AirB&B - Lockstate WiFi Door Locks Bricked By Manufacturer Update.

A recent article in TechCrunch has highlighted one of the many pitfalls of modern day WiFi connected access control door locks.

Apparently, the modern AirB&B "sharing economy" room for let company has been recommending the product pictured here by Lockstate, a manufacturer of modern day WiFi enabled entry locksets and deadbolts, for use with AirB&B's Host Assist program.

This is the program recommended by AirB&B for their vendors to use for door entry.



We have been discussing many different manufacturers of digital and electronic door locks, for a number of years now and we have found that a great many of the marketed products appear to suffer from significant issues, especially relating to ease of use and longevity.

But this issue, as brought up in the recent TechCrunch article shows a vulnerability that many vendors/hosts or even home owners may not be aware of.

While the desire to have and use a modern day easy to operate access control system is growing in popularity, pitfalls are constantly being discovered that are hampering the technology from seeing wide spread adoption.

The issue with this company, relates to an OTA (Over The Air) OS (Operating System) update that effectively locked out guests, management, cleaners and users of AirB&B short term rentals.
Customers were locked out of their "hotel" and hosts were required to unlock manually and provide operating door keys to customers.

Now, some people will think that this is just a temporary inconvenience and simply write it off as "luck of the draw", but in any business today, maintaining accurate and effective and operational access control is of paramount importance to a continuing operation.

Other issues would be purchasers may not be aware of include, power-drain, where AA batteries require constant replacement (sometimes 3-4 times a month), weather affected installation, where use on an outside door that is exposed to weather affects the internal wiring of components and causes frequent operating issues, natural weathering, where mother nature causes the ground to shift (slightly) and wooden door frames and doors will naturally move, often causing doors to bind and not close or open easily and more importantly, not sufficiently secure an entry door because the bolt/latch, just refuses to align correctly with the strike plate/catch.

Another issue, rarely discussed or even pointed out by salespeople and installers is the height of the door lock. In America, the IBC (International Building Code) indicates that the suitable height of a door knob/lever, is between 36 and 40 inches from the floor. Generally, this height is too low because the average height of men and women in America is 5'10" tall. The average height of your typical deadbolt lock on your entry door will be about elbow height on a 6' tall person. That is 5-1/4" above the typical height of the average door knob/lever.

The issue with door knob height, explains in part why many door knobs and levers tend to come loose, while the actual door will move in its frame because people are literally pressing down while turning the knob or lever. This completely natural action is virtually unnoticed by most door knob/lever users. This direct action contributes to one of the locksmith and door repair industries, most common called for repair projects, across the entire world.

The most common fix/repair for a typical "door dropped" issue, is to simply replace the screws in the top hinge with 3" screws. Often, this will attach the hinge, through the frame to the stud. By attaching the door to the stud, the likelihood of "door dropping" and "weathering" and "door not latching or locking" issues goes away. Your cost? Maybe $3 in screws.

As professional locksmiths and door repair specialists, we here at Master Key Systems America LLC are available to consult and advise, methods and products that may help you to enjoy long term use of your door locks, hardware and security products.

From opening locked doors to installing locks, repairing or replacing hard to find locks and developing and servicing master key systems, Master Key Systems America LLC has the ability to meet your needs and the knowledge to exceed your expectations. 

Our office is conveniently located, ensuring prompt response. Our service vehicle is well equipped, meaning we can get the job done quickly and efficiently. Master Key Systems America is backed by more than 30 years of locksmith experience. We carry professional liability insurance to give you the peace of mind that your interests are covered. 

Our company tag line is 'Securing America - One Door At A Time'. Our motto is 'Service - At Your Convenience'


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Keyed Pocket Door Locks - Flying Off The Shelves

Our very popular Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock, that we have been selling for about 7 years now, is flying off the shelves right now.

The video below shows how easily installed it is.




Currently they sell for $128.00 plus shipping, but because the US Dollar has weakened compared to the Aussie Dollar, it is very likely we will see a price rise with the next batch.

If youre sitting on the fence, consider purchasing now before the price rises.

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Moved House But Forgot To Change Locks And Subsequently Got Broken Into With No Damage

Moving house is a chore. Many new homeowners are wrapped up in moving efforts, closing expenses, arranging removalists that they tend to overlook the fundamentally important task of having their new home rekeyed.

Many homeowners are unfortunately unaware or even misled by agents and sellers about the exact state of their door-ware or key system in their new home.

Many residents are unaware that home construction companies will purchase their locks and door-ware in bulk from manufacturers and distributors directly, and all those locks will be purposefully keyed to that construction companies internal master key system. This allows the construction company to only hand out 1 key for all their properties everywhere and allows their construction tradespeople to access all the different and separate properties they may be working on, without scrambling to find each separate sites individual key.

Pictured here is a typical pin tumbler cylinder showing the components used in it's build out.

The important attribute is the bottom pins. These are the pins that correspond to the cuts on your keys.





In the above picture you can see the essential components of a typical pin tumbler cylinder. The little holes to the left of the primary bottom pin holes, are for construction keying. Construction keying is a process that some manufacturers use to build specific sets of locksets for different builders.

At the end of the construction phase, the new homeowner will usually insert their individual key in each keyhole and turn. That first turn of the key, will drop some ball bearings into the holes, thereby preventing the old construction key from operating in future.

However, in my many years practising the locksmith trade, I have found time and time again, that many homeowners delay or forget to rekey their locks upon taking possession of their new abode.

 In the picture here, you can see a typical mock up of a master keyed cylinder.

You will notice a set of master pins between the bottom pins and the top pins.

These master pins enable multiple differing keys to potentially operate in your keyhole, effectively reducing the security of your door locks.

For a business or residence that wants to restrict key holders from operating certain particular door locks, without handing out or using separate keys, usually they will ask for their locks to be master keyed to a unique master key system.

But, all too often I see in the field, many circumstances where a lock has been master keyed and then the new resident or dweller will be unaware of such and live with it in oblivion to the potential disaster awaiting them.

Just last week, we attended a commercial customer (who had obviously contacted another company to rekey their locks). This customer has been using us for a number of years, but obviously someone else decided to use a competitor.

I have no qualms about any customer using their choice of professional, but I do draw the line at improper or mischievous techniques those "other" service companies might employ.

The 4 keyholes I rekeyed, actually were master keyed, unbeknowest to the store manager. 2 of the four keyholes included multiple master pins in each chamber, indicating that a significant number of differing keys also operated those locks. Again, without the knowledge of the store manager or corporate management. Besides this important detail being overlooked, the other 2 keyholes had pin tumblers missing completely from their chambers, effectively eliminating virtually any security for the particular locks.

Besides these plugs (cylinders) missing some pins and having multiple master pins in a few chambers, the plug itself (the barrel you put the key in), the top of the barrel had been filed. That single act alone, of filing the barrel, renders an already flawed cylinder even less secure because now, multiple differing keys, including some keys that may be completely different, will operate these locks.

Kwikset in recent years, altered the design of their mainstream lock cylinders to their new Smartkey system. A system that allows the customer to rekey their own locks as desired. The new Smartkey locks CANNOT be master keyed.

When master keyed locks are requested, we recommend customers to purchase a high-security restricted key profile to prevent unauthorised duplication of keys. This will protect a resident or business from those who would surreptitiously duplicate keys for nefarious purposes.

Cortex™ Digital Door Lock - By Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia

Our recent visit to the Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia headquarters and original manufacturing facility in Huntingdale, Victoria, Australia allowed us to see in person many of the companies new products being manufactured and assembled.

One of their new products we viewed is the new Cortex Digital Door Lock. This product differs from competing products because it is available for narrow stile aluminum, steel or wooden doors, standard dimension, aluminum, steel or wooden doors using the Lockwood 5782 Narrow stile door mechanism or the Lockwood 3772 Standard stile mechanism.

The narrow stile Lockwood 5782 mechanism allows for typical shopfront aluminum doors to enjoy a stand alone electronic digital access control device. The standard stile Lockwood 3772 mortise lock allows typical doors fitted with mortise locks to also enjoy electronic digital access control.

The narrow stile or standard stile door locks also include 3 options for gaining access. Keyed (by way of the exterior key cylinder), PIN code, by way of the touch screen keypad and Card access by way of the built in card reader.

The PIN code digital touchscreen allows for up to 20 individual separate PIN codes to be programmed while the Card controller allows for up to 40 individual cards to control the lock. The added benefit of a mechanical door key allows for high-security key cylinders to be included. This enables mechanical key entry (if the batteries are flat), but there is also a 9 volt battery connection on the bottom of the unit to allow temporary power for a non-keyed user to gain entry to a flat battery unit.

Lockwood also make a version that uses a typical tie-bolt entrance set latch mechanism, allowing typical residential or commercial lever or knob entrance sets to also enjoy the benefits of electronic digital, PIN or Card access control. As there is a 9 volt battery terminal on the exterior, there is no need for the mechanical key cylinder on the Lockwood CTX530.

The video above shows how easily programmed the product is.

We expect to offer these in the local USA market in due course

(Price On Application)

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Meroni Pigio 1-13E Push-Pull Entrance Set Installed To High-Traffic Door In Luxury Car Dealership

Last week, we installed the Meroni Pigio 1-13E to a high-traffic door in a local luxury car dealership.
As expected, teething problems occur with many new products. We went back today to adjust and re-allign the product and fitting.

The installation was in place of a typical lever handle set, that was causing no end of problems for staff and they were taping over the latch to keep the door from locking/closing.

Using a Meroni Pigio enables efficient and simple intrinsic operation of the door by anyone, with the benefit of virtually hands free use. Operate the handle with your elbow, your arm, your butt, your hip or even your hand. No handle to turn or grip, makes physically challenged or arthritis suffering users feel more in control because physically gripping and turning a knob or lever can be painful.

In this environment, we installed the product to a heavy steel door and were required to use additional Don-Jo scar plates to cover the old holes, for a clean professional look.

This version of the Meroni Pigio is the emergency unlock feature, which unlocks the locked handle from inside when the paddle is activated, turning the locking turn-button (a design change recently adopted by Schlage in their F51 series residential knobset)

Meroni Pigio locks come in 3 versions, P1, P2 and P3

Meroni Pigio P1

Meroni Pigio P2

Meroni Pigio P3

The Meroni Pigio range is available in a host of varying color finishes and materials.

Check out the source below for the MSDS.

With a range of accessories and functions that suit many varying styles and sizes of doors, using the Meroni Pigio lock system offers advantages that other brands do not offer and often attempt to emulate.

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Extra-Strong Security Blocker Plate And Concealed Continuous Hinge Installed To Very High Traffic Shopfront Door

 Very early today, we installed a custom built mild steel security blocker plate and concealed fix continuous hinge to a very high-traffic convenience store, to upgrade and improve the operation of the relatively newly installed aluminum shopfront door.

Our loyal returning customer, who has used us consistently for the last 5 years, a user of our Extreme Security Bilock Restricted Key Control System for multiple properties, owns this convenience store on a busy main arterial road in the North County of St Louis.

The area is experiencing a gradual rebirth, especially since the recent issues with nearby Ferguson Missouri, a site that was in the national and international news a few years ago due to the unfortunate shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager by a police officer.

The incident sparked riots and protests unseen in the St Louis region for a great many years.

We were required to custom design and install mild steel blocker plates with sex bolts. There was a 3/16" clearance difference between the operating door and the fixed leaf
door. We had to remove the existing security bars, cut them down in length to enable the concealed continuous hinge to fit correctly (not pictured).

 Installing the custom designed mild steel long blocker plates, required a 3" wide x 1/8" thick inside plate, combined with another 4" wide x 1/8" thick outside plate to be installed to the external of the operating door, so that the plate would conceal access to the latch mechanism and cover the fixed leaf edge (which was sitting 3/16" out from the operating leaf when closed)

Installing sex bolts (also known as concealed bolts) is the obvious solution to providing top security for externally mounted product because they prevent would be burglars from using conventional tools to remove the bolts.

Drilling through 2 separate mild steel plates, that were deliberately separate and not conjoined, providing a minimal gap between the plates increases the security application due to the laminating effect.

Laminating is a term used when there is a slight separation between panels. The effect of laminating, naturally increase the strength of the product (depending on the laminate material).

You can see the inside screw under the internal security bar in this image. We installed a number of these sex bolts to the application to increase the security across multiple points, providing significantly greater strength to the application.

The customer, had new doors installed only 2 months previously by a shop fitting company. Unfortunately the installer decided to use only 2 regular butt hinges on this extremely high-trafficked door. The door is operated between 10,000 and 20,000 times daily.

The extreme use and operation of these doors by customers, meant that the 2 4" butt hinges were not up to the job requirement for continued longevity and efficient operation. In 2 months, the door was already beginning to sag, to the point where the owner required to pay an employee overtime to maintain a continued presence on site, because the doors would not secure correctly.



We have not provided an external image of the concealed continuous hinge, but it is fitted with more sex bolts securing it permanently in place.

The concealed continuous hinge is manufactured by Select Hinges, a company that produces there products in America and are designed to last 50 years and that is their warranty period too.

With correct installation these doors will not sag, due to the number of fastener points, increasing the strength of the fitting.

We have installed a significant number of continuous hinges in recent years, mostly to shopfront doors due to the standard pivots wearing quite quickly and customers having many issues relating to sagging doors, inability to secure properly and causing angst for staff.

We were required to modify the security bars on this door to enable the continuous hinge to install correctly.

The entire project was required to be completed before the late Sunday opening time, because it is the only day of the week, where traffic is quietest before 9 am. We arrived at 6 am and began the project at 6.30am. Total completion in 5 hours. Certainly a mean feat in extreme heat conditions (but before the main heat of the day).

We will return at another time to upgrade the door locks at this property to the customers Bilock Extreme Security Restricted Key Control system. Then they will enjoy 100% bump proof and virtually pick proof lock cylinders with virtually impossible to duplicate color coded restricted keys, that will increase the security while protecting the owner from would be surreptitious attempts to copy keys.

Bolt Buddy - Proactive Security Product Made In Canada Prevents Door And Frame Failure

Always Affordable Locksmiths Ltd are a family owned professional locksmith company  in Canada that produce the fabulous Bolt Buddy deadbolt protection product.

The product, as described in the video above, is an effective security protection device that can thwart the most typical method of door break ins - kicking the door down.

We have been touting the strength and usability of the fabulous Strikemaster II Pro Door Frame Protection device for many years now and continue to offer the product as one of the best protection and jamb repair products on the market. American made and from North Carolina, The Strikemaster II Pro is unsurpassed in it strength, design and quality.

While we do find that some customers are proactive enough to install the Strikemaster II Products, most appear to wait until the horse has bolted before doing anything to "fix" their issues. This means that most customers wait until they have been broken into to install quality security protection products.

When you compare the average cost of replacing an entry door and frame in today's market to the sense in using the Bolt Buddy or the Strikemaster II Door Protection products, it really is a no-brainer. Yes, you can purchase a new door and frame at the big box store for $300-$500 and pay a cheapo handyman another $300-$500 to install it, but remember,"if you only want to pay peanuts, expect to get monkeys". The average cost for a professional door installer in my local market to supply and install a new entry door and frame, depending on desired model, is between $1200 - $1500.

The Bolt Buddy is a product designed to offer tentamount security at a fraction of the cost compared to other products. The ease of installation is attractive because a DIY'er or locksmith can easily install them in minutes.

I receive many calls to repair doors after being broken into. Over the last 10 years, I think it is one of my most called for project requests, to repair a kicked in door. I swear by the quality of the Strikemaster II Pro product. I am a user of it myself and it has protected my home from an attempted break in, so I  am very happy to recommend it, from first hand experience.

I am really impressed with the simplicity in the design of this Bolt Buddy product. The small footprint and ease of installation will protect entrance doors for many years. The security protection of your family and your belongings is paramount in maintaining a happy balanced life and using a Bolt Buddy will help to ensure you are protected.

We are not a reseller yet of this product, but hope to be soon. It is not expensive and worth considering if you're proactive about the security of your home and family.

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Steel Desk With Non-Removeable Drawers - No Match For An Experienced Locksmith Using Meroni Cabinet Furniture Locks

 One of our regular customers, an ongoing account customer that has been using us for about 10 years now recently contracted us to devise a system for securing a metal desk in a very busy upmarket car dealership.

The application was a steel built desk with non-removeable drawers.
There is a lockable tray directly under the midst of the desktop they had also lost the keys for, but the lock didnt secure the drawers too.

They wanted a system that allowed them to lock the side drawers.

Because of the weight and construction of this type of steel desk, conventional cabinet lock products would not easily install to the application.

 You can see that the drawers fit into relatively thin metal walls, that are strong but thin. The issue was being able to secure the new locks but not having enough material to install with metal thread self-tapping screws. We couldnt remove the drawers to access the internals of the desk drawers so that made using nuts and bolts impractical either.

The drawers, when open would pull out somewhat, but not enough to completely withdraw the drawer to enable easier access to the insides.

We would have been required to flip this heavy desk over to be able to work on the project, meaning the customer would have had to remove everything from the desk and all it's contents in advance of completing the project - a task not heavily favored.

 You can see the insides of the drawer and desk body where the position/location of a lock would have been difficult to install.

With thin but strong steel walls, we determined that using a push lock with an extension threaded bolt, we could rivet the lock body to the outside of the desk, in such a position to miss the drawer walls and channels.

But due to the distance between the back of the bolt and the actual drawer itself when locked, the bolt was not long enough for many other brands to accommodate.

You can see here that by using the Meroni 2224 Push Lock with Brass Cylinder Body, with a threaded hole at the back of the bolt, we were able to extend the length of the bolt sufficiently using a stainless steel screw. This enabled us to have a conventional cabinet lock that could be mounted externally and have enough distance to secure into the body of the drawer wall itself.

Installation to the outer body of the steel cabinet, under the desk makes an almost hidden locking feature to secure each individual drawer separately.

We simply drilled the appropriately sized hole in the steel body and secured the cabinet lock with rivets.

The benefit of riveting instead of using screws or nuts and bolts in this situation, is that the lock is mounted permanently and there is less likelihood of fasteners coming loose over time.

This means that little to no service will ever be required in future.

Handshake Free Zones - A New Idea To Mitigate The Spread Of Potentially Harmful Germs

Mark Sklansky, a pediatric cardiologist and self-described germaphobe, tested a new method for limiting the spread of germs in 2 UCLA neonatal intensive care units.

He describes the method as a "handshake free zone".

According to an article that appears on NPR, the doctor tried these "handshake free zones" in an attempt to minimize the spread of germs often transferred in hospital (clean) environments.

The article talks about how harmful bacteria are too easily spread in hospital environments, suggesting that patients dont come to hospital to get sick, rather to find treatment for illnesses.

EDIT: Another article has appeared on ABC News  today that expands upon the NPR article. I found this quote particularly interesting...

"WHO estimates of compliance for hand hygiene in medical settings frequently fall below 40 percent, Sklansky said. Poor hand hygiene can mean increased risk for hospital-acquired infections, which kill approximately 80,000 patients in the U.S. each year, according to the WHO." 

We have talked about the fabulous Meroni Anti-Bacterial door handles on a few recent occasions and have received a number of diligent inquiries about these products.

The Meroni Anti-Bacterial handles are especially designed using a special polymer designed by Meroni to lessen the spread of pathogen micro-organisms, thereby mitigating the spread of germs through contact.

Meroni Pigio Anti-Bacterial

The Pigio Anti-Bacterial handle offers not only a method to mitigate the spread of germs, but is the first handle of it's kind to be awarded  CE EN179 certification by European Door and Hardware Federation, in compliance with building codes for emergency exits. A truly "hands-free" mechanical door lock that you can open with your hip or your elbow.

By offering the anti-bacterial components too, Meroni make available high quality, simple to operate door handles that will match almost any decor or ambience in use by many hospitals, clinics and medical or laboratory facilities.

Meroni Combina Anti-Bacterial

The Combina Anti-Bacterial handle offers a typical door knob type model, that can fit in replacement of many other brands with little to no door modifications. Also available in conventional coatings, the broad color range of the Combina product line make it another product that will fit in with modern decor and ambience, desired by many interior designers, architects and floor managers.

Meroni products are exclusively brought to you by Master Key Systems America LLC

Lockwood Paradigm Series Lengthy Entry Hardware - Stylish, Classy, Secure

 Recently, we returned from our factory tour and meetings with a few world-leading lock and door hardware manufacturers.

During our trip, we experienced the manufacturing procedures for many of  Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia's super-high quality products.

One new product we are currently evaluating for North American market entry is the new Lockwood Paradigm Pull Handle Lockset or Deadbolt.

 The product, (pictured here) is a totally new design that originated in the research and development department in Australia. With a lengthy handle and built-in key cylinder, this new product design, exceeds many requested features by commercial and residential builders, designers and dwellers. Ease of operation with a conventional mechanical bump resistant and pick resistant key cylinder, options include double cylinder, single cylinder, safety release, locking/unlocking indicators, deadlatch, passage latch or deadbolt functions and are available in a host of desirable color finish options.

 Stylish hardware is the modern choice by many new homeowners who want to maintain a minimalist yet sexy ambience without detracting from the features of their doors. This new series of Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia Paradigm Series combines security excellence with noveau and modern lines that enhance virtually any entrance.

 As you can see, the handles are unique in their design, with a slightly longer external handle that hold the outside key cylinder and a shorter interior handle with a separate thumbturn handle beneath. Using a version of the award winning design Lockwood 001 inner handle makes the product easily operated by physically challenged users.

Of course there are a few different designs to whet your appetite, from plate mounted to straight door mounted hardware.

Double cylinder with safety indicator or no interior cylinder. Safety holdback feature with indicator, so anyone approaching the door from inside can easily view the operational status from farther away.


With replaceable cylinders that can allow for higher security mechanical key systems to also operate, these modern breed of door hardware and entry products are providing modern increased options for residents, businesses and operators to benefit from intuitively easy to use hardware that increases the value of your entry and the value your visitors place on you.


We are putting the product through our internal tests and hope to make this product available in North America shortly.

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Price Gouging - Is This The Norm For Auto-Dealerships?

A March 2017 article in New Zealand's Business Day website shows the displeasure many consumers face today, especially regarding the super-high cost for car keys, compared to years gone by.

The article (in the source below) tells the story of a consumer who decided to sue their dealer and Toyota New Zealand after the said dealer charged him NZD$525 for the remote plus an additional NZD$50 to program said remote.
The outrageous cost for OEM parts ticked off the consumer enough to file suit and the New Zealand consumer agency The Dispute Tribunal agreed.

The tribunal found Toyota guilty of price gouging.

Similarly, in other parts of the world, car dealers in some towns charge exhorbitant prices to provide their customers with duplicate keys and new remotes also,

Interestingly, the cost to produce the internal components is staggeringly miniscule and many auto dealerships and some after market dealers are continuing to take advantage of the consumer by massively inflating prices.

Auto locksmiths around America and other parts of the world, provide key origination and duplication services for many consumers at significantly competitive costs when compared to dealerships. Many of these auto-locksmiths have spent many years honing their skills and purchasing the unique equipment to enable fast duplication, creation and programming of modern electronic keys and fobs.

Specialist tools that are the cornerstones of the auto-locksmith industry, make significant light work in picking and decoding automobile locks but they do have a learning curve. There are a number of different brands who manufacture all sorts of differing programming equipment because "one size does not fit all". Many professional auto locksmiths have their own preferences and some may be better than others (machinery) for wide range of vehicles offered.

In recent years, the locksmith industry around the world has been infected by growing numbers of fraudulent operators, posing as professional locksmiths. Typically these sheisters will offer a very cheap estimate over the phone or online and dramatically increase the price when they arrive on site (often after completion of their task). Most of these fraudsters are untrained butchers who have never deliberately learned how to use the tools correctly and quite often cause more issues than they fix.
Another issue recently found with locksmith fraudsters is that some of them are making duplicates of their customers keys, leading to an increase in theft of vehicles. Insurance companies were originally responsible for the automobile industry requiring security systems and chip keys, in an effort to reduce the growing quantity of vehicle theft. The effort certainly had it's desired effect, reducing the insurance companies payout costs by many millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the original savings envisioned soon turned to those same insurance companies hiking the costs of auto insurances.

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Our Directory Of Locksmiths From Around The World Is Slowly Taking Shape... A Locksmith In...

We developed a directory for locksmiths, a while back and are pleased to see some excellent page-rank results in search engines across the world.

New enrollments continue to trickle in to our directory with a difference.

We include links to our colleagues sites too.

New features are on the drawing board too.
Plans are underway to include a blog roll and a featured page of the month.

The latest sites to enroll are featured on the navigation menu at the top.

All sites featured within include 1 page free, with copy designed in-house at our discretion.

Check out http://www.alocksmithin.com/

Internet-Connected Garage Door Operator Disabled In Retaliation For Bad Review

The Internet-Of-Things (IOT) is the new age for many consumers today. The increasing desire for "connected" technological products, raises privacy and security concerns especially when a disgruntled customer leaves a stinging negative review about their purchase.

As is the case with a particular customer who had purchased Garadjet - An Internet-Connected Garage Door Opener, designed to let you see the status of your door and control it via an app.

The customer installed the product he purchased on Amazon and  left a nasty support message on the company's support forum and then one minute later posted a nasty review on Amazon.

That prompted the Garadjet management to retaliate by denying the ID Unit server connection.

All being played out online, the exchange went viral through a twitterfeed that attracts a wide following among the #hacking community. Check out the commotion in the source below

Our Most Popular Products Include...

 The Bilock Deadbolt Lock. Our signature product, from when we first opened our business here in the USA, a little over 10 years ago is still Bilock. The Bilock Deadbolt is the most popular of the Bilock products repeatedly requested.
Concerned consumers request Bilock due to it's superior resistance to picking and bumping. The color coded keys help in easily identifying correct operating keys. Our signature authority system prevents unauthorised key production. Often, we can provide just the Bilock cylinder and keys that can be installed in many existing leading brands of hardware too, minimizing the cost to the homeowner and maintaining the existing ambience of the trim on the door.

The Pigio 1 by Serrature Meroni, is quickly rising as one of our popularly requested products because it allows the user to easily operate the push pull mechanism without the need to grip and turn the knob

The Pigio 2 by Serrature Meroni is also seeing increased popularity for similar reasons the the Pigio 1.  

The Combina by Serrature Meroni is the modern version of the unique Premiapri mechanism and is available in so many color options to suit varying tastes of consumers. 

The Cowdroy P697 Keyed Pocket Door Lock (now discontinued by us) was the first of our popular lock systems for pocket or cavity doors. It was pulled from our inventory for not meeting ADA/Building codes. (Key operated both sides)

The enormously popular best seller, The Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock exceeds the requirement of the many pocket door owners across the USA and Canada. The unique design, combined with a 5 pin tumbler that is identical to a Kwikset Keyway, complements this product. The Lockwood range of picket and cavity door locks, also includes privacy (bathroom/bedroom), passage and passage latching versions. 

 The Serrature Meroni range of furniture and cabinet lock systems, mechanisms, electronic control desk lock systems, drawer hinges, door closers, electric strikes, door handles, mailbox locks, etc are second to none worldwide for their quality and vast product range. This fine Italian company is on the cutting edge of design, that many other brands look to, for improving their offerings too. Still the best and still the worldwide leader in intelligent and ambient locking systems.

The Meroni Nova is the flagship of the Serrature Meroni line of door handle hardware. Easily our second most poular selling product.

The Combina Anti-Bacterial handle system prevents the spread of unwanted pathogens or diseases by dissipating germs on contact. Perfect solution for child care centers, hospitals, aged care facilities.

 The Bilock Grade 2 Light Duty Commercial/Heavy Duty Residential entrance set comes with a 15 year warranty on the hardware. Unique keying system and bump proof/pick resistant mechanism makes this product complement the Bilock Deadbolt written about above.

 Hooply, a Chinese range of specialty handles and locking systems aimed at residential markets that are prone to hurricanes or brash weather systems are a popular product found most often in New York City or Florida. We were once the dealer for this product line, but found demand too small to continue. We still have contacts with the manufacturer and their catalog. We are happy to prvide the company contact to enquirers.

 Sliding Patio Doors are one of our most common service requests by customers. We service and lubricate a great many of these doors across the greater St Louis Region, often without requiring to replace wheels or rollers.

A Simple repair usually takes about an hour (average) and costs about $99, including attendance and lube.

The Lockwood 002L is a rim mounted lever deadlatch that is one of, if not the strongest in it's class of secure locking hardware products. Not cheap. Expertly designed and demanded by those who demand the ultimate security.

Lockwood's flagship product for over 50 years is still the best.

Yale Conexis L1 - A New Smartphone Enabled Access Control Locking System

Yale, the ages old company and inventor of the modern day pin tumbler principle, the same name for which the world reknowned university was named, in recent years has seen it's original premise and products be modified and expanded to encapsulate more diverse fields, including (but not limited to) trucks, forklifts, golf-buggy's, etc.

Yale, once known as the leader in residential, commercial and institutional security products, are continuing to press the boundaries of the digital revolution with the introduction of the Conexis L1 electronic, wireless access control product.

Part of their Real Living genre of products, Yale have decided that their foray deeper into the modern digital era involves eliminating the very product for which their name was made famous.
The Key.

While many consumers agree that the convenience aspect of modern day access control products is most likely the primary aim, statistical analysis conducted by many agencies using multiple surveys and other data gathering techniques, reveal that the humble mechanical key is still a highly sought after feature desired.

Removing the mechanical key component does help to produce more competitively priced products, but can be an impediment to sales because electronics failure or electronic malfunction cannot be mitigated using a mechanical key, in an emergency or urgency.

Yes, battery technology continues to improve and the long term future for electronic wireless - battery powered products is intriguing. I do suggest that companies need to continue to include high quality mechanical key overide systems with their new products, to offer the consumer the continuing benefits mechanical brings.

The video below shows typical installation for the Yale Conexis L1 in the UK.



In America we are getting to see many similar types of door locks offering the atrium type of mechanism. Companies like Pella, Anderson, Peachtree etc, have been bringing in these modern and stylish types of doors, in excess of 25 years now and the market for these types of doors continue to evolve. Many customers enjoy the quality and convenience offered by these styles and types of doors.
HOWEVER.......

Anyway Doors - Unique Pivoting Doors And Frames To Suit Minimalist And Modern Tastes

Anyway Doors, a specialty door manufacturer based in Belgium, manufacture a unique range of stylish doors and frames that modernize many applications.

Their unique looking doors and styles are highly sought after in the European market and are showing increasing interest in the North American markets too.

The unique center-pivoting doors option, provides a fabulous way to separate or partition a living or work space.

Beautiful designs aimed at discerning tastes, attract many modern interior designers, who like to offer nouveau and eclectic form and function to suit varying tastes.

After the break, view more pictures from their range as well as a 10 minute video of the installation procedure and options for different door sizes and styles.

Master "Made In Mexico" Padlocks Suffer From Inconsistencies Making Duplicating Keys Awkward

 Yesterday, one of our repeat customers contacted us to duplicate a bunch of keys for their new padlocks they purchased at Ace Hardware. They had tried to get Ace to duplicate these keys in store but none of the keys worked at all.

Many hardware stores are often understaffed or their sales assistants are poorly trained in the simple key duplicating field. Often a hardware store will rarely adjust their key machines to correct parameters so that the keys they make will be correct. To the angst of many a customer, whom have had to return time and again to the store because their keys continue to not work, even in products purchased from those stores.

The padlocks pictured here are Master brand, made in Mexico and keyed alike in a set of 3.

Here is a pic of one of the padlocks and it's key individually.

This customer had purchased 2 separate sets of 3 keyed alike padlocks and wanted an additional 10 keys for one set and an additional 20 keys for the other set.

Now, there is not much rocket science involved in duplicating keys. Trained locksmiths have been duplicating keys for well over 200 years in this country and even longer around the world. But being trained to understand the different parts of a key, understanding how to set up and duplicate a key appears to be somewhat daunting to the uninitiated.

Hardware stores and shoe repairers decided a long time ago to enter the lucrative key duplication market because they are services that make a good addition to their primary offerings. Unfortunately, due to the consistent amount of failures in duplication, many big box stores have decided to install automated kiosks like we mentioned here about 6 years ago.

We decided to video our attempts to cut these keys and show some of the inconsistencies of duplicating keys. Please be entertained by our novice videos below.

The first video is not so fabulous......but lets have a look.





The second video shows me in the foreground showing the process. I am in my worktruck at the customers site completing the project onsite...



This third video features me again (please excuse my candor) duplicating the final set of keys....




Okay....I am not the best videographer, but hopefully you will get the idea. I'd be interested in hearing about your issues with having keys duplicated and working or not. Maybe recommended locations for good duplicators in your region.

Thanks!

Meroni Combination Cabinet Locks - Perfect For Car Dealerships And Sales Offices

Meroni manufactures a brilliant yet competitively priced alternative to drawer and cupboard/cabinet security that operates easily for use in high turnover vocations, like sales offices, car dealerships etc, where sales people often move offices/desks sometimes more often than normal.

Enter the Meroni 10 series resettable combination lock system.

The product can be typically used to replace existing cam and file cabinet locks (with a little installation modification) or are fast becoming a sought after alternative to office furniture and cabinet/drawer manufacturers, where their customers are requesting combination locks on sales persons desks and cabinets/drawers.

This product uses a fully resettable mechanism to enable the manager to access a lost combination using an overide key and reset tool. This means that if a user relocates or leaves the position, the desk drawer/cabinet can be easily reset and used by the next occupant without the need to have new keys cut to code or locks replaced.
The obvious benefits include cost savings, time and convenience for managers and reduced down time.

The brochure in the source below is in Italian, but shows how the system is easily reset by the manager.

The products are available with operating keys too and can also be master keyed if desired.

Cost effective, unique products aimed at minimizing productivity down times and maximizing efficient management use, that actually save money while providing superior convenience.

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Meroni Wooden Drawer Lock - Simple Installation And Security

Meroni, the famous Italian manufacturer of stylish and purposeful locks and access control products continue their long tradition of classic yet noveau design expertise with products aimed at making the cabinet makers life simpler and more profitable. This product is designed to be installed in typical wooden drawers and whereas it's simplicity of design and it's ease of use/operation is radically different from competitors offerings, it's price point, combined with it's ease of installation and the ultra-competitive pricing, separates it from it's competitors offerings.

The benefit of this offering includes various length locking bars, that can offer cabinet makers and drawer lock installers an edge where competing products fail.

The technical drawings below offer an interpretation of the use and the easy installation.

 The technical relief drawing here, shows measurements of the lock.

The application drawing here shows how the product is installed and used. Rather than having a hole drilled right through a drawer, you simply drill a hole about half way through your material. Drill a hole for the bolt mechanism to line up with the connection to the lock mechanism, screw the bolt to the lock and that's it. Simply drill the strike hole in your furniture/cabinet/drawer frame and the installation is complete. This means no screws are needed to be used at all.

Available keyed separately, keyed alike, master keyed and keyed alike in groups, the product is available in minimum groups of 20 units.

Available in Pickled Brass (US4) or Nickel Plated Brass (US14) and comes with a collar to protect the external hole (and cover a wayward hole).

As the North American distributor for the whole range of Meroni lock and access control products, we can usually provide requested orders within about 4 weeks.

With the currency conversion rates at their cheapest in many years, owning high quality European manufactured products, usually reserved for higher-end products is now within further reach of discerning customers.

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New Inventory Arrived - Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Locks

We recently stocked up on this fabulous product to answer wildly increasing demand.

The recent update to the product, allowing it to also work on 45mm (1-3/4") thick doors, has seen sales increase as we expected.

The demand from discerning customers, expecting high quality product for the value is being met and this is shown by our regular need to keep expanding out inventory.

Remembering that many manufacturers continue to increase prices for in-demand products, often due to volatile exchange rates, raw material cost increases and of course the cost of oil, we see fit to maintain our list price of this product at US$128.00 plus shipping.

We found through our internal analysis that customers preferred the Satin Nickel (Pearl) finish more than the Chrome finish and we decided to only stock Satin Nickel.

We will update our shopping cart shortly.

In the last 5 years representing this brand and product line, we enjoy continued repeat sales to customers who agree with us that this product exceeds their needs for securing modern (and sometimes older) pocket and cavity sliding doors.

Smart Armor Cube - Wireless Technolgy Meets Drawer Cupboard Locks

There are a number of electronic locks already on the market that serve the needs of corporate and residential uses.

Many of the leading  lock producing companies already offer quality products that are competitively priced, that serve functions already demanded by customers.

But this does not stop new entrants to the market. This new product attempts to improve upon drawer/cupboard safety and security by integrating the humble smartphone with a new type of cupboard lock.

Uses for this product include but are not limited to child safety, waiter/server access control, hospital pharmaceutical carts, refrigerators etc.

While the Smart Armor Cube looks like a worthwile addition to our lives, perhaps this first of it's kind version will open the market to more aspiring inventors to improve upon it's basic design.

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Tapplock - Padlock Of The Future Here Today

Tapplock is a unique padlock product released recently that offers biometric access control as well as bluetooth smartphone access control.

Unique in design, the manufacturer says the internal battery is designed to last 3 years between charges. Tapplock have produced a few different models since the release of their initial product, including a version with replaceable batteries (about 6 month life cycle).

Modern access control solutions are slowly converting to multiple authentication protocols, where a user might use their fingerprint and a combination or key to operate their product. Other types of multi-authentication might include the presence of your smartphone to enable a combination or key to work.

Check out the video above for this intelligent product and purchase options in the source below.

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Impressive Resistance - UFO+...

Here is the full length video of the attempt to destructively bypass the fabulous UFO+.
The unsuccessful attempt, using only common (and not so common) hand tools displays the use of seven (7) different tools and brute force applied to try to bust this beast open.

And it still works perfectly in the end.

Whats on your truck?

Available in the USA exclusively here!

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