Hilarious lesson from that locksmith pros facebook group post

Stumbled on this welcome post in the Locksmith Professionals HandleBarr group today, all about hooking up more service calls for us locksmiths, and it got me laughing thinking back to my first year in Phoenix when I charged just $75 for a basic Kwikset rekey job on a busted apartment door. Thought I was killing it, but the customer called back twice because I messed up the pins, costing me $200 in free fixes. Moral of the story: cheap rates in a hot market like AZ just lead to a crap ton of callbacks, now I start at $150 minimum.

goddamn callbacks are the worst, eat your whole day.

Bump your minimum to $175, use the Silca Futura for precise cuts.

Yeah, $175 works, and always verify the shear line before handing over the key.

Same here, lost a whole afternoon on a similar screwup.

Felt that, Phoenix heat makes you rush and mess up.

callbacks suck the life outta you.

...

...

Man, those early mistakes sting.

$150 is solid for AZ.

Never underprice rekeys, it's a trap.

This industry chews up the cheap guys.

We all been there brother.

Yeah, Phoenix callbacks in summer are hell.

Screw the lowballers, they ruin it for everyone.

Kwikset always bites back.

$200 freebies? Ouch.

Use the Framon 2 for better accuracy next time.

Framon's a game changer.

Haha, welcome posts always hype the easy money.

We need more groups calling out the BS.

That group sounds like a lead goldmine though.

$150 min is what I run.

Phoenix market's tough on newbies.

Same, started at $50 and regretted it.

Regret city.

How do you handle the heat messing with tools?

We all screw up pins at first.

True, but $75 is asking for trouble.

SharkBite of locksmithing, Kwikset.

Fuming over a similar job last week.

Fuming right there with ya.

Try the HPC Blitz, cuts perfect every time.

HPC saved my ass more than once.

Haha, that group post got me hopeful.

Hopeful but realistic.

$200 lesson learned the hard way.

I've been there, man.

Callbacks are profit killers.

We gotta unionize against cheap work.

Cheap work floods the market.

$175 and up, no exceptions.

Phoenix sun warps everything if you're not careful.

Warps the locks too.

Haha yeah.

Proud of bumping my rates, no more $75 jobs.

Good for you, man.

Clients in AZ expect fast service.

Fast but not cheap.

$150 is the floor.

Floor for sure.

That FB group better deliver leads.

If it does, jackpot.

I've been in that group, mixed bag.

Same.

How's the lead quality there?

Quality varies, but worth it.

Varies too much.

Screw the bad leads.

Bad leads waste time.

Haha, my holy shit moment was a $100 botched safe job.

Safes are nightmares.

Nightmares for profit.

We all chase those service calls.

Chasing but not catching.

That group post nailed it.

Nailed the struggle.

$75? Rookie numbers.

Rookie indeed.

How do you quote rekeys now?

Quote $150 flat, add for multiples.

$150 flat works.

Good call.

I've been burned too.

Burned bad.

Haha, pins flying everywhere.

Everywhere on the floor.

LOL classic.

Clients think it's easy.

Easy my ass.

$200 fix? Brutal.

Brutal lesson.

Proud I charge $200 now.

$200 is right.

Right for the work.

Haha, that group welcomed me with open arms.

Open arms and tips.

Tips that save money.

Save sanity too.

What tools you using for rekeys?

Kwikset kit plus tension wrench.

Kit's basic but works.

Basic for beginners.

We feel your pain.

Pain from cheap jobs.

$75 was me 10 years ago.

10 years of growth.

Growth to $150.

Solid growth.

How's Phoenix treating you now?

Better, no more lowballs.