In recent years, there’s been an increased interest in using local businesses rather than national ones. This is a good attitude to have with locksmiths, as well–and it might just save you time, money, and frustration. In this case, it’s more than just a trend; it’s a smart idea.
Although we offer many services, people often call locksmiths when something has gone wrong. When things have gone wrong, people are often desperate–and it’s easy for someone to prey on that desperation. That’s where lots of the national companies come in (we should note that ALOA, Associated Locksmiths of America, is a national organization, but it’s different than national companies; rather than one company, it’s more of an association of local locksmiths that serves to do things like set standards. It’s more like a guild than a company).
Many national locksmith companies will advertise in local phone books and other guides; often, they’ll use local phone numbers and addresses (often fake), as well–sometimes multiple different phone numbers will be used for the same company. These companies will pretend to be local, but a call to their listed phone numbers will just redirect you to the national call center. These call centers will often give you a low minimum quoted price and assure you that a locksmith is on the way, but this is rarely the case: usually they’ll dispatch an under-trained person who will take a long time to arrive, then jump directly to drilling, the most destructive way of getting you back into your house (because of this, it’s the last thing a real locksmith will try). They’ll then proceed to overcharge you. How can they get away with this?
A large part of it comes from their national nature. Because they operate all across the United States by using a variety of untrained subcontractors, they don’t have to worry about building up a good reputation among clients in a particular area. All they need is for a few desperate people to dial their numbers occasionally; since they operate over such a large area, even those few calls really add up.
A true local locksmith, like Advanced Lock & Security, is different. Because we operate locally in the Delaware Valley, our existence depends on providing you with excellence–we work for you. Unlike national chains, we can’t afford to use underhanded schemes to make a quick buck; instead, we employ highly trained locksmiths to respond to your needs quickly and inexpensively. Look on Yelp, Google reviews, Customer Lobby, and other rating and reviewing sites–you’ll see that we have excellent scores and reviews. This is a trend you’ll see among true local locksmiths (often distinguished by their membership with ALOA); in order to remain in business, they must consistently please local customers.
So, if you live in Phoenixville, King of Prussia, Malvern, Pottstown, Exton, West Chester, Paoli, Chester Springs, Collegeville, Charlestown, or Downingtown, don’t be fooled by a national company that’s out to make the most money they can off you–shop local with Advanced Lock & Security!
