I'm a graduate student living off student loans, so when I arrived home from class to realize that I had forgotten my keys and my poor dog was whimpering to be let out, I called around to different locksmiths to see if I could get an affordable quote before I chose one. When I called Dial and asked how much it would cost to get me into my apartment, they told me $100. Seeing as that was about the same rate other places we were charging, I went with them because they were closest.
45 minutes later, the locksmith shows up and I verify with him that it will cost $100, as they told me over the phone. He responded that was $35 for the service call out there, and $95 to get in the apartment so in actuality, the cost was $130. Since he was already there, I saw no point in arguing, so I agreed to it. After drilling in my lock and reuniting me with my beloved and lonely dog, he asks me if I would like him to replace my lock... Confused, I ask him to clarify what he means. He then informs me that since he had to drill the lock, it is now broken, and it will cost me $155 to purchase and install a new lock on my door, bringing my grand total to $310 after tax!
Now THIS is the type of thing you mention to a person BEFORE you break out the lock on their door! Once the lock has already been destroyed, what are my options? To live and sleep in an unlocked apartment and sacrifice my personal safety?! Or to cough up whatever funds are demanded for the sake of maintaining my security? As a young woman, I begrudgingly opted for the latter, but not before questioning why he failed to mention that extra cost beforehand, when I was specifically asking him how much this was going to cost me. He informed me that it was because sometimes they don't have the locks that people need and he didn't want to offer what he didn't have. I'm sorry, but you're there, staring at my lock, you know if you have it with you or not.
It is extremely poor form to not be straightforward with a customer with what the overall cost of services will be, especially when they have asked directly and when their personal safety is on the line. To wait until after you have broken my lock to inform me that my anticipated cost is now more than double what you initially told me if I want to have a front door that locks is simply appalling. Perhaps next time someone asks for a price estimate, you could inform them of potential additional costs prior to putting them in a position in which these additions become personal safety necessities. read more