Why Are Locksmiths So Expensive? | Locksmith Blog

Q:
Why are locksmiths so expensive?

A: 
It really depends on who you are calling.

A national locksmith franchise or call center type operation often appear to be local businesses since they tend to use redirect local landlines to their call center and also display fake locations in their adverts.

National locksmith companies have enormous advertising costs due to the fierce nature of their advertising campaigns, taking up the majority of space in physical telephone directories and the expensive top listing positions in Google Adwords. This has to be made back somewhere and a large portion of the customers bill is made up of this advertising cost.

You will find that these companies sub contract work to the nearest locksmith on their books which could be anywhere up to 50 miles away, these traveling costs bump up your bill enormously. It could also mean you are waiting a ridiculous length of time for your locksmith to arrive.

Solution:

Use local tradesmen!

As a result of the nationals invading the country locksmiths have been labelled expensive emergency services when in fact the majority of real local locksmith business are reasonably priced and offer a fantastic service.

Using a local locksmith business ensures you are getting a quick response and a reliable, trustworthy tradesman who works hard to uphold his good reputation. National locksmith chains are far less likely to honor part guarantees and fix future problems since it is often difficult to send the same 'engineer' out again.

Spotting a genuine local business can be difficult with the misleading adverts put out by national locksmith companies.

If you go straight through to a receptionist wanting to know all your details before issuing a quotation you are more than likely speaking to a call center. A real local locksmith will be more than familiar with the area you tell them.

Always shop around, get a few quotations! The real local ones will be far cheaper than the nationals so never go for the first quote, no matter how desperate you are to get in.

About Turn Locks, Surrey

Locksmith Tips and Tricks | Locksmith Blog

Broken Multipoint Locks

Locksmith Tips and Tricks

Back by popular demand once again is five locksmiths tips and tricks.

I have had loads of emails asking when the next locksmith tricks would be added.

So Here you are, Five random tricks that may (or may not) help you out one day.




1> GU Mechanism Failure

The older GU mechanisms are prone to a failure by where the cast gear explodes out the back of the gearbox. (As in the gold mech in the image). If the door is jammed shut all that is required to open it is to apply a reasonable force downwards on the handle. Remember to physically unlock with key first though. A good locksmith will always have  a GU on the van, it is one of the most common out there!

2> Cutting Inner Steel Frames

When fitting a different multipoint lock that requires new keeps to be cut you will sometimes encounter an internal metal frame inside that is going to foul the hooks or shoot bolts and prevent the mech locking. I have found the best way to cut this metalwork is to hammer the edge of it with a sharp screwdriver or old chisel, splitting it. Do this at the top and bottom section of the area you need to remove and then fold inwards using a similar technique.

3> Adjusting Flag Hinges

Remove any cover caps and mark around the hinges with a pencil.
Starting with the top hinge wind each a few turns one at a time to pull the top of the door inwards and sometimes the bottom hinge outwards slightly. You will see the direction of the movement using the pencil lines as a guide. Test after each adjustment and fine tune to improve lock meshing.
If in doubt return all hinges back to pencil marks and try again.

4> Locksmith Training

Want to further your locksmith knowledge or learn how to pick locks like an expert?
There's only one man for the job. Jay at Island locks - Locksmith Training

5> Guest Posting Online

Guest posting is now an important part of how we should be advertising as locksmiths. A lot of my customers find me through investigating a problem themselves online and then reading a post I have made about it. Of course all your contact details are in the article and when recognised as an expert I get a call asking me to go and attend and help.
I recently travelled across the country to unlock some Cyberlocks for a company that had read an article of mine online. It was a good earner and well worth the trip!

Rick.

Thanks to Rob at Arvco Locksmiths at for some of that valuable content.