It has been too long since my last blog and I have been struggling about the appropriateness of this topic. Why? Because a blog is not intended to promote a product but to be conversational and educational. But today I am blogging as a parent and not a business owner,a parent who cried last night watching the memorial for Sandy Hook.
If what I have to say today saves one life than it trumps offending any accusations of being opportunistic.As a security professional class room 'intruder locks' are not new to Flam's Lock and Key but they may be to many readers. These locks allow the teacher to lock the outside of the room from the inside, with a key, so they don't have to exit the room to lock the door. This is different than a double sided lock because the lock can still be opened with a key from the outside by the administration. This is important because of child molestation protection for the kids and teachers.
This lock also prevents the kids from being able to lock the teacher outside the room, unlock a thumb turn, which some schools opt to use instead.It is this simple and this sad that there is even a need for these locks for ANY reason but in these crazy times I am glad we have them.
In the past schools dismissed them because of the additional cost but after Sandy Hook there are few of us who can argue with the 'real' cost. This security is not in the 'virtual' world of violence and games that contribute to these unfathomable crimes but they are in the real world and can make a real difference.
Yours in Security,
Vikki Flam
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Cheap Customer of the week with Security tip on keys
As many of you know Flam's Lock and Key will be celebrating 60 years in
business this year and when we think we have seen it all we are yet again
pleasantly surprised.
This is a funny cheap customer story for this week but one that also sends a helpful tip you should know about your keys.
A gentleman came into the shop and asked us to duplicate a key because the one he got at Lowe's did not work. When Jack looked at the copy he gave to Lowe's he told him several things:
1. His key was worn which in our world is a bad key, one that will eventually stop working and will also wear down the cylinder. Either case will be costly be a lock out or cylinder replacement. JACK DECODED THE KEY AND THEN PUNCHED AN 'ORIGINAL' KEY, somthing only a good locksmith would know and do. It also did not cost more than a regular $2.50 duplicate.
2. He also told him that key cutters at big box stores do not look at the keys first, they just duplicate them. They also use 'generic' key blanks which are not as good as the manufacturer's key blanks, even if you give them a good key.
3. He explained to him that you should always, when possible, duplicate keys from orginals because each time you duplicate from a duplicate the cuts go down a generation to the point it will eventually will not work. A good analogy is duplicating pictures; each time you make a copy from a copy it gets granier and grainier.
Good information, would you agree? Well here is the head turner of the story;
When Jack was done the customer thanked him for his knowledge, for a new key that would work and the asked how much it would be to cut a second key.When Jack told him $2.50 the man said it was too expensive and he would take it to Home depot.
Need more be said?
By the way, look at events calander for National Night Out on August 7th. A little brag, we are the only security professionals the Van Nuys Poice ask to set up a booth at this annual event. The patch will also have more information on this so keep your eyes peeled.
This is a funny cheap customer story for this week but one that also sends a helpful tip you should know about your keys.
A gentleman came into the shop and asked us to duplicate a key because the one he got at Lowe's did not work. When Jack looked at the copy he gave to Lowe's he told him several things:
1. His key was worn which in our world is a bad key, one that will eventually stop working and will also wear down the cylinder. Either case will be costly be a lock out or cylinder replacement. JACK DECODED THE KEY AND THEN PUNCHED AN 'ORIGINAL' KEY, somthing only a good locksmith would know and do. It also did not cost more than a regular $2.50 duplicate.
2. He also told him that key cutters at big box stores do not look at the keys first, they just duplicate them. They also use 'generic' key blanks which are not as good as the manufacturer's key blanks, even if you give them a good key.
3. He explained to him that you should always, when possible, duplicate keys from orginals because each time you duplicate from a duplicate the cuts go down a generation to the point it will eventually will not work. A good analogy is duplicating pictures; each time you make a copy from a copy it gets granier and grainier.
Good information, would you agree? Well here is the head turner of the story;
When Jack was done the customer thanked him for his knowledge, for a new key that would work and the asked how much it would be to cut a second key.When Jack told him $2.50 the man said it was too expensive and he would take it to Home depot.
Need more be said?
By the way, look at events calander for National Night Out on August 7th. A little brag, we are the only security professionals the Van Nuys Poice ask to set up a booth at this annual event. The patch will also have more information on this so keep your eyes peeled.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Do Ethics & Integrity Hurt us or Help Us?
I never thought this question would even occur to me and it makes me feel sad that it does. Do ethics and integrity hurt us or help us or is it true that the good guys come in last?
This year Flam's lock and key will be celebrating 60 years in business and there is no question we have survived this long not just because of our knowledge but because of our high ethical standards and reputation built on trust. But we have been experiencing a change during this long recession that is disheartening and I would love your feedback.
As a business that is real estate based we have been hurt in this recession as is the case with most trades. But we have seen a lot of our business being lost to scam artists, both with shops and mobile only services that quote a cheap service call and than rip you off when they arrive at your home or business.
What has changed is not the existence of these companies but the numbers of them and the increase in how many consumers have hired them in the last 5 years.
Do many go out of business? The answer is yes, but when so many more are taking a little piece of the pie it adds up to a lot less business for the good guys.
Just last week I got another call asking how much our service call was and how much it would cost to replace 4 locks. When I asked him why he thought he needed new locks he said he just moved in and didn't want the old key to work. I told him he just needed them re-keyed, an inexpensive fact that the other locksmiths didn't tell him. I just saved him hundreds of dollars but when I told him our service call was $79.50 ( about $30.00 more than other quotes) he said we were too expensive and hung up.
Then there are the home or office lockouts, the infamous of all rip offs when the cheaper companies tell you they can't pick your lock so they can charge you to drill it, bill you for a new lock and labor to install. It even gets better when they drill out a decent quality lock , replace it with a cheap lock and charge you 3 to 4 times more for the lock.
The list goes on but the story for today is the apartment owner who wanted a quote to redo the master system on his building. Our bid was $1,900 and we lost it to a locksmith who bid $900.00. How do we know this? Because the locksmith who got the job knew master key systems were not his forte and came in to ask Jack to check the system he created. The address of the building was on his paperwork so Jack asked him what he charged. long story short, on his system every 3rd apartment would have been on the same key. So not only was the apartment owner throwing away $900.00 but he was increasing his liability a thousand fold.
Again, nothing new under the sun but as we struggle to stay above water(and we will) I find my tolerance decreasing and my fear increasing.
Our reputation is everything, especially in security, and we will not sacrifice our standards to increase our sales, we would rather close our doors!
It is the consumer who chooses us because they trust our ethics and therefore do not question our price that we remain eternally grateful. They know we are not 'bubba's' because we can't always quote them on the phone and they don't hire us because we 'smell good' or arrive on time ( we smell just fine and sometimes we are little late). They know the "bottom line", not the 'trip charge' line will be fair.
This year Flam's lock and key will be celebrating 60 years in business and there is no question we have survived this long not just because of our knowledge but because of our high ethical standards and reputation built on trust. But we have been experiencing a change during this long recession that is disheartening and I would love your feedback.
As a business that is real estate based we have been hurt in this recession as is the case with most trades. But we have seen a lot of our business being lost to scam artists, both with shops and mobile only services that quote a cheap service call and than rip you off when they arrive at your home or business.
What has changed is not the existence of these companies but the numbers of them and the increase in how many consumers have hired them in the last 5 years.
Do many go out of business? The answer is yes, but when so many more are taking a little piece of the pie it adds up to a lot less business for the good guys.
Just last week I got another call asking how much our service call was and how much it would cost to replace 4 locks. When I asked him why he thought he needed new locks he said he just moved in and didn't want the old key to work. I told him he just needed them re-keyed, an inexpensive fact that the other locksmiths didn't tell him. I just saved him hundreds of dollars but when I told him our service call was $79.50 ( about $30.00 more than other quotes) he said we were too expensive and hung up.
Then there are the home or office lockouts, the infamous of all rip offs when the cheaper companies tell you they can't pick your lock so they can charge you to drill it, bill you for a new lock and labor to install. It even gets better when they drill out a decent quality lock , replace it with a cheap lock and charge you 3 to 4 times more for the lock.
The list goes on but the story for today is the apartment owner who wanted a quote to redo the master system on his building. Our bid was $1,900 and we lost it to a locksmith who bid $900.00. How do we know this? Because the locksmith who got the job knew master key systems were not his forte and came in to ask Jack to check the system he created. The address of the building was on his paperwork so Jack asked him what he charged. long story short, on his system every 3rd apartment would have been on the same key. So not only was the apartment owner throwing away $900.00 but he was increasing his liability a thousand fold.
Again, nothing new under the sun but as we struggle to stay above water(and we will) I find my tolerance decreasing and my fear increasing.
Our reputation is everything, especially in security, and we will not sacrifice our standards to increase our sales, we would rather close our doors!
It is the consumer who chooses us because they trust our ethics and therefore do not question our price that we remain eternally grateful. They know we are not 'bubba's' because we can't always quote them on the phone and they don't hire us because we 'smell good' or arrive on time ( we smell just fine and sometimes we are little late). They know the "bottom line", not the 'trip charge' line will be fair.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Do you know the difference between a Security Professional and a Locksmith?
Jack and I continue to share our industry concern with both the influx and numbers of unqualified companies that call themselves locksmiths. Most of them are out of business within a year or 2 but not before ripping you off and leaving you vulnerable with poor security.
Sixty years ago there were about eight locksmith companies in the entire San Fernando Valley and we all had brick and mortar shops, not just mobile services. We learned a highly skilled trade by apprenticing ( now an unknown term) for 3 to 5 years. We specialized in commercial and residential, not automotive. There was no internet to advertise 'fake' address's. We learned the skill of master keying by hand and brain, not computer programs, so that today we can still look at a computerized system, see the flaws and perfect it.
Today there are over 800 listings, mostly mobile, not properly credentialed and doing automotive lockouts 90% of the time. Why? Because the generation of the last 15 years want to make money out the door instead of taking the time to apprentice and learn this respectable trade. Making matters worse is the local locksmith school that takes their money, trains them for 3 months and tells them they can open their open their own business. Nary a moment with any practical experience in a trade that takes at least one year to learn JUST the basics.
BUT THE SCARIEST THING OF ALL is that the consumer does not know the difference!
So here are a few common sense tips before my next blog. These are not guarantees of honesty or knowledge, but better than nothing and apply to most trades:
1. Start by asking for referrals, verify on the internet but don't start looking on the internet. General rule of thumb, if you hear 3 good things about the same company they are usually true, same with 3 bad things.
2. Know the required credentials and ASK them to email or fax them to you. If they have them they will proud to send them. Also be aware that our industry requires a State Contractors License in addition to our consumer affairs license so just saying 'licensed' is not enough. Same thing applies for asking for proof of insurance and checking the limits.
3. A company with a brick and mortar location and more than one locksmith is less likely to be here today and gone tomorrow. They will also have more product solutions than what will just fit into a van and more brain power to problem solve. They may 'appear' to cost a bit more but the bottom line is less.
4. Even when you have done all of the above still go with your gut instincts, they are right 100% of the time.
Yours in Security,
Jack and Vikki
Sixty years ago there were about eight locksmith companies in the entire San Fernando Valley and we all had brick and mortar shops, not just mobile services. We learned a highly skilled trade by apprenticing ( now an unknown term) for 3 to 5 years. We specialized in commercial and residential, not automotive. There was no internet to advertise 'fake' address's. We learned the skill of master keying by hand and brain, not computer programs, so that today we can still look at a computerized system, see the flaws and perfect it.
Today there are over 800 listings, mostly mobile, not properly credentialed and doing automotive lockouts 90% of the time. Why? Because the generation of the last 15 years want to make money out the door instead of taking the time to apprentice and learn this respectable trade. Making matters worse is the local locksmith school that takes their money, trains them for 3 months and tells them they can open their open their own business. Nary a moment with any practical experience in a trade that takes at least one year to learn JUST the basics.
BUT THE SCARIEST THING OF ALL is that the consumer does not know the difference!
So here are a few common sense tips before my next blog. These are not guarantees of honesty or knowledge, but better than nothing and apply to most trades:
1. Start by asking for referrals, verify on the internet but don't start looking on the internet. General rule of thumb, if you hear 3 good things about the same company they are usually true, same with 3 bad things.
2. Know the required credentials and ASK them to email or fax them to you. If they have them they will proud to send them. Also be aware that our industry requires a State Contractors License in addition to our consumer affairs license so just saying 'licensed' is not enough. Same thing applies for asking for proof of insurance and checking the limits.
3. A company with a brick and mortar location and more than one locksmith is less likely to be here today and gone tomorrow. They will also have more product solutions than what will just fit into a van and more brain power to problem solve. They may 'appear' to cost a bit more but the bottom line is less.
4. Even when you have done all of the above still go with your gut instincts, they are right 100% of the time.
Yours in Security,
Jack and Vikki
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Do you really have a Do Not Duplicate Key?
Ok, scary stuff but true;
Fry's Electronics and Lowe's now have self service key duplicating machines.
We sent our daugther to a Lowe's with a Do Not Duplicate key to see what would happen and the young man told her he would help her put it through the machine if she brought it back with a key cover that hides the DND words.
INCREDBILE!
This ia another reason to invest in Medeco High Security Locks, because these places do not have access to these key blanks.
Also, even if you have a regular key, these places use cheap key blanks and if you have a worn key there is no one there to tell you that your duplicate may not work because of this.
Last, all locksmiths are required to have a "key duplicating" permit. Please help us understand why this should be required when there are machines like these?
How do you feel about all of this? Comments appreciated
Fry's Electronics and Lowe's now have self service key duplicating machines.
We sent our daugther to a Lowe's with a Do Not Duplicate key to see what would happen and the young man told her he would help her put it through the machine if she brought it back with a key cover that hides the DND words.
INCREDBILE!
This ia another reason to invest in Medeco High Security Locks, because these places do not have access to these key blanks.
Also, even if you have a regular key, these places use cheap key blanks and if you have a worn key there is no one there to tell you that your duplicate may not work because of this.
Last, all locksmiths are required to have a "key duplicating" permit. Please help us understand why this should be required when there are machines like these?
How do you feel about all of this? Comments appreciated
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)