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| General Questions |
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- Q I've seen the word "ALOA" on a couple of locksmiths' Yellow Pages ads. What does "ALOA" mean?
- Q What services do locksmiths offer?
- Q How can I choose the right locksmith company when I need service?
- Q I found a deadbolt at a chain store for $9.95. Your deadbolt costs $35. What is the difference?
- Q I have five locks on my house with five different keys. I would like them changed and keyed alike. Is that possible?
- Q I have a deadbolt that worked fine when I locked it this morning. But now when I put my key in, the key just spins around and the door is still locked. Can you help me?
- Q I just bought a $600 mountain bike. I need to lock it up and I was wondering what you would recommend.
- Q Locks on a house only keep the honest people out. You can't really secure my place, now can you?
- Q I would like to have some locks installed, but I don't know if the door is in good enough shape to have this work done. Should I find a carpenter to fix the door before I put new locks on it?
- Q I've seen the word "ALOA" on a couple of locksmiths' Yellow Pages ads. What does "ALOA" mean?
A ALOA. It's not Hawaiian for "Hello" or "Good-bye," but it stands for the Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA.) ALOA is a trade association of qualified, ethical, professional locksmiths who are actively engaged in supplying, servicing or installing locks, keys and all related lines of the security industry. ALOA assures you as a consumer that you are dealing with a professional locksmith, a dedicated individual who not only has the educational and technical competence, but a real desire to provide the right security for you and your property. So how do you know that you are dealing with an ALOA member? First, look in the Yellow Pages for the locksmith who uses the ALOA symbol. Every ALOA member carries an ALOA identification card to show proof of his or her qualifications. Many members have taken the time to study special-interest areas, such as safes, automotive security, or other areas. After passing a test, this member is designated as a Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL), a Certified Professional Locksmith (CPL), or a Certified Master Locksmith (CML).
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- Q What services do locksmiths offer?
A The following is a partial list of the many services available.
Keys Duplicated, Lost Keys Replaced, Master Key Systems, Locks Changed, Locks Installed, Locks Replaced, Deadbolts, Window Locks, Window Bars, Cars Unlocked, Lost Car Keys Replaced, Homes and Offices Unlocked, Safes Sold and Serviced, Combinations Changed, Safes Opened, Card, Keypad, Push Button, Mechanical or Electronic Access Systems.
Not all locksmith companies offer all of these services, and some may actually specialize in only one or two areas.
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- Q How can I choose the right locksmith company when I need service?
A Most locksmiths advertise in the Yellow Pages. Look for one close to you or one who clearly indicates he offers the services that you need. Check the ad to see if it indicates membership in a locksmith association such as the Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA) or the Safe and Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA). Membership in an association is not a guarantee of satisfaction. However, only the most conscientious business person takes the trouble to join a professional trade association.
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- Q I found a deadbolt at a chain store for $9.95. Your deadbolt costs $35. What is the difference?
A Your professional locksmith has one advantage (in today's ever-competitive market place) over the rest of the retailers that are selling the same type of merchandise. That advantage is knowledge.
The chain stores are in business to sell only. They do not have extensive knowledge about the product, its deficiencies or how to properly install it. If you have a question about a product, you more than likely won't be able to call the chain store where you bought it for service, because they have no knowledgeable person on staff to discuss your problem. However, they will gladly take it back and replace it, or refer you to the manufacturer for help.
The product your professional locksmith sells is the highest quality for your money. He can tell you the advantages of the products he sells, and steer you clear of a bad choice that you will ultimately regret. He has the knowledge to sell, install and service the security products that you might need or want. He places his reputation on the line with each and every product he sells. He wants you, his customer, to feel secure and to be happy with your purchase.
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- Q I have five locks on my house with five different keys. I would like them changed and keyed alike. Is that possible?
A Yes. Your professional locksmith can key locks alike if they are the same manufacturer's brand. If they are not the same brand, there is a possibility that they may still be keyed alike if a key blank can be found that will enter into all the locks. It is not the best way to accomplish the task, but it will sometimes work. The proper way is to replace the one or two locks that are not the same and then use the original manufacturer's key blanks in the lock.
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- Q I have a deadbolt that worked fine when I locked it this morning. But now when I put my key in, the key just spins around and the door is still locked. Can you help me?
A Yes. We can get you in. Sometimes it can be done without damaging the lock, but if the lock must be sacrificed, we usually will be able to replace it on the spot, keying it back to your original key. We will attempt to discover what caused the lock to break. If the lock was not installed correctly, we may have to make adjustments to either the lock and or the strike plate on the door jamb to correct the problem. Be assured that we will do the utmost to solve the problem so you won't have another lockout.
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- Q I just bought a $600 mountain bike. I need to lock it up and I was wondering what you would recommend.
A Your professional locksmith has many padlocks from which to choose. A locksmith will probably steer you away from the poorly-made locks that are fairly good imitations of the better locks on the market, yet are cheaply manufactured but offer little or no security.
There are many bike locks on the market. Some offer features such as being large enough to lock the wheels and frame to a fairly large diameter post such as a parking meter, or chains or coiled cables that you string through the wheels and frame before you lock the padlock. You must determine whether weight will be a factor, since a heavy lock might be too much weight to carry when traveling very far. You should discuss all of these factors with your professional locksmith before you make any decision.
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- Q Locks on a house only keep the honest people out. You can't really secure my place, now can you?
A A professional locksmith has the knowledge to provide enough security to make your residence or business as secure as Fort Knox. It only takes enough money and the right combinations of high security locks, access control devices and alarm devices. He can provide retina-matching or fingerprint-matching devices to operate the access control system that will allow you to use a key which can't be duplicated. This will enable you to unlock the interlocking deadbolt which allows you to gain access to the keypad to disarm your internal and external alarms so you can get into the house. Then, once you are inside, you can rearm all the internal, external and perimeter alarms, trip wires and land mines, so you will know when someone is trying to get in.
Now, for some people and organizations this might be exactly what they need, but is this the way the average homeowner wants to live?
Your professional locksmith can guide you to the best security that money can buy, and at the same time, recommend a security system that is practical.
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- Q I would like to have some locks installed, but I don't know if the door is in good enough shape to have this work done. Should I find a carpenter to fix the door before I put new locks on it?
A No. We usually can repair most problems with ordinary doors by adding new hardware, hinges, closers, locks, and/or strike plates. We can also solve the problem of sagging doors and ill-fitting strike plates so that the door will fit smoothly and the lock and strike plate will function properly.
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