NavyCO |
03-31-2015 08:03 PM |
Locksmiths in the villages
Far too many local locksmiths are greedy, unethical, or simply feel that "Villagers" are stupid enough to pay just about any price. How do I know this? I am a former federal contracting officer and cost and pricing specialist. I competed services for a living. In zip 32162 the arrange rate per hr is either 75 dollars flat or a service call fee of $35 and $45 per hr respectively. I took the time to seek out pricing on what a good locksmith should charge for changing installing (1) one standard door lock that included drilling holes, etc.
I call nearly every available locksmith listing in the area and prices ranged from stupid to laughable. I got on average "that will be a initial $40 service call fee (portal) and the cost of the job which will be $120 to $170 for simply drilling a hole (that one locksmith would take him 2 hours to do because it was so damn difficult). The job only took 15 minutes. Had I had the tools for the template it probably would have taken me 30 minutes. So I learned what to expect "blow smoke up the A___ of any dumb Villager willing to believe what they said."
Finally I called and found one locksmith by the name of Matlock's Lock & Key in Leesburg at 352-742-2490, that did NOT try to do anything other than be realistic, truthful and was downright honest. He said he could come right now if I needed him, and he'd do the simply job I wanted for his "standard price" of $35 portal fee and $45 flat. Total job cost was $80 which I was happy to pay.....not the BS $200 job everyone else was quoting me. Also, Mr. Handyman had the highest price tag of all, they quoted me over the phone $260 for this simply 15 minutes job. BOY AM I IN THE WRONG BUSINESS!!
To make a long story short....I want all Villagers needing locks changed, door rekeyed, etc...that Matt at Mattlocks's Key did what he said he do for the price quoted...did a fantastically quick and perfect job and he is ETHICAL.
He quotes a price for all the SAME, and not one price for this job and another price for a higher amount that some do. It's the same price for the same type of job no matter who you are or where you live.
THE REASON I WROTE THIS: is I love ethical contractors and HATE those that try to take advantage of peoplel in the Villages simply because "they must have more money" that others in the area. Shame on high priced locksmiths!! Call MATT at 352-742-2490 if you need service and tell him you saw what Mr. Knauer wrote about him on talk of the villages.
I am not getting a dime for writing or saying this....
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