NYKeys Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 So a couple popped in with a key blank they'd bought from eBay which they wanted their Honda key duplicating onto. It's ever so slightly bigger all round. Truly just a fraction of a millimetre only detectable with a caliper, not discernible with the naked eye. The point I'm trying to make is it's a very small size difference. It doesn't want to go in the car locks. Is this a common issue? Likely to be a result of it being a non-gen key, or rather that they've bought the wrong blank? I'm guessing lots of you won't touch eBay keys, I don't know if that's an accurate guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Yes it is a common issue with Honda keys bought on ebay, it is the thickness that causes the issue. We tell the customer they may not fit but we will happily cut them and charge them £15.00 inc vat although it is at there risk and if they do not fit or jam in the lock it is not because of the cutting process. We do loads of Ebay keys as no else in this town will touch them. k4mrc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Yes it is a common issue with Honda keys bought on ebay, it is the thickness that causes the issue. We tell the customer they may not fit but we will happily cut them and charge them £15.00 inc vat although it is at there risk and if they do not fit or jam in the lock it is not because of the cutting process. We do loads of Ebay keys as no else in this town will touch them. Same here...£15 no comeback if it doesn't work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Exactly the same here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 £20.00 Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 ps hond-31.p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 I'm the same, I always explain i can't guarantee it & charge whatever happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fast Fix Elgin Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Same Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Us too. Happy to cut an ebay key and take the money. But it is always at the customers own risk. Don't often have one that doesn't work though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broms Cobb Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Us too. Happy to cut an ebay key and take the money. But it is always at the customers own risk. Don't often have one that doesn't work though. thing is - hypothetically, if you cut a key and advised customer that it was completely at their own risk - took the money and the customer called back into your shop saying it had not worked or stuck in the ignition, what do you do? Nothing? Then the customer went to trading standards and still you stand by the stance of "it was at the customer's own risk" and imagine it even getting to court all I could imagine a judge saying would be, the customer paid you to cut a key and it does not would not work imo you would lose as the customer is paying for a service - it failed, if you were not confident of it you you should not have charged, and then you may even pay for damages. Moral of this story? Get it in writing, then at least you might actually have the defense you require? all that might be needed is a small card stating the reasons you say, Chinese blank etc, Ebay, safe rather than sorry.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 If, as you suggest, a customer came back saying that the key had stuck in the lock, then we would obviously do all we could to help them out. Just because we've said it's at their own risk, doesn't mean we'd leave them high and dry. Generally you can see if there's going to be a problem before you've even finished cutting the key. I like your idea of a disclaimer card though. I'll suggest that to the boss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Maybe you could set a button on your till for all of these types of jobs. "No Guarantee" or similar I would normally go over it again but if it got stuck in the ignition because they forced it in, it's their own fault for trying to get it done on the cheap. Perhaps they should have added a key machine to their eBay basket too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 No disclaimer from us. We warned them it was at THERE risk. We are always willing to help but will warn them of the consequences if the key damages any of the locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Same here, I charge £10 own risk etc. If it gets stuck with in the lock I would suggest taking it up with the manufacturer that made the blank. completelocks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damen.rudi Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Had the same discussion on the Dutch forum. Most of the persons we discussed with didn't want to cut a Ebay, Chinese ,.. key. My idea is when I cut the key and it doesn't fit, the customer is unhappy, when I charge him for his mostly very cheap key he will probably find me very expensive. The last thing I said to a "customer"; What when my mill is worn of your key, are you willing to pay me a new one? The answer was: No! A dutch collegue wrote; I don't go to the butcher and buy me a steak and go in the evening to a restaurant and ask them to fry my steak. The customer is only interested in his profit. He can buy a key in our shop and we will happily cut him. Mostly they find it too expensive. We may not earn any money, only their portfolio is important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 WE are a business and if i can make good money cutting these keys we do. We have probably had issues with approx 15 key in the last few years but we have cut well over 500 customer supplied blanks maybe more i have even had people begging me to do keys that are the wrong profile but we tell them there is no point as the blank won't even fit before we even think about cutting i, that is the only time i won't cut one. My skill in life is a keycutter, it pays the bills so if i have the tools to do it then i will but as a locksmith as well as a keycutter i have never had a vehicle lock damaged by a key i have cut (but i do have the advantage of owning a Silca Unocode and Triax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damen.rudi Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 We are also well provided with a Silca Unocode, a Futura and several other specific machines. The thing I want to point at is that in our regions it may not cost any money. Therefor do they search for cheap keys on the internet, mostly Aliexpress. It's my living and I stand only after my own products. Herefor do I have the support of my distributors like Silca. We are going so far that customers come in with worn out keys, several times already duplicated, not in our shop.. We tell them we can duplicate them but no guarantee. NO MONEY BACK makes them hesitate even when we talk about little money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 We are going so far that customers come in with worn out keys, several times already duplicated, not in our shop.. We tell them we can duplicate them but no guarantee. NO MONEY BACK makes them hesitate even when we talk about little money. Doesn't matter how many times a key has been copied, if the customers key works then so should ours. We give a 100% guarantee with every key we cut, if it does not work we try again or give a full refund. It is all part of the service that makes us stand out from the amateurs. kobblers, Simes and x minit uk 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
completelocks Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 £15... £20... I seriously need to re think my fiver for cutting one! mrkeys 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 we have a sign up saying we cant guarantee the cutting of customers own blanks.... £20 gavin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrkeys Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 £15... £20... I seriously need to re think my fiver for cutting one! Me too, we are on £5 for ebay blanks cut - no guarantees of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveishin Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Doesn't matter how many times a key has been copied, if the customers key works then so should ours. We give a 100% guarantee with every key we cut, if it does not work we try again or give a full refund. It is all part of the service that makes us stand out from the amateurs. If the customers key works 100% how many times have you been down the road of yes my key does work you "just have to jiggle it around a bit" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 If the customers key works 100% how many times have you been down the road of yes my key does work you "just have to jiggle it around a bit" Not many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveishin Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Seems a continual battle other favourite is keys that continually get thrown out of flat windows to mates down stairs and then wonder why the key has stopped working Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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