There are a number of "locksmith" companies advertised in the area that are practicing deceptive techniques to scam unfortunate and desperate persons who have locked themselves out.

This is a growing trend nationwide. In fact, this trend has spread beyond the USA and operates in Canada and other countries.

When somebody is locked out, they will turn to the Yellow Pages and flip though the book or go to the Internet and check a directory of locksmiths. They will probably call somebody that appears local, in the hopes of getting somebody cheaper and quicker than the other locksmiths. What the customer doesn't know is that many of these "locksmiths" aren't local at all, and the prices quoted aren't what they intend on charging either.

"This scheme entices locked-out consumers with large Yellow Pages ads that give the impression you are calling a local business," says ALOA's Executive Director, David M. Lowell, CAE, CML. "These companies manipulate listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make them seem like a neighborhood businesses. In actuality, the victims frequently are calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies at all. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the victim is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and sub-standard work."

The Better Business Bureau has reported on this as well, stating that these locksmiths "are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints".

Consumers are typically quoted a low price on the phone (usually lower than the other quotes they receive), but when the job is done they get handed a bill for an amount substantially higher than previously agreed upon in a bait and switch scam.

We have had reports from customers in Pinellas County about this practice. These customers have turned to us to complain about these other shady operations and for us to fix problems left behind from the other disreputable companies.

Please see the Locksmith Wiki Knowledge Base for more links to stories and information:

Unfair or Deceptive Locksmith Companies

Consumers Warned of Phony Locksmith Scam

BBB Warns Consumers of Nationwide Locksmith Swindle :You may have been a victim and not even know it

One of the movies at the Sundance Film Festival 2010 is the low-budget "Homewrecker".

Homewrecker is a fun, light romantic comedy about Mike, an ex-con locksmith trying to straighten his life out as a prisoner on work release laboring as a locksmith. He is approached by a free-spirited woman convinced that Mike can help her prove her boyfriend is cheating.

This is Brooklyn brothers Brad and Todd Barnes first feature film. They are excited about their premiere and want to make a career in the film industry.

Sundance has a new category called Next, which categorizes films made for under $500,000. There are 8 films in this category this year.

The film Homewrecker is based on a real person that the Barnes brothers interviewed who was working as a locksmith, on work release. We was locked up at 9 every night and would be released every morning and would help people back into their homes.

One other interesting thing about this film is what YouTube is doing. YouTube has set aside five films from last years' and this years' Sundance Film Festival that they will be renting, in it's first step towards becoming a full service online video outlet. The five films they will be renting are The Cove, One Too Many Mornings, Homewrecker, Children of Invention, and Bass Ackwards, which YouTube will price at $3.99 each.

Here's a trailer of Homewrecker. (This preview does contain language that will be offensive to some.)



The story sounds entertaining enough for me. I don't think I'll be paying to watch this, but who knows.

More on Homewrecker

YouTube blog about renting movies

No, we're not going out of business. We're here for you and we'll be here for a long time.

We have noticed that quite a few locksmith companies in Pinellas County have gone out of business in the last few years.

Some of the companies we have noticed that have closed and gone out of business are these:

• "A & D Lock & Safe" of Clearwater


• "A-Aaction Locksmith" of Seminole


• "AA-Discount & Pinellas Park Locksmith" of St Petersburg


• "A C R Locksmith" (also known as "Elcerrajero Locksmith") of Clearwater


• "A Louie The Locksmith" of Largo


• "Anytime Locksmith" of Seminole


• "B K Lock" of Largo


• "Hobens Locksmith Service" of Tarpon Springs


• "Holiday Lock & Security" of Holiday


• "Ironman Locksmith" of Tarpon Springs


• "Jerry's Mobile Locksmith" of Tampa


• "Key Craft" of St Petersburg


• "Keymart Locksmith of West Florida" of Pinellas Park


• "Lock-Worx" of St Petersburg


• "Open Sesame LLC" of St Petersburg


• "Rodriguez Lock & Key" of Largo


• "Sure Lock Locksmiths" of St Petersburg


• "Tampa Bay Lock & Key Enterprises" of Clearwater


• "The Allied Lock & Key" of Clearwater


• "Treasure Island Lock & Key Company" of Treasure Island

That's a lot of companies!

Quite frequently we'll get phone calls almost exactly like this:

Sunshine Locksmith Team: Thank you for calling Sunshine Locksmith Team. How can I help you?
Customer: How much do you charge to (insert service here, such as rekey, open up, make lost keys)?
S: It's $xx.xx.
C: Well, the last time I had that done it was $xx.xx with a different locksmith company. I tried calling them but they are out of business.

Really? Do you know why they are out of business? If we charged that amount we'd probably be forced out of business too.

It takes more than low prices to keep a business running strong.

We don't compromise your security by skipping corners. We compete on service, quality, and customer satisfaction. And sure, our prices are reasonable too. If you really want the cheapest locksmith, then keep looking; You'll find one. But the next time you need a locksmith you'll have to do that shopping all over again because I'm sure they'll be out of business.

One thing to watch out for, however, are the locksmiths that do the "bait and switch" routine on you. There are a lot of fraudulent listings in the Yellow Pages phone books and the Internet directories full of companies that will quote "$29 plus labor" with labor at "$15 and up". It never is $15. You'll end up with a bill higher than if you had called us. These are what we refer to in the industry as "scammer locksmiths". However, our prices on the phone are upfront and very accurate. Please program our telephone number into your phone right now before you need to find a locksmith. 727-216-7912.

One of the reasons that some of these companies are forced to close down are because of the scammer locksmiths out there. They flood the directories with listings, forcing the small guys to go out of business. This is the subject of another blog, but in the meantime you can read more here:

• 1000 Locksmiths in New York City


• New York City Locksmiths - A Map Spammer’s Guide


• Google Maps Data Quality: Where do we stand after the Locksmith Onslaught?

We keep track of monthly sales and it always seems that January and February are the worst months sales-wise for us.

It must be slow for other locksmiths in the Tampa Bay area, not just with our company, Sunshine Locksmith Team.

The reason I say this is because we have had an inordinate amount of telephone calls within the last month from people looking for locksmith employment.

Things generally pick up for us again in March, but until then business is generally slower than usual.

So, take advantage of this. Our response times are generally quicker than normal. If you need a locksmith we can usually get somebody to your door in the Tampa Bay area within 60 minutes.

When installing deadbolt locks, you have the choice of installing a single sided deadbolt (a key locks and unlocks on the outside only, and a thumbturn is used on the inside), or a double sided deadbolt (a key is required for locking and unlocking on both sides of the door).

What are the pros and cons of each type of lock?

Single Sided Deadbolt

Pros are that if there is a fire or other emergency you can exit right away.

Cons are that if there is glass close to the lock, somebody can break the glass and reach around and unlock the deadbolt. Also, if you have a "wanderer", such as an autistic child or Alzheimer patient, the person can easily open the lock and be gone.

Double Sided Deadbolt

Pros are that if somebody reaches through a window the lock cannot be unlocked easily. Also, if somebody breaks in through a window, they probably will be forced to go back out the window and will not be able to carry large stuff through the door. This type of lock also prevents children from wandering out the door.

Cons are that if there is a fire or other emergency the person will be trapped and possibly die if the key is not in the lock or close by.

When installing double sided deadbolts for customers we recommend that the keys be left in the inside of the lock so that the keys are there in an emergency. This gives the added benefit of not losing your keys. We also recommend that a spare key be left within 4 feet of the door, but not within sight or reach of the door or a window. This way if there is a fire the key is close by and panic is eliminated or reduced.

Here is a tragic story entitled Deadbolt Dangers about an elderly lady that was killed in a house fire when she couldn't find her key to exit.

I personally prefer double sided deadbolts on my doors. In most of the houses or apartments I have lived in I have installed deadbolts requiring a key on both sides. When I came home I would insert the key on the inside of the lock until I left again.

Some locksmiths prefer not to install double sided deadbolts, and in some areas of the country there are laws against installing them.

One of my favorite deadbolts right now is the Medeco key-captive deadbolt. The lock is high security to start with, so it's a great lock. It has special features that make it very pick-resistant, drill-resistant, and the keys can only be duplicated with proper identification presented. And this key-captive deadbolt is a double sided lock with a special key blade built into the interior thumbturn that you can leave in the lock and keep the door as a single sided lock. When you want to leave for an extended period you can remove the interior thumbturn with your exterior key and the lock converts to a double sided deadbolt. It's pretty much the best of both worlds.

We are Medeco Freedom dealers and can install a Medeco key-captive deadbolt. We also can install standard security deadbolts, whether they are single sided or double sided locks. Call us today at 727-216-7912 or visit our website to schedule an installation.

A local locksmith company, "Yellow Jacket Locksmith", based in Clearwater at Lakeview Road and Missouri Avenue South suffered damage to the store when a vehicle struck the building last week.

Nobody suffered life-threatening injuries. The condition of the business involved is not known.

Here are some links to local news stations that reported on the incident:

Clearwater man sidesteps second near miss by car - Tampabay.com

4 injured as vehicle slams into Clearwater business - Tampa Tribune

Car hits building in Clearwater - 10 Connects

Crash ends with car in Clearwater store - MyFox Tampa Bay

Several injured as car crashes into Clearwater business

I'm glad that nobody was killed and I hope the locksmith business involved is able to recover from this incident.

We just had the Verizon / Idearc / SuperPages Yellow Pages rep visit last week for the upcoming St Petersburg / Clearwater / Beaches directories.

Why do the reps insist on meeting in person? Isn't this something that can be done online?

The rep took - no lie - an hour and a half to get the contract signed.

I've filled out paperwork for a mortgage faster than that. I've bought cars quicker. Why did it take so long?

I really don't like the idea of having to sit through a one and a half hour sales pitch. Maybe next year we'll just drop the book altogether.

Our Yellow Pages ads cost about $1500 per month. That generates about $500 to $600 in income (before the cost of materials too). So, technically, we're losing $900 to $1000 per month on advertising. Not much incentive there to sign a contract next year. I'm not sure what possessed us to sign this year. Maybe it was the high pressure sales guy.

We have finished distributing our flyers in the Bardmoor / Cross Bayou / Seminole / Pinellas Park area.

Remember, the deadbolt installation special is only running until February 28th.

Yes, you may have a deadbolt on your front door. The majority of doors we observed in the area did have a deadbolt on the front door. But, do you have a deadbolt on your side door, back door, or even the door inside your garage?

Statistically speaking, the majority of forced break-ins do not happen through the front door. A burglar will usually enter through the side or back door, or even get into the garage and enter the house through the garage door. Any door without a deadbolt is your weakest link for a forced entry.

Call us today and schedule an installation. 727-216-7912

I finally got around to watching "No Country For Old Men". We have a TiVo at home, so this was one I didn't mind watching.

One thing that really annoys me is when the movies or television shows have a lock that needs to be bypassed and they do it in such an unrealistic way that it just wouldn't work in real life. Hollywood is a large contributor to my distress at work.

Yes... here's an example:

I will get called out to open a lock on somebody's door and I'm about 2 or 3 minutes into trying to pick it open and the customer will say, "It's a lot quicker on TV". Or, "MacGyver (or James Bond... insert the character's name here) can open it in 5 seconds".

Well, yeah, they can open it in 5 seconds because the locks are rigged with 1 pin or none instead of the standard 5 or 6 usually found in the lock.

So, here's my beef with "No Country For Old Men". I can't believe they are trying to pass this air-powered contraption as a viable method to bypass a lock. Sure, it looks fancy, and one would like to think that it could work, but it's physically impossible the way Hollywood portrays it in the movie. For added sensationalism, this tool was punching the lock so fast that it was flying across the room on the other side of the door, leaving the outer ring still on the door in the case of a deadbolt, or the knob still standing in the case of a key-in-knob lock.

Well, here's the mechanics of a lock and the door it is on.

First of all, here is a picture of a similar and common deadbolt. This one has a free-spinning outer collar, such as the deadbolt presented in the movie. This ring sits around the lock body and is designed to spin if somebody takes a pair of pliers to it and forces it off of the door. The lock actually sits recessed inside the ring, and the ring stops the lock from pushing into the door. The ring is designed to absorb as much impact as possible so the lock body can't get shoved into the door.

Notice this cutaway diagram of a deadbolt. Do you see how much of the outer ring is overlapping the lock body? That's just way too much metal to have to force past the outer ring. That outer ring would stop that lock body from moving into the door with more than as much pressure as you could physically exert on the lock. In fact, if you were to exert enough pressure on the lock body to get it to shear off and pass the outer ring, you probably would have broken the door so badly. However, in the movie after the lock is punched out, the lock mounting hole is in good condition and the door isn't damaged beyond a point that it's not usable.

Look at the Schlage deadbolt a few pictures above. Notice the bolt in the way. If the lock was punched out, the lock bolt mechanism would be punched out as well. The door wouldn't instantly unlock. The bolt work would have to be retracted. If the lock went flying through the door and took the bolt mechanism with it, it would take a minute or two with a tool such as a screwdriver to find the bolt and retract it unlocked.

Here is another explanation as presented on The Internet Movie Data Base.

If the lock was punched through, the outer ring would fall off onto the ground outside (unless there was paint holding the ring affixed to the door, or the ring fit so tightly into the cross-bore hole that force was actually needed to install it in the first place).

The other locks in the movie present the same problem. The cylinders don't just fly though the door. And if they did, you'd still need to find a way to retract the mechanism to unlock the door.

It is things like these that turn a fairly good movie into something implausible. Am I too judgmental? Maybe. My wife gets annoyed when we're watching a movie and a scene with a lock makes me utter a "pffft" as the hero (or villain) bypasses it in seconds. Whatever.

C'mon Hollywood! Let's see something realistic in the lock department next time.

I did enjoy the locksmith in "Crash" very much so, but that's the subject of another blog.

We are almost done our flyer campaign in the Bardmoor area. We printed 550 flyers for special distribution in Bardmoor and have distributed about 480 of them so far. Be on the lookout in the next few days for a flyer if you live in the area and have not yet received one.

We finally have a blog feature on our website.

This feature will be used to announce new things happening with our company, and other locksmith-related events you may be interested in.

Please feel free to suggest items you want to hear about, or to leave comments about things that spark your interest.