New Locks on the Cheap?

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.