Locksmith Industry News

• A broken lock will always work when demonstrated for the locksmith.
  The lock will stop working the minute the locksmith leaves.
  The only thing you didn't check for a malfunction, will be the source of the problem, but you won't find it until you are called back.
• What ever the customer has told you to prepare for the service call will be wrong.
• A dropped part will always roll to the exact geographic center of the largest available object for it to roll under.
• The probability of the loss or breakage of any part is directly proportional to the difficulty of getting a replacement part.
  Irreplaceable parts will always break or be lost, and at the worst possible time.  Replaceable parts will only become available after an important deadline has passed.
• Parts that are difficult to install will freely fall out on their own.
• Parts that go in easily will be extremely hard to remove, and removal will be necessary to accomplish the needed repair.
• The part you will need will be the irreplaceable part you threw away last week because there are no more locks of that type around
• The number of customers that visit your shop is inversely proportional to the number of employees you have to wait on them.
  When your entire staff is available no one will come.
  When you are there alone, everyone will come and they will be impatient.
• The probability of an auto lockout varies directly with the intensity of the rain.
• The length of time it take to open any vehicle varies directly with the intensity of the rain.
• The length of time it take to open a vehicle or pick a lock varies directly with the number of on-lookers making fun of how long it takes you.
• The length of time it take to open a vehicle or pick a lock varies directly with the number of television and movie characters your customer claims can do it in only a few seconds. {There is a dispute as to whether it actually takes longer or whether time just seams to drag when certain customers are around}
• The number of witnesses available is inversely proportional to the skill you demonstrate.
  There will never be anyone around to see you do something brilliant
  When you really screw up, you will get network coverage with a 40 share.
• The probability of having someone closing a safe and spinning the dial while you have the back of the lock off will vary directly with the square of the number of people you tell not to touch the safe while you get something out of the truck.
  The probability of having someone close a safe and spinning the dial while you have the back of the lock off will vary directly with the square of the number of re-lockers that will be tripped.
  The more elaborate the precautions you take the more likely they are to close a safe and spin the dial while you have the back of the lock off. {Nothing is fool-proof because fools are too ingenuous}
• The probability of arriving at the job site without a needed tool or with the wrong hardware are directly proportional with the square of the travel distance
  You will always have what you need when the job is next to your shop.
  They lock will always be the wrong hand and not field reversible when the job is more than 1/2 hour travel.
• Any written specification you have been issued by the customer will be the old one that has since been revised.
• Any lock finish or style that you have with you will not match the rest of the hardware in the building.
• The harder it is to obtain matching hardware, the more the customer will insist on an exact match.
  If you have an exact match the customer will say " Matching isn't important, don't you have anything cheaper?"
• When a customer has a large number of specialty locks , that lock will require very expensive service and pin kits.
  When you buy the kits, you only get to use them one time, or you find that something you already have can be used instead.
  When you don't buy the kits, nothing else that you have will work instead, and you will have constant problems that would have been avoided by buying the kits.
  By the time you finally buy the kits your lost time will exceed the cost of the kits by ten fold. Then your customer will go elsewhere.
• The harder you try to get to a call quickly, the more other locksmiths will beat you to it and the less likely you are to get paid for coming out.
• The more difficult the customer, the more locksmiths he calls to come out.
  The more people they call, the less likely you are to get paid.
  Major ass holes call every locksmith for a hundred miles radius.
  They only pay the first to show up and complain about the price they have to pay, even though they were quoted that price before they told you to come.
• No matter how low you bid the job there is always an idiot out there willing to do it for less.
  The more you cut your price to get business, the more likely you are to go out of business.
  The more you try to compete on a price basis the lower your prices will go. Your income will follow.
• The bigger your yellow pages ad is the more low priced calls from non-repeat customers you will get.
  Increasing the ad size and cost increases the percentage of low profit calls you get.
  The prize for beating out all other locksmiths for the biggest most expensive advertising in all the different yellow pages books is bankruptcy
• The more you advertise that you have 24 hour service the more security guards and Insomniacs will call you in the middle of the night with request for price quotations.
  You will get angry calls from people who stopped by your shop at midnight and you weren't there even though you advertised 24 hour service.
  You will get calls after midnight from people who saw your 24 hour service claim and want to have you meet them at your shop immediately to cut one key on your 89 cent coupon special. {On this lost Leader you lose your mind and your sleep.}
• Your best apprentice will quit and open a shop across the street and cut your prices. The one who is un-trainable will stay with you forever.

To read the original artical visit here: http://www.jfbdtp.com/Murphy.html

When you need a locksmith, chances are you’re not looking out for fraudsters. Get them in and out to unlock your door – whether it’s your home or car – and be on your way. But an investigation by NBC affiliate WRC in Washington D.C. found that locksmith scams are on the rise.
According to the Locksmith Association of America, the huge majority of locksmith ads in print and online are placed by con artists. The general idea behind the scam is to quote you a reasonable price for the service over the phone and then triple, or even quadruple that price once they show up. These scammers are banking on you, the consumer, forking over hundreds of dollars for the convenience of being let in to your car or house. 

Security expert and former New York cop Bill Stanton says the increase in fraud is correlated – surprise – to the downturn in the economy. And it isn’t just locksmiths. Consumers should be extra vigilant about repairmen, plumbers and other services that have the opportunity to prey on the customer’s lack of knowledge about their job.

Stanton recommends always asking upfront for a price quote. If they don’t stick to what they quoted you, refuse payment. Also be aware that locksmiths in particular can gouge their prices in bad weather – especially if you’re locked out of your car in a rain or snowstorm since you’re that much more likely to overpay just to get home. Also make sure the locksmith you use is licensed by the state, Stanton says. One easy way to ensure that you are not caught off guard next time you forget your keys is to do a little research to find a referral to a state-licensed locksmith and keep their info in your pocket so you don’t have to worry about getting a scammer.

Of course, the best way to protect yourself in any of these consumer scams remains the same: be vigilant. Look for shady folks, note bizarre behavior and don’t be afraid to walk away from a situation that doesn’t feel right. Or, as Stanton put it, “be a lion, don’t be a sheep.”

To read the original artical visit here: http://www.cnbc.com/id/28876001

Consumers are warned to beware of individuals posing as locksmith who perform unnecessary work or charge exorbitant un-locking fees. The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA), an international association of locksmith and physical security professionals, recently issued an official warning.

"This scheme entices locked-out consumers with large Yellow Pages ads that give the impression you are calling a local business," says ALOA's Executive Director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr., "These companies manipulate listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make them seem like a neighborhood businesses. In actuality, the victims frequently are calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies at all. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the victim is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and sub-standard work."

ALOA has created a checklist for detecting a company that may be engaging in this scheme. "Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves," adds Gibson. "However, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con artist."

1. Not Familiar with Your Area. To make sure the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town.
2. "Locksmith Service." Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, "locksmith service." If the call is answered this way, ask, "What is the legal name of your business"
3. ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA? While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo.You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by (800) 532-2562 or www.findalocksmith.com 
4. Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?
5. "Under Same Ownership." This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, is often legally required to prevent a business from deceiving the public. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases.
6. Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle ? a van or truck that is clearly marked.
7. Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith's identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it? Does it match the name on the service vehicle?
8. Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
9. Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can't dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for .
   Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.

If you feel that you have been the victim a scheme as described above, ALOA recommends that you contact the office of the Attorney General in your state. Most Attorneys General have a division that specializes in fraudulent or deceptive business practices.You may find out how to contact your Attorney General at www.naag.org.

Check for a valid state license number . The states that have licensing for locksmith services ( AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX ) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from phony locksmith scams.

The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is the world's largest organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. ALOA is dedicated to being the consumer's first line of defense in physical security by increasing the effectiveness and productivity of locksmiths through educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. ALOA's activities include the ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) program, the ALOA Annual Convention & Security Expo and the ALOA Training Center, which is based in Dallas, Texas. ALOA leads the way for advanced and improved security performance by providing members and the security community with access to a full range of educational programs and services.

If you think your home is safe just because the door is locked, think again.  Bad guys may be able to slip into your house with very little effort, by trying something called "lock bumping."

Memphian Cyndi Sinclair has a one-year old son.  To her, security is everything.  "It was certainly important before but now that we have a baby, it's all that I think about it.  I just want to make sure that he's ok," she said.

She was stunned by this story.  You will be too.  Everyone - who sees this in action - is stunned. "I think that's pretty scary that someone could break into our house," said another homeowner.

It's called "lock-bumping."  And safety experts say this technique works on more than 90 percent of homes.

"The good guys need to know what to watch out for.  The bad guys are gonna find out what to do.  So why should the public not know what's happening?" said locksmith Glen Peifer.

The trick?  A special series of cuts on a regular old house key and a tap or a series of taps will do the trick.

With lock-bumping how-to's buzzing across the internet, we decided it was time to find solutions. "Alarm systems are more expensive than this lock," said Peifer, pointing at a lock he says is "bump proof."  "So if you're going down the road of expense this is the cheapest solution.  This will put a lock on the door that can't be picked."

There are some things you can do.
Peifer says alarms and pets are good deterrents.  Lighting around your house helps too.  But the best thing you can do is spend a little money on better Locks.  Locks by Medeco and Schlage Primus can't be bumped.  They're more expensive, but they'll do the trick.

"When you're trying to put a value on your property, that's easy enough to do.  But how do you put a value on your personal safety?  You can't put a price tag on that.  How can you afford not to have a lock that you can't pick in this way, that you can't use a bump key on?" he said.

The answer - he says - is that you can't.  And with the digital underworld abuzz about this new threat, safety experts say it's time to key in. 

We felt it would be irresponsible not to tell you about it.