THE KEY GUYde: Blog Write-Ups to Right-Up Hawaii Security

GSA Inspector, Safe and Vault Technicians Association

2011-12-21T15:32:00.000-10:00

We're a bit behind on the announcement, but The Key Guy's Guy Tordjman is now a certified GSA Inspector and Technician. GSA containers are primarily used by the Department of Defense to hold classified documents and other sensitive materials. Guy completed the rigorous 80-hour training course and certification exam at the MBA USA School in Kentucky this September 2011. Guy has also been inducted as a member of the Safe and Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA) as of November 2011. He keeps up to date with advances in safe and vault technology to best serve Hawaii's military, government, commercial, and residential safe-owners. Congratulations, Guy!

Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice

2011-11-21T22:57:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy will be temporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank all our loyal customers. We hope to reopen our doors (and yours!) as soon as possible, projected to be in 2012. Happy Thanksgiving and best of health to you this holiday season.

Aloha,
Guy and Kimberly

The Key Guy is Hiring Apprentice Locksmith

2011-10-07T17:02:00.000-10:00

We are a small, growing, award-winning locksmith company looking to hire for the position of APPRENTICE LOCKSMITH, to be hired as LOCKSMITH TECHNICIAN upon successful completion of a 90-day training period. You will learn how to unlock everything from cars to safes, how to re-key and change locks, and how to perform all aspects of residential, commercial, and automotive locksmithing. You will be based out of our retail showroom in Aiea, providing locksmith service in the shop and mobile locksmith service at customers' locations. This is a challenging and rewarding field with lots to learn, and we hope to give a few lucky people a solid career they can build on for years to come.

HOURS:
Full Time
Must be available 8am - 8pm M-F, and possibly Saturdays half days

REQUIREMENTS:
No locksmith experience necessary. We will train you! (However if you do have experience, please tell us)
Clean Driving Abstract
No Criminal Record. Ability to pass FBI Background Check
Mechanical Intelligence (able to work with tools, both fine manipulation and large manipulation, problem solve)
Ability to lift 40 pounds
Customer Service Skills, both on phone and in person
Ability to work independently, and to get along with everyone in our family-operated business
Fluent in English
Able to perform basic math calculations

COMPENSATION:
Hourly+Commission+Benefits+Overtime+MEDICAL+DENTAL+VISION+CHIROPRACTIC RIDERS for 90-day training period.
After 90 days, we will evaluate your progress and additional compensation. Our current locksmiths are paid hourly + commission + benefits. Current locksmith technicians have made up to $60,000/year with our company in the first year with us. Your compensation will depend on your performance.

TO APPLY:
Email your resume and a paragraph about yourself to Guy at "guy at keyguyhawaii.com"
NO phone calls. Please do not contact us to see if we have received your application. We will contact qualified applicants for interviews. Your ability to follow these instructions will be considered.

More about The Key Guy: http://www.keyguyhi.com

Safe Crackers

2011-08-01T16:40:00.000-10:00

Opening an old safe is exciting stuff! You never know what's going to be inside. Our neighbor Blaine from Superior Sweepers just hauled in this old safe from one of his customers. The Key Guy owner and Master Locksmith Guy Tordjman cracked it in just a few minutes, with Locksmith Technician Gavin Baer assisting. Guy used his aural sonometric technique (otherwise known as listening for the sweet spot!) to find the combination on this safe.

Make an appointment to bring your old safe into our shop in Harbor Center behind Cutter Ford in Waimalu. Call Guy at 548-1999 even if you lost the keys, broke a key off inside the keyhole, or the combination isn't working. http://keyguyhi.com

Toyota Owners Take Note! What to do when your 1990 -2001 Toyota Ignition Freezes

2011-06-15T12:13:00.009-10:00

Answering the phone all day long can be really hard sometimes. As a full time locksmith and call-answering service for the past few years, I've tried to save time and money for my customers and diagnose the problem over the phone.

A "stuck ignition problem is very common among all car manufacturers and in this blog article I would like to concentrate on TOYOTA makes from years 1990 to 2001.

How to be smart when your Toyota ignition freezes

It will probably be just another day when you get into your 2000 Toyota and try to start it, but the key refuses to cooperate and doesn't turn in the ignition cylinder. After trying for half an hour, climbing in and out of the car at least ten times, frustrated, you probably call your mechanic thinking that you'll find the solution to your problem there. Any mechanic or auto shop guy will probably think twice before taking an ignition job, some even call us to do the repair for them and mark the price up on your bill!

When you have car ignition problems you want to call a locksmith--not just any locksmith, but one who knows about the split wafer symptoms and can repair the problem with no new parts or ignition replacement, which can cost $300 to $400.

A professional locksmith is able to diagnose and repair the problem in the field for half of what a mechanic costs. No need to tow the car because the problem can be solved in the field and the car keys will remain the original ones.

Cause of the "Toyota Split Wafer Ignition Problem?"

One cause of the problem is the faulty design of the ignition cylinder. Lack of a dust cover allows dust and other particles to accumulate inside the cylinder and disturb the force equilibrium between the key springs and wafers.

The second probable cause for a stuck Toyota ignition is a bad key copy or worn out key. A worn key can gradually damage the wafers and housing of the cylinder until it just gets stuck.

The third and most likely cause for ignition lock-out on a Toyota is a failure of the split wafer system. Toyota added a security feature to their locks that is basically a wafer (2 in a cylinder at positions 4 and 7) that is split in half and sits on the same cut positions in a given key. In 99% of the cases that I run into, the cause for the ignition to freeze is that after using the key for awhile, one of the split wafers overlaps another one and prevents the key from turning.

Preventative Measures

My recommendation for a potential car buyer (new or used) is to keep the lock and keys in good condition.

A lock should be lubricated one to two times per year (in Hawaii try to make it two times a year because of proximity to the ocean) and keys should be checked by a locksmith once a year for worn-out cuts that might prevent the plug from turning smoothly in the cylinder housing.

Even if you lubricate and have your keys checked, a malfunction may still occur, and when it happens, it is good to know a good, reliable locksmith to help. Just in case.

More Information

For more information on Toyota Split Pin ignition, including photos, see this helpful PDF.

To get your locks lubricated, keys checked, or other fine locksmith services, call The Key Guy at 548-1999.

Portable Biometric Eye Scanner

2011-05-19T12:25:00.001-10:00

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/only_on_fox10/daily_dot_com/retina-scan-security
For $99, you can get a portable biometric retina scanner and "password protect" apps on your computer like Gmail and Facebook. The device is the size of a business card. Apparently, your eye has 2000 points of identification, whereas a fingerprint only has 18.

A gift idea for the gadget-loving dad or grad in your life this spring? The product is yet to be released, but rumored to be coming soon!

Note to selves: the locksmith of the future won't be dealing with what we think of as 'locks' anymore!

Welcome Gavin!

2011-05-03T12:31:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy welcomes Gavin Baer, our newest Locksmith Apprentice, to the family! He will be learning the trade while assisting Master Locksmith Guy Tordjman on service calls. Look for them together in the big green monster! Aloha, Gavin!

The Key Guy Latches On Habitat for Humanity

2011-04-20T15:14:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy is proud to have put in a few man-hours at Habitat for Humanity's latest build site. The home in Waialua for the Vasconcellos family is now complete! We also donated the lock hardware for the doors on the new home. The Key Guy is happy to be part of such a good thing!

The finished home:

Guy and Kimberly Tordjman at the build site

What involving The Key Guy would be complete without the big green monster?

For more about Honolulu Habitat for Humanity, visit HonoluluHabitat.org

Featured in Honolulu CityGuide as Dog-Friendly Locksmith!

2011-04-05T13:46:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy is featured in the SheKnows Honolulu CityGuide for Dog-Friendly places! Woof! Click Here.

When flukes of luck are more like flunks of luck, you may find yourself locked out or otherwise without a key and in need of a locksmith. Bring your dog along to The Key Guy's shop--yes, he is literally named Guy-- and let her romp with Spock; your pet may luck out with a treat while your key is being cut! Or, if you are in need of lock changing, lock picking, lock repair, or other services at your own home or office, you may be lucky enough to get a cocker spaniel in tow with The Key Guy, available for belly rubs and doggie make-out sessions (the spaniel, not the locksmith)! Bonded, Certified, and winner of the 2010 Best Locksmith Website and 2010 Best Locksmith Van in the World Contests, you know you can trust The Key Guy.

#1 Top Rated Locksmith in Honolulu!

2011-03-29T13:48:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy is the #1 Top Rated Locksmith in Honolulu! We are also the most popular, according the Thumbtack.com. Thank you :)

Locksmiths, Honolulu

We'll put you at ease

2011-03-28T16:47:00.000-10:00

Thanks for the kind words, Robert B.!

Not only did The Key Guy fix my lock, but he also took time to explain to me why my ignition key froze in my Dodge Stratus. When I called the Key Guy he answered the call in friendly manner and put me at ease.

I believe if anyone has a KEY PROBLEM Guy can solve it. He will talk story with you will he is fixing the lock. He is quick and gets the job done. I would recommend The Key Guy for any job. I'm back on the road, and I'm glad I called the right Key Guy. Thanks

Review of the Day on Yelp!

2011-03-16T14:53:00.000-10:00

We're proud to say we're #1 in Home Services in Aiea on Yelp, the popular review website. We even got "Review of the Day," as counted by popular vote by Yelp Members! This is the review:

Who buys a car with a broken key? Phillip H. does!!! Haha well actually, I didn't really buy it. I got it as part of a trade so I guess it's not that fail on my part.
Long story short: Phillip: How much does it cost for a new key?Lexus: About a $100Phillip: How about $20 and a hug?Lexus: NoOuch
Ordered a key blank online, and took it to the Key Guy. The place is located behind Best Buy in Pearl City in that huge lot of establishments. Apparently there's another key guy in the same lot so i got really confused when I went to the wrong guy. I kept telling him that i talked to him, and he kept telling me he didn't. So confusing.
The actual location is on the ground floor. Look for the bright green van and you'll see it.
Guy, the owner was informative and pretty quick with the cut. I didn't have the car with me, so I couldn't test it out, but he said that if it didn't work, to call him. I was praying to every god imaginable, especially the god of saving me a trip from town back to pearl city over a car I didn't really care for.
The total cost was about $30, so i wasn't complaining.
What really made these guys shine though, was the fact that Guy called me a few hours later to see if I had tried the key out to make sure it worked. I had to throw some offerings to the god of good customer service.
Overall, if you need any kind of keys cut and you're in the area, go to these guys. They have a yelp discount which makes them even better.
All hail the god of good deals and customer service!

No "Questionable Claims" Here!

2011-03-15T17:43:00.000-10:00

Kind of like an audit for "too good to be true," each week, BBB staff pour over ads searching for questionable claims. At The Key Guy, we promise to adhere to fair and honest practices, but just in case you don't want to take our word for it, the BBB is looking over our shoulder and backing us up. They've analyzed everything on our website and all our published material.

And hey, nothing speaks the truth like honest-to-goodness past customers! Our Yelp page speaks nothing but the truth: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-key-guy-aiea

Congrats Guy!

2010-10-29T12:55:00.004-10:00

We just got word that Key Guy owner Guy Tordjman is now Certified in Video System Technologies as well as a Level 1 Certified Alarm Technician! Both certifications are from the Electronic Security Association's National Training School. Guy joins a growing number of alarm technicians who have attained this esteemed professional designation.

At the Electronic Security Association National Training School, Guy underwent 24 hours of classroom training and passed the certification exam to become a Level 1 Certified Alarm Technician. Guy trained for 16 hours to complete the Video System Technologies course.

Congratulations Key Guy!

Should I replace or re-key the lock on my door?

2010-10-28T14:48:00.004-10:00

Should I replace or re-key the lock on my door?

Off the top of my head, if your lock has one of these words written on it, REPLACE!

Brinks
EZset
Defiant
Kwikset
Morning Industry
Mountain Security
...and sometimes Master Lock and Schlage, too

I have seen Guy literally rip locks of this caliber in two without even grunting. Yes, he is unusually strong, but still, The Key Guy recommends replacing these locks if they are on a Front Door, Back Door, or other entry door if you don't want the baddies breaking them too easily. Is your security really worth the extra $40? As most of us have probably learned by this point in our lives, you get what you pay for.

Buying a lock is not like buying a cute dress for Friday night. You do not wear it once and forget about it in the back of your closet. A lock should be more like that great little black dress that you keep pulling out again and again for work, cocktails, dinner, and that piano recital. It has to perform! It has to keep working like it's new even when you've used it 40 times. It definitely can't fall apart when a man starts violently pulling at it. (See? a lock is just like a little black dress!)

So you know when to REPLACE. When do you REKEY? Well, in most instances you want to re-key because:

it's greener (nothing to throw away)
it's cleaner (less lock parts all over the place)
it's cheaper (using what you already have vs buying a brand new hunk of metal)

Key Guy Buying Tip: Locks from Walmart, Kmart, and Home Depot are cheap. This does not mean they are good.

Do I have to replace my lock cylinders when the contractors are finished building?

2010-10-28T14:38:00.006-10:00

Ask the Locksmith: "Do I have to replace my lock cylinders when the contractors are finished building?"

The Short Answer: No. Call a locksmith and get your locks re-keyed instead.

The Long Answer (for those who dare to read it):
Most manufacturers these days offer "contractor" cylinders, meaning that they come functioning with a contractor key out of the box. They come with another set of keys that, once inserted, will permanently void the contractor key. In essence you get to rekey the cylinder yourself, just by turning a key. We've found that the cost of these cylinders is usually more expensive than just calling a locksmith to re-key the cylinder, so we don't really believe in selling those products. For example, if a Mul-T-Lock cylinder costs about $100, the "contractor" version of that same cylinder usually costs around $300. It costs less than $200 for a locksmith to come out and do a re-key, although if you're looking for convenience and speed the contractor cylinder is the faster option for a re-key. I would much rather have to do the extra labor for a customer than to sell him something up front that's just not cost effective.

The cylinders that come with your locks are fine to be used permanently, even if you want to re-key them when the contractors pack up. You can save a lot of money by re-keying the cylinders you already have rather than replacing them with new ones. We can simply recombinate the pins in your cylinder so that the old keys no longer work, using all the original hardware (think green?). If you have a decent brand like Arrow or Sargent, this is a better option than replacement unless there is something wrong or broken (or if you want to upgrade). We create master key systems using the same method. By the way, we've had some recent complaints about some unscrupulous locksmiths going around telling folks that their locks are "so fancy" they are impossible to re-key, thereby selling people new hardware they don't really need, so it's always best to get a second opinion if someone tells you something like that.

If you are going to replace the cylinders, they can be used in another lock of the same type. Not all locks have removable cylinders. If they are interchangeable core cylinders then they can be moved from lock to lock with a special control key. IC cores come in two main formats, small format and large format, that are not interchangeable with each other. If your locks do have changeable cores, it might be worthwhile to upgrade to high-security cylinders instead of re-keying. The average commercial-grade cylinder costs about $60 to re-key, and the average high-security cylinder costs about $100.

Village of Experts, Worldwide Fools

2010-10-22T15:30:00.004-10:00

Only after 30 concentrated and fruitless hours did I figure out my problem. In the age of the internet (excuse the triteness), the only age I've ever known, a certain faction of my generation has become too self-reliant. You probably expect to be able to find out everything you want about anything you want just by googling it hard enough. Then you probably figure you can save money by ordering it online from eBay or Amazon. I know I do. Heaven forbid if I ever have to pick up the phone, bother a real live person, and take up their precious time.

I do all my vain googling in spite of the fact that I'm an adamant opposer of people trying to play locksmith themselves. I get mad everytime they call The Key Guy after they've mail-ordered their cheap "defiant" locks and non-functioning "made in China" transponder keys. There are invariably problems. "You should have called us first!," I usually scold, "we could have sold you the real brand-name version of this key for less than what you paid for the knockoff!"

Yet I'm guilty of spending 30 hours looking for a product or a company or something, anything that could give me a non-bank-breaking, non-subscription-based auto attendant. (That's the phone thing whose claim to fame is "Press 1 for the locksmith, Press 2 for . . . ) I should tell you that I finally picked up the phone and called a local company who couldn't help me, but who gave me the websites of 3 other local companies who could. Doh!

Need another example? A friend of mine once lost his copy of a university laboratory key. The university was going to charge him $1000 to re-key the entire laboratory because of the risk of someone finding the key. Needless to say, he scoured the internet and decided to buy an entire box of key blanks that he hoped were the same, then file one key down himself to prevent anyone finding out he'd lost the original. He could have just gone to a local locksmith and had them duplicate his friend's key for a few dollars, but instead he became a novice expert in key googling and probably has a box of key blanks sitting around his apartment. I'm still not sure how he replicated the "Do Not Duplicate" stamp or the numbers imprinted on the key. Those stamps cost several hundred dollars. He could have just called a locksmith right there in his city . . . but no.

The next time you have a problem, what if you just picked up the phone and asked an expert? I keep telling myself that.

Do you have keys? Do you CONTROL them?

2010-10-21T14:23:00.009-10:00

Do you have keys? Do you CONTROL them? Cut costs and increase security with key control! Key control is a cost-effective way to manage access to your locking mechanisms. Say what?

Let's play pretend:

Say you purchase some decent locks and give the keys to your 3 managers. There're 4 locks: a doorknob and deadbolt for the front door and back door, $400.

You fire Betsy after 4 months and request she return your keys. She grudgingly gives you back one copy, but who knows if she's made other copies? You re-key 4 locks for $125+.

A week later you see Max's girlfriend with a copy of the key...so that's why you've seen their car in the parking lot afterhours! Max made a duplicate ($2 cost to him) and gave it to his girlfriend so they could canoodle. You re-key again for $125+ and make your managers sign written agreements not to make key copies. You have the locksmith stamp the keys "Do Not Duplicate." Unbeknownst to you, Max's girlfriend steals his key, makes a copy at a locksmith shop, and does a 'sneak attack' on him in the office (the "do not duplicate" stamp is pretty much bogus where the law is concerned). The key falls from her pocket and is picked up by a random bum who wanders in the next day who uses the company bathroom at will from then on.

The very next weekend, your most trusted manager--yourself, silly!--loses his key somewhere on Diamond Head. After a good facepalm, you refuse to fork over another $125+ for rekeying and finally decide to get a grip on your security. You call The Key Guy and order 2 doorknobs and 2 deadbolts from Mul-T-Lock along with 4 keys $800. Total Cost: $1600+

Let's Re-wind and Re-Play Pretend:

Say you call The Key Guy and order 2 High Security 3-N-1 Mul-T-Lock Doorknobs and 2 High Security Mul-T-Lock Deadbolts along with 4 keys, $800.

You fire Betsy after 4 months and she returns her key, as per the contract you made her sign back when you issued the keys. She gives you back one copy, and you are secure in the knowledge that Betsy couldn't have made a copy even if she'd tried. Only you can make duplicates with your authorized signature and key code.

A week later, Max tried in vain to make a duplicate at 6 different locksmiths only to find that even if they wanted to make his key, they couldn't. The Key Guy has the only Mul-T-Lock key machine in the state. Darn, Max really wanted to let his girlfriend surprise him in the office whenever she wanted. You do not have to re-key, and you didn't even have to make your manager sign written agreements not to make key copies. You don't bother having the keys stamped "Do Not Duplicate." Unbeknownst to you, Max's girlfriend steals his key, tries to make a copy, and fails. Ha ha!

The very next weekend, your most trusted manager--yourself, silly!--loses his key somewhere on Diamond Head. After a good facepalm, you insert one of your set of yellow keys and re-key the locks yourself, just by turning a key. The Mul-T-Lock "3 N 1" cylinders come with 3 sets of color-coded keys that you can use to re-key your locks yourself! Green, yellow, and red. For each re-key a locksmith has to do, you get three re-keys! Total Cost: $800

What, exactly, happened there?
If you issue keys to employees, this is a must-have that many businesses wish they had purchased at the outset. Don't wait until you have an 'incident.' A high-security key control system cuts costs and increases security. This is what happened in that story up there:

Eliminate the need to re-key your locks, which you must do every time you let an employee go.
Eliminates the risk that key holders will make unauthorized duplicates of keys. Only you will be able to make duplicates, and only at our shop. No other locksmith can duplicate the keys. You will always know exactly how many keys to each lock are floating around and who has them.
You saved money. For the cost of regular commercial-grade locks and a re-key or two, you can buy a patened Mul-T-Lock key control system and not have to worry about security breaches down the road.

The Key Guy has high-security key blanks and locks from Mul-T-Lock, who has a functionality patent on their locks and keys (watch out for "patented" locks with design patents--which are purely decorative). Honestly, burglars will probably break your door itself before they break through a Mul-T-Lock. I'm not going to say it's 100% tamper-proof, because nothing is (hello, have you watched Mission Impossible or Oceans 11?), but let me tell you it would take a very sophisticated criminal to game this lock. Did I mention all Mul-T-Locks come with a 20-year warranty and come UL rated? Yup.

Other High-Security Locks: If you're considering, say, the Schlage Everest or Schlage Primus high-security locks, don't. Just go for something better right off the bat. The Schlage high-security keys can be duplicated on the same key machines that are in every hardware store in Honolulu. Sure, the blanks are a little harder to get, but any locksmith can find them easily at any locksmith supply distributor.

If you control keys, get them under your control. Ignorance is no longer your excuse. Consider getting a quote. It's free.

Locksmith's Security Tip of the Day

2010-10-16T09:55:00.000-10:00

Don't leave notes for service people or family members on the door. These act as a welcome mat for burglars.

Heart Warmed

2010-10-14T10:20:00.004-10:00

This warm fuzzy story is from yesterday, October 13 2010:

This is truly amazing! I had the car running to cool it down with the AC while strapping my baby girl in to her car seat. When I was done I closed the back door, and suddenly realized that all doors were locked and that my girl was locked in, with all my things including my phone. I ran up to the nearest home where I borrowed the phone to call a locksmith (just happened to be the Key Guy. Within 10 minutes they were there and opened the car for me. My baby was playing with some crayons during this time, do not think she realized at all what happened. I did not even have time to panic!

I am so happy with their response time it is unbelievable.

The locksmith (Shay Shaham) was very professional, and I was ready to pay Shay when he informs me that this is a free service part of their Child Protection initiative (not sure if that is exactly what he called it, but you get the point).

Thx for making my day Key Guy! I hope I do not need a locksmith any more, but if I do I will sure give Key Guy a call.

/Patrick

Thank you to Shay, our locksmith technician, and to Patrick for calling us in his time of need. I hope more people will take advantage of this free community service. (Once, Guy even arrived before the fire truck to unlock a baby in Kaimuki.) And if you've read The Key Guy's company history, you know that we get our name and our logo from locksmiths being a little like modern-day superheroes, stemming from the first time I saw Guy rescue a baby from a stuffy car at Hana'uma Bay.

Read more Key Guy reviews on YELP
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-key-guy-aiea

New Locks on the Cheap?

2010-10-04T12:26:00.004-10:00

Are you thinking of replacing your locks? Do you want to save money by buying your locks online? If you do, you're not alone. Just don't make the same fatal mistake as two Key Guy customers this week.

We had one office manager purchase almost a dozen locks on the internet and call us to install them in her office. To our chagrin, the locks had latches that were so small they almost didn't exist, and all the specifications were incompatible with standard American doors and replacement parts. The keys that went with the locks were a blank we had never seen before and that definitely isn't distributed in Hawaii. If the customer were ever to need any key duplicates or replacement parts, she would be tough out of luck. For the locks she purchased, we actually refused to give her an estimate to do the work. Any sound locksmith would not put his name to the installation of such low-quality hardware. There is nothing wrong with ordering your own locks and calling a professional to install them, but be sure you do your research beforehand to make sure you're not buying a brand that will fall apart within a year. Email The Key Guy a link to the locks you're thinking about buying and we'll let you know.

A general rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for, and when it comes to your security, you are better off buying a good lock that will last for years and offers decent security than purchasing a cheap lock that will only last a year or two and that will come apart in an intruder's bare hands. It's not even a question of whether or not you think your safety is worth the extra dollars. In the long run, it is actually more cost-effective to buy a more expensive lock because you do not have to replace it every one or two years as you would a cheap one. Of course, it doesn't hurt that better locks are stronger and safer, either.

Planning On Getting Locked Out? Part II

2010-09-09T15:17:00.003-10:00

Planning on getting locked out?

We still thought not.

But you should consider this true story from yesterday. Around daybreak, we got a call from a local DJ who went jogging in the Salt Lake area. A distressed young lady approached him. She beseeched, "Excuse me? Do you have a cell phone?"

He said, "Yes, why?"

"I just locked my phone inside my car! AND MY POOR BABY!"

Luckily, this DJ had The Key Guy's number programmed into his phone. We dispatched a locksmith and rescued the baby (and the mother) within minutes, free of charge.*

The moral of the story is even if you think YOU are not going to need a locksmith for some emergency someday in the future, a young damsel in distress and her even younger infant might need you, yes you, to be their knight(ess) in shining armor. 1-877-7KEYGUY or 808-377-4999

*The Key Guy will rescue any infant from a locked vehicle free of charge.

Planning On Getting Locked Out?

2010-09-09T15:15:00.003-10:00

If you are thinking of locking your keys in your car...you aren't very smart.

How do you become smarter? Program The Key Guy's number into your phone instead! 377-4999 And yeah, you should do it BEFORE it happens. Because no one plans to lose their keys. Or lock them in the house. ETC.

And while it doesn't have to be The Key Guy's number you program into your phone, we would appreciate it if it was at least one of the certified Associated Locksmiths of America locksmiths, to be found at findalocksmith.com.

BBB Accredited The Key Guy!

2010-09-08T11:44:00.003-10:00

We're proud to announce the Better Business Bureau has accredited us as of August 2010! Read the Better Business Bureau Report on The Key Guy. We have no complaints!

What is a BBB Accredited Business?

If a business has been accredited by BBB, it means BBB has determined that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

BBB accreditation does not mean that the business' products or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB, or that BBB has made a determination as to the business' product quality or competency in performing services.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

The Key Guy's First Video

2010-09-02T19:34:00.001-10:00

The Key Guy
24 Hour Locksmith in Honolulu, Hawaii

808-377-4999
http://www.keyguyhawaii.com

True or False? Key Control Policy Quiz

2010-08-20T18:41:00.002-10:00

Are you in charge of keys? Are you in charge of whole bunches of keys? Take this quiz to see if your control of your keys is up to snuff!

True or False?
A facility should appoint a Key Control Authority or Manager to implement, execute, and enforce key control policies and procedures.

True or False?
A policy and method for the issuing and collecting of all keys should be implemented.

True or False?
Only cut keys need to be stored in a locked cabinet or container, in a secured area.

True or False?
A dedicated computer key control management program should be used to track keys, key holders, locations and hardware.

True or False?
Keys should remain the property of the key holder that the keys were issued to.

True or False?
Keys should only be issued to individuals who have a legitimate and official requirement for the key.

True or False?
A requirement for access alone, when access can be accomplished by other means (such as unlocked doors, request for entry, intercoms, timers etc) should convey automatic entitlement to a key.

True or False?
Most keys should be returned and accounted for.

True or False?
Only managers should make sure that keys are safeguarded and properly used.

True or False?
Key deposits are an effective tool for enforcing key control policies.

True or False?
Individuals should store keys in unlocked desk drawers whenever possible.

True or False?
Violations of key control policies should not result in disciplinary action.

Did you know the answers? Did this quiz get you thinking? Call The Key Guy 377-4999 for free consultation, guidance, and solutions for your keys!

$720 To Unlock Your Car???

2010-08-19T09:23:00.003-10:00

Don't let it happen to you!

A locksmith was recently ordered to provide written estimates BEFORE he did any work by an Anapolis judge. He was using tactics like refusing to give customers' car keys back until they signed the receipt, and charging their credit card BEFORE they knew how much he was charge. And how much was he charging? Sometimes $720 for a simple car lockout.

DO NOT TRUST ANY LOCKSMITH. Make sure they provide you with a written estimate BEFORE you let them touch your property.

And make sure they are a licensed business in Hawaii, because you will have almost NO recourse against them if they scam you. Ask for the legal business name, a business card, and make sure the company name on the invoice matches all of the above!

What's the best way to get scammed? Do you research---and please, please, please find a decent locksmith and program the number into your phone BEFORE you need one!

2010 ALOA Best Locksmith Website in the World

2010-08-18T09:44:00.003-10:00

Why yes, that is The Key Guy :)

http://www.keyguyhawaii.com

Victim? Been Scammed?

2010-08-17T08:53:00.002-10:00

Are you a victim of "locksmith" scammers?

Cl ick Here!

ALOA has created a 10-point locksmith scam check-list for detecting a locksmith company that may be engaging in this scheme. Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves, however, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con artist:

• Not Familiar with Your Area . To ensure that the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town .

• "Locksmith Service." Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, "locksmith service." If the call is answered this way, ask, "What is the legal name of your business."

• ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA? While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo. You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by calling ALOA, (800) 532-2562 or www.findalocksmith.com .

• Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?

• "Under Same Ownership" This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in phone directories, give consumers a sense that the firm has been in business for awhile. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases. Also, the ad sometimes lists association memberships for organizations that do not exist, (i.e. American Locksmith Association).

• Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle – a van or truck that is clearly marked.

• Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith's identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it? Does it match the name on the service vehicle?

• Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.

• Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can't dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for .

• Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.

Check for a valid state license number (NOT IN HAWAII). The states that have licensing for locksmith services ( AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX ) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from locksmith scams.

My car's locks and/or the ignition was damaged. Should I call a locksmith?

2010-08-16T18:52:00.003-10:00

Locksmiths specialize in locking mechanisms and keys. The technicians at car dealers usually carry more generalized automotive specialties. If the problem is with any of the locking mechanisms on your vehicle, it is usually best to call a mobile service. They will come to your location for much less than it costs to tow your car to a dealer. Locksmiths can also do fine work with the lock's cylinders that most technicians cannot do. Many locksmiths also work 24 hours a day. If yo are going to call a locksmith, it is recommended that you call one with automotive training, because vehicle locks are slightly different than house or commercial locks.

Real-Life Example: There was something wrong with a pickup truck ignition. The man's key wouldn't turn and he had no way of starting his truck. He towed his truck to the dealer for several hundred dollars. The auto technicians completely took apart the ignition before announcing that the entire steering column had to be replaced. And he would have to use a different key for his ignition and doors. Total cost: $900+

The man didn't want to pay that much, so he decided to eat the cost of towing and call a locksmith (he called The Key Guy). When we arrived at the dealer and assessed the situation, we said we could have driven to the man's house and done the work there for mere tens of dollars instead of making him tow the truck for hundreds of dollars. We also could have simply replaced the cylinder in the ignition instead of replacing the entire steering column. He would have been able to keep his same original keys. We didn't charge him anything for driving out to the car dealer, and he said next time he would definitely call a locksmith first.

read the rest of The Key Guy FAQ at http://www.keyguyhawaii.com/Pricing.html

------
Don't worry, just PROGRAM 377-4999 INTO YOUR PHONE NOW! Don't wait for it to happen to you!

Winning Best Van Entry

2010-08-15T08:16:00.003-10:00

The Key Guy, 2nd Place, Best Locksmith Van in the World, ALOA 2010, Orlando Florida

Planning to Remodel/Renovate/Build?

2010-08-15T08:11:00.002-10:00

Hire a LICENSED contractor! We've seen far too many people get scammed because they didn't check to see if their "contractor" was actually licensed--they just took his word for it. Unfortunately, the locksmith industry remains unregulated in the state of Hawaii. For other types of construction, painting, flooring, etc, ask yourself these questions: Have you .. .

Gotten at least three written estimates for the job?
Verified the licenses of the contractors and any subcontractors
by calling 587-3222?
Checked with the Regulated Industries Complaints Office
for any prior complaints about the contractor by calling
587-3222 (press 1)?
Asked the contractor for references?
Requested a list of subcontractors if any are to be used?
Drawn up a written contract?
Read the entire contract and understood all of its terms and
conditions?
Purchased performance, material and completion bonds through
the contractor?
Obtained the appropriate building permits?
Seen and understood any plans and blueprints before approving
them?
Periodically checked on the progress of the work?
Gotten lien releases from subcontractors and material suppliers?
Kept copies of all documents and correspondence?
Published a notice of completion in the newspaper once the job
was done?
(This printed material can be made available for individuals with
special needs in braille, large print or audiotape. Please submit your
request to the Complaints and Enforcement Officer at 587-2666)

If you are seriously considering a home remodeling job or thinking of
installing a swimming pool, then you will probably hire a contractor to
do the work.
As licensed contractors have met experience and examination
requirements, and are required to maintain worker’s compensation
insurance and liability insurance, it is wise to insist that the contractor
you hire be licensed. However, because you may be undertaking a
substantial investment, you should do your homework, and enter into
any contract in a “buyer beware” manner.
For inquiries regarding license status, contact:
Phone: 587-3222, (press 1)
For filing complaints against licensed or unlicensed
contractors, contact:
Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Consumer Resource Center
235 S. Beretania Street, 9th Floor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone:
Oahu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587-3222 (press 2)
Kauai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274-3200
Maui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243-5808
Hilo, Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 933-8846
Kona, Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329-6684

For complete brochure, go here

The Key Guy Wins Nationally

2010-08-07T15:31:00.004-10:00

ALOA Best Website & Van Awarded to The Key Guy!

The Key Guy, a local Honolulu locksmith, won “Best Locksmith Website in the World” (1st Place) and “Best Locksmith Van in the World” (2nd Place) awards at the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) Convention August 7, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Owners Kimberly and Guy “The Key Guy” Tordjman entered their company after seeing the coincidentally named Key Guyz (notice the “z”) from Minneapolis take home the best van award last year.

“People ask us all the time if The Key Guy is a franchise when they see our beautiful vans,” says Kimberly, “each van is a high-tech locksmith workshop on wheels, equipped with the latest technology and an impressive selection of keys and door hardware. However, when customers see keyguyhawaii.com, they instantly recognize they’re dealing with a true family-operated, kama’aina company.” Kimberly created the website and van signage herself. Guy remarks, “I am proud of The Key Guy because we’re branded like a large company but we have the boutique-quality service and expertise of true specialists. I can’t believe we won a national contest!”

Working as a husband and wife team, Guy and Kimberly founded The Key Guy in 2008. Their first van, nicknamed “The Big Green Monster,” was painted green because when Kimberly first met Guy, he was a green-shirted man with green eyes living on Green Street in Makiki. The Key Guy’s mascot is a modern-day superhero bearing a bit of resemblance to Guy, based on the time Kimberly saw him rescue a suffocating baby from inside a locked car at Hanauma Bay.
The Key Guy’s new locksmith shop in Aiea’s Harbor Center complements its award-winning vans. In addition to locksmithing, The Key Guy is also certified in CCTV Cameras, Burglar Alarms, Proximity Card Readers, Access Control, Intercoms, Keypad Locks, Security Systems, Door Operators, and Master Key Systems.

For the contest, The Key Guy competed against locksmiths from across North America and as far away as Japan. The competitors ranged from one-man mobile locksmiths to multi-company corporations. All ALOA members at the convention were invited to vote in the contest. ALOA is the largest and most respected locksmith association in the world.

Associated Locksmiths of America website: http://www.aloa.org
The Key Guy website: http://www.keyguyhawaii.com
The Key Guy offers 24 Hour Service, Island Wide. Call (808) 377-4999 or toll free 1-877-7KEYGUY

The Life of a Locksmith

2010-06-18T17:08:00.002-10:00

Accidentally left one of my three phones in the store overnight and guess what?

Seventy-one (71) missed calls!

You're only a professional contractor if...

2010-05-13T09:54:00.002-10:00

Funny thought of the day:

You're only a professional contractor if your butt-crack is clearly visible at all times. If your pants fail to display your butt-crack, you are obviously not a professional!

Look for this (but not too hard!?) next time you call a contractor, locksmith, plumber, electrician, or other repairperson.

OW! We're growing!

2010-05-12T09:28:00.002-10:00

The Key Guy is growing up in an exciting new direction! We don't want to spoil the secret yet, but it has to do with the expansion of our sister company, The Security Center (securitycenterhawaii.com) in a joint venture with The Key Guy. Hey, the owners are the same....

So watch out! Here comes a bigger, better solution for all your security, access control, and locksmith needs!

Locksmiths've Got Codes...

2010-05-05T12:42:00.003-10:00

Fun fringe benefit of being a locksmith: knowing your codes! We've got key codes, zip codes, and area codes down by heart.

Practical applications of this skill? We're fun at trivia parties. And our friends call us when they need to punch the ZIP into the GPS before the street name. And how is your friendly neighborhood locksmith like a cab driver? He can find you based on very little information! Handy to know us when you're locked out of your vehicle at an unidentified address, like a small business, when parked on the street, or a friend's house.

So program The Key Guy 377-4999 into your phone for that special time in your life when maybe, just maybe, you find yourself locked out AND don't know where you are!

Locksmiths Hit New Low

2010-04-16T12:02:00.002-10:00

http://www.hometownglenburnie.com/news/Business/2010/04/10-12/State+censures+Pasadena+locksmith%0A.html

This guy is a new low and a low blow for locksmiths. He gives an estimate of of $200 then charges $1000+ after getting the customer's credit card information. $200 is a ridiculous price to open a car to begin with! It is sad for consumers that so few avenues for real recourse exist.

Guy a Bonded ALOA Member

2010-04-08T10:12:00.005-10:00

Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) finally sent Guy Tordjman his new "Bonded Member" ID.
Note to the public: just because someone says he's bonded and insured on his website...well, are you going to take his word for it? And if someone says they're "licensed," you might want to ask what they're licensed for, since there is no Locksmith Licensing Board in Hawaii.

At the very least, check out the ALOA Locksmith Search at Findalocksmith.com to see if your locksmith is an ALOA member. ALOA requires stiff FBI background checks, professional references, and at least two years experience for membership. No scammers there!

Hawaii Locksmith Licensure Bill

2010-04-08T10:07:00.003-10:00

Say Hey! A Hawaii locksmith licensure bill has been drafted. You can find a PDF and bill history here http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=344.

It'll be a good thing for real locksmiths (aka not the scammers). But what with all the hoopla on the internet with so-called "licensed" plumbers and electricians...

Introducing The KeyDog 24 Hours!

2010-03-26T14:14:00.004-10:00

Drumroll, please, for the newest Key Dog 24 Hours On Call!
Perhaps you will be one of the customers lucky enough to meet Spock the Cocker Spaniel puppy! Weighing in at 16 pounds, he is an expert in the locksmith profession of cuting, also known as being cute, better known as distracting the customers whilst putting on a puppy face.

Also provides belly for belly rubs, and gives a good palm-licking to those lucky enough to have him as their Key Dog.

Call today for the chance to experience the best of locksmith key dogs!

Go Florida!

2010-03-18T10:20:00.003-10:00

We're glad to see that someone is finally pushing some legislation through to force locksmiths to have licenses...too bad it's in Florida and not Hawaii. As we at The Key Guy have learned recently from personal experience, there are all kinds of whack plumbers and electricians who are *supposed* to have state licenses and who *claim* to have state licenses but don't. They screw over their customers and lie blatantly about being licensed contractors up to the point of being criminals. They do crappy work and cause accidents that unwitting customers have to pay for out of pocket--including frying the wires in entire buildings and causing major floods. But that doesn't mean locksmiths shouldn't have to be licensed, too.

The competition is stiff in the locksmith industry, and work locksmiths do is just as important as an electrician or plumber. It's security, for crying out loud. As it stands, there is no recourse for the hundreds of people we've met who've called scammer locksmiths. And the scammers are running rampant what with their unbelievably low advertised rates and astronomically high actual prices. Not to mention the shoddy work they do that has to be fixed by a real professional. Do I sound bitter? I think I deserve it. At least give legitimate locksmiths a fighting chance, eh?

Bad Copies

2010-01-15T13:14:00.003-10:00

It has come to my attention that too many key duplicates are bad ones. Too often, we get customers complaining that their duplicates from the hardware store don't work when they get home. How do you avoid this? Go to a locksmith! Hardware stores are convenient, but they don't carry a wide selection of specialized key blanks, nor do the personnel have the specialized training of a locksmith.

If you call The Key Guy for a mobile service at your home, ask your locksmith technician if he'll make a few duplicates of your house/car/mailbox key for you. Most single-cut keys are under $5, and the locksmith can just tack it onto your bill, saving you a trip to the store! Plus, you can try out your new duplicate on the spot, just to make sure it works.

And hey, if you need your car key duplicated, call us and find out if it's a transponder key or a laser-cut key (or any other type of high-security key). If it's high security, you either need to go to your car dealer or find an automotive locksmith (hint hint The Key Guy).

Don't Let it Happen to You

2009-11-01T09:31:00.002-10:00

As the holidays come up, we're all excited. And so are the would-be criminals. Burglaries and other crimes go up every holiday season as needs and wants go up as well. We were reminded of this sad fact by this article in the Honolulu Advertiser.

The Key Guy urges you to be prepared.

First of all, lock your doors.
Make sure your door and lock are both in sturdy condition. Don't make it too easy for thieves to get in. Most will give up if your door doesn't open within 2 minutes.
Evaluate easily-accessible windows, which in Hawaii are often a point of easy entry for thieves, even in broad daylight, in secure neighborhoods.

If you see potential easy-access points for thieves, consider calling a security professional. Consider having a surveillance camera system installed. It's not as costly nor uncommon as you might think, and it could end up saving your life (or thousands of dollars).

Just last week, we read about a man in Florida who had a camera system installed at his house for $1,000. Burglars broke into his home and stole many valuable items while he was on vacation. Luckily, their faces got caught on camera! The local news station aired the footage to help identify the thieves. The man said the cameras were worth every penny of that $1000.

FindALocksmith.com

2009-10-29T11:26:00.007-10:00

ALOA (Associated Locksmiths of America) recently launched FindALocksmith.com, aiming to be the largest locksmith search engine out there.

Consumers can be assured that all locksmiths listed on the ALOA website are members of ALOA, which means they have been in the industry at least two years, they have character references from three industry sources, they were referred by an existing ALOA member, and they underwent FBI background checks, fingerprinting, and they are bonded up to $10,000.

The Key Guy highly recommends only calling locksmiths listed on FindALocksmith.com. Using google, yahoo, bing, and other search engines will usually yield lots of "scammer" locksmiths who are not certified, not licensed, and not insured.

It's not hard to find angry consumer reports, news articles, and lawsuits against these falsely marketed locksmiths. They permeate 411 and google with multiple listings at fake addresses, and because they are marketing scam professionals, they push out legitimate locksmiths with only a single (and REAL) listing.

Please make sure your locksmith is an ALOA member, or at the very least, insured and bonded, before you call.

FindALocksmith.com
www.keyguyhawaii.com

FHB Fiasco Update

2009-10-27T12:00:00.002-10:00

An update on the fiasco that has been The Key Guy's experience with First Hawaiian Bank.

After hours of perturbedness, both in person and on the phone, I finally got someone from The Bank Card Center to say that she would refund the finance charges incurred on the credit card we never received and never knew we had. FINALLY, some decent news.

This was after a week of not being able to talk on the phone with them, because apparently, even though I am a signature authority on the account AND the majority owner of the business, I "didn't have permission" to speak with them over the phone. My signature is on the signature card, my name is on all the accounts. BUT I had to have Guy confirm his name and social security number to them, which I could have done easily. I had to go into First Hawaiian Bank, in person, to have them fax the signature card to their own Bank Card Center. Even AFTER the signature card had been received, I had to wait additional days for the thing to "process." The rep still refused to speak to me even though she had personally received the signature card fax. Flabbergasting. Next time I should just lie and impersonate him.

Anyway, the rep on the phone told me I had to pay off the entire bill (without ever having received a bill) before she could credit me back the finance charges. Oh, and the payment had to clear, which would take several days. Fine. So I blindly paid off the entire bill without even having the privilege of seeing what the charges were for. I was told to call back in three days. Fine. Unreasonable, but I did it. She said she would put the charges back. Okay, all good, right?

No.

I received a call from one of First Hawaiian Bank's Vice Presidents, telling me he was sorry for my bad experience. He said the finance charges they had faultily charged me would be put back into my checking account. My old checking account which is no longer in use. I gave him the new checking account number and he said he would take care of it. He also asked if I was sure I wanted to cancel my credit card. Um, YES I'm sure. This was about a month ago.

Fast forward to a month later. I looked over all the transactions in every account we have, and still no credit for the finance charges. Seriously? After reassurance from 2 different reps AND the VP? Seriously. I called, and apparently they STILL haven't cancelled the credit card, and they STILL left the finance charge funds on the card. SERIOUSLY??? This is beyond incompetent and inept.

Cell Phone: 3 Megapixels, CCTV: 0.1 Megapixels????

2009-10-22T09:59:00.002-10:00

http://www.sourcesecurity.com/news/articles/co-1164-ga.3590.html

Since when should the cheapest cell phone camera on the market be 300 times better than CCTV cameras used in security systems? Stimulus money, there you go!

Pick for Pie?

2009-10-22T09:00:00.003-10:00

The classic interview response, beauty queen response, and public statement is, "I love my job because I love helping people. It feels so satisfying to be one of the 'good guys.'"

Locksmiths aren't normally thought of as beauty queens or people in the limelight, but it's still nice when a random fat guy in spandex bike shorts and glasses can stop you outside Anna Miller's and ask if you can help him pick a lock.

The nice fat man in bike shorts will explain how he must have lost the keys to his bike lock, and how he will have to somehow bus it all the way back to Kailua from Aiea because he can't use his bike, and how he won't be very awake for his 11 hour shift in the morning.

When you open his lock, he thanks you and buys you a scrumptious Peach Pie from Anna Miller's.

Sweet deal!

New Feats of Key Guy Locksmith Super-Heroism on Set of LOST!

2009-10-15T20:22:00.006-10:00

About an hour ago, a stressed girl named Lindsay called with a lockout in Manoa. "Can you hurry?" she asked, "We're filming Lost over here."

Eight minutes later, we pulled up a tiny Manoa street loaded with giant trucks, lights, equipment, and swarming with people. This was very cool for me, a total film set noob. More than one guy lifting equipment called out, "Hey! Are you here to help us? Yeah? Oh, I thought you were part of the set!"

When we finally got to the right address, they told us we couldn't park our flaming green van there because they were filming the house...uh, NOW. "Back up and park behind that truck," said about fifty people. So we backed up. And there was no room for us on the skinny residential street because there was a giant cherry-picker and scaffolding and a giant black cable snaking everywhere from 40 feet up. And everyone was still yelling at us. Okay. Can we park in the driveway? "No! Go forward I said," yelled this haole local guy, "You see dis local guy over hea? He tink he know more than us. Ho da nerve yah?" Yowch. We went further down the street past throngs of people and parked at the end of the cul de sac.

Then a 350 lb, 6'5" security guard interrogated us about what we needed. Then some local guy in boardshorts and a t-shirt came charging up to the van and said, "OkaybrahsoitwaslikethisIdidthisandeeeeerrrrandthisandthis likefourtimesinarowthen Hoooooo da ting wen jam up arready." It turns out that this hyperkid is one of the actors, and he had jammed the deadbolt with cameras rolling, a hundred people watching. If I watched the show I could probably tell you what actor he was...but, sorry, I don't have a TV.

"This is what we're gonna do," said the 350-pound security guard in a sweaty yellow shirt, "In about 3 minutes, as soon as they stop filming, you're gonna run inside the house with him," he pointed at the actor in boardshorts, "And go inside and do what you gotta do." This was a lot of pressure, what with hundreds of people watching and cameras everywhere.

The security guard said, "Ok GO!" The boardshorts actor grabbed Guy and they sped off down the hill and into the house. Literally, they ran. I never see Guy run. While they were inside, they filmed a scene with a haole guy in a suit pounding on the door and trying to get "David" to let him in the house. I found that amusing. The door was really stuck! Ha!
Five minutes later, Guy had unjammed the deadbolt and changed it out for a new one. Luckily, he had just competed in the Speed Deadbolt Installation Contest at the Vegas ALOA Convention. The girl inside with him announced it to everyone on the walkie-talkie.

Then BAM!

The door blew open and Guy was standing there. Everyone on the set swarmed to the front door and started screaming and applauding. More people congregated around him. A man shouted, "It's Guy's birthday!" Then all hundred people started singing "Happy Birthday Dear Key Guy." I started laughing. It was pretty ridiculous. Guy, beaming, took a bow and shook hands with the crowd on his way down. Someone said they should take our bill and pay us double. Men slapped him on the back. The director, actors, and other important-looking people congratulated us. A loud voice yelled, "Ey! If you get locked out, CALL THE KEY GUY!"

The man in charge of paying the bill said we'd saved him tens of thousands of dollars by fixing the door. It felt pretty sweet.

If you ever thought a locksmith could save the day (and dare I say be a superhero?), this is the time and place it happened. Guy said we should ask for an acknowledgement in the episode credits. I said, fancy that.

First Hawaiian Bank: Inept, Unorganized, Infuriating

2009-10-05T09:24:00.004-10:00

The Key Guy just got royally screwed over by First Hawaiian Bank, and you can be sure that we will avoid doing business with them in the future. The nice faces of most First Hawaiian Bank customer service workers do not make up for the complete ineptness and lack of organization or communication in their system.

We opened a business credit card with FHB back in March and they managed to royally screw it up by:

1) Sending statements to the wrong address even though we had to fill out the change of address form TWICE and go in in person TWO MORE TIMES. Prior and coincident with the wrong address, they also couldn't manage to update Guy's social security number OR my name right. Each time we were reassured that it would all be taken care of. But, uh, NO it wasn't. And still isn't.

2) They somehow managed to open two accounts when we only signed up for one, one of which was "HIDDEN" from all customer service people, credit card specialists, tellers, and basically everyone at the branch level, so that when we went IN PERSON to pay off the balance MULTIPLE TIMES over the span of SEVERAL MONTHS, they kept telling us the balance was ZERO. We even went as far as having someone at the branch call the SEPARATE "credit card office" multiple times to access the balance, since we couldn't go online, or even request a statement right there INSIDE the bank. There was no other way to do it. Convoluted, yes?

We had stopped using the card months prior because of the problem with not being able to check transactions nor access the charges online, as well as the balance doing weird things unbeknownst and unexplained by customer service.

3) FHB somehow let over $2,000+ accrue in the "parent" (I would call it "evil ghost") account-- EVEN THOUGH CUST SERVE AND CREDIT CARD SPECIALISTS TOLD US THE BALANCE WAS ZERO MULTIPLE TIMES. No one ever, ever mentioned that second account to us.

Then, someone called us late Friday afternoon to say there was that huge $2,000+ balance PLUS late charges from who knows how many months ago. Now they've screwed over our credit score and made it MY fault? I called the 24-hour hotline and was told I had a "parent account." When I asked her to explain what that was, she shrugged me off and said I needed to talk to my "business banker." She transferred me to "his" voicemail, but I was magically connected to some stranger's voice message. FAIL. IT seemed that my only choice would be to go to the bank in person.

I subsequently spent over TWO HOURS at the bank on a SATURDAY (because they called late Friday) with confused staffers who couldn't even figure out why someone from the credit card department had called us about the late fees because they couldn't see this 2nd mysterious "ghost parent" account, which we had never signed up for, never received a card for, and never been made aware of because THEY, THE BANKERS, weren't even aware of it. At least two customer service reps had never even SEEN this type of account before. One of them was my business banker, who had set up the account. MYSTERIOUS????

4) After dealing with the nice customer service rep, I asked to speak to a manager so this won't happen to anyone else. I knew I was already screwed, but I wanted to bring this glitch in the system to the awareness of management. The manager approached me like she was trying to intimidate me and like I was going to attack her when I just wanted to help. I was feeling pretty calm and good about myself for doing a good deed for random strangers. She didn't even introduce herself when I shook her hand and gave her my name, and then she made the whole thing seem like my fault and like I should be apologizing to her for having screwed up credit, an incorrect address, incorrect social security number, and wasting hours and hours of time sitting inside a bank on a Saturday . . . MASSIVE FAIL.

5) The nice customer service girl in the Makiki branch told me that all the bankers in charge of credit cards would not return until Monday. It's Monday now, and I just called them to check on the balance, see if I could order duplicate statements because I never received the originals, and find out what the transactions were. I was transferred on the phone to someone who told me I didn't have access to the account, so she couldn't tell me ANYTHING. WTH. I told her I had a copy of the account signature card right in front of me, and it bore my signature. I also affirmed that I was the owner of the business. She said my only choice was to go into the bank AGAIN. I said I'd already been there for 2 hours on Saturday, and that no one there even knew my account type existed. What they did was call the exact same department and act as a third party between me and the credit card people. Ugh ugh ugh.

They had way too many chances to set things straight and DIDN'T. Therefore, First Hawaiian Bank fails majorly in my book. I am losing sleep over this. Please beware. Look what FHB employees have to say!

Beware: SCAMMERS ON THE LOOSE!

2009-10-01T11:25:00.004-10:00

Keys Examined To Avoid Locksmith Scams:
Scam Artists Stealing Business From Local Locksmiths.

The abive article reminds me of the all-too-many times we've been called by customers to "fix" work done by scamming locksmith companies. At least once a week, The Key Guy gets a call from someone whose lock doesn't work anymore after one of the "local" scam locksmiths "picked" it. Worse than that, we often hear about the exorbitant bills extracted by these so-called locksmith companies. We often hear about charges 300-400% more than a legitmate locksmith would charge. Last month, we installed a high-security lock for a man in Pearl City who paid nearly $400 for a lockout in the middle of the night. The company he called was a scammer well known to us.

We commonly hear that people just call the first locksmith that comes up in Google, or the one with an address closest to their current location using their iPhone or a friend's computer. This is dangerous because many disreputable companies create "business locations" at false addresses to prey on people who automatically trust google. My recommendation is to go ahead and call the locksmith listed closest to you, just please ask where the person you are talking to is located. Are they on Oahu? Are they in New York? What is the name of the company? Are they bonded and insured? Don't be afraid to ask! If you call someone without liability insurance, you're the one who gets screwed when they break something. Of course, there are two sides to this--you may luck out. We recently helped a crime victim only 156 yards away from us replace his locks! We were on the scene in five minutes--even before the police arrived.

The scammers can afford to rip people off because they don't care about repeat business. They advertise under many phony names, they aren't registered with the DCCA or any government agency to do business in Hawaii, and they often take cash so as not to leave a money trail or pay taxes. Their customers not only have to pay the scammers' high bills, they have to call a real locksmith in for a second go to fix a botched job, and spend even more money and time.

Equally common is the call we get from a customer with a situation that's a little more complicated than your common lockout or lock change. They've called one of the scam companies and been serviced by a locksmith who only knows how to do lockouts and re-keying. The locksmith will arrive, look at the lock, deem the job "impossible," and charge the customer a "service fee" for his time. Charging a service fee is legitimate and common practice among most locksmiths, but going to a site under false pretenses just creates frustration and wasted time for the customer. It kills me every time The Key Guy responds to a situation like this.

We have worked in close proximity to these companies since before we've been in business, and it outrages us that consumers keep calling the scammers because they just don't know any better. So please, find a trustworthy locksmith and program their number into your phone before you need help.

LLC

2009-07-28T22:42:00.003-10:00

The Key Guy is now The Key Guy LLC!

For anyone looking for a fairly easily understandable article about the benefits/ramifications of LLCs,
take a look.

Facebook

2009-07-08T09:50:00.001-10:00

The Key Guy on Facebook

Rate Us on RateItAll.com

2009-07-06T19:32:00.000-10:00

The Key GuyHonolulu Locks & Locksmiths

The Key Guy Commitment

2009-07-05T17:05:00.000-10:00

At The Key Guy, we are dedicated to the science of making keys and the art of defeating locks--with a smile. The Aloha Spirit runs deep in our locally owned and locally operated business.

The owners founded The Key Guy as a fountain of Honesty and Aloha in Hawaii. We charge bargain rates compared to mainland-operated locksmith companies in Hawaii, because we don't report to a call center on the mainland, nor do we waste money on hefty advertising fees. When you call us, you will always speak to a locksmith familiar with Hawaii street names and every neighborhood on Oahu. Your locksmith will advise you about your problems, and already know how to fix it when he arrives. Because The Key Guy is a local, family-owned company, we can guarantee prices you can afford.

You may have noticed that we hardly advertise, and that is because we guarantee fair prices and honest locksmithing. The Key Guy's operations hinge on customer loyalty and 100% customer satisfaction. Our biggest source of jobs is word of mouth and repeat business. Our goal is to make you happy!

The Key Guy is Hiring!

2009-07-03T20:21:00.006-10:00

Are you good with your hands? Do you have a knack for fixing things and understanding how they work? Are you patient? Punctual? Do you like learning new things every day? Do you like solving challenges?

The Key Guy is currently seeking disciplined individuals to join our team of 24 hour locksmiths. We are seeking trustworthy, disciplined, mechanically-intelligent, personable individuals to help our company grow.

Minimum qualifications:
High School Education
Respectable Appearance
Good Mechanical Intelligence
Knowledge of basic tools
Customer Service Skills
Must have own vehicle (large car/station wagon/suv/truck only--no small vehicles)
Clean Driving Abstract
No Criminal History
Ability to be on-call 24 hours a day

Duties include driving to client locations, unlocking cars, unlocking residences, duplicating keys, unlocking safes, installing and removing locks, installing door accessories, re-keying locks, billing clients on-site, and interacting professionally with clients.

The compensation for this job is excellent. Prior education or training as a locksmith is preferred, but not necessary. We are willing to train the right individual.

This is a part-time position that may develop into full time eventually. We do not offer medical or other benefits.

Learn more about our company at http://keyguyhawaii.com and http://thekeyguy.blogspot.com

Please email info@keyguyhi.com if interested.

The Key Guy Guarantee

2009-06-29T12:58:00.003-10:00

The Key Guy now offers an unparalleled 3-part guarantee to provide the best prices and the best service of any locksmith in the state of Hawaii. Each individual part of our guarantee is unique among locksmiths in Hawaii. Offered together, they promise an unbeatable level of quality locksmithing compared to any of our competitors.

1) The Key Guy has the best prices on Oahu. Period. If you find a better price from one of our competitors, we guarantee to beat it. Proof of price must be presented before service is given.

2) Rest assured that if you call The Key Guy, we promise to find a solution for your security problem. Your problem is our problem, and we will not leave until we find a solution. We work hard for our clients, and in return, ask to keep our solid reputation.

3) In order to guarantee the most expert security solutions, The Key Guy employs only Certified Master Locksmiths. Master Locksmith is the highest achievable level of locksmith certification.

Call The Key Guy 24 hours a day at 808-377-4999.

Reliable, Ethical, Affordable Locksmiths

The Key Guy has a Master Locksmith on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-877-7KEYGUY (377-4184 Oahu). As Hawaii’s premier Locksmith Service, we are proud to offer the most reliable, ethical, and affordable locksmithing in Hawaii - just read our testimonials! The Key Guy is kama’aina owned and operated by Certified Master Locksmiths, as well as bonded and insured.

All labor can be done right where you are, instantly. At your service are The Key Guy’s full-service mobile workshops, fully equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. The Key Guy services all types of lock hardware, including locks for vehicles, private homes, condominiums, military and commercial buildings.

We’re fast, too. We arrive on-site within 30 minutes to most Oahu locations.

The Key Guy Owner Achieves Master Locksmith Certification

2009-06-29T12:45:00.005-10:00

Guy Tordjman, owner of The Key Guy, recently earned his certification as a Master Locksmith from Phoenix State University. Master Locksmith is the highest achievable level of locksmith certification.

Congratulations, Guy!

Lever Door Handles Discounted 15%

2009-06-21T10:33:00.003-10:00

The Key Guy is committed to making locks and doors easily usable for all individuals. Towards that end, in a partnership with Honolulu Home Care, The Key Guy 24 Hour Locksmith Services has agreed to give a 15% discount for installation of lever-type door handles.

Lever-type handles are easier to manipulate for inviduals of all abilities, and they are just one of many elements necessary for outfitting a home towards Universal Design. The Key Guy stocks a wide range of levered handles suitable for interior and exterior doors.

The Key Guy offers free estimates and consultation. To receive this special offer, just mention it when you call The Key Guy at 808-377-4999.

Choosing A Locksmith: The Facts Laid Out Straight From An Insider

2009-06-20T21:58:00.009-10:00

After poring over multiple journalists' advice on how to choose a locksmith, I got a little tired of the same five or six points reiterated in every article. The authors had obviously just yoinked copy off someone else's publication or press release. Some even spouted prejudiced nonsense: One writer advised against finding a locksmith through internet searches, because "any fool" can buy a web domain for $1.99. That may be true, but any fool can also buy a listing in 411 for $7, and any fool can buy an ad in the yellow pages for $30.

Finding a good locksmith can be a little more time-consuming than you might be used to--DO NOT just look in the phone book for a "respectable looking/big" advertisement. That route of looking is not just old fashioned, it is often dangerous and much more expensive than finding someone who is actually reputable. If you're too busy to read the rest of this article, remember these main tips:

Ask your people. Who have friends and family used in the past?
ALOA Members are a good bet because to be a member, Locksmiths need a LOT of qualifications
Yelp! Reviews. Do not trust other review sites. Not even Google, Yahoo, nor MSN. They are not as well moderated as Yelp.
Bonded & Insured is a must (Hawaii doens't require Licensure)
Do not go for the company with the nicest, biggest, swankiest ads. Contrary to what you may have learned as a kid, these are the locksmiths to avoid! They are most likely to overcharge, and most likely to send an unqualified technician to the job. They rely on the prestige of their ads, not on lasting reputation with consumers.

I'd like to clarify some things that those not in the business may not realize:

ALOA membership is a good indicator of a good locksmith. Associated Locksmiths of America is serious about screening their members. ALOA members undergo a three-month waiting period before becoming full members. They are background checked by the FBI and undergo criminal background investigation. Hawaii locksmiths are required to fly to the mainland to complete ALOA certification courses. ALOA members must be vouched for by a current ALOA member and at least two other locksmith industry professionals. They must provide character references. They also must have been in business for at least two years before becoming a member. Why do locksmiths invest all these resources and go through all this hassle? So you, the consumer, can check them out on ALOA.org and rest a little easier when you see they are ALOA members. You can trust that they have developed a network of connections and invested a lot in their locskmith business and locksmith reputation. They won't just appear, rip you off, and disappear. They are not people who ordered a few locksmith tools on eBay and call themselves qualified to open your car. I can say that all ALOA members in Hawaii are respectable, competent locksmiths. It's worth it to look them up.
You can't necessarily judge a lockmsith by his certifications or claims of experience. Just because they passed a course certifying them as a "Certified Locksmith" or "Journeyman Locksmith" doesn't mean that they're a competent locksmith. It just means they took a course, maybe online, maybe on the mainland, and passed a test. In Hawaii, certification isn't necessary to be in business. Don't be dazzled by a certificate alone. How does one obtain a locksmith certificate? To become a "Certified Locksmith" from ALOA, one needs to take a 5-day, 40-hour course and pass the final exam. The locksmith must be physically present in the class, which means he has gone through the effort of going to the mainland (locksmith training is not offered in Hawaii). Some certification programs also offer a certificate completely online. You can buy the course for a few hundred dollars and receive a diploma without hands-on learning experience.
You can't necessarily judge a locksmith by his lack of a physical store. Too many advice givers put too much merit in the presence of a physical store. In Hawaii, the density of locksmiths is high, and there is a lot of competition. It is infeasible for every good locksmith to have a shop. There simply isn't enough demand. Many perfectly reliable locksmiths do good business out of a van or "mobile workshop."
You can't judge a locksmith by the size of his ad in the phonebook, the fanciness of his website, or the "largeness" of his presence. I'm not naming any names, but most, if not all of the locksmith companies who spend big advertising dollars in Hawaii are not based in Hawaii. They buy a lot of telephone numbers and list them at fake addresses around the island, and they forward them to a call center in New York or Los Angeles. They have subcontractors here in Hawaii who work out of their own vehicles and are neither bonded nor insured. Then, they advertise unbeatable rates. Unsuspecting consumers are fooled by the prestige large advertisements and a seemingly big presence. What you don't know is how the locksmith company is generating all that revenue. They advertise a low rate, then they quote you on the phone, "Yes, the service starts at $29, but it depends on your specific lock and the labor involved. We won't know a firm price until we get there." When the subcontractor actually gets down to billing you, the bill is usually for at least $150. He only gets to keep half of it. And that is how the big companies make their profits. They prey on one-time customers who call the first ad they see, thinking the company must be good if it can afford such a big advertisement.
Looking in a directory (phone book, 411, search engine) might not be a good idea, period. If you must pick blindly, do it in an educated manner. Read consumer reviews and check the locksmith's qualifications. Like I said earlier, it's much easier than you think to get listed in 411, google, and yes, the yellow pages. Especially among the pre-computer generation, the phone book is looked upon as a good source for picking a business out of a hat. There is something weighty about something made out of real paper. The drawbacks to a physical phone book are that you get no feedback from other consumers. Online review sites like Yelp are the way to remedy that. You might also want to check with the Better Business Burearu or ALOA before doing business.
Make sure your locksmith is properly licensed, bonded, and insured to protect yourself. You never know when something might go wrong with the job. It might be embarassing to ask, but ASK. And ask BEFORE you let a locksmith perform any work on your home. I have seen cases where a subcontractor for one of the "big ad" companies (see #4, above) was called to a lockout in a Honolulu condo.. When he got there, he took one look at the lock and said, "I'm going to have to drill it. This lock is unpickable. You will also need to buy a new lock". . . and pay for installation, extra drilling fees, and labor charges to remove the old lock . . . Halfway through the drilling, his drill ran out of batteries. He left the scene to get more batteries, and did not return for a long time.. That's when the client called The Key Guy. When we arrived, our locksmith took a look at the lock and said it was one of the easiest types to pick. An experienced locksmith would never drill it. We ended up having to drill the rest of the way through the lock and replace it, which is much more expensive than just picking it. Had the same situation happend with a reputable locksmith, the client could have called the company and claimed for damages. As it was, he couldn't even get back in contact with the phony locksmith no matter how many times he called.
Ask real live people you know who they've used in the past. I realize that locksmith services are used rather infrequently, and that none of your friends nor family may have a locksmith referral for you. If that is the case, try calling your realtor or building manager. These individuals work with locksmiths more often than most, and will probably have a good one that they have a relationiship with. If that route fails, check reviews online. Just make sure to check reputable review sites. Beware, because Google, Yahoo, and MSN reviews are fraught with phony reviews from company owners trying to make themselves look good. More trustworthy sources of reviews are Yelp and AngiesList.
Check reviews. Use the internet to your advantage. It's true that search engines are flooded with phony and unscrupulous locksmith listings with equally phony reviews, but there are clues that you can and should pick up on. When reading reviews, look at the grammar mistakes, writing style, and length of each review. Are they similar? Are all the reviews written by users who created an account for the sole purpose of reviewing this particular locksmith? Look at the reviewer's other reviews and view their profile to find out. Not many people will go through the trouble to go online and spend the time writing a review for a locksmith company, so be very wary. It takes time, but it's worth the effort to save hundreds of dollars, right? Google Maps Reviews, Yahoo Local Reviews, MSN Reviews, and the like are especially laden with fake reviews. As a scourer of locksmith reviews, I find Yelp! to be the most well-administrated review website around. Yelp seems to monitor and delete fraudulent reviews better than most.

Facebook

2009-05-29T18:15:00.005-10:00

The Key Guy is on FaceBook!

The Key Guy's Facebook Page

Promote Your Page Too

We're giving away a free key duplicate to every fan on facebook--buy 2 keys and get the 3rd key free! Just mention it when you call us 808-852-9257

ALOA Reprimands Faulty Advertising

2009-05-27T11:48:00.002-10:00

The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) recently released a statement that they will review the membership of any member who exercises deceptive advertising.

This includes the many locksmiths who list false addresses in directories to trick customers into thinking they are local, neighborhood business. In Hawaii, these businesses are often based on the mainland with no local office at all.

The Key Guy suggests asking for the address of any locksmith business you call before you let them do work for you. Make sure the van your locksmith arrives in is clearly marked with the company name, and always ask for a receipt.

Locksmiths Banned From Advertising

2009-05-27T10:22:00.003-10:00

Unlicensed locksmith companies have been banned from advertising in North Carolina after too many consumers complained to the Better Business Bureau. Hawaii as of now does not require locksmiths to be licensed, which means consumers should be all the more careful of who they choose to call. Full Story.

Read The Key Guy's Frequently Asked Questions about Pricing to protect yourself from unscrupulous locksmith scams.

High-Tech Car Keys can be Costly to Replace

2009-05-10T19:19:00.000-10:00

In addition to the metal cuts on a key, today's high-tech car keys have computer chips inside them that locksmiths have to program using special computer technology. This technology is expensive to purchase and requires specialized knowledge to use.

The Key Guy is one of the few locksmith companies in Hawaii that is able to make electronic chip keys at our clients' location.

Read more about replacing transponder keys, chip keys, and other electronic car keys here.

Celebration Discounts!

2009-05-03T21:46:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy just unleashed its new website!

Check out all the awesome info that describes what we do, and check back here often for our latest special discounts!

You can also read about our company and our mission.

So . . . Curious if we really live up to all our hype? Read reviews from our customers!

The Key Guy: The Blog Companion Begins!

2009-04-19T22:06:00.000-10:00

The Key Guy is excited to announce the beginning of its very own blog!

Call us and speak directly to a Professional Locksmith in Hawaii for expert consultation and free estimates. Our Professional Locksmiths are available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The Key Guy services all types of lock hardware, including vehicles, private homes, condominiums and commercial buildings.

With affordability in mind, we provide the securest solutions for all your locksmithing needs. Each of our Professional Locksmiths undergoes extensive training, performs an apprenticeship, and labors for years as a Locksmith before becoming a Professional Locksmith. All of our Professional Locksmiths hold specialized knowledge of Hawaii's specific security needs.

The Key Guy is committed to sending only Professional Locksmiths to do all labor on every job. Expertise can translate to big savings. Why guess and do a job yourself when you can get it done by a professional who uses exactly the right materials for your situation, for less time and hassle? The Key Guy guarantees the job done right, with professional service, low prices and fast solutions for every security need.

The Key Guy specializes in car lockouts, house lockouts, lock changing, lock installation, lock re-keying, ignition keys, duplicating lost keys, transponder chip keys, VAT keys, master key systems, keyless entry, electronic keypads, access control systems, garage door locks, intercom systems, high security locks, CCTV, panic devices, peephole installation, deadbolts, precision key cutting, gates, padlocks, combination locks, mailboxes, file cabinets, door installation, extracting broken keys, car club removal and more. Benefit from our experience.

Call us for free estimates and consultation on all services, 1-877-7KEYGUY (or 852-9257 on Oahu). A Professional Locksmith will arrive at your door within 30 minutes to most Oahu locations. We're waiting for your call!

THE KEY GUYde: Blog Write-Ups to Right-Up Hawaii Security

GSA Inspector, Safe and Vault Technicians Association

Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice

The Key Guy is Hiring Apprentice Locksmith

Safe Crackers

Toyota Owners Take Note! What to do when your 1990 -2001 Toyota Ignition Freezes

Portable Biometric Eye Scanner

Welcome Gavin!

The Key Guy Latches On Habitat for Humanity

Featured in Honolulu CityGuide as Dog-Friendly Locksmith!

#1 Top Rated Locksmith in Honolulu!

We'll put you at ease

Review of the Day on Yelp!

No "Questionable Claims" Here!

Congrats Guy!

Should I replace or re-key the lock on my door?

Do I have to replace my lock cylinders when the contractors are finished building?

Village of Experts, Worldwide Fools

Do you have keys? Do you CONTROL them?

Locksmith's Security Tip of the Day

Heart Warmed

New Locks on the Cheap?

Planning On Getting Locked Out? Part II

Planning On Getting Locked Out?

If you are thinking of locking your keys in your car...you aren't very smart.How do you become smarter? Program The Key Guy's number into your phone instead! 377-4999 And yeah, you should do it BEFORE it happens. Because no one plans to lose their keys. Or lock them in the house. ETC.

BBB Accredited The Key Guy!

What is a BBB Accredited Business?

The Key Guy's First Video

True or False? Key Control Policy Quiz

$720 To Unlock Your Car???

2010 ALOA Best Locksmith Website in the World

Victim? Been Scammed?

My car's locks and/or the ignition was damaged. Should I call a locksmith?

Winning Best Van Entry

Planning to Remodel/Renovate/Build?

The Key Guy Wins Nationally

The Life of a Locksmith

You're only a professional contractor if...

OW! We're growing!

Locksmiths've Got Codes...

Locksmiths Hit New Low

Guy a Bonded ALOA Member

Hawaii Locksmith Licensure Bill

Introducing The KeyDog 24 Hours!

Go Florida!

Bad Copies

Don't Let it Happen to You

FindALocksmith.com

FHB Fiasco Update

Cell Phone: 3 Megapixels, CCTV: 0.1 Megapixels????

Pick for Pie?

New Feats of Key Guy Locksmith Super-Heroism on Set of LOST!

First Hawaiian Bank: Inept, Unorganized, Infuriating

Beware: SCAMMERS ON THE LOOSE!

LLC

Facebook

Rate Us on RateItAll.com

The Key Guy Commitment

The Key Guy is Hiring!

The Key Guy Guarantee

The Key Guy Owner Achieves Master Locksmith Certification

Lever Door Handles Discounted 15%

Choosing A Locksmith: The Facts Laid Out Straight From An Insider

Facebook

ALOA Reprimands Faulty Advertising

Locksmiths Banned From Advertising

High-Tech Car Keys can be Costly to Replace

Celebration Discounts!

The Key Guy: The Blog Companion Begins!

If you are thinking of locking your keys in your car...you aren't very smart.

How do you become smarter? Program The Key Guy's number into your phone instead! 377-4999 And yeah, you should do it BEFORE it happens. Because no one plans to lose their keys. Or lock them in the house. ETC.