Q: Why are you licensed, bonded and insured?
A: We pay for these things, and maintain them, so that you can be positively assured that a) your work will be completed as promised b) that should any of our service personnel accidentally cause damage while working for you, it will be taken care of and c) your security information is safe with us, which is especially important if you’re a commercial client with a building full of locks and locksets or numerous rental properties all of which require a master key system. By the way, our locksmiths clean up the work area when the job is completed.
Q: Do you offer any discounts?
A: Yes, we do offer some discounts, which should not be confused with special offers. Any discounts are job-dependent. For example, if we travel to your home and install several deadbolt locking systems and rekey your doors to match those, you will receive a discount based on the facts that we have already traveled to your home and our tools are already in use. We also offer discounts to commercial clients that require multiple systems and so forth. Please feel free to call us to inquire about any discounts available for your particular project.
Q: Do you ever have special offers?
A: Yes, we sometimes will have special offers – such as a specially priced lockset type, or a special price for a certain deadbolt type. We also occasionally have special offers for specific project types and so forth. We try to keep our clients aware of these special offers through our Facebook page, which is linked to our website. Please feel free to call us to ask about any current special offers.
Q: Why do you require some proof of ownership to get me into my locked car?
A: This is simply for everyone’s protection. You certainly would not want us to help someone enter your vehicle, just so they could steal it. By requiring some proof of ownership, we’re protecting you from having your car stolen. It’s not uncommon for a car thief to contact a locksmith for assistance gaining entry to a vehicle, simply so they can steal it much more easily. We also require proof of ownership or a right of entry when we help someone get into a house, apartment or mailbox they’re locked out of. Again, this is for everyone’s protection.
Q: What are “chip keys?”
A: These automotive keys have small chips in them that ‘communicate’ with the ignition system, when the key is inserted. Essentially, they are an excellent digital anti-theft system. Of course, as one would expect, these keys are more costly to have made or duplicated. The original key costs are embedded in the original cost of the vehicle. If you need more information on chip keys, just contact us.
Q: Do you sell remote controls for vehicles?
A: Yes, we do – HOWEVER – we have found that most remotes that have quit working merely require some professional attention: terminal cleaning or alignment, battery replacement, contact cleaning, etc. Needless to say, this is much less costly than purchasing and programming a replacement remote control.
Q: Can you remove a key that’s broken off in a lock?
A: Yes, we can. You’d be surprised how often this happens to people. To keep your costs down, do NOT try to remove the broken key yourself. People often try to do that and cause damage to the lock itself, and also make removal of the key more difficult. This happens most often when a drill is involved. Often, that damage requires that a new lock needs to be installed, which is much costlier than a broken off key removal.
Q: Do you install high security hardware?
A: Yes, we do. Let us add a little to this answer. “high security hardware” is a very generic term in the lock industry. It can mean anything from simply marking the keys with “Do Not Duplicate” all the way to some extremely powerful, practically pickproof locks. No lock is completely pick proof, one merely requires the necessary tools and training. By way of example, regular locksets we can pick in a couple of minutes. Some high security locksets can take quite a long time to pick. If you feel you should have higher security in your new locksets or locks, talk to us about the available alternatives: from a little more secure to all-but-invulnerable.
Q: Can someone get a copy of a key that says “Do Not Duplicate?”
A: The short answer is – yes, they can. It is sometimes easy, and sometimes very difficult, but one way or another, such keys can, and do, get duplicated. You should also know that there is no current law which provides penalties for duplicating these keys. It becomes very hard to get such keys duplicated when they are from very high security locks, which require very unusual blanks that must be machined to tolerances within a couple thousandths of an inch. We will not duplicate keys marked with “do not duplicate” unless we are provided with something authorizing the key holder to have duplicates made. We consider this a protection for everyone, and an ethical imperative.
Q: Do you assess a “service charge?”
A: Yes. As a mobile business we simply must do this. Sometimes we travel many miles – and at odd hours. Fuel, maintenance, mobile locksmith equipment setups, insurance, etc. are just a few of the costs involved on our part to provide you with the convenience of service at your location, when you need it. We do all that we can to keep these charges minimal.
Q: Can someone open the locks you install with a “bump key?”
A: Essentially, any lock can be opened with a bump key – HOWEVER – those keys are a) not available to the general public b) there are MANY types of such keys and c) using one is noisy and time consuming. In other words, the hypothesized bump key villain would require many such keys, and he would have to try several of them to find the one that opened your lock. While he goes through the process, he is making a lot of noise, which is why most bump key incidents occur on TV shows and in the movies.
Q: Can someone open the locks you install with lock picks?
A: This answer falls neatly under the bump key answer. Lock picks, like bump keys, fall under the general category of “lockout tools.” Good lock picks are not available to everyone in the general public. Laws require that you have a legitimate purpose for even possessing such things – for obvious reasons. In closing this answer, let me add that learning how to properly use lock picks takes a lot of time and practice. Even decent lock pickers require a pretty good bit of time to pick even a simple lock, much less a high quality one. That means they’re exposed for a long time – and thieves don’t like that. Do not worry about having your locks picked or opened with bump keys – if you live in our service area. Thieves have much better ways of gaining entry quickly and with less exposure or skill and a lot fewer tools. Good locks, however, will keep them from entering through the doors!
Q: Do you offer a warranty on your work?
A: Yes, we do. The warranty will depend on the product or service. The warranty on high end, high security locks is greater than the warranty on lightweight aluminum locks used for screen doors, for example. We’ll be sure to let you know about your specific warranty.
Q: Can you make a reliable, working copy of my old, heavily worn key?
A: We have the very highest quality key duplicating equipment available today, which we maintain regularly to ensure absolute precision. To put this another way, we will only be able to duplicate what you give us – quite precisely. So, if your worn key often fails, so will your new one. Save that money! We can almost always make you a new, reliable key using the factory code. We can also frequently install new locks into existing hardware. Continuing to try and get working copies from ineffective keys is almost invariably a waste of your time and money – as well as frustrating!
Q: Do you install master systems?
A: Yes, we do. Again, the term “master system” is pretty generic. It has a different meaning for a homeowner than it does a building manager or a property management company with many home or apartment rental units. Also, such systems come in a range of security levels – and costs. If you want a master system, let’s talk about your specific situation and get you the very best solution based on your requirements.
