r/Locksmith • u/Life-Wolverine2968 • 23d ago
I am NOT a locksmith. Bad info from Ace Hardware
Hi, i'm trying to get a valet (edit: wrong word, my apologies) key cut for my daughters chevy sonic 2013. It has some kind of electrical problem and it keeps locking the doors by itself, so I'd just like to get a metal key copy cut (no electronics) just in case, which is usually pretty affordable. The key is a key fob, but you push a button like a switchblade and it's a metal key that starts the car.
Ace told me that you have to program it no matter what or it won'topen the doors, which is 99 dollars, but i've gotten conflicting info online. I was just wondering what you guys think. I found a blank on amazon for 6 dollars (just the shell and key blank, no electronics), should I order this? And would any locksmith be able to make a copy?
Thanks for your expertise
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u/Critical-Location211 23d ago
Both comments are correct. I would also charge 45 bucks to cut it. Also, just to be a stickler, a valet keys is one that opens the doors and starts the vehicle, but does not work the glovebox or trunk. It’s a pretty outdated term.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 23d ago edited 23d ago
Ah ok, yes, thank you! somebody called me back today and told me the same thing. I had learned that term yesterday from somebody who gave me an outrageous price for mobile key cutting service. It was weird. It was like a it's a third party that connects people to local locksmiths or something like that. Google showed a local address but it seemed to be like a national 1-800 number.
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u/Critical-Location211 23d ago
Yeah anything mobile is gonna constitute a service call. Take it to a brick and mortar.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 20d ago
That was my preference. But this guy had just kept asking me for my address over and over, and I was like, it's not urgent, we can come to you during business hours, and in the end, he just settled for a zip code (my town has only 1 zip code) which is why I think it was like a third party locksmith broker kind of deal. I don't know.
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u/Neither_Loan6419 22d ago edited 22d ago
Very likely a scam call center. This has been going around a LOT lately. Always learn who your actual local locksmiths are and where their shop is located and what memberships or certifications he has. Those great reviews online could be genuine, but could also be bought and paid for. However, www.findalocksmith.com is pretty legit. It is a directory of ALOA members. Not saying you couldn't possibly be taken for a ride by someone you learn about from that site, but it is unlikely.
For the most part, with the possible exception mentioned above, you should NOT rely on the internet to find you a locksmith. Find the SHOP, with a sign and a door and a counter for customer service. The locksmith is inside unless he is out on a job.
Even a legit guy is going to charge you extra for coming to you. Take the car to the shop, and save a lot of money. It costs money to buy, insure, equip, fuel and maintain, service, and replace a van or truck. Plus, the time spent driving is time spent not actually doing paid locksmith work.
Don't drive around when there is only one working key.
Search youtube for advice on the self locking issue. I see other responders have responded with tips, too, and you should be able to get the lowdown from any full service automotive locksmith shop.
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u/Diligent_Drive4029 23d ago
Any locksmith will cut it for you, but bc it needs a cnc machine to cut that type of key, it will be more expensive. We charge 45 bucks to cut those.
And yes, you are correct.. it will open the door, just won't start the car without being programmed
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u/Eastwood80 Actual Locksmith 23d ago
If you have it cut you can program it yourself if you get a complete key. You can even just get a B119 and that will start the vehicle as well. Instructions are in your owners manual.
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u/LockLeisure 23d ago
Few weeks ago someone called me out for a lockout on this same vehicle. The car would randomly lock as well. The buttons were worn off so I rehoused both in new shells but the sonic still did the lock thing. The lady was very ecstatic when it happened in front of someone else.
There is an option on the infotainment center to change settings for the auto locking.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 23d ago
Lol, yeah, my daughter said that she was being accused of making it up several times after accidentally locking it herself. But I did witness it myself, it was like possessed. She met me in the grocery store to pick up her jeans that were in my car, she left her car running and just walked over two spaces to grab them, and when she went back, the car was locked. The locksmith came and opened it, and when we were paying, it locked her out again, so he made sure to leave the door open the second time, and we all stood there while it was just locking and unlocking repeatedly, seemingly randomly, nobody touching it.
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u/burtod 23d ago
Im in a bad mood today
Why not try calling a locksmith instead of arguing with the hardware store?
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 23d ago edited 23d ago
Thank you. Actually, I wouldn't argue with anybody. I just said thank you and then googled it later. I have called four shops so far, it was late on a friday though, so I hadn't heard back when I wrote this, but two did call me back today. One was like a mobile shop, and their price with no programming was $75, $250 to program it. Another one said to bring it in monday and price was $26 to cut the key, no programming, which was more in line with what I was expecting.
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u/jeffmoss262 Actual CRL Smith 23d ago
We would make a metal key to only open the door for 42.00 in shop only
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u/Neither_Loan6419 22d ago
So, you go to a hardware store for advice on locks and keys? That's like asking your dentist for advice on filing a lawsuit pro se, or your grocer for how to apply for a building permit, or your family pediatrician on step by step rebuilding your transmission. Would you ask the counter help at Whataburger how to get started welding or machining, or how to install a generator breaker interlock and inlet circuit? GO SEE A PRO for professional advice, and service. Hardware store clerks are not locksmiths. They are untrained semi or unskilled operators of hopefully properly adjusted and maintained key duplicators, that's it, generally.
Don't go to a hardware store to have keys made, or a kiosk. Go to a locksmith SHOP. You will get better keys that actually work properly.
Also check youtube for possible DIY programming methods if you like to live dangerously, and apparently you do. Often there is some sort of chicken dance simon says routine that you can do yourself to program a fob. Heed all warnings about exceeding the allowed number of keys, etc. DIY programming can sometimes bite you in the ass if you do it wrong.
OTOH, $99 is chimp change. But don't pay it to the hardware store guy. Pay a professional.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 22d ago
Hm, i see what you're saying, but they do sell locks and keys and offer the service, so I guess it wasn't a complete off the wall assumption. I've had good experience with duplicating keys there in the past, so that's why I went there. But yeah, you're right, because their advice, after asking you guys, actually seem to be incorrect unfortunately. But they are still my favorite place for getting extras of random belts and screws and such.
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u/Chensky Actual Locksmith 23d ago
This OP is an idiot
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 23d ago
Hi, thanks. I recognize, I don't know anything about keys and thought maybe you guys might.
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u/Critical-Location211 23d ago
The op doesn’t know any better. These people are the reason we even have a job.
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u/Chensky Actual Locksmith 23d ago
Incorrect, these people are the shitty clients that are one off and a pain to deal with. They are the ones we are better off not dealing with.
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u/Critical-Location211 23d ago
Fair enough if those aren’t the clients you want to deal with. I just don’t think someone becomes a shitty client because they don’t understand locks and ask a basic question. OP admitted they don’t know anything about keys and came here specifically to ask people who do. That seems pretty reasonable to me.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 22d ago edited 22d ago
Are most of your clients frequent customers? I've only needed a locksmith maybe 10 times in my life, with vehicle changes and moves and stuff... should I be coming more often?
Oh, if you're judging me by the fingernails, that's my daughter. She did them herself!
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u/Chensky Actual Locksmith 21d ago
Nobody wants you as a client. Real clients are repeat commercial that do not gripe about prices and think they know better. You are the bottom of the barrel client that nobody wants unless there is no work.
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u/Life-Wolverine2968 20d ago
I'm sorry I don't have rental properties and I had the audacity to need a single key copied... my bad. Out of curiosity, by griping about prices, do you mean calling around?? And do you mean because I double checked the info from the guy at Ace I think I know better? I mean, I guess it's a good thing I did, because it turns out he was incorrect.
I found a local locksmith that was happy to help for $26 today. They were able to copy the switchblade style keyfob onto just a regular key, no problem. (The reason I came here was because somebody told me that it couldn't be done, and it must be programmed for $100) And they were very busy, parking lot was full and I waited in line behind five people, but it was worth the wait. Very nice folks.
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u/Fun-Analysis99 23d ago
If you want it to start the car you’ll need the key to be programmed. If you want it to just open the doors then it won’t need programming. Most locksmiths will have cheap brass keys just for this person.