subbing

[cred]

hi guys,
first day today on one of the big subcontractors for lockies got my call this morning (early!) to see if i was available for work,its now 8.00pm and still no jobs,what i an now wondering is because i am new on there books and weekend work is the highest rate would the lockies that have been subbing for them for a long time get the first choice of the jobs and if they dont want them do they then call me? (been on pins all day )
thanx
ray

[Rockford]

If you spend the day hanging around the phone - you'll go nuts. Go about your business - do your shopping, play with the kids, mow the grass etc. etc. When the call comes in - tell them when you can make it. So long as you're within the hour they tend not to mind - don't let them think you're waiting for work, as they'll throw you the crappy jobs no-one else will take.

The weekend is usually busy, however the past few have been slow. Today, I've only taken 2 subbing calls - the first I turned down as I was on my way to a private job, and the second I took as it was a UPVC lockout (turned out to be a bugger to pick - nearly exhausted my pickgun, and eventually got it with the Rap keys).

The trend I find, is for crappy low paid jobs during the day - which I tend to turn down unless it's nearby, a juicy pick (good practice), or is a lock installation which makes up for the rate. The evening rates are much better, and tend to be lockouts - some easy, some not. So I usually have the day to myself for private work, or other business activities (paperwork, advertising etc.), and then go out subbing in the evening.

The call will come - just get on with your life in the meantime.

Let us know when you've done your first - and how it went.

Good Luck.

Rockford.....

[gee252]

Good luck cred hope all go's well, bet your on edge.

[cred]

thanx gee,
left it till 8.00pm last night thought sod it so ran a bath and got in it and hey presto the phone rang,had the bath and took it anyway,just to get the first sub job out of the way,things went ok well apart from the woman saying HOW MUCH!!!!!!! just said sorry luv its not me who sets the prices (she should of phoned me first it would have been wayyyyyyyy cheaper)
thanx
ray

[gee252]

any info one the first job?
i keep telling my self to contact them and get some weekend work keep putting it of.
keep practicing loads but as pinky says its not the same. would like to know a bit about what was involved if you don't mind cred would give me a insight on what to expect.
regards graham

[cred]

hi graham,
the job was a euro lock with part of the key snapped in it,tryed to get it with the extractor but would not come out,so i had to drill the lock ,it is nerveracking espesially with 3 people watching over you,but you just have to take the bull by the horns and go for it,or you never will,this for me is more for on the job experence more than anything thats why i am just doing it at the weekend part time to gain a little confidence,go for it i am sure you will be fine,like the other guys say just do the jobs you think you can handle.
ray

[EvoRed]

Hi Cred,

Was there not enough of the key in there for you to just turn the cylinder and open the lock or even pick a couple of the nearest pins with the others already set with the key?

I agree, it does put you under pressure when customers are right behind you, cold, p'd off, and just want to get in. I too should be subbing any time now and, like yourself, I'm doing it for the experience as much as anything. I will feel a little embarrassed when presenting them with the bill though. If only they'd come to me direct, it'd be better for everyone! Apart from the emergency company that is!

[cred]

hi,
the key had snapped flush with keyway tryed to drill a small hole and turn it but to no avail couldnt even get the extractor in, too tight.plus i think i started to rush things a little bit so i didnt go over the hr,she wouldnt have been pleased with that as at first she said BUT IT WONT TAKE LONGER THAN AN HR WILL IT,it took me approx 15 mins to open the door and half wat through the husband says if it was a thief he would have had the tv out by now!!!!!!!!! i said he would have smashed the window to get in (and dont think he would want to try and get the tv out of the window!!!)
ray

[EvoRed]

So this was a Saturday night? How much did you have to charge altogether and what are the rates set, i.e. is the whole weekend double time and, obviously, you must get an increased percentage over the weekend?

You can PM me if you wish.

[Guest]

great topic cred, i'm thinking about domestic subbing, what extraction tool were you using?

[kendale]

Hi
I take it you must be using the extractor from the majestic pick set.
I find the best key extractor is a small set in a leather pouch marked A1 just screw it in down the side of the key, the set is the same as hpc set but you will find the pin vice is not capable of holding the extractor tight, I have even had a pair of pliers on the leather pouch to remove a key, incidently get yourself a piece of 1mm spring steel approx 2 inches long bend it in half so you have a U shape and cut both ends to an identical length, now if you have any pins or wafers blocking the piece of broken key insert the wire into the keyway touching the broken key and let it spring open and this will give a clean keyway for the key to be removed, have you ever tried to hold everything out of the way with the back of a pick it is not very succesfull, as for subbing you need to be on about 20 contractors books and if you go to the correct company's they dont take a percentage they just ask you to do the job and send them the invoice.

[toomush2drink]

it took me approx 15 mins to open the door and half wat through the husband says if it was a thief he would have had the tv out by now!!!!!!!!!

I have heard that line in so many different guises its silly and when your concentrating hard to hear a click as your picking it can really do your head in . Good to see your over your "sweat day" and had a success and 15mins is a great start. The thing that puts me off subbing for reactfast is like you say, handing over the bill at their inflated prices.

Anyone else found this month slow ? I think we have hard times ahead as people are tightening their belts with the interest rate rises. Also a flood of new lockies on the market too so i think its going to get tougher.

[kendale]

Cant say I have found it slow, but it will ease off now as everybody spends on christmas rather than security, however 2 weeks before christmas is always busy due to the amount of burglary over the pressies being stolen.

[oldlock]

If the key is snapped in the right position to allow the plug to turn, try using a small centre punch to tap the plug around, you can then insert another key from the inside (assuming double euro) to push the bit out.

Just try and ignore the fatuous (sp) comments - if it's so easy to do why was he still out in the cold ?

[Rockford]

Yep - also finding it slow. Yesterday I only did 2 jobs, and for a Saturday that is very slow. Today 4 - but the night is young.

I think the weather is also putting people off going out, so less lockouts to deal with. Hopefully, with the xmas party season nearly upon us, there will be an increase in boozy people losing keys.

Rockford.....