When you’re in a hurry and need to find a locksmith, it can be tough to know who to trust. There are so many locksmiths out there, how do you know which one is right for you? And more importantly, how do you avoid getting ripped off?
In this article, we’ll discuss how to find a locksmith you can trust and feel good about doing business with.
Some easy ways that you can avoid getting scammed and find a responsible locksmith without too much difficulty
Know Where to Go for Help
Before you need any locksmith services, it’s helpful to know where you will turn when you’re in an emergency. The best place to start is with your family and friends. If they’ve had any luck finding reasonably priced locksmiths, ask them who they used and how much they paid. You might also ask about the quality of work performed. A good source of referrals is the Better Business Bureau since most reputable locksmiths are members.
Getting Quotes from Several Locksmiths
Once you’ve identified a handful of locksmiths who are qualified to work on your particular type of lock, it’s time to start getting quotes. You can give them a call or contact each one individually online, but avoid using email since many locksmiths have an automated system that generates emails that do not allow for follow-up questions later on.
This is where having a few locksmiths lined up comes in handy so you can compare prices and quality of service without having to make too many phone calls yourself. Be sure to ask each locksmith about the cost of parts and labor as well as what types of discounts they might offer if multiple services are performed at the same time such as installing new locks and repairing old ones. Also, be sure to get an estimate on how long it might take for them to arrive.
Another thing to consider when determining which locksmith company to use is after-hours pricing as many locations charge a higher rate if the work needs to be completed at night or if the locksmith needs to come out on a holiday.
What to Watch Out for:
There are a few common scams that locksmiths will use to take advantage of you and your wallet which you should be aware of before hiring anyone. That way, you’ll know how to spot them and protect yourself from getting scammed by dishonest companies.
One such scam is referred to as “bandits” which refers to an unethical locksmith who suggests drilling new holes into your door so they can install higher quality or more elaborate locks than originally requested without ever giving you a quote upfront. You might think that it’s not much different because over time you end up paying more for the same work but in the case where no price is quoted upfront, this scam will become evident once you receive the bill.
Another common scam is to quote one price over the phone and then charge a higher amount when they arrive which is often referred to as “upselling.” While many reputable locksmiths might recommend high-quality products for your particular type of lock if they detect signs of wear and tear or other issues, this should always be discussed with you before any work is done so there’s no confusion about what exactly needs to be done and how much it will cost.
If a locksmith offers to rekey all of your locks without securing permission beforehand or providing an estimate first, that could be another sign that they’re trying to take advantage of you since rekeying services can vary widely depending on what type of locks and how many need to be rekeyed which you should always discuss with the locksmith first before any work is done. You may end up agreeing that it’s not necessary if only a few locks need to be rekeyed, but if they insist on completing the entire job without discussing this with you beforehand, then that’s a good sign that they’re trying to overcharge you for unnecessary work.
Finally, beware of high-pressure sales tactics in which locksmiths will claim their services are urgently required for them to gain your trust and convince you to hire them. This is especially common when dealing with walk-in businesses during store hours when customers are frequently looking for immediate assistance due to a lock malfunction.
Keys to Finding a Good Locksmith
First off, when it comes to finding the best locksmith for your particular needs there are two major things to consider: reputation and online reviews. While many of these companies will have an official website where they list their services and prices, some do not which means you’ll need to call them directly for quotes.
The first thing you want to ask is if they offer any type of guarantee or warranty that goes beyond the manufacturer’s warranty on the lock itself which many reputable locksmiths will be able to provide if they’re supplying the original equipment (and not simply re-keying your locks). If they don’t offer such a warranty, you might consider using another company simply for this reason. After all, it’s only common sense to protect yourself against potential issues in the future when it comes to something as important as securing your home or business.
Another thing you want to ask is if the price includes labor and parts which is important since some locksmiths will charge extra fees to come out, assess your situation and then quote you an amount that includes everything they’ll need to do. Some may also try to upsell you on high-quality brands like Schlage (who we sell!) and Kwikset with claims that their products are superior but you shouldn’t need anything fancier than Grade 1 unless your locks are extremely old or have other issues.
The last thing you might want to ask is when the locksmith will arrive which is important to consider since some only operate during certain business hours while others answer emergency calls any time of day. If they offer 24/7 service, that’s a good sign that they’re reputable and trustworthy enough to handle anything that comes up since it shows that they prioritize your security above all else rather than simply waiting until morning rush hour is over so they can make more appointments.
Locating Online Reviews
Besides doing this research yourself, reading online reviews from past customers can be an incredibly valuable way of assessing how reliable and trustworthy these professionals are in addition to determining their levels of experience which is important when considering the complexity of a locksmith’s job.
After all, not everyone can open a car door or home lock without causing damage which means you’ll probably want a specialist who knows what they’re doing and has plenty of experience to back it up. If they’ve been in business for less than a year, that’s another reason to be wary since you never know how much experience he or she has working with locks, making mistakes, and then having them end up costing you more money in the long run because of the re-keying charges if anything gets broken during their visit.
Where To Start Looking
Before calling any locksmiths near me, try looking on Google Maps first since these reviews are usually listed directly on their website (if they have one) or they may be posted on an external site like Yelp which is another popular place to check out. Many businesses will also list their prices and contact information on directories like Superpages, DexKnows, and the Better Business Bureau so keep that in mind as well when trying to find a locksmith online.
If you don’t find anything within these first few results, simply continue scrolling through Google’s search results since there are millions of locksmiths across the country just waiting to help with whatever issues you might face including emergencies where time is of the essence.
Customer Service
Of course, there’s a difference between simply reading about a company online and speaking to them live which is why you might want to consider giving their customer service department a call before choosing the locksmith that you’d like for your business or home. These representatives can answer questions such as whether they offer free estimates in addition to when the locksmith will arrive within 30 minutes which is why it’s important to get in touch with these professionals if possible before making any final decisions.
If it turns out that this locksmith doesn’t sound like he or she might be an ideal fit for your situation and you’d prefer someone else, don’t be afraid to ask whether they would refer another professional who can provide you with services since many locksmiths are more than happy to do this for you if they know someone who can do the job better.
Call them out
If there’s a locksmith that has made mistakes in the past, you might want to mention it too since others may be concerned about having their locks re-keyed or their security compromised because of these professionals’ incompetence. If your locks were damaged during installation or you had to pay additional fees because something wasn’t done right, make sure everyone knows before deciding whether to move forward with one business over another.
Remember that customers are always right so unless you’re trying to garner sympathy by falsely making claims about a specific company, people should choose themes that will provide them with both security and peace of mind.
Community Q&A
Asking for advice from others is incredibly valuable since people with experience will be able to tell you exactly what they look for when hiring a locksmith who can do the job correctly with less risk of their locks being re-keyed or broken if anything goes wrong during installation. The most helpful individuals are those who have had positive experiences with specific companies in the past so keep that in mind as well before making your final decision based on everyone’s input regarding these professionals.
When all is said and done, you might want to consider asking friends, family members, neighbors, or co-workers instead of strangers since they’re more likely to give honest opinions about what they look for in a locksmith whereas people you don’t know might not have any reason, to be honest, or trustworthy.
FAQs on How to Find a Reasonable Locksmith without Getting Ripped Off
What does a locksmith do?
A locksmith is someone who specializes in and installs and repairs locking mechanisms and door hardware.
How much does it cost to hire a locksmith?
The cost of hiring a locksmith can vary depending on whether the professional needs to drill, re-key, repair, or replace any hardware as well as how long their visit will take for installation purposes.
What should I not do when it comes to hiring a locksmith?
Do not hire anyone if you can’t get any sort of estimate from them first since this might indicate that they’re trying to scam their customers by charging exorbitant prices for services that aren’t necessary and aren’t done properly.
It’s important to remember that whatever happens, whether it’s getting locked out of your car or having your locks re-keyed so you don’t have to carry around multiple keys, the last thing you want is for anything to go wrong during installation. If something does happen, such as someone damaging your existing hardware or not showing up at all, make sure you push for a refund and hire someone else if necessary.
What should I remember when hiring a locksmith?
Some things to remember include getting in touch with them ahead of time, finding out whether they offer free estimates or not along with what types of services they offer, how much it will cost depending on the service(s) they’re providing, how long their visit might take, and what needs to happen to get quality work done during installation.
It is also wise to ask for referrals from these professionals if you don’t know anyone who can provide answers about what they look for in a locksmith so keep this in mind as well.
How do I find a reputable locksmith near me?
Since hiring a locksmith near you can be problematic if you don’t know who to trust, the best thing to do is ask friends, family members, neighbors, or co-workers for reputable locksmiths they’ve personally had experience with in the past since these people will have valuable input about what makes a business trustworthy and efficient.
It may also help to check out reviews from customers of a specific company online so people should look for businesses that have a high average rating while being careful not to automatically assume all negative comments aren’t one hundred percent valid.
What if I get ripped off?
If you find yourself getting overcharged due to not knowing what types of services are available along with fees that aren’t completely honest then it’s time to ask for a refund and hire someone else if need be. Whatever the case, make sure you hold onto any receipts or paperwork that is given to you and consider reporting anyone who charges more than they should for their services.
Are you looking for a locksmith?
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