mathew Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 locked myself out of my house saturday night (8pm) and phoned for one. the locksmith dude said it would be £120 + vat per hour!!! a bit shocked by this i phoned a few others and they all were quoting the same price. so the guy could turn up, spend 4 mins picking my lock and then gets the full hours rate! this got me thinking.......im in the wrong bussiness! just by chance its all going tits up in work at the moment and il be out before the new year. the plan is to take a year out, go travelling and just generally enjoy and experience new things followed by a complete career change. poker will keep my finances steady but couldnt help thinking a locksmiths course would be a good investment (although i wouldnt be paying for it as id qualiyfy for a grant) for when im home. even if i just do 2 call outs a week itl be a nice contribution to my poker takings. this would mean not working for anyone and having the time to myself which i crave.....il finally be chasing the dream and not the money. so yeah back to the locksmith people on here (if there are any) how many call outs do you usually get and how do you find the overall locksmith industry? keep it friendly as i dont want the irony of these thread getting locked:d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 You have to think why it was so expensive...perhaps because they don't get called up too often? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 You have to think why it was so expensive...perhaps because they don't get called up too often? thats a good point actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 and they get called out at 3am in the morning to some drunk bloke who cant get in to his house, only to find out you let him in to his neighbours house. Great money, but risky job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Sounds like the voice of experience. Were you the drunk bloke or locksmith? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Either that or it was his house the drunk bloke got let into Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero-M Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 There really isn't much to it in what I used to do, I was a service engineer for a window repair company. The company classed themselfs as pvc locksmiths and we used to do lock changes and break ins on plastic and timber and garage doors. Proper locksmiths have to do more involved stuff like safes and high security commercial locks etc, I don't know anything about the course they go on. All the rouge trader type locksmiths that I have seen on the tele who charge a fortune, have only been doing the very basic type of work, these are the ones that need to be stopped and replaced by qualified locksmiths who don't charge the earth ripping people of. Out of interest was your door plastic? and when you say locked out, did you just shut the door behind you leaving the keys inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 cheaper to break the window matt . rogue traders had a field day with these guys last year , simple fix , but using the customers ignorance,all had to be drilled out and replaced at a huge cost . if you have a conscience it wont suit you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero-M Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 cheaper to break the window matt . Unless you get someone like me, If it was just a simple lock out I would have charged about £30 depending on time and distance. (i.e I live in Ipswich so anywhere within Ipswich)The people charging 120+vat per hour, are plain ripping people of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 thats the problem which they depend on its a now decision , so they charge what they like or you stay locked out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0lly Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 How do you qualify for a grant if you don't mind me asking? Turned 22 on Thursday and decided to quit my job and go travelling next year with no idea what I'm doing after! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.