LocksportSouth wrote:... I'm surprised nobody has come out to compete with SecuritySnobs for providing these high security locks to private collectors and gov't contractors but I suppose there's just not enough demand to keep two such companies in business.
It might be lack of demand, but I suspect it's because it's a LOT of cash to tie up in inventory that won't give a large or fast return on investment. Think how many smaller items they could put in inventory for the same amount of money. Items that would sell quickly and regularly and with a bigger profit margin.
I'm glad they stock those big locks. It's cool to have a storefront to look at that sells uncommon dealer cutaway sale sample sets, exotic items like the RKS robo-dialer lock, S&G military padlocks, and even a whole category of nothing but locks for collectors and lockpickers.
https://securitysnobs.com/Collector-Locks/Some complain that prices are too high, but I think it's because people have become spoiled by seeing NOS (new, old stock) and used locks on eBay selling for WAY below dealer cost. They don't realize just how much high-security (REAL high security) locks sell for in the real world. While Security Snobs doesn't make a "lowest price guarantee" or anything like that, they do try to be competitive with pricing. If you shop around it's not easy to find a dealer that can consistently beat their prices on new high-security locks.
Also, if you want to place an order on collector locks, I have an old
10% off coupon code that might still work. It won't apply to some locks like RKS, S&G and a couple others since the margin is too low on those, but it should work on most of their inventory if they haven't purged it from the system yet. Send me a PM if you plan on placing an order.
Oh, I just remembered at Defcon they had a big batch of S&G 8077 padlocks that they were selling at a decent price. I don't see them on their storefront, but I'm curious if they have any left. I don't know why I didn't think of that earlier when I first read this thread.
*Disclaimer: I'm friends with the owner of Security Snobs (he's a member of many of the lockpicking forums) and I helped a bit in coming up with the name and setting up the online storefront, which is how I know a little bit about the pricing. Other than that I don't have a current affiliation with the store. I don't make a dime on anything you buy from them, just so you don't think I have any ulterior motives in mentioning them.