Mentally blind customers

[Raymond]

I have to rekey a new building. It has 4 entrances and 33 offices. The management committee INSISTS that each office key open the entrance doors. We cannot seem to convince them how little security they will have with cross-keyed entrances. They just do not want to have to carry two keys.

"There are none so blind as they who will not see."

Had to rant.

[zeke79]

As much as you want to argue, remember this. Advise them of the problems you see but sell them what they want. Once you have them as a customer and they see value in your input you can go far. The customer is always right. Nod your head today and make your recommendations now seem like their idea later. Do this and you will go far.

[Raymond]

I agree completely. I just had to say it out loud. I cannot argue with them. I can only explain the possible results of THEIR decision. Then, I do what they are paying me for. Que sera.

[peterwn]

I have to rekey a new building. It has 4 entrances and 33 offices. The management committee INSISTS that each office key open the entrance doors. We cannot seem to convince them how little security they will have with cross-keyed entrances. They just do not want to have to carry two keys.

Seems a job for Kaba cylinders perhaps - I seem to recollect that there are two types of cylinder with the pin tumbler holes drilled in different places. An office key would have two sets of dimples, one set to operate the office door cylinder and the other the entrance doors. Security is maintained compared with an ordinary 'Maison' system. If a key goes missing, it would be easy enough to re-key the office but a vexing decision whether or not to re-key the whole lot. It would be far better to have card or similar locks on the entrance doors so a lost card is easily locked out. Cyberlocks would be another option since the same key can be used for both doors and a lost key can easily be locked out, but the customer probably would not like the cost.

[cledry]

If the cylinders happen to be Schlage you can make things better by putting a Primus in the entrance door and issuing all office keys on Primus. You can leave the C keyway or whatever if you use the corresponding C Primus. What this means is without the correct Primus sidebar milling another random Primus or C key will not work the entrance lock. The expense is restricted to keys, duplicate keys and just one cylinder. I would also maintain at least one constant that still allows enough changes for a bit of future rekeying.

[cledry]

Excuse, me. I mean 4 cylinders.

[dll932]

If nothing else, have them sign a statement agreeing with your warning that this will degrade security and limit changes. CYA, and they'll also know you're not kidding.