Re: For sale: Abus Padlock Cutaways
HallisChalmers wrote:MANDELBROT27 wrote:I dont really understand the concept.A cutaway padlock is for beginners to practice and understand the inners of a lock. (In the context of sport lock picking) So why would you want to spend £72 on a practice lock ?? You can buy the ultimate practice lock from the shop for £18.
For £72 you could buy a FEDERAL 730P or a CHUBB CONQUEST 1K22
Dont know if other members would agree but this site is about helping each other out, not making a killing.Thats why the shop is so cheap! Id stick to Ebay or maybe wait for EZpicking to return if all your interested in is making money from locks.
Hands up i suppose £20 is not bad but id still go for one made for the job for the reasons stated in your Ebay advert
Ok, I'll step into this pissing match and get my boots wet.
First of all, there is a misconception that a cutaway padlock is a practice lock.
This is incorrect.
A "cutaway" padlock can be a PRACTICE lock - but it can also be a COLLECTOR'S lock. I've seen many examples on eBay and elsewhere, such as the American Lock Collectors Association website.
http://alca.us/cutaway.php
http://alca.us/cutaway.php?aa=0&si0=16
Some of the best examples are factory cutaways done as salesman's samples by Yale, American, Best, etc. Finding one in pristine condition can fetch big bucks.
Others, crafted by hobbyists or other aficiondaos can range from expertly done - to chunks of brass that look like they've been hacked with an axe.
Mandelbrot, I don't think Hintz was trying to rip people off. His ad here is exactly what it is - an ad for cutaway locks that can be used for practice - or collecting, depending on the buyer's personal desire. Since, Hintz has put his samples on eBay - the bidders can decide what they want to pay for the item. If it's too much - don't bid. No guns to any one's head.
Personally, I wouldn't pay $100 for a set of matchbooks: http://cgi.ebay.com/EARLY-LOT-OF-32-CAR-GASOLINE-OIL-AUTOPARTS-MATCH-BOOKS_W0QQitemZ390005393364QQihZ026QQcategoryZ156501QQssPageNameZWDVWQQtcZphotoQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
But I bet you the poor dumb bastard that put the staples in the bottom of each matchbook wished he had been paid $100 to put the damn things together 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, many of us tend to overlook the hard work that it takes to create a one-off item. If we take into account the time, effort, head-scratching, cussing and discussing, parts and materials, etc., that it takes to create a piece - we'd be singing a different tune.
I've run into this same situation when people sell handmade picks. Just look at the work that Awol, Ratyoke and ToolyMcGee put into their lockpicks. Would you expect them to sell their stuff for the same price that Lockpicking.com sells their stuff?
Remember - nobody works for free.
BTW - That ultimate practice lock that you used as an example? I bought the damn thing from the guy on eBay for $55.
My items are one off, they take a lot of time to measure & make, and not to mention the stress of having to get it right on the more expensive locks! Then there is the having to act really humble and appreciative to the person who is kind enough to let me have the run of his machine (yes that's right, I don't have my own machine) in his busy engineering workshop when he didn't have to. I'm not a huge corporation, I'm not earning millions, I'm just offering otherwise inacessible items to people who desire them just as I do..... this is why I started making them, because you simply can't buy them..... Oh wait, yes you can securitysnobs.com/Cutaway-Locks/ $450 dollars though xD
And you are also right about not setting a price..... started all at 99p. And to tell you the truth, I was worried about the £72 DLP Abloy incase it didnt live up to the expectations of a £72 purchase!!
But yeah, it is a bit lowering to have someone question the end product without even having a forethough for the work that is actually involved for the fair price.