Seattle Locksmith Security — Local services in Seattle

TL:DR - CAUTION - look elsewhere. Many Locksmith businesses are BUYING their reviews to inflate their rating. Pricing was insane and the situation became sketchy. My Husband and I recently purchased a home and was looking for locksmith to assist us with a rekey.

I called the day prior to our closing to see if we can get any pricing estimates but was told we need to pay a $30 fee for someone to come out and view the locks. Sure that is fair I guess.

We did some research online to see what we would expect as far as costs for a rekey which was estimated at around $200 - $250 for the whole house.

Our closing day came and I spoke to the dispatcher on the phone who said someone was available that evening to rekey the house. Great! Or so we thought... 30-minutes passed by and we get a call from the technician saying that they were not available that evening. Since I had called around I asked if he was with Seattle Locksmith Security, the technician wasn't sure... first red flag.

I called back SLS to which I expressed my confusion and the dispatcher handled it great in that he found another technician that was 15 minutes away from our location.

The technician called and promptly showed up. He was nice at first when I was showing him around the doors and the locks we needed to replace to which we then finally asked him for a quote.

Probably seeing our empty home, and assuming our ignorance as new home owners, he threw out about $500 (high $400s). Of course my husband and I gawked at the price to which I mentioned we did our research for which was around $250. He immediately slashed the price saying he could do three deadbolts for $250, not including the sliding doors to which he said were impossible.

At that point my Husband and I were sketched out and was trying to get this guy out. The price kept rapidly falling like today's stock market. He finally left after I insisted I will just change the locks myself.

Shortly there after another call came in from who I believe was the first technician who originally said he was unavailable now saying he can do it. I told him don't have the budget for their price and he told me to name our price. He finally relented after I insisted we are doing it ourselves.

After further research I was able to find reputable and transparent prices from another business. SMDH - now even google business reviews can't be trusted. As a small business owner this is super...

I emailed and requested a quote for a key fob for my car - I provided the year, make, model and type of fob. After hearing nothing for a day or so, I called and spoke to someone in the office who said they had seen my email and was prepared to provide a quote of between $150-$180. She said she could not be positive but she'll have a locksmith call to verify. She then told me that a $30 charge would be assessed if the locksmith came over to the house - no problem. I was promptly called by a locksmith who stated that the key would probably be closer to $180, I asked specifically if the key cutting was included and if he could cut the key (laser cut) which he stated yes. When he arrived, he then said that the fob for THIS car (the one I provided all the details to earlier) would be $280, not $180... additionally to cut the key would be an additional $90. Maybe it's not a "bait and switch" but this was more than double the price from the original quote of $150-$180. I sent him away, but it cost me $30 because he came to the house. I've one interaction with Seattle Locksmith Security, but I would not use a company for the security of my things or family that operates with questionable integrity. I instead went to a key and lock shop in West Seattle (Alki) and they quoted me a fixed price for a new FOB $280, however he suggested that if I provided the fob, he would program it and cut the key for $100. I went there with a fob that I purchased on Ebay for $30 and they did exactly as they quoted over the phone - out the door for $130 total...

The physical building is boarded up and not in service anymore despite the Google maps listing onsite services. When I called they told me they can’t copy a key at all (can only rekey locks) despite there being physical signs saying they provided key copying. Additionally, it’s a phone tree of assistants who are not the locksmiths themselves. Disappointing listing and experience, have used them before onsite and had a good experience but it seems things have changed and the listing is inaccurate and needs to be updated.

Edit: regarding your reply to my review, please update your listing until it is repaired then. I was specifically told on the phone that not all services (like key copying) can be completed via the mobile car and was also told that there would be a surcharge for any time en route to completely rekey my lock even though I did not need a rekey. If what you replied with is true, then please inform whomever answers your phone and speaks with your...