Just when you thought that Locksmith trade shows were becoming boring with lower attendance, the SOPL shatters that belief and makes it fun to attend! Professional locksmiths recently packed the SOPL exhibit during the NCLA Regional Security Trade Show in Concord, N.C. wanting to learn about new and exciting opportunities. Attendees had opportunities to win one of many prizes worth thousands of dollars simply by playing fun games and engaging the exhibitors about their products. The one thing that kills a trade show is people who walk around with their heads down and exhibitor spokespersons not doing their job and getting their attention. The SOPL is considered the most progressive, creative, and emerging locksmith organization, and is getting that attention!
Go Scratch! Have you ever wanted to tell someone to "Go Scratch", well the SOPL does, and we mean it! One of the worst things to witness at a trade show is people who are found walking around with their hands out looking for "freebies", without any care to engage the exhibitors or learn about new products or services that could grow their business. The SOPL and participating exhibitors gave away all kinds of products, including Access Control, Grade 1 Hardware, Masterkey Software, Door Frame Reinforcement, Transponder Keys, Neuter Bow Keys and even a Key Machine. Before any locksmith could get these freebies, they had to Go Scratch! Attending a trade show is a 50/50 responsibility or relationship between attendees and exhibitors. Talk with the exhibitors, hear their presentation, and you get a chance to Go Scratch with a 50/50 chance of being an instant winner! Get in the ZONE! Don't be a loser, get in the zone, DropZone that is. If your not an instant winner, you may win an opportunity to play the Plinko game board to see where your luck falls. Every locksmith who finds themselves not in the zone can place the scratch cards into a drawing bowl and keep the fun going while meeting exhibitors and learning about the products which can help you be a winner! Be a part of the future, be a part of the SOPL. We are in it to win it, are you?
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I remember when I was first starting out as a locksmith, I would hear all kinds of stories about a company who made key machines that we built like tanks, tough as nails and could even survive falling from moving service vans and still produce a precision cut key to one-half thousandth of an inch (.0005"). These stories were further reinforced by the inventor, who would even showed this off at many trade shows by dropping the machine from the table, picking it up and cutting a perfect key. This company is Framon Manufacturing Company, Inc., 909 Washington Ave. Alpena, MI 49707 Phone: (989) 354-5623 and the inventor was Frank Agius. The Framon brand was built upon a code machine which was first shipped in 1972 and remains one of their best selling machines.The Framon #1 or #2 are the best code cutting machines a beginning locksmith can choose and here is why. Aside from the durable nature of the Framon brand, their code cutting key machines cut keys using what is known as "In Line Feed" cutting as opposed to a "Radial Arc". With an In-Line Feed, the key approaches the cutter at a 90° angle, ensuring a square cut on the bottom of the key. Even this is not absolutely perfect; high and low blade keys still have a very slight variance from one side to the other when compared to other machines using a Radial Arc Feed. Shown here, there is a very small effect on high and low blade keys (.0013” radial curve). In comparison when we examine the Radial Arc fed keys we see where a double shear line can be created due to a larger variance. This type of problem is evident if you have ever cut a key that will turn a lock in one direction but not the other.While this factor alone will probably not affect many keys, it will become evident if the machine is not adjusted properly or if depth settings are off a few thousandths. So the Framon product produces a near perfect key. Seasoned locksmiths know this and you can find a Framon in professional locksmiths around the world. But I mentioned this was the best code machine for beginners! The #1 & #2 code machines utilize a mechanical Space & Depth dial where the locksmith must manually rotate to exacting specifications. In contrast to Radial Arc fed mechanical machines which require cards. Cards cost money, specifications do not and are provided by Framon as new keys enter the market. By having to dial the key specifications into position, the beginning locksmith quickly learns the nuances and appreciation of key making or the engineering behind it. I don't know of any seasoned locksmith who is willing to give up their Framon machine. So from beginners to old timers, the Framon key machines is a best choice. Share your Framon story below!
Forget carrying or storing a bunch of screwdrivers. Forget about popping, unscrewing or losing a handle cap. Forget about having really short bits that are not meant for the real world. FireHawk Technology of Key West FL. offers the Picquic screwdrivers which store multiple bits in the handle for ease of identification and retrieval! Change the bit in seconds with no moving parts to break or lose. The screw bits are power-rated for power drivers and still the screwdrivers & bits carry a lifetime warranty! With colorful high-impact resin handles, strong magnetic bit retention and even shaft bolsters on all models. Picquic drivers are tools that will impress you with features simply not found on other multi-bit drivers. Your Picquic screwdriver may hold 7 bits, but Picquic makes more than 60 bits for your convenience! FireHawk pioneered the custom-loaded concept for you, to save money and time. You can custom-load most Picquic drivers with the bits that YOU want and use. Simply choose the bits online that you want. Your Picquic driver becomes uniquely yours, with only the bits YOU need the most. FireHawk Technology stocks all the models of Picquic drivers and bits. Not only that, but they custom load your driver for you, typically filling your order within 24 hours! Society of Professional Locksmiths independent product testers give Picquic a 5 star rating! "I personally like the SixPac Plus driver with the longer three inch bits, making removing screws from Key-In-Knob locks easy. I have nothing but praise for these tools with no cons whatsoever." Locksmith Tom Gorham . "The grip is really nice ergonomically, a good fit to my hand. Also, the whole thing feels nice and heavy, it has a nice heft to it, and immediately I think "good quality". Locksmith Brant Anderson
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Recently the NY Post ran a story for two consecutive days. It involved what is being described as a locksmith "whistle-blower" by the name of Joel Goldbaum stepping forward. Joel felt compelled to step forward to expose what he believes is shady practices of institutional locksmiths at the Kings County Hospital where he was employed. He claim they were padding their overtime.
As a result Joel found himself targeted in a hostile work environment and ultimately terminated. Hospital locksmith says he was fired for exposing overtime scam Axed OT ‘whistle-blower’ catches co-worker sleeping on job According to Joel, there is more to the story and it is not just about the overtime. We can only imagine what the NY Post may expose next. Possibly personal and unlicensed businesses being operated out of the facility, using facility inventory for side jobs, brass buckets being filled with new inventory and cashed in at the local recyclers. It could be anything. What we do know is that Joel Goldbaum made a decision to follow his conscience and his belief in the Baldomeric Oath, which is the SOPL's code of ethics. In doing so Joel who has a special needs child placed principle above his own self interest. At a time when everyone has their hands out and we see repeated and intentional degrading of the locksmiths by propaganda news reports fed by our own industry associations and editorial outlets, it is nice to see that integrity still matters to some who follow the SOPL code of conduct. Time will tell how many layers will be peeled back. Let's just hope it is not an Onion that will make people cry. Add your comments below Written By: Barry Campbell, Director of Operations SOPL There have recently been several news reports concerning the scammers who represent themselves as locksmiths in order to rip off people who are in need of emergency locksmith services. Three recent reports represent the different ways the issue and the locksmith industry can be portrayed, depending upon the efforts made by the reporters. Unfortunately, it is far too common for the media to cast a negative light on the locksmith industry as a whole, rather than to focus on the actions of the scammers. Regrettably, it is in reports relying on past industry “leaders” that the locksmith trade is made to look the worst. Because I would prefer to end this on a positive note, I'll save “The Good” report for last. “The Bad” The Bad report comes from CBS affiliate WBTW in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is titled, “Consumer Alert! Locksmiths swindlers jack up the price when they show up,” (http://www.wbtw.com/story/24652591/consumer-alert-locksmith-swindlers) and is dated February 6, 2014. This report is rather typical of many recent reports. The title, alone, casts a negative light on the locksmith trade by failing to differentiate between professional members of the trade and those who are simply out to take advantage of people in desperate situations. "The Ugly” The Ugly report comes from another CBS affiliate, KUTV in Salt Lake City, Utah. It ran on January 30,2014 and was by reporter Matt Gephardt. Titled “Could Locksmith Licensing Curb Bait-and-Switch Industry Practices?” (http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_9397.shtml). Like “The Bad” report, the title impugns the entire locksmith industry with the suggestion that “bait-and-switch” is an industry practice. This report is written in an activist style. The title suggests that locksmith licensing could put an end to scammer activities, but even though the title is in the form of a question, no attempt is made by Gephardt to determine if licensing has, in fact, reduced bait-and-switch activities in states that already have licensing. It's not like he is not aware that other states had tried licensing; he reports that, “15 states currently have locksmith licensing requirements according to the Associated Locksmiths of America. So... if he is, as the title of the report suggests, actually trying to find out if licensing reduces bait-and-switch practices; would it not make sense to see what the results have been in the states that have introduced licensing? Yes, it would make sense to do so; but, no, he did not make any attempt to judge the effectiveness of licensing in the states that already do license locksmiths. We already know, and have repeatedly shown, that had he done so, he would have found that licensing is a failure in terms of protecting the consumer. Why ask the question and make no attempt to answer it? The question, itself, is the promotion of an agenda. He is not only suggesting an action, but implying results that, had he attempted to answer his own question, would have proven himself wrong. We have seen this type of activist reporting before, as a prelude to attempts to pass licensing legislation. “The Good” Finally, we have The Good report, “Local Locksmiths Warn Utahns about Overpricing Scheme” (http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=28551717), by Tania Mashburn and Debbie Dujanovic of KSL TV. Interestingly, this report comes from Salt Lake City, just like “The Ugly” report, and even includes an interview with the same local locksmith. But the similarities end there. Mashburn and Dujanovic put together a true investigative report. Unlike the other reports, this one is titled in a manner that does not instantly put the locksmith trade in a negative light. Not content with just an interview with a victim of a scammer, these intrepid reporters called several of the internet “locksmith” listings and caught the scammers in the act. When they were told by one of the scammers that a certain make and model vehicle would have been opened for the originally stated price, they called his bluff. They also physically checked the listed locations of several of the internet listings. Further, they provided information for real, legitimate locksmiths they discovered through there own research. And, instead of advocating political solutions that have been tried and failed, they provided the information for consumers to deal with any complaints they may have now. This was refreshing, honest, useful, thorough, but unfortunately rare reporting. "Why?" Is there a reason the reports that referenced ALOA also portrayed the industry negatively? Is there a reason many of the points made in “The Bad” report had as much to do with the internal trade conflict between small mobile operations and brick-and-mortar locations as they had to do with the differences between professional locksmiths and scammers? Is there a reason “The Ugly” report advocates a political solution that has already been repeatedly tried without success? With all the discussion within the locksmith industry about scammers, why aren't there more reports like “The Good” report, acknowledging that real, professional locksmiths are concerned about the public perception of the locksmith industry and are part of the solution, not part of the problem, with regard to consumer protection? Is there a reason “The Bad” and “The Ugly” did not emphasize the steps consumers can take now, if they feel they have been taken advantage of? There is no reason we shouldn't see more of “The Good” reports, but we do need to be aware of how the industry is being portrayed in the media and willing to enter public discussion of the trade. For the sake of the locksmith trade as a whole, we should not support “The Bad” cookie-cutter reports that make many legitimate locksmiths as suspect as scammers. It is worth noting that the scam victims in the other reports used credit cards. The large-scale scam organizations will quite happily take credit card payments. Nor should we support “The Ugly” activist reports where, again, the whole industry is considered suspect without government intervention. Locksmithing is a proud and noble craft. We need to treat it that way. If we do, we can expect more of “The Good.” Barry Campbell, owner of Altic Lock Service and Managing Director of the Society of Professional Locksmiths. Barry is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He has worked in private security, investigations, and loss prevention. He is the author of A Homeowner's Guide to Residential Door Security. barry also is a former Professional member of the International Conference of Building Officials and a current Building Safety Professional member of the International Code Council. What are your feelings?
What do you think about how the locksmiths are being presented and who is to blame? Add your comments below. Here is another great educational interview conducted in 2006 that still has value today. Get your pen and paper out and take notes! Nobody does it better then Pat Baker when it comes to selling safes and inspiring the locksmith to sell safes. Learn from the master himself. When it comes to understanding the "sell" in safe sales, Pat provides you the road map. In this relaxed interview he delivers an educated approach that keeps you listening. Stop selling yourself short and increase your bottom line by listening to Pats wisdom, it may change your perspective as well as your good fortune. If there was ever an interview to enjoy, this is the one! Members of the Society of Professional Locksmiths sell, deliver, service and repair fire safes, burglar rated safes, media safes, and even fully equipped gun safes. Purchase your safe from a professional locksmith today. If this interview made you think, or gave you some inspiration, please share your comments below and give it a Facebook LIKE or Tweet!
There are two common ways that locksmiths remove the shear head bolts or fracture bolts used on automotive steering columns. One is by using a pointed punch and hammer to strike the outer diameter in a counterclockwise direction to loosen them while the other is to grind a slot into the top to act as a screwdriver flat slot to unscrew them. Some locksmith even resort to using an impact wrench or needing to attach a vice grip to a square screwdriver to break the threads free. These methods can often be problematic, and great care needs to be given to avoid damage if the steering column itself has not been lowered or removed enough to provide clearance for these tools between the dash and steering wheel. The Society of Professional Locksmiths recommends a few more creative time saving methods which can help to avoid potential damage. Using an automatic center punch to remove the shear head bolts from automotive steering lock harnesses is very easily accomplished and does not require any steering columns to be lowered or removed. Placing the tip of the tool on the outer edge of the shear head bolt and depressing it while applying counterclockwise pressure will quickly loosen them. Using a rubber pencil eraser against the top of the bolt and continuing to rotate counterclockwise will remove the bolt. Another removal method that does not require lowering the column is to drill into the center of the shear head bolts approximately 1/8th of an inch and then using a hex key like one from the Xcelite Hex Socket Driver Set to be inserted into the hole in order to easily unscrew the bolt. Inserting a slightly larger socket type hex key into the hole, and giving it a gentle tap will allow the hex shape of the key to cut into the drilled circle of the hole, thereby gripping the bolt firmly. To reassemble the column mounting bracket, you can reuse the old bolts and screw them in quickly. Members of he Society of Professional Locksmiths participate in continuing education and professional development programs to provide the consumer the best possible service.
If you learned something new from this blog tip or have more to contribute, please share your comments, give it a Facebook LIKE or Tweet! Here is a great interview made in 2006 with Joe Dalessio. Listen to Joe, take notes and learn from one of the more dynamic and interesting speakers of the locksmith industry. Joe is currently the General Manager at Codelocks, Inc. LinkedIn Profile Here If this interview made you think, or gave you some inspiration, please share your comments below and give it a Facebook LIKE or Tweet!
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION: 12/19/13 Society of Professional Locksmiths Launch Product Tester Program Society of Professional Locksmiths (SOPL) launches a new program for its members who have registered to act as product testers. Members will randomly be selected to receive product or services from participating manufacturers, distributors and product innovators in exchange for their independent published evaluation. “This is an exciting and exclusive program arranged by the SOPL and cooperating companies. ” Tom Lynch, Founder of the SOPL said. “The professional locksmiths voice has value, and these companies recognize it. I give the companies participating a lot of credit and believe they will be rewarded in a variety of ways.” “This is going to be fun and interesting. Our product testers have no idea of what they may receive or when. It is another win-win program developed by the SOPL and I love it! ”, Barry Cambell Director of Operations. Contact Director of Operations Barry Campbell at email director@sopl.us or by telephone (317) 490-1469 or visit www.sopl.us for more details.
The SOPL has been advocating that a "Good" Locksmith works hard to earn the trust and confidence of their clients by providing solutions to their security needs. It is very simple to do. Whatever the problem, automotive, residential or commercial, A “Good” Locksmith delivers the solution at affordable prices. and by giving customers the service and respect they deserve. There is no magic to this and the result is a loyal following of satisfied customers, who by word of mouth will refer family and friends who also will become satisfied customers. There is nothing better than word of mouth advertising and referrals. It worked for Fabrege Organics Shampoo! The commercials for this shampoo were legendary, claiming "If you tell two friends about their product, then they'll tell two friends, and so on and so on and so on". Consider it viral social media without a computer, and it has worked from the beginning of time, still today and long into the future. No search engines or Google places needed! The secret to this is having a passionate about your locksmith services. You have to love what you do and not think of it as just a job. Spending time to "walk" your demographic area to "meet and greet" consumers in your area is the key. Stop the world for a day and using the time to actually "shake hands and kiss the babies" puts the "GOOD" locksmith in the hearts and minds of the consumer, and it has more value than reliance on any search engine or lead generation service can offer. The consumer wants to have a relationship with their locksmith. They can easily connect with a "GOOD" locksmith when searching the Internet if they must by seeing that the locksmiths website is "real, wholesome and organic" (not the Fabrege' Shampoo!). When your website is relaxed and they see you are real, and not the canned, stiff store bought kind, it resonates. When there is a story as to who their service provider is, there is a connection. Having your personal image on your site, a personal video and even having your family part of delivering your message, it hits home. If your looking to earn good clients for life, you have to think of it as rhyme of "churn and burn" to make it happen. Locksmith Mike Galdine of GOOD Locksmiths of Bonita Springs, FL. understands the churn and burn of running a successful mobile locksmith business as well as the rhymes he has been rocking on the microphone since the early 1990's. Mike has a passion for "rapping", but on a specific genre. His passion actually turns out to be a terrific organic benefit. If we look at the amount of connections he has in social media, he just might be the best known locksmith in his area, and who needs Google or the yellow Pages when you are the Locksmith of Rhyme! He has performed with such groups as De La Soul, Inner Circle, Ruby Blue, Mint Condition and others. With original songs that have drawn national exposure, known as Mikey "G" , he prides himself in serving to glorify GOD with his lyrical compositions.... Check him out, then tell two friends, who will tell two friends and so on, and so on!!! It is that easy to find a GOOD Locksmith. "The Nicest Locksmith in the World” — Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Florida .
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