Tales from the Field
I was looking at my Framon Sidewinder II, now almost 3 years old, and realized that I have cut only 4 duplicate keys on the machine and about the same number of VATS keys over the same period. But in between these two seminal events in automotive locksmithing I have used a couple of hundred Ford transponder, edge cut, keys and a smaller, but still larger number of Chrysler, Honda, Toyota transponder keys. Being a one-man shop in a very rural area of Florida's Panhandle, my automotive work is about 5 to 6 years behind the current models before they begin to have glitches. I don't know why folks tend to hold onto their keys, fobs, or other devices better for a newer car than an older care, but they apparently do and the "lost key" business is not nearly so good for the current models as those 5 - 6 years old.
Commercial electronics are almost the same thing. I've done one major installation of an Alarm Lock Trilogy wireless system. That was a lot of fun, but most of my customer base either can't or don't want to pony up the $1,200 to $1,500 per lock cost of installing a modern electronic system. But from that experience, I am confident and comfortable that I can handle that product line if the occasion arises.
After installing the Schlage pushbutton lever lock and deadbolt lock at home, our family was so pleased with the convenience of those locks, that it just became part of a homeowner conversation and we sold a few before the box stores started retailing them for $3 to $4 less than my wholesales were selling them to me. I offer to install the lock for the homeowner if he or she wants to run over to Lowe's and buy it (closest one is 26 miles), or I'll order it and bring it to the job. Most have opted to go buy it themselves, let me install it and add it to the keyed-alike locks on the rest of the house. I am really developing an interest in the new Kwikset product line for off-site operation of their deadbolts. I think that will be something we can handle and sell with a little profit margin before the big boys pounce on that area, also.
But, as we argued to the Florida Legislature during the 3 years ALOA was attempting to pass licensing legislation with one of their big talking points being "we must require locksmiths in Florida to be fully trained in all the latest developments of the industry," seldom have I had a farmer raising thousands of chickens in 15 - 20 chicken house operation, request that $1,5000 electronic, networked lock, but I AM there when they need to have their Kwiksets rekeyed because a disgruntled employee was fired.
I am probably five to six years behind the curve in the things I do and services I provide my customers. I am primarily dependent on the Ledger and to a smaller extent on other industry sources, to know what the new developments are and then tracking them as they grow in demand or not. So just keep up the good work on monitoring this for those of us who are too busy rekeying Kwikset and Schlage mechanical locks to take a week off, travel to classes and come home to missed business and no immediate demand for our expensive new skills. Thanks for watching out for us.
Donald G. Milton
MainStreet Services
Chipley, FL
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