Hi, it’s Sam here from SG Locksmiths.
When you need a locksmith, it’s usually because something has gone wrong. You may have locked yourself out, lost your keys or a lock or door has suddenly stopped working.
In these situations, most people understandably search Google for a locksmith and call one of the first businesses they find. But there is something worth knowing before you pick up the phone:
Not every locksmith website that appears to be local is actually a local locksmith.
Some locksmith services operate as national companies, franchises or lead-generation businesses. They may advertise across multiple towns and cities and then pass the job to another locksmith.
That doesn’t automatically mean they provide a bad service. However, there can be some important differences between using a genuinely local independent locksmith and using a national one.
Why could national locksmith services cost more?
A local independent locksmith generally has relatively few layers between you and the person carrying out the work.
With some larger operations, there can be additional costs involved in advertising, call centres, management, franchise arrangements, lead-generation fees and wider business overheads.
Those costs ultimately have to be recovered somewhere.
This is one reason why the price quoted by a national or heavily advertised locksmith service can sometimes be considerably higher than you might expect from an established local tradesperson carrying out the same type of work.
The price you pay isn’t necessarily just paying for the locksmith’s time and expertise.
A genuine local locksmith may have lower overheads and therefore be able to offer competitive pricing while still providing professional equipment, insurance and properly qualified workmanship.
Of course, price shouldn’t be the only consideration. When you’re trusting somebody with the security of your home or business, experience, reputation and professionalism matter far more than simply choosing the cheapest quote.
Don’t automatically choose the cheapest locksmith
It’s tempting to choose the cheapest price when you’re locked out or dealing with a broken lock.
But locksmithing is a skilled trade, and the cheapest option isn’t always the best option.
An experienced locksmith should be able to:
- Identify the cause of the problem
- Explain your options
- Avoid unnecessary damage wherever possible
- Recommend appropriate replacement locks
- Carry suitable professional equipment
- Provide a clear price
- Complete the work to a professional standard
A good locksmith should also be interested in why the lock failed, rather than simply replacing it without explanation.How can you tell if a locksmith is genuinely local?
This can be surprisingly difficult.
However, there are a few simple things you can check.
1. Check the business address
A local locksmith should be able to tell you where their business is based and roughly how far they are travelling to reach you. We’re based in Uplands, Swansea and we’ve been established in the area since 2016.
2. Check who will actually attend
This is one of the most important questions you can ask. If you phone us, you’ll almost always get through to me – Sam, a qualified master locksmith who will be able to offer upfront pricing and honest, expert advice.
“Are you the locksmith who will be attending, or do you subcontract the job to somebody else?”
With some national services, the person answering your call may not be the locksmith who eventually arrives at your property.
With an independent local locksmith, you’re usually dealing directly with the person who will carry out the work.
That means you can ask questions about the problem, the likely solution and the expected cost before they arrive.
3. Look at the company’s reviews
Don’t just look at the star rating. Read the reviews.
Look for reviews that mention specific jobs, locations and experiences rather than a few generic reviews. A genuine local locksmith will often have customers mentioning the areas they cover and the type of work they carried out. It’s also worth checking several platforms rather than relying solely on reviews displayed on the company’s own website.
4. Check how long they’ve been trading
Experience matters – I’ve been a locksmith for around 15 years and I established SG Locksmiths in 2016.
A locksmith dealing with a failed multipoint lock on a modern uPVC door is dealing with a very different problem from somebody gaining entry to an old wooden door. Look for evidence that the business has been established for a reasonable period of time.
A professional locksmith should be happy to explain their experience and qualifications.
5. Ask for a price before work starts
This is particularly important for emergency locksmith work. There’s a term within the trade called ‘Bait & Switch’.
You may have seen some of the horror stories on daytime television recently about customers hiring a locksmith based on an extremely low call-out fee — £39, £49 and £59 seem to be particularly popular figures — only to find that the price changes considerably once the locksmith arrives at the property. Then they’re handed a dodgy invoice totaling hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
This can put the customer in an incredibly awkward position. The locksmith is already at their home, ready to carry out the work, and the customer may feel as though they have little choice but to proceed, even though the price is now significantly higher than they were expecting.
In simple terms, the customer has been “baited” with a low price over the phone, only for that price to be “switched” once the locksmith arrives on site.
A reputable, honest local locksmith should always provide clear and transparent pricing wherever possible before attending. If the job turns out to be different from what was originally described over the phone, or additional work or parts are genuinely required, a professional locksmith should explain this clearly and provide an upfront, no-obligation price before carrying out any additional work.
You should never feel pressured into agreeing to work simply because a locksmith has already arrived at your property.
Ask:
“What is your call-out charge?”
“Is VAT included?”
“What is the final price”
“If there’s parts, will you tell me costs before carrying out further works?”
Sometimes the exact price cannot be confirmed until the locksmith has inspected the lock or door. That’s perfectly reasonable.
However, you should still expect a professional locksmith to explain their pricing clearly and obtain your agreement before carrying out significant additional work.
A vague answer such as “we’ll see when we get there” should make you cautious.
Beware of the “local-looking” locksmith
One of the easiest ways for a national operation to appear local is through its website and online advertising.
You might search for:
“Locksmith Swansea”
Does the company actually have a Swansea address? Is the phone number connected directly to a locksmith?
Does the same company advertise in Cardiff, Bristol, Newport, Birmingham, Manchester and London?
A website that looks local isn’t necessarily evidence that the business is local.
Ask about insurance and qualifications
A professional locksmith should take their responsibilities seriously.
For domestic and commercial work, it’s reasonable to ask whether the locksmith has appropriate insurance and relevant training or qualifications.
If you’re hiring someone to work on the security of your home, business, school or commercial premises, you should feel comfortable asking about their credentials.
Membership of a recognised professional organisation can also provide additional reassurance. We are a MLA approved company. Check out or Approved Page here: https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/find-a-locksmith/sg-locksmiths-ltd/
Why choosing a genuinely local locksmith can make sense
When you use an established independent locksmith in your area, you’re dealing directly with a local tradesperson whose reputation depends on the quality of their work.
There is a certain accountability that comes with being a local business.
Your locksmith isn’t just another engineer being sent to a job by a national call centre. They’re building a reputation in the community where they live and work.
For customers, this can mean:
Direct communication.
You speak to the person dealing with your job rather than working through a call centre.
Local knowledge.
An experienced local locksmith is likely to be familiar with the types of doors, locks and security systems commonly found in the area.
Transparent pricing.
You can discuss the problem and agree on the work before it begins.
Reputation.
Local businesses rely heavily on recommendations and repeat customers.
Accountability.
If something isn’t right, you know exactly who carried out the work.
Choose local. Choose someone you can trust.
At SG Locksmiths, I believe that calling a locksmith shouldn’t feel like taking a gamble.
We’re an established independent locksmith business serving Swansea and the surrounding areas. When you contact us, you deal directly with the locksmith carrying out the work.
We believe in straightforward advice, transparent pricing and doing the job properly.
Whether you’ve locked yourself out, need a lock repaired or replaced, want to improve the security of your property or need assistance with a commercial locking system, we’ll explain your options before carrying out the work.
Before choosing a locksmith, don’t just ask “How much?”
Ask “Who am I actually dealing with?”
It could make a bigger difference than you think.