I called to have a locked house door opened (not a deadbolt) and was quoted a price starting at $80 depending on the work needed. When the locksmith arrived, he immediately said the price would be $180. After I pushed back and referenced the original quote, he kept lowering the price until we finally agreed on $150.
The actual work took less than a minute -- he drilled a hole in the lock and opened the door in about 45 seconds. There was no attempt to pick the lock or use a less destructive method.
While I understand service calls cost money, the experience felt like a classic bait-and-switch. Quoting a low starting price over the phone, then dramatically increasing it upon arrival, puts customers in a difficult position. The quick negotiation afterward made it feel even more questionable.
Unfortunately, this experience did not feel transparent or professional. read more