News flash-"BBB(Better Business Bureau) of the Southlandis no longer licensed
to serve as a BBB." My lord, an instititution over 100 years old.
Part of a larger letter, this was sent to BBB accredited business's like
Flam's Lock and Key and thousands of others last week continuing to explain it
did not comply with several standards relating to accreditation, reporting on
buinsesses and handling complaints.
This is yet another blow to the smart consumer that tries to check in earnest
the reputation of of a company they want to hire because review sites like Yelp
and Angies list also have flaws of which the consumer is not aware ( unless they
own a business).
Yelp's computer system has a filter system that hides and filters positive
reviews that are often legitimate yet you will see over 200 reviews from clients
that advertise with them. They claim to know what they are doing but I don't
trust it, even through we have good ratings.
Angies list, also gives us and others shining reviews but the criteria upon
which one consumer rates service might be different than mine or yours.Do you
care that they arrived on time or smelled good or were affordable if you are not
qualified to know if their work was honest and good?
So what is the take away from all of this? It is OK to have starting points
but in the end getting word of mouth referrals and learning the required
credentials is our responsibility. We even need to go a step further and ask
them to email or fax their insurance certificates and licenses, a request any
decent business would not only be proud to do but elated to know there are
intelligent shoppers.
We must shop for trust and do our homework.
Yours in Security,
Vikki Flam
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Lock Picking Workshop Threatens our Security
In today's LA TIMES in the LAEXTRAsection there is an article called
"Picking this idea apart" which talks about a workshop approved by
Oakland's mayor on how to pick locks. Really, this is not a joke and the
community outrage is discussed in the article. Others in our local community, like greenleaf@watch2.org have also referenced this article
The reaction to the workshop caused only one change,even scarier, they cannot hand out lock pick sets which they do in other workshops. It is against the law for Flam's to sell lockpick sets to anyone not licensed in our trade so we are shocked they can do this. The rationalization stated in the article by one of the instructors says "As for the risk of educating burglars, most can find guidance online without having to pay $40.00 to come to an event where you have to use your real name.',
The article also states the workshop beckons:"In many cases, opening a lock without a key is easier than you think!" Open to participants 10-101, it has sold out.
As a side note, the article begins by opening "Burglaries have plagued just about every corner of this beleaguered city of late:Last year,Oakland averaged one break-in every 42 minutes-a 44% increase over 2011.
The take away from this article, as stated in my prior blogs is twofold:
1. Invest in high security locks like Medeco, Multi-lock, Primus, etc. because they are the most pick and bump resistent. Also, if sold the most recent patent, your key cannot be duplicated. It is 'real security' not 'feel good security'.
2. Vet the hell out of the lockmith you call because scams are on the rise, most are not properly licensed and all to many quote you on expired patents. Mobile locksmiths also cannot offer you 'non-carded' keys because they don't have a shop where you can get your keys duplicated. You don't have to know what this means today lest to say make a part of your education to compare apples to apples and reputation and ingrity before price.
We, at Flams's Lock and Key, have spent our entire career protecting your life and assets , that is the "why' of our reason for being in business, and we hope you are as enraged by this workshop as are we!
Yours in Security,
Jack and Vikki Flam
The reaction to the workshop caused only one change,even scarier, they cannot hand out lock pick sets which they do in other workshops. It is against the law for Flam's to sell lockpick sets to anyone not licensed in our trade so we are shocked they can do this. The rationalization stated in the article by one of the instructors says "As for the risk of educating burglars, most can find guidance online without having to pay $40.00 to come to an event where you have to use your real name.',
The article also states the workshop beckons:"In many cases, opening a lock without a key is easier than you think!" Open to participants 10-101, it has sold out.
As a side note, the article begins by opening "Burglaries have plagued just about every corner of this beleaguered city of late:Last year,Oakland averaged one break-in every 42 minutes-a 44% increase over 2011.
The take away from this article, as stated in my prior blogs is twofold:
1. Invest in high security locks like Medeco, Multi-lock, Primus, etc. because they are the most pick and bump resistent. Also, if sold the most recent patent, your key cannot be duplicated. It is 'real security' not 'feel good security'.
2. Vet the hell out of the lockmith you call because scams are on the rise, most are not properly licensed and all to many quote you on expired patents. Mobile locksmiths also cannot offer you 'non-carded' keys because they don't have a shop where you can get your keys duplicated. You don't have to know what this means today lest to say make a part of your education to compare apples to apples and reputation and ingrity before price.
We, at Flams's Lock and Key, have spent our entire career protecting your life and assets , that is the "why' of our reason for being in business, and we hope you are as enraged by this workshop as are we!
Yours in Security,
Jack and Vikki Flam
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