Lock Supplier

[johnsonbri]

I have recently started a locksmith business. I am currently trying to find locks to provide for customers. I am looking for a low, medium, and high security dead bolt lock and door knob to provide my customers. I plan to carry only about 6 different products on hand to start to keep things simple. Any suggestions on what brand and model to use? I need room for profit so if anyone knows a good supplier to buy the locks from for a low price, that would be awesome too!

Any other miscellaneous tips for a beginner locksmith selling locks would be great too!

Thanks,

Brian

[Squelchtone]

Hi and welcome to the forum, please fill in your location in your Profile, this way folks can recommend supply houses that are near you and may also be able to tell you which brands are already popular in your area.

Enjoy the forum,
Squelchtone

[johnsonbri]

Thanks, and added location. Traverse City, Michigan.

[MBI]

Search around the forum a bit because this question has come up a number of times.

But to start off, I'd suggest IMLSS, Flake for regular suppliers. For deals try eBay, where you can sometimes get good prices on NOS closeout deals on locks, you just need to know what you're buying. Sometimes there's a good reason why it's on clearance.

[kwoswalt99-]

Hello from a fellow Michigander!

[jeffmoss26]

some others are IDN, Clark, Security Lock, Zipf Lock

[johnsonbri]

Search around the forum a bit because this question has come up a number of times.

But to start off, I'd suggest IMLSS, Flake for regular suppliers. For deals try eBay, where you can sometimes get good prices on NOS closeout deals on locks, you just need to know what you're buying. Sometimes there's a good reason why it's on clearance.

Thanks looking into them now.

Hello from a fellow Michigander!

It's a beautiful place to live.

some others are IDN, Clark, Security Lock, Zipf Lock

Looking into these as well. Thanks.

[billdeserthills]

Most locksmith distributors sell a 'PLS' Professional Lock Service product, one in particular that I like is HL Flake. These products don't usually have a brand name anywhere on them, which means your client can't find a matching product online, say and try to cheap your prices down further. They have deadbolts starting under $10 in several colors and use the same import deadbolt latch seen on Defiant, Moss, US Lock and hundreds of other import locks. Another thing I like about HL Flake is they have free shipping, if you spend like $140. Most of their prices cannot be beat, but they do price key blanks too high in my opinion. One tip I have for you is to stock a few of the Kwikset passage latches.
I find that many times the garage door on most homes is set up to shut automatically via spring hinges. This often causes the original Kwikset deadlatch to break & then freeze up in the locked position. I fix this and install the passage latch afterwards, so it doesn't happen again. I turn a $5 latch into a charge for $28.50, which is a good money maker as I promise this problem will not occur again.

[MBI]

...One tip I have for you is to stock a few of the Kwikset passage latches.
I find that many times the garage door on most homes is set up to shut automatically via spring hinges. This often causes the original Kwikset deadlatch to break & then freeze up in the locked position.

Very true. I've lost track of how often I've replaced those interior garage knobs. I've seen them completely wear out on new homes around here in as little as two or three years, with high traffic and cheap door hardware.

[billdeserthills]

Round here the little deadlatch piece gets caught in the strike plate & breaks off after the door is slammed shut by the spring hinges a few times.
Other lock companies just put a deadlatch back in there, which breaks again in a few months. Makes me look extra competent when I can outdo them

[shutterstuff]

I just checked 3 different suppliers and non of them have the Kwikset passage latch. Any suggestions?

[cledry]

I just checked 3 different suppliers and non of them have the Kwikset passage latch. Any suggestions?

Berg Wholesale. Home Depot here even sells them.

[shutterstuff]

I just checked 3 different suppliers and non of them have the Kwikset passage latch. Any suggestions?

Berg Wholesale. Home Depot here even sells them.

I will check HD here.

[billdeserthills]

I just checked 3 different suppliers and non of them have the Kwikset passage latch. Any suggestions?

Top Notch Hdwr, Clark Security, IDN, Intermountain Lock & Supply, McDonald Dash
Actually I bought my last 30 or 40 off of e-bay they were like $2 apiece!

[shutterstuff]

I just checked 3 different suppliers and non of them have the Kwikset passage latch. Any suggestions?

Top Notch Hdwr, Clark Security, IDN, Intermountain Lock & Supply, McDonald Dash
Actually I bought my last 30 or 40 off of e-bay they were like $2 apiece!

I was just looking at Ebay... the batches have the best price. But watch shipping!