Is paying $223 for a locksmith to unlock your car an average price?
I live in Seattle, and I have a '99 Honda Civic. I called for a car locksmith yesterday (9/16) to unlock my car, and I'm confused to why the service cost me $223?
I waited for someone to come for 3 hours. I called at 5 pm and was hoping to see someone in the next 45 minutes to an hour but no one came yet, so I called again at around 6:45 pm and spoke to the receptionist, then the receptionist called the locksmith and he called me after, and asked if it was an emergency and how I locked myself out of my car. I said no it was not an emergency, but I didn't want to wait for someone any longer because its been over 2 hours already, the locksmith didn't come to my house until 7:50 pm. He had promised to come before 8 pm, but it was almost 3 hours at that point.
I had a '99 Honda civic (a reputation of an easily known car to break into) and I researched nearby areas average price in the Seattle are, and they were around $150-170. I understand there was a $35 service call charge, but $169 for the car lockout itself was what threw me off. I asked the locksmith how he came up with that price, but he didn't explain it well enough to me other than its just the type of car is the reason for it being $169. I'm wondering why I was charged $223 in total. Where did the $169 price come from, Is there some sort of rubric to follow? Ect.
Should I call the company and talk to them? Or it is what it is?
It varies. What you may want to check is to see if you get reimbursed through insurance. Sometimes your insurance will even include this as an optional service you pay a few dollars a month for to have a person come out and jump your car, or unlock you or what not.
I had to get a mailbox rekeyed and that was $119.00 but areas vary in pricing just like gas, milk and other things.
I would have kept this all to myself so as not to look both dumb and cheep. $223.00 seems fair to me. You could have had it towed to the dealer.
Wow! Take the VIN code to the dealer's parts counter and they'll fire it off to the car company and they'll send the key code for the dealer to grind as many as you'd like for a neck of a lot less than $200.00.
223.00 sounds way to high for the work done. Most shops charge around 75-100.00 emergency service call and labor after that based on time or parts needed. How long was he there? I'd say to call the company back and complain or ask for why the charges were what they were. If they are a BBB member, you can file a complaint with the BBB if you feel it's excessive and they may help resolve it… Let the owner know you will complain and they may offer a rebate.
Hindsight is 20/20 but a spare key would have saved you a lot of grief… Always have a few spare keys made for at least door locks and keep in separate places or with other people in case one gets lost or you can't get to it.
A Seattle area locksmith with good reviews… Perhaps call them and see if the charges are excessive in their opinion…
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ballard-lock-and-key-seattle
For future- my son locked his keys in his truck, but he actually listened to some advice, he called me at home to grab his spare keys off a hook behind his bedroom door! Took 20min and $5 gas, alot cheaper
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