Becoming a mul-t-lock agent

[NYKeys]

I'm interested in becoming an authorised Mul-t-lock agent - I remember the last time, years ago, that I rang Mul-T-Lock just asking how it worked and how much it cost they sent a sales rep out without arranging an appointment and I was so busy when he turned up I was unable to speak to him and he had to leave.

 

I'd rather avoid that again. But we do get requests to cut Mul-T-lock keys from time to time that we can't do on our Mustang(?)

 

So can anyone explain how it works becoming a Mul-T-lock agent and if it's worth it?

 

Thanks

[gavin]

£10.000+  15 years ago I give up.

[NYKeys]

£10.000+  

 

Is that the investment needed in Mul-T-Lock products/machinery? 

[gavin]

yes  machinery after 6 months then I said NO THANK YOU!

[Lock Stock]

That price will inc a KC5 machine to cut the keys like MT5 which you need. But you can have a manual machine and do Intergrater or garrison for a lot less. 

[ponsaloti]

Ist I must say the product is really good. I like it a lot, but.

Spend 6k and they give you an intergrator/garrison mahine.

Order your euro's etc and wait up to 10 weeks for them to arrive.

You also get a bi-annual email telling you about the price increase.

Shame we had to come away from MTL but we went thru a long period of fobbing off our customers due to the delivery times.

It may have changed but a couple of years ago, they held very little stock in the UK

[grahamparker]

Agree with the above and would not give MTL a penny of my money either.

 

Supply issues have been going on for years and the prices are getting ridiculous now. Read some of the locksmiths forums about them.

 

Lock and Key will be along soon to tell you how wonderful they are and how fantastic the locks are.

 

In my mind they are good but well overpriced for most.

[Mick Friend]

Brisant or ABUS for me

[gavin]

Brisant buy one lock get one key blank NO good for me lol.

[NYKeys]

Key cutting is to copy is easy, blanks are readily available for the common types, locks are cheap enough on eBay.

I wouldn't give MTL any money, just offer the service directly.

If you want to spend a few quid, the Miracle MTL is worth the money.

 

But don't you need a specific machine for the newer keys? The ones with the magnets etc?

[Lock Stock]

But don't you need a specific machine for the newer keys? The ones with the magnets etc?

 

Yes correct.

 

Its only Garrison and the old classic left and right hand keys blanks 

[Lock Stock]

No incorrect.

 

The keys are cut the same as any other, the "magnet" comes with the blank, if you have a blank then the fancy element is already there.

The "magnet" is the interactive element which is for blank control, you would have thought Lock Stock would have known that being a MTL agent and cutting those keys.

 

The cutters are available from the wholesalers to cut every MTL you can lay your hands on, all can be done on a manual machine to copy.

 

I understand which platforms overlap on what machine. Been a centre for a long time before the KC5 machine. I also understand the interactive pin, It is not a magnet like the ABS, you can't just put one in a key because the way it moves.

 

I wasn't saying the machine can't cut the keys. I was making the point about the blanks available to non centres. So if we are now looking at blanks available from Silca/JMA/HD etc, then like I said it will be Classic and Garrison. 

[grahamparker]

Blanks can be obtained from Israel that can be then used.

 

I was offered some interactive blanks through a friend a few years back but declined the offer.

 

The code on the blank had been ground off with a dremmel so you could not tell where they had come from.

[NYKeys]

the blanks are available quite easily if people want them

 

I've found some on eBay, seller's based in Israel, the head doesn't have a Mul-T-Lock logo on them - what's the risk to me in buying them? I am obviously not in a Mul-T-Lock contract.

[grahamparker]

Not really sure how you stand legally but morally it would be the wrong thing to do IMO. You would possibly receive a cease and desist notice from MTL but i don't think there has actually been a court case yet

that i am aware of as the threat usually puts most people off.

 

There is a possible court case brewing with the Easi entrie and Ansan machines as one manufacturer has had enough.

 

One stand at lockex was duplicating Evva EPS and did not think there was any issue in doing this, about 2 hours hours later the machine was removed from the stand as they where issued with a warning so we will have to wait and see what happens in the not to distant future as there may finally be a court case over patented keys and a ruling made which could well set a precedent for (maybe unlawful) duplication of key blanks.

[Mick Friend]

MTL patented the shape of the head and the man shape if you had a key with a round head they cannot do nuffin.

[ponsaloti]

That's a shame

[steveishin]

NY keys

 

The interactive chip comes in different sizes and is positioned in different chambers depending on which

country it is being used in.

So for example a key issued in France is totally different to one in the UK

Also they are available in different key sections

 

Steve

[NYKeys]

NY keys

 

The interactive chip comes in different sizes and is positioned in different chambers depending on which

country it is being used in.

So for example a key issued in France is totally different to one in the UK

Also they are available in different key sections

 

Steve

 

This is the listing I've been looking at. The blanks do look very short!

[Mark Davis]

@LockStock,

You quoted a post which referred to a special machine, hence my reply.

As Graham said, the blanks are available quite easily if people want them, also the Chinese will produce blanks with only 1,000 minimum order.

Have you actually found somewhere that will produce a key with a minimum order of 1000? ..............ive been looking for a while to get some keys made, minimum order is always 10.000

[grahamparker]

Have you actually found somewhere that will produce a key with a minimum order of 1000? ..............ive been looking for a while to get some keys made, minimum order is always 10.000

 

 

I had my old Abus H49D section blanks done by SKS the minimum was 3000 but it still came in about £200 cheaper than a 1000 would have cost from Abus direct and i got them coined as well.

[ponsaloti]

I had a contact some time ago that would make anything you wanted in 1,000 minimums. They were pricy though about $0.40 each for a simple key to over $1 for more complex stuff.

If I eventually sort through my emails I will post the details. 10,000 emails of mine contain the word "key" so it's slow going.

 

*edit*

I am pretty sure it was yanpi or xanpi, something of that nature.

Warren, the correct term is Blank.

Boom.

[NYKeys]

I had my old Abus H49D section blanks done by SKS the minimum was 3000 but it still came in about £200 cheaper than a 1000 would have cost from Abus direct and i got them coined as well.

 

Will SKS make up blanks to any pattern so long as the original isn't obviously patented/restricted? Not sure how this works but it sounds interesting.

[grahamparker]

Will SKS make up blanks to any pattern so long as the original isn't obviously patented/restricted? Not sure how this works but it sounds interesting.

 

To the best of my knowledge they certainly will, give them a call.

[ponsaloti]

Doh