Kenmore Washington Now Has a “Wise Locksmith”
Wise Locksmith – Keys, Locks, Safes
7018 NE Bothell Way
Kenmore, WA 98028
425.877.1729
Jesus Giving Peter the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
Chris Weissman, the owner of Kenmore’s new locksmith shop, Wise Locksmith, made me want to fly down to the locksmith school in Texas and learn the trade! Who would have thought that keys and door locks could be so interesting? Chris told me, “Being a locksmith has as much to do with handling all sorts of difficult situations and people as it does simply changing a lock. When people are moving in or out of a home, they always schedule ALL the contractors to show up on the same day (the movers, the plumbers, the carpenters, etc.) and everyone goes through the door I’m changing the lock on!”
A Service We All Need
Let’s face it: everyone will need a key cut or a lock changed at one time or another. As a Realtor® I’ve had to employee the services of locksmiths many times: re-keying a home after a sale, opening a door that owners didn’t leave a key for, or simply obtaining a key so I could list a house. As a home owner I’ve had my share of changed locks and getting new keys made.
Everyone knows what this is!
Chris has been a locksmith for 20 years having cut his teeth in NYC with his father who has been in the business over 40 years. Chris takes his profession very seriously. As we discussed his business I could tell he is passionate about the service he provides and the level of professionalism he expects from the industry. I came away from our conversation with some important information:
1) The Locksmith industry, like so many services, has experienced a race to the bottom. There are a huge number of locksmiths in the business who will undercut the competition to get business. Because consumers don’t think a lot about “quality” when it comes to the trade, this can have negative consequences……
2) There are a lot of scam artists and “phony lock smiths” who, after arriving at your home will perform all sorts of repairs and part replacements that are tacked-on to your bill. These scammers may tell you what a job will cost on the phone, but beware once they show up. Chris indicated that there are huge rings of these pseudo-locksmiths who will try to up-sell consumers on hardwood floors, painting, etc. while they are fixing your lock.
40% of Chris' Business is related to Cars! These are car keys.
I asked Chris to explain to the public what one should be aware of when dealing with a locksmith. He had several suggestions:
1) Ask the locksmith how long he/she has been in the business. Not all locksmiths are created equal and experience counts for a lot. It may be the difference between a locksmith being able to pick a lock or drilling into the lock which can cost you time, money and aggravation.
2) Is the locksmith licensed with the WA State L&I? Get their ID number to ensure this is the case.
3) Does the locksmith have a local store front? There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with a mobile locksmith; however, having a shop means you have somewhere to go if you have issues.
4) Ask if the locksmith is a member of the Associated Locksmiths of America which is a national trade organization that reputable locksmiths join. They attend conferences and receive education/certification on the trade. Chris showed me a very sophisticated industrial lock that can be programmed to allow certain individuals to enter at certain times. He said it’s important that your locksmith is trained to properly install these devices:
Sophisticated, self-contained industrial lock!
5) Will the locksmith honor the quote they give you? Chris stated that a reputable locksmith will honor his/her quotes. After the job is done, the locksmith should warrant the parts and service for at least 30 day. Chris said this is a constant problem in the industry as many consumers complain that they feel they’re being “shaken down” when a locksmith lays a huge bill on them after quoting a much lower price.
Service and “Giving Something Extra”
What was really cool about Chris was his willingness to talk with me about what he does for a living. “I grew up working with my father as a locksmith. I was bred to be up in the middle of the night.” Even though working in the Northwest isn’t anything like NYC where being on the job all the time was common, he’s looking forward to growing his business here in Kenmore. He even took me in the back of the shop to show me how a lock works (I’ve always wondered how they work!):
This is a machine for cutting car keys.
If I were to use a metaphor regarding Chris and the locksmith business it would be this: Not all keys and locks are created equal: there’s a lot of cheap junk out there. Chris uses high quality products in his shop and he is committed to give more-than-standard service to his customers and he guarantees the highest level of professionalism.
As a resident and business owner here in Kenmore, WA I would encourage you to bring your business to the Wise Locksmith. Why go to Lowes or Home Depot? Support this enthusiastic, local businessman.
