that allows for master keys for higher ranking multi-unit employees...

~~ Evan

[cledry]

We have more calls to service problematic Falcon Instakeys than we ever had with U-Change. Personally I don't like either option.

Oh, trust me I have destroyed quite a few of the InstaKey cores that have failed...

U-Change is a must more robustly built product for sure, you have to really want to mess it up to screw up a rekey with them... But they have a blatant and basic security design flaw and shouldn't be used without an alarm system also protecting the premises...

I merely noted that it seems like more retail chain stores have decided to migrate to a product that allows for master keys for higher ranking multi-unit employees...

~~ Evan

OK, I misread it or read too much into it. I agree. I am seeing less UChange now.

[Camron25]

When you use the security system you get the more security but you can use the U change with you security system to increase the protection.I think now for the increase the protection security companies introduce the hidden alarm lock that will alert you when some one try to open the lock without key.

[bjornnrojb]

Self-change locks sound good in principle but (aside from interchangeable core) suck in practice. Too easy to screw up while changing and too much tendency to fail. Schlage dropped theirs because they were prone to failure (also unpickable).

Also I think there were patent issues brought to bear by Kwikset. They settled out of court but I think Schlage + keys stopped right after (and not a moment too soon). The one good thing for me about the finicky Schlage user-rekeyable locks was that they failed so often, I think it instilled in many consumers an idea that locksmiths are worth the money to install a good serviceable lock.

[Evan]

Self-change locks sound good in principle but (aside from interchangeable core) suck in practice. Too easy to screw up while changing and too much tendency to fail. Schlage dropped theirs because they were prone to failure (also unpickable).

It sounds like you have never seen a break down of a U-Change cylinder, unlike the sidebar based consumer versions made by Kwikset and Schlage you really have to do something to a U-Change to screw it up...

They aren't super secure by any means but they do provide a measure of key control which is what most of the retail chains which have adopted its use are looking for...

Also I think there were patent issues brought to bear by Kwikset. They settled out of court but I think Schlage + keys stopped right after (and not a moment too soon). The one good thing for me about the finicky Schlage user-rekeyable locks was that they failed so often, I think it instilled in many consumers an idea that locksmiths are worth the money to install a good serviceable lock.

Totally different technology compared to a U-Change... No patent issues between U-Change and the Black & Decker Smart Key system exist...

~~ Evan

[designedbylucas]

Hello;

Perhaps some one can give me a tip on this topic; my step daughter managed to successfully loose the key to her job (of course) she works at a retail store and they have the U Change 5 cylinder. They have 2 other keys but to avoid contacting corporate which may most likely result in her loosing her job we have been trying to see if there is any other blank that can be used to make the copy? I saw some blanks from "Medco Keys" and I was wondering if I used one of these to create the copy? We have 2 copies already but we need to duplicate a third one.

Any suggestions? ideas?

[Hachronn]

Hello;

Perhaps some one can give me a tip on this topic; my step daughter managed to successfully loose the key to her job (of course) she works at a retail store and they have the U Change 5 cylinder. They have 2 other keys but to avoid contacting corporate which may most likely result in her loosing her job we have been trying to see if there is any other blank that can be used to make the copy? I saw some blanks from "Medco Keys" and I was wondering if I used one of these to create the copy? We have 2 copies already but we need to duplicate a third one.

Any suggestions? ideas?

Hi designedbylucas, thanks for stopping buy. Let me speak for the rest of the group when I say, we're sorry that you mistook our hobby lock picking forum for a source of information regarding how to circumvent corporate security measures.

My suggestion is that you take this opportunity to teach your daughter a lesson in courage and responsibility. It's time for her to suck it up and let the parties responsible for physical security know that one of their keys is floating around unaccounted for in the wild. They have a right to know that their security has been compromised, as well as a need to take appropriate action to protect their property.

I don't know if the loss of a key is sufficient for termination, but I guarantee that I would fire her ass if I found out that she attempted to conceal that loss. The fact that you believe that loss is that serious is just one more reason why they need to know.

[Evan]

Hello;

Perhaps some one can give me a tip on this topic; my step daughter managed to successfully loose the key to her job (of course) she works at a retail store and they have the U Change 5 cylinder. They have 2 other keys but to avoid contacting corporate which may most likely result in her loosing her job we have been trying to see if there is any other blank that can be used to make the copy? I saw some blanks from "Medco Keys" and I was wondering if I used one of these to create the copy? We have 2 copies already but we need to duplicate a third one.

Any suggestions? ideas?

Every single retail location that uses U-Change has a sealed envelope in their safe (or other secured location like a locked file cabinet) containing a new set of keys and a change tool for use if an employee is terminated and doesn't surrender keys, or a key is lost or broken...

It is considered normal wear and tear for a key to become bent or broken during use... Your step daughter will get into more trouble attempting to conceal the loss and replace the key rather than admitting to it and moving on with life...

~~ Evan