Is locksmith overcharging me?

A locksmith charged my wife $25 for a consultation fee. He deemed that the deadbolt we had was not working properly (fine, I actually believe it). He then charged her $95 to open the door. He is returning tomorrow to install a Yale 112 bolt lock. He quoted us at $350 for the lock and installation. That’s a almost $500\. This seems relatively high. What do you all think is a fair price for product and installation?

guikazoid

in General Discussion 11 years and 10 months ago

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guikazoid | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Just to update everyone on the forum. We had Steve come by our house. He met with my wife and tried to salvage the old lock (because that would be the best option), when he realized the lock was truly broken, he purchased one at our local store. He purchased a good lock for a good price. He installed it for a very reasonable fee and even looked at a second door we were having minor issues with. He ended up fixing that door out of principle. All together he ended up fixing 2 locks on 2 separate doors and still charged way less than the previous locksmith. We will definitely use Steve when we decide on changing our exterior doors!

rh | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Listen, if the holes are already drilled and you’re installing a standard deadbolt that is the same size, it’s really, really, really easy to do it yourself.

timber | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Yes, you’re being overcharged! I always use Miguel locksmith on 4th Avenue.

BobMarvin | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Still _another_ recommendation for 5th Avenue Key Shop. They’ve been in business since 1924.

Putnamdenizen | 11 years and 10 months ago

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I just had a great experience with Clinton Hill Hardware store at 425 Myrtle Avenue. They made copies of my multi-lock keys at a very decent rate (much less than I had been originally charged), and they sold me the hardware and gave me hints about how to replace a mortise lock on a security door which aforementioned locksmiths had screwed up. I don’t know whether they send folks out to make repairs, but I would highly recommend their service in this area.

deano | 11 years and 10 months ago

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And another +1 for 5th Ave Keyshop here…

mruby36 | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Not only is this high and the practice sounds predatory, if you go with this guy, how would you know whether or not he has a copy of the key to your house!!?? At least buy the hardware yourself so you know who holds the keys to your house and what the hardware does cost. Seems you already know the bolt wasn’t working properly or you wouldn’t have called him. The two recommendations above look like far better alternatives. I dont know Tinker but his site and description of work he does sounds quite interesting. Nothing like specializing the way they do and I thought his comment above is spot on. Also –I would not want my wife home alone when this guy shows back up.– I’m not going after this job either but if the above good recommendations don’t work out, you can give me a call, my contact info is on my website. Best of luck Matt R www-nyc-hs.com

ventilated | 11 years and 10 months ago

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I second Steve’s recommendation of 5th Avenue Key Shop, 295 9th St., (718) 768-8643, close to where you live.

thetinkerswagon | 11 years and 10 months ago

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this industry has been taken over by people who operate without store fronts and on the premise that they will not see you again (they are not trying to build relationships). I have repaired several doors damaged by “locksmiths” and have also heard horror stories with respect to what they are charging. The price sounds high – especially if the bore is already there for the install. Yale is also not that expensive. There should be a set service call fee plus parts. I do not like to come on here and take work like this and that is not why I responded here. and though I am a licensed locksmith, I do not simply install locks (I restore doors). if someone called me and asked me to install a lock and I were busy, I would not do it (and I am busy). My suggestion is to call 5th ave locksmiths (on 9th st) if you are in the slope. In Greenpoint, there is Billys. I only came on here because I am very aware of the game this guy is playing and it is making this industry look very bad (I am going to open a locksmith service when I get tired of carrying doors). Listen, if you catch me early in the day, I might be able to help you if you are in my path of travel – but again, I am not comfortable going after a job like this as people might think I am knocking the other guy to get a job and I am not. his pricing is way off. Steve

http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/tinkerswagon