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Just dealt with a mobile locksmith the first time last week. The key was lost on the company pickup, a 2008 Ford.
It was a chipped key but he was also equipped for smart keys as well. It was cool to see because it's not a simple "shape on the grinder" like with old house keys. He was well equipped along with some specialized European computer equipment.
Another noticeable item was how secure his van locks up, said he had about $100/k of parts/equipment within it.
He was young, wired, smart as hell, and socially awkward. I'm sure has many years of lock problems ahead of him.
Weird how all these "trades" have a six-figure salary, yet people aren't jumping all over them. Wonder why?
A few reasons I can think of.
Trades are not pushed and even looked down as career paths for at least the last 35 years.
My recent Locksmith experience demonstrated he had superior technical skills and ability, not a likely path most can follow.
Startup costs, as mentioned before, he said he had about $100/k in equipment and supplies just in his van. Tools are expensive and they start with zero customers.
We have a digital lock on our front door and LOVE it. Everyone has their own code, so we can have a cleaning person or dog walker have access and then delete their code without having to worry about them having made a copy of the key. We can access online or via an app to see who's entered and left our home, and when. We have it set so that we get a text every time someone enters, which is great to ensure the kids got home on time. Also a great way to make sure the dog walker or cleaning person was there when they were supposed to be, and for the appropriate amount of time. I HIGHLY recommend getting one.
That being said, we only have the digital lock on the front door. The rest of our exterior doors are keyed locks with a deadbolt. When we moved it we utilized a locksmith to rekey each of those locks. So I think that this is a profession that will be around for at least another generation, as the old technology is cycled out. That being said, a locksmith now needs to invest a lot of money into equipment, which may make this prohibitive to someone starting out.
Also, like any trade, you need to consider the demographics of the area in which you plan to practice. We have a good friend who is an expert mason. Making $100k+ as a union member in the northeast. Moved to the southeast and had to get a job in maintenance. Too much inexpensive labor available, so all of his jobs got underbid and he just couldn't make the kind of money he was used to asking. Meanwhile when we were getting our locks rekeyed, there aren't a significant number of locksmiths in our area and the cost was significantly higher than the same service in the northeast.
I don't know, no offense, but not exactly a 'sexy' career or one that comes to mind when people think about best jobs in the world.
Imagine going on a Tinder date and the person asks, "so, what do you do...."
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