05/12/2026
From time to time, I hear from customers and their stories when shopping for a locksmith or other service provider how expensive it is. Today is one of those days where a local automobile dealer was going to charge 475.00 dollars to cut a key and program the chip along with swapping out the battery in the key fob.
I realize everything is expensive, but this is someone who is retired on a fixed income. The piece of plastic key the ring attaches to was broken off, that's it. The customer has physical issues and could not get the cover off to change the battery on the fob, and with the tabs broken on the keys, it makes it hard to keep track of them.
So I drove out to cut and program a new key, but all it needed was a hole drilled in the plastic to run a new metal ring through it. I sanded and buffed off the rough edges and drilled the holes and ran a key rings through the holes; tested them to make sure I didn't drill thru the transponder chips and changed the battery in the fob. All for less than 100 dollars.
Now, maybe you're thinking that's too cheap, but at the end of the day, I sleep fine knowing I helped someone that was about to get reamed by a dealership.
I didn't get in this business to rip people off, I have to charge something for fuel, parts , time, insurance, licensing, training, tools, key machines and testers, and so on...
I try to be as reasonable as I can so I can continue to help others in the community. Keep me in mind if you or someone you know needs lock work done. Thank you for your support.
