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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp ... 7#45320607
Any of you guys see this ,
Expencive dodgy locksmiths exposed of nbc news

Disgusting! Just fuckin' disgusting!!

Here's some more assholes....

act 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1LqYJiX6zA
act 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgjyuoY5hyY
act 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgjyuoY5hyY

wtf these piece of shit FAKES!

The guy that said you can't pick a Kwikset and that picking is only something you see in the movies made me chuckle. What a bunch of shonks!

Part of this problem is self-inflicted on the locksmith industry/trade. It is largely because of the secretive guild mentality of locksmiths that the general public is so profoundly ignorant of even the basics of locksmithing and that consequently these charlattans are able to commit these shenanigans. If the general public were as educated about residential locksmithing as they are about residential plumbing they would tell these "locksmiths" to fuck off when they assert that they have to drill a Kwikset cylinder or that a replacement Kwikset KIK set costs US$200.

Further, I don't see how licensing and registration would prevent this problem. Will the local or state goverment vet every publication and website for adverstisements for lockout services and then confirm that the advertiser is properly licensed and registered? That is implausible. Attempting such an exercise would be costly and labour intensive and it can't possibly be complete. I have difficulty accepting advertising campaigns by professional locksmithing organisations that state "Employ the services only of those locksmiths that belong to organisation X" or "Ask to see proof of membership to organisation X". The difficulty for me is that "Organisation X" doesn't "own" locksmithing nor does any other self-declared group of individuals; it is anti-competitive; and these are typically fear-based campaigns. The issue of professional insurance is quite distinct from the issue of professional organisation membership and the two matters shouldn't be conflated.

What would help eliminate this sort of chicanery is an effort by the various professional locksmithing organisations to educate and inform the public and to permit working locksmiths to represent the trade on DIY/home renovation type shows.

"That's when our "lock" ran out". Man do I ever love the news for their puns!

Back to the point though, That is insane that they would charge that much. I feel really bad for the people that fall into that trap.

Oh and I love the dude that says that you can't pick locks and it only happens in the movies! I'm looking for a job as a locksmith right now and if my boss wants me to charge that much I wouldn't care if I had no money coming in, I would quit on the spot.

This is an escalating problem, especially in big cities. Piotr, I will disagree with you on one thing. The associations (see ALOA ) are only advertising that THEY will stand behind their members, which gives the consumer some recourse if they are unhappy with the service. This crap happens in all service trades, locksmithing is so "reactive" that many times people do no research to see who they are hiring. Common sense says you wouldn't have someone come and work without some sort of written estimate first, but these folks are pissed off/scared/confused or who knows what else. They weren't expecting this to happen. Plumbing has a simular problem with schisters. I think this is where ALOA can do the most for the industry, as an advocate and lobbiest (?).