New Twist On Locksmith Scams

A new twist to the issue plaguing American cities and the once reputeable locksmith industry.

It has become apparent that the sham companies and masqueraders are becoming much more bold in their endeavours to destroy the locksmith industry from outside, using techniques that border on the rediculous.

A story appeared last week on CBS2 Chicago about well known and long established locksmith Gale Johnson. Gale is an industry stalwart and editor of the world reknowned Locksmith Ledger Magazine.

This particular story, highlighted a new twist to the ongoing saga of the locksmith scammer issues. It seems apparent that established locksmith companies are now coming under attack through AT&T directly. Not by AT&T but by people apparently calling AT&T to cancel advertizing related to particular established telephone numbers. Johnsons Locksmiths in Evanston Illinois, has been established in excess of 65 years in the Chicago area. They are a repeated victim of the scammers attempts to steal their trading name and telephone number.

And to top all this off, AT&T admit to a problem with multiple free listings in the locksmith sections of their telephone books, across the country.

In my town, there are fake listings not just in Yellow Pages but also across multiple mediums including but not limited to Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yellow Pages etc, for locksmiths that advertise addresses and telephone numbers similar to my personal address and my business telephone number, in the hope that potential customers will be misled to call them instead of whom they were intending (me).

I took a call last week from a customer who told me that they had called one of the numbers asking for me by name and the operator transferred the call to someone posing as me.

The customer knew something was not right due to the person they were speaking to, did not sound like me, nor did they recollect any of our past dealings.

That these people will stoop to such depths to ruin a persons reputation and rip off unsuspecting customers is another example of the loopholes that are being discovered in search mediums.

The current economic situation is bad enough to encourage these charlottans to perform this new breed of espionage on the unsuspecting general public and marketplace.

Magnalatch

Pictured here is the worlds #1 selling product for securing swimming pool gates and the like.

The Vertical Pull Model (on right), also known as the Pet Latch, uses the same revolutionary technology as the Top Pull Model (on left) in a smaller, more compact body. It is suitable for mounting on taller pool gates where it will still be out of reach of children, as well as on garden or household gates to provide a safety barrier for pets. Like the Top Pull Model, the Pet Latch offers easy adjustment, is key-lockable for added security and won't disengage from shaking or pulling. Always confirm local fence/barrier regulations before installation.

(source...)

Bilock - 35% Discount July 2009

In celebration of July 4, USA Independence Day, we proudly offer all Bilock product ordered between July 1st, 2009 & July 31st, 2009 at 35% off the manufacturers suggested retail price.

Conditions.

1. All product must be ordered and paid for during the month of July.
2. All Bilock systems are protected by a registered signature and require specimen signatures prior to goods despatched.
3. 2 keys will be included in the first lock (for keyed alike/master keyed orders) at no charge. Extra keys will be supplied at $9.00 each (initial supply only)
4. Shipping & Handling charges are separate and additional.
5. Taxes charged (Missouri Residents Only)
6. All orders are subject to availability.
7. Email orders preferred.
8. All product is warrantied as per manufacturer specifications.

This SPECIAL is for the month of July 2009 only, in celebration of USA Independence Day.

Happy July 4TH

Cowdroy P697 Pocket Door Lock With Key

As informed in a previous article here, we are pleased to announce that we have received confirmation from our local fire marshal that the Cowdroy P697 Pocket Door Lock with Key, will comply with life safety codes and fire and building codes, provided it is not used on primary entrances or exits.

The Cowdroy P697 Cavity/Pocket Door Lock, is secured using a double cylinder 5 wafer (disc) tumbler mechanism, providing a 100% bump proof lock. This means that the selected door can be locked by key from both inside and outside.

Securing your pocket doors has never been so easy.

Each unit arrives with complete, easy to follow installation instructions and 2 keys.

Interest in this product has been overwhelming and we anticipate stocks to arrive within 6 weeks of all color finishes, as well as the passage and privacy models.

(source...) Thanks to Garry Aumann of Keyman Services, Gold Coast, Australia.

$85.00

Available Dec 30 2009

See new post.

EDIT 12/22/09

Product Has Arrived and is Available Now

Colors

Silver Brass/Gold

Big Box vs Specialty Retailer

I receive a substantial number of searches each month on multiple subjects related to hardware and security products and services (as one might expect).

Master Key Systems America LLC and locks210.com-St Louis Locksmiths prides ourselves on bridging the gap between the Big Box retailers like Lowes and Home Depot or Walmart, Kmart, Target etc, by representing and selling unique and more specialized products and services.

We will also sell, install and service any requested product line our customers desire, although quite often, as expected, we are unable to sell product as competitively as the Big Box Stores.

Yet many searches being conducted, seem to be attempting to find our unique product offerings at Home Depot or Lowes or Walmart .

While the likelihood of finding products similar to our unique inventory at Lowes or Home Depot, might cause customers to think that they will benefit from more competitive prices, most of our product line will not be found there.

There are a surprising quantity of searches every month for our Strikemaster II product but using the additional keywords of Lowes or Home Depot, in attempt to find a more competitive price for this unique and superior specialized product.

The Strikemaster II product is manufactured in North Carolina by a small company that uses modern technology and practises to produce very high quality products. While it might seem like an advantage to have products like these on the Big Box shelves, the truth is that the backup, service and experience you receive from the specialist retailer (like me) far outweighs any perception of service you might receive from Lowes or Home Depot .

We are unable to sell the product at significantly lower prices (as might be expected at Lowes or Home Depot), because the manufacturer does not offer any pricing incentives for volume orders. If they were to offer the product at significantly advantaged prices based on volumes ordered to Lowes or Home Depot, the suggested retail prices that most other suppliers of the product sell it for would be severely eroded lowering the value of the product.

We at Master Key Systems America LLC, pride ourselves on offering premium quality products at quality prices. We understand that there is absolutely no way we can compete with the big box stores on $ for $ incentives and we hope our ever increasing clientelle understand and appreciate our efforts to improve their lives and the security of their families and properties.

There are multiple retailers who sell the Bilock Extreme Security product line too, yet this clearly superior locking product will not be found in the big box stores because it is far more complex than their untrained staff could handle.

When Lowes and Home Depot or Walmart and Kmart or Target buyers attempt to purchase from our specialist manufacturers the identical products that we sell and maintain, they try to convice those manufacturers that by selling a greater volume at a cheaper price, they will stand to make considerably more money sooner. This mentality only serves to lower the value perception of all products and causes the small business to be less competitive.

The customer thinks they are receiving the same product but at a better price, which is their principal motivation. This situation is not true for the longer term.

The small business economy is the largest single economy group in the nation (or the world, for that matter). By bypassing the small merchants, customers think that their money savings will benefit their wallets. While this may be true in the short term, the truth be told that putting small merchants out of business, will severely harm customers abilities to benefit from competitive prices in the future, because the big box retailers will be enabled to raise retail prices after putting the small businesses out of business.

It's your choice. If you want to see better prices, negotiate with your specialty retailer. Quite often they will be prepared to bargain with you if you show some loyalty.

Edit 3/25/2010 Home Depot are now selling Strikemaster II products Online only. Link

Medeco M3 Locks Picked and Bumped

Notice in the above video's, prior knowledge does not appear to be required, regarding the technical configuration of the tumblers.

Medeco locks have been touted as the most secure product of it's kind in America for the last 30 years.

For true bump proof and pick resistant products, look no further than Bilock Extreme Security products.

Master Key Systems America LLC, is one of only two authorized and fully equipped Bilock Extreme Security dealers in Missouri. There are other resellers of factory produced product but only we and Bates Street Lock & Key are able to create and produce in-house systems right here in St Louis.

Crime Statistics - Maryland Heights MO UPDATED

We now post the updated list of crimes reported to Maryland Heights, MO police department for the period 4-30-09 to 5-30-09. (We apologize for the quality of the image)

There were a total of 245 crimes reported for this period.

Robbery - 4

Break & Enter - 43

Theft - 184

Assault - 7

Sexual Offenses (incl. Prostitution) - 9

For accurate or specific details or more detailed information please visit CrimeReports.com .

Master Key Systems America LLC, a family owned company are providing residents and businesses of the greater St Louis region with premium products and services aimed at minimizing potential losses and reducing criminal activity. The current economy is having noticeable affects on crime rates across America. The St Louis region has, in recent years, led the nation in crimes reported.

To minimize the impact to your family and business or property, contact us NOW to understand how you can protect yourself, your colleagues, your businesses and your families with state of the art products and services.

Master Key Systems America LLC - St Louis Locksmiths - 'Securing St Louis - One Door At A Time'     .

Copy Cat Locksmiths

It is not enough that the country is battling the phony locksmith scams, there is another scam that is also just as deceiving that is scamming thousands of Americans. Copy cat locksmiths are basically individuals who have decided that instead of spending years building a business of their own, they will copy an established local locksmith who has built a successful business and earned the trust of the public. One copy cat situation that is going on is happening in Coral Springs, Florida. 

Richard's Locksmith and Safe company has been in business for more than 39 years. Owner Jack Rothberg noticed a few years ago that someone was advertising a name very similar to his and advertising an address that was only one block away from the real Richard's lock shop. The copy cat address is actually a Chinese restaurant and has nothing to do with the copy cat. Jack thought that all he would have to do is notify the authorities and this problem would go away. To Jack's surprise, there was not much that would be done about this crime and because he reported the crime, he was retaliated against by the copy cat. 

The copy cat came by Jack's shop and shot out his van windows, cut his gas lines and put and bullet through Jack's shop window. Being the security professional that Jack is, he caught the entire crime on video. The copy cat was arrested but so far has never spent a day in jail. If you would like to see the video of this crime, you can click on the link below and watch a local NBC story that aired in south Florida. We can honestly say that this copy cat case is the worst we have ever seen here at Legal Locksmiths.com. 

These copy cat's are popping up all around the country and the public needs to be aware of what is happening. If you feel that you have been a victim of a copy cat locksmith, whether you are a consumer or a locksmith, we would like to hear form you. Please click here and fill out our complaint form.

The above article appears in the Legal Locksmiths Website. Legal Locksmiths.com has been established and is operated by Larry Friberg who is a former Phoenix police detective who has over 28 years of law enforcement experience, and many years of experience working in the locksmith and access control industry. There are many legal locksmiths that are fed up with the illegal locksmiths who are operating in the US and they too have helped create this website. There are thousands of locksmiths that are law-abiding professional business owners who have been operating legally for many years. Unfortunately, there are now thousands of phoney locksmiths who are ripping off the general public everyday and giving all locksmiths a bad name.

There have been tens of thousands of victims over the last few years, and even though federal and local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on some of these criminals, you still need to be aware of what is happening.  We want you to know that there are legal locksmiths waiting to assist you. That is what LegalLocksmiths.com is all about.