Barkers Locksmith News Blog
At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC, it is not unusual to receive calls to make keys for antique and classic cars. After all, I began making keys for vehicles when I started in the locksmith trade as an apprentice in 1978. Back then, what are now classics cars, were still fairly young then.
Making keys for classic cars in the Raleigh – Durham area in those days was just our normal day-to-day business. It’s unfortunate that many younger locksmiths have never received proper instruction and training in generating keys for these older systems, especially when all keys are lost.
I suppose that’s why Barker’s Lock Service gets so many referrals from other locksmiths in the area, as well as other classic car owners. They all know that making keys for classic cars is one of our specialties.
Take this beautiful 1960 Cadillac Series 62 that we made keys for recently, as an example. The customer happened to be a car dealer in Raleigh and was referred to Barker’s Lock Service by another locksmith. This Cadillac was manufactured in a time where most cars used two keys. In this case, one key for the ignition and doors, and a different key for the trunk and glove box.
All keys had been lost. The customer and I agreed on a time for me to arrive and make the keys. I pulled up at the specified time in my mobile workshop, otherwise known as my van, and in less than an hour the customer was holding two sets of perfectly operating keys.
When it comes to making keys for antique autos and classic cars in the Raleigh – Durham area, there is only one locksmith to call, Barker’s Lock Service.
Keys made for a beautiful 1960 Cadillac Series 62!
At Barker’s Lock Service, we receive a fair amount of calls to make keys for uncommon vehicles, or vehicles that are unique in some way.
For example, the 1999 Nissan Maxima is just such a vehicle. 1999 was the last year that this vehicle used the keyway (the blade design of the key) that Nissan had been using since the early 1980s. It is also the first year Nissan installed a transponder based immobilizer system. But it was the only year that Nissan used the particular transponder key that it uses.
In years prior to 1999, the Maxima was not equipped with an immobilizer system from the factory. In years following 1999, the Maxima had a different keyway and transponder type.
In essence, the 1999 Nissan Maxima is a ‘white elephant’ which requires a unique key that no other Nissan vehicle used before or since. It also requires a unique programming protocol and interface that was only used on this and 2 other Nissan models in 1999 & 2000.
Now here’s the worst part. If you contact your local Nissan dealer to inquire about having a key made, you may want to be sitting when you call. The retail price of single key for a 1999 Nissan Maxima is roughly $140! That’s just the key. There are also additional charges for cutting and programming. Of course that doesn’t include the towing costs to bring your car to the dealer if you have a broken key or lost all your keys. Finally, you’ll be required to sit in their waiting room until they get around to servicing your vehicle. Which could easily amount to hours of reading their magazines and watching their chosen TV channel.
But there is an easier, more convenient way. Call Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC. We will make an appointment for a specific day and time (we can often take care of it the same day) our expert technician, me :-), will arrive at that predesignated time and immediately set about producing a key for your vehicle, cut to OEM specifications and programmed to start your car. By the way, my keys for a 1999 Nissan Maxima cost less than ¼ the retail price of the dealer key.
Easy, convenient, and less expensive. Pretty much a no-brainer.
Call Barker’s Lock Service at (919) 467-8212 today!
Have you broken your last car key? Is the broken tip of a key lodged in one of your locks and preventing you from using the vehicle? Or has the broken piece of your key gone missing?
As a Raleigh car and motorcycle locksmith, Barker’s Lock Service has the solution for you. We will come to the vehicle location, extract the broken key if necessary, and generate a new one, on site. We will get you back on the road with as little hassle and downtime as is possible.
Please follow along with this situation, which we were able to remedy for a recent Barker’s Lock Service customer in Cary.
Within the last 30 days, our customer had purchased a brand new vehicle to replace their older one. Out of habit, they reached for and inserted the key for their older vehicle into the ignition lock of the new vehicle. It became trapped. And when they tried to remove it, the tip broke off in the ignition lock.
Fortunately, our customer had the presence of mind to remember that Barker’s Lock Service had successfully made and programmed a key for the older vehicle several years prior, when others had attempted and failed. Subsequently, they decided to call us before they committed to towing it to the dealer.
We agreed upon an arrival time. Our expert technician (me J) extracted the broken key without damage to the brand new ignition lock and generated a new replacement key, then programmed it to the older car. We also extracted another broken key from the passenger door of the older car (the keys, by design flaw, of this particular car, are prone to breaking), making the passenger door lock useable again.
If you have a broken vehicle key situation, whether similar or not, please do yourself a favor and call Barker’s Lock Service first. We will be glad to discuss your options and offer an initial assessment based on your description of the issue. Also, know that if we believe that using another service would better serve you, we will not hesitate to say so.
Barker’s Lock Service is first and foremost, committed to your best interest.
Do you live in the Raleigh area and own a 1995 – 1998 Mercedes C, E, or G-class vehicle? Have you lost all your keys or just need a spare? Did you know that Mercedes Benz is no longer able to supply you with keys for your car?
Not to worry. Whether you’ve lost all your keys or you just need a spare key, Barker’s Lock Service has the answers for you. We can cut and program new keys for your vehicle, and on top of that, we come to you! At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, North Carolina, we can often perform services that even the Mercedes dealerships cannot accomplish.
So the next time you need an extra key or even if you have lost all the keys to your Mercedes C, E, or G class vehicle, call Barker’s Lock Service. We’ll have you back on the road in no time!
Do you own a 1997 – 2005 Mercedes M-class vehicle? Have you lost all your keys or just need a spare? Have you called the Mercedes dealer to order a key, only to be told that Mercedes is no longer supplying keys for your vehicle?
Did you also know that there is a limit to the number of keys that can be ordered from the Mercedes dealer and programmed to your vehicle? I’ll bet they didn’t tell you that when you bought it. Most owners don’t find out until that limit is reached.
Once the maximum number of keys that can be ordered for your vehicle has been reached, the dealer will tell you that they need to replace the immobilizer system, along with the locks and keys, when all you may need is an extra key. That job can often cost more than the retail value of the vehicle!
Not to worry. Whether there are no keys, the key limit has been reached, or you just need a spare key, Barker’s Lock Service has the answers for you. We can cut and program new keys for your vehicle, and on top of that, we come to you! That’s right, Barker’s Lock Service can often perform services that even the Mercedes dealerships cannot accomplish.
So the next time you need an extra key or even if you have lost all the keys to your Mercedes ML, call Barker’s Lock Service. We’ll have you back on the road in no time!
Do you have a 2012 or later Subaru vehicle with no keys? Have you contacted the Subaru dealer to inquire about obtaining new keys only to be told, much to your astonishment, that new keys will cost you $1500 or more? Not to mention the tow fees and days your vehicle will spend in the shop waiting for parts and undergoing repairs?
For some of their 2012 vehicles, Subaru decided to implement a new transponder anti theft system protocol not previously used by this manufacturing company. As long as you have one working key, more keys can be added using proprietary diagnostic equipment much the same as most other vehicles equipped with transponder anti theft technology. But if there are no working keys available, the game changes significantly. The dealer solution in this scenario is to order new electronic modules with matching keys and replace them at the extremely high costs mentioned earlier.
At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC, we have an alternative and much lower cost solution to this high priced problem. No need to tow your vehicle. We will come to your vehicle’s location, remove one of the electronic modules that the dealer’s procedure would require them to replace. We establish a link to the integrated circuit component that stores the transponder key data and write new transponder data from a key that we supply, to the component. We then decode the locks and cut the key to fit your vehicle. Once the module is reinstalled, the vehicle will start and run just as it did with the original keys and at a much reduced cost as compared to the dealer. At that point, additional keys can be added using dealer level diagnostic programming equipment through the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic connector.
Not all 2012 and later Subaru vehicles are manufactured using this new system type. If you have a 2012 or later Subaru and find yourself in this situation, it is best to call your dealer first. Supply them with your VIN and they should be able to tell you whether it has this new type system and how much it will cost to replace your keys. You will know immediately by the high price quote. Then get on the phone with Barker’s Lock Service to discuss a lower cost option that doesn’t require towing your vehicle or the down time associated with this service.
Are you considering hiring fly-by-night and/or lowballing hackers like this to open or make keys for your vehicle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuKp4Zz70rc
These people are out there in droves, waiting to take your money! They don’t mind causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to get into your vehicle if it means putting a few dollars in their pockets!
Don’t allow yourself to become one of their victims!
Do your research. Make sure they are at least licensed to perform locksmith services in North Carolina at: http://www.nclocksmithboard.org/ It’s the law.
Are you tempted to hire a “locksmith” service you saw advertising on the internet that offers $15.95/$19.95 service? Think again. No LEGITIMATE locksmith has offered those prices since the 1960’s. It’s just a tactic the scammers and criminals use to lure you in, then start tacking on huge charges after they gain entry by destroying your property.
Make sure the company you contract to open or make keys for your vehicle isn’t one that does more harm than good!
Call a licensed and Certified Automotive Locksmith. Call Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC and know that we will make keys or open your vehicle with NO damage, guaranteed!
At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC, I get numerous calls on a daily basis asking if I can make a key for __________ (fill in the blank with your year, make, & model of vehicle).
Overwhelmingly the answer is YES, I can make a key for your vehicle. I can usually make a key for less money, faster, without having to call a tow truck, or wait for hours at the dealer.
With that said, at Barker’s Lock Service, I always evaluate each and every call with the customer’s best interest placed first and foremost.
There are occasions however, that I will recommend ordering a key for your vehicle from a different source, often your local dealer. I will do this if I determine that it will be in YOUR best interest. It isn’t often but SOMETIMES this is the better option. If it is, I will advise you to do so, without hesitation.
I’ll share with you two seemingly similar calls I received involving two similar BMW vehicles, both with lost keys but required two very different solutions in order to serve the customer best.
The first vehicle was a 1997 BMW 525i. All keys had been lost. After my usual preliminary question and answer session I determined that the customer didn’t require immediate assistance. They were able to wait a few days for a key. They were the original owners and only ever had the three keys that the vehicle was delivered with when new.
I advised them to go to their dealership with driver’s license and vehicle registration in hand and order a key for their vehicle by the VIN. The customer would receive a new factory produced key at a lesser cost than what it would cost for me to make one for them.
The BMW factory keeps all vehicle records by the VIN, including the key cutting and programming information. They merely look up the vehicle’s cutting and programming specifications, produce a key, and ship it to the dealership where it arrives in a few days and is ready to start the car.
Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury and BMW doesn’t release that information to independent service providers such as myself. Therefore it requires much more time and expense on my part to generate a key for these vehicles, which translates into a more costly key for the customer.
Vehicle number two was a 1995 BMW 525i. This vehicle had been through several owners and the current owner had lost the only key they ever had.
Again, we went through the preliminary Q & A session. The customer advised me that they had called the dealership first and they were told by the dealership that the maximum number of ten keys had already been previously ordered for the car.
With this particular BMW system, the maximum number of keys that can be ordered for the life of the vehicle is a total of ten. Three keys come with the vehicle when new. That leaves seven keys that the owner can order after that. At that point, the only solution to obtain new keys through the dealership is to install new electronic modules, replace all the locks, and start with new keys.
This will cost the customer several thousand dollars, just to get keys for their vehicle. Often the price quoted would render the vehicle essentially totaled by insurance industry standards.
BUT that is only the factory solution. As a locksmith in the Raleigh, Cary, RTP area, Barker’s Lock Service based in Apex, NC, on the other hand, has a more amicable solution to this problem. I will generate a mechanical key first, then remove the immobilizer module, read the data written to the microprocessor containing the key programming information, delete any or all keys that have been used and program new keys for a fraction of the dealer quoted price to accomplish the same task.
I am here to serve you, the customer. If it means that I don’t earn your money this time, I am perfectly fine with that. I am counting on you to remember who advised you to do what best served you in that particular situation, at that time.
My philosophy is this. When I advise you of your best option, even if that means I’m sending you elsewhere, you will have no doubt that I am completely forthcoming with you. That means now or in the future.
I’ve been in the locksmith business for over 35 years. I started my own business in 1987. I was the very first locksmith in North Carolina to earn the Certified Automotive Locksmith or CAL designation. I am still only one of two in the entire state, and I’m the only one in this area!
I realize that I’m not the guy you want to have to talk to on a daily basis. At the same time, I also want you to know that you can call and ask for automotive locksmith advice and that you will get the best answer possible from Barker’s Lock Service.
If you are in the Raleigh or Wake County area, I encourage those with an automotive lock or key problem to pick up the phone and call me first. Please feel free to ask what your best option is for your particular situation. You will always receive a straight answer.
Thank you for your time. It is my desire to help you educate yourself in an effort to make decisions that reflect your best interests.
Jay Barker, CAL
At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, we specialize in making keys for vehicles, but not just car keys. We are also exceptionally qualified in motorcycle key generation.
In this article I would like to focus on one of the more difficult and unfortunately expensive motorcycle brands to make keys for, Ducati. This article will give you an idea of how Barker’s Lock Service can be the better option when deciding who your best choice is when you need keys for your motorcycle.
The bike we made keys for in this instance was a 2004 Ducati 1000DS Multistrada. This motorcycle, as well as most other 2001 and up Ducati bikes, incorporates a transponder anti-theft system in which the key is an integral part.
Many of the Ducati motorcycles incorporate a type of transponder anti-theft system that includes a key with a red plastic head (referred to as the Red key from here on) used specifically for programming additional keys to operate the bike that are usually designated by a black plastic head (referred to as the Black key from here on). The Red key is for programming additional Black keys that are used in the normal operation of the motorcycle.
If the owner needs to add additional Black keys to start the bike, the Red key is required to initiate the programming process. When the Red key is misplaced or lost, the owner is not able to add more Black keys to start the bike. If the owner is still in possession of at least one Black key we can make a duplicate for comparatively little money.
If all keys are lost however, the story changes dramatically. If you call your local Ducati dealer and tell them that you have lost all keys for your bike with this transponder system, you will get price quotes anywhere from $2500 to $3500 to get you back on the road. This is because the Ducati factory procedure in this situation is to replace the instrument cluster, ECU, and all the locks. That price doesn’t include towing and they usually won’t elaborate as to the wait time, which could amount to weeks.
We generate a mechanical key pretty much as we would with many other vehicles. But with this bike we need to remove the instrument cluster or dash. We then disassemble the dash, read and save the key data contained on the appropriate IC chip mounted on the circuit board. At that point we transfer the key data to the correct transponder chip, insert the chip into the key head, reassemble the dash, insert the key in the ignition lock and start the bike.
Dealer prices to get new keys for your Ducati are 5 times or more what Barker’s Lock Service charges to get you back in the wind, and we can usually complete the job by the end of the next business day, sometimes sooner. No towing required. We come to you and make your keys on site!
We can help even if you aren’t located within our service area. Call us to discuss how you can remove the necessary components and ship them to us to have keys generated for your Ducati or other make of motorcycle.
You can reach us at 919-467-8212 and we’ll gladly address all of your concerns with pricing, as well as your options. We will always point you in the direction that best serves your interests, regardless of whether we get your business this time.
Thank you for your time and always do your homework when it comes to spending your hard earned money!
Jay Barker, CAL
There has been a very disturbing trend taking place within many of the service related industries that we as consumers rely on. The locksmith industry is no exception.
This trend has reached epidemic proportions and you, the consumer need to be made aware of this problem in order to recognize and protect yourself against these predators that we in the locksmith industry refer to as SCAMMERS.
Who They Are
Scammers are criminals that form a company essentially out of thin air, then inundate the advertising venues to gain a high ranking with their bogus ads offering unusually low prices for their services, in an effort to get you the customer to take the bait. Their continued success is bolstered by the fact that NONE of the large advertising companies, especially on the internet, have any interest in policing their own customer base to make sure that they are not facilitating a criminal enterprise. They all seem to be perfectly content to look the other way while their pockets are lined with YOUR ill-gotten cash.
These criminals have very little capital investment in their companies. This fact allows them to be much more fluid. If they are caught, charged, and convicted of the various laws they break, they can very quickly change names, create new web sites, and be back in business literally the next day. Even if their property is confiscated, there is so little of it that it’s merely pocket change to them.
The laws in most states are extremely weak concerning this type of criminal activity. Even in states that have stronger laws, enforcement is almost nonexistent and the penalties amount to nothing more than a slap on the hand. These criminals have and will continue to operate in the same areas using the same tactics without fear of any serious repercussion for years and years.
How They Operate
If you perform an internet search for “Raleigh Locksmith” for example, you will notice that numerous ads pop up immediately for companies advertising very low cost emergency services, usually something like $19.95 or even less.
The criminals most often gravitate specifically to the emergency house and car opening services because, as mentioned earlier, there is very little capital investment on their part. If the scammer is focusing on house openings, they will typically arrive in a small, unmarked, older vehicle. They will have a cordless drill and some various cheap locks that anyone can buy at the local hardware stores. They will drill your locks out to let you in, ruining them in the process, then try to sell you their new locks at an outrageously marked up cost. $19.95 just turned into $400-$500.
If the scammer is focusing on vehicle opening, they will typically arrive in the same type of small, unmarked, older vehicle. They will usually only have a long reach tool, which is basically a long thin metal rod and an air bag with a hand pump bulb that they use to wedge your window frame out to make room to insert the rod into the passenger compartment and manipulate the interior lock button. They usually charge the advertised low rate for the “emergency service” then charge an additional inflated fee for the opening, which could easily amount to $250 or more. Not only that, but they typically leave plenty of evidence of their presence in the form of damage to your vehicle including, scratched paint, torn weather stripping, bent window frame, scratches on the interior door panel and window tinting, disconnected linkage inside the door, rendering it inoperable in many cases, etc.
The person that arrives to perform the work you called for, will as previously stated, usually arrive in an older unmarked vehicle. They use cheap vehicles in case they are confiscated. Sometimes with out of state tags. The person will usually be dressed in street clothes and will not have on a uniform or clothing with any company name or logo.
If you get wise to their scam during or after the encounter and refuse to pay, they will immediately resort to aggressive intimidation tactics including, threatening to call police, law suit, and even physical violence. These criminals love to prey upon the elderly and women especially, because they know they have a much higher success rate at getting the exorbitant fees they charge.
To the surprise of many of the scammer’s victims, these companies are many times based in other states across the country. They normally hire an unskilled worker in each area they operate to carry out the scam on their unwary prey.
In the early days of the locksmith scammer trend, these companies originally began by taking out ads in local phone books using toll free numbers. They quickly made the transition over to acquiring phone numbers with local area codes in an effort to give the appearance of being a legitimate, local company. We know that nothing could be further from the truth. They will often list fictitious addresses in their ads in an attempt to portray a note of legitimacy.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
Any person offering what is defined by North Carolina statute as a locksmith service in NC must maintain a valid North Carolina locksmith license issued exclusively through the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. An out of state company cannot operate in NC without a NC issued locksmith license. There are no reciprocal license agreements between NC and any other state. No other state’s locksmith license is recognized by NC.
Any company providing locksmith services in North Carolina is REQUIRED to display their NC license number or numbers in or on ANY form of advertising they use. If you see an ad in the phone book, online, on their service vehicle, etc., and it does not display a legitimate NC license number, this should be red flag number one.
Ask for the North Carolina Locksmith License number of the person that will be performing the service. Licenses are issued to individuals, not companies. Tell the person on the phone that you intend to verify their license number with the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. If they are a legitimate locksmith company, they should welcome such scrutiny.
http://www.nclocksmithboard.org/
At that point, the next sound you may hear could be a dial tone, but often the scammers will tell you that they have applied for their license and it’s in process and/or they will tell you they have “paperwork” or a temporary license document while they wait for the permanent license. Or they may tell you the service they offer is not actually classified as a “locksmith service”, therefore they are exempt from license requirements. These are all bogus claims. Hang up the phone and immediately report them to the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board at the link above.
Beware of the $19.95 in-your-face advertising that pops up at the top of your search results or phone books. I promise you that NO licensed locksmith with any sort of experience charges that little to come unlock your car or house. Do not let yourself be lured in by the scammer’s low price claims. This is one decision you will regret.
If you are calling to have your house or car opened, ask for the total price, not just the service call or emergency service fee. If the person on the phone is not able to quote you a price for the service or at least call you back with one, beware!
At Barker’s Lock Service in Apex, NC, we have set rates for our services. The price we quote is the price you pay. There aren’t any additional fees for services we perform tacked onto the bill after the job is completed. Typically we can quote your job over the phone. As the owner of Barker’s Lock Service, I have over 35 years of automotive locksmith experience here in the Raleigh – Central North Carolina area. I can most often determine the course of action that should be taken and quote a price over the phone after a short question and answer session with you, the customer.
Licensed locksmiths in NC are required to produce a valid NC locksmith license when requested by the customer. I encourage everyone that hires a locksmith to do exactly that upon arrival and before any work is commenced. The person on the phone can say anything they want but the person performing the work must show you their valid license upon your request, without any excuses. If they can’t produce their license or they resist your request, send them packing and PLEASE alert the NC Locksmith Licensing Board immediately. Being proactive may prevent many other people from being ripped off by these criminals in the future!
It is up to each individual consumer to protect themselves against becoming a victim. You do that by educating yourself, staying alert, watching for the warning signs, and being proactive. Do not count on any law to protect you. We have more laws on our books than we can count. Without enforcement they are useless. The fact is that unfortunately, this type of crime is generally not considered to be high priority or worthy of pursuit by our justice system. That’s why it is especially important for YOU to take an active role in protecting yourself and others against this scum.
Barker’s Lock Service specializes in vehicle locksmith services exclusively, but we network with other legitimate locksmith companies in North Carolina, across America, and even in other countries. If you require services for the other facets of our trade, such as residential, commercial, or safe & vault work, please feel free to call and let us make a recommendation for another fine locksmith that provides the type of service you need, or one that is near your location.
Visit these video links for examples of these criminals in action. Be aware that some of the reporters in these videos are wrongfully referring to these criminals as locksmiths, which as a legitimate locksmith, I find extremely offensive. But I feel it’s more important for you to see for yourselves what these sub-humans are capable of, the warning indicators, and how they operate.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/wral_investigates/video/5002952/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjjdK9HveoI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebppodBgzOc
Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself! And remember, if you think hiring a professional locksmith is expensive, try hiring an amateur one!
Jay Barker, CAL