Tonight, after what seemed to be the longest day ever, especially since I only got an hour and a half of sleep in the last 24 hours, we returned home after celebrating my daughter's birthday.
My teenaged son asked me for the keys to get into the house and opened the door, only to tell me the key wouldn't come out. I thought he was joking, he wasn't. Turns out he opened the door to my mom's house, using my house key for my house in Mililani. Both keys are Schlege and are almost identical, but one is cut deeper and goes in farther.
Being the hard headed Okinawan woman I am,I YouTubed and googled the problem and watched a bunch of videos and tried them all out and couldn't get the key out of the door knob. After a half hour, I took the door knob off and got my keysmart key holder off the key that was stuck, hoping it'd be easier to handle. I was wrong again.
My fiancé gave me $200 to help me pay for a locksmith. I had to accept the offer because I was sure I'd have to spend most of or all of the $200 he gave me.
He told me to call a 24 hour locksmith, I was very hesitant. One because I don't just trust anyone. Especially with locks to a home filled with sentimental valuables and my most important things in my life, my family members. Two, because I was afraid I'd get charged an insane price especially since it was 9 pm by the time I called. Three I felt bad calling anyone to help me as it was getting late.
So I finally gave in, went onto yelp and started researching 24 hour locksmiths. Jack's Lock Service caught my eye because it's listed location is Pearl City, where I was, and though there's some really good reviews, there are the not so good ones. I looked at it as everyone has their own opinions and that's only human, but I needed someone close by and fast as well as knowledgeable. Costs was a big factor too, but at that point I had to just take a chance, I had no door knob on the door, it couldn't lock with it. And I worried about the safety of my mom and children. Sure I could try to stay up and stand guard with that hour and a half of sleep under my belt, but then what would I do when I need to leave in the morning to drop my kids off at school and get myself to work?
I called 456-1235, and a nice woman, who turned out to be Jack's wife, answered the phone and promptly gave the phone over to Jack. I briefly spoke to Jack, who from the moment he answered the phone, was very professional. I think I told him what had happened and he tried to tell me what I could do to fix the problem myself and save my money. I told him I had tried for almost an hour by that point and was worried I'd end up breaking the key in the lock.
He told me he could be at the house in 15 minutes, he got here in 10.
Within 5 minutes he had greeted me and looked at the door knob and key stuck inside, then got the key out of the lock it was stuck inside. It was quite interesting to watch him work.
The whole time as he worked diligently on reinstalling the door knob and making sure it was working smoothly, opening and locking, we had a pleasant conversation. I've never felt so comfortable with anyone who's ever installed, repaired or provided any service to any home I've lived in. But Jack is the exception. I'm so glad that I saw Jack listed on yelp.
I'd say total time it took him to arrive, and work on and complete the key removal and reinstall the door knob, was approximately 25 minutes. I was very impressed and thankful for meeting Jack and seeing for myself that the good reviews about him are definitely true. The other reviews, I can't even fathom. If you want a quick, reliable, knowledgeable and economical locksmith, call Jack.
When he told me my total I almost fell over. I was expecting to pay at least 4-5 times that amount. I'm not gonna quote what he charged me, because I don't want anyone to assume every situation is the same and confuse prices and services with their needs. All I can say is you'll be amazed and very pleased.
Jack thanked me for calling him, I thanked him for keeping my family safe tonight, and being available and affordable. I couldn't have been any luckier in finding Jack. Btw Jack is retired military and nearing his 70's, a really knowledgeable and cool guy. We talked story for about 20 minutes after he was done. I told him I'd love to write a review of my experience and how much I appreciate his help (work) and that I couldn't believe how reasonable a fee he charged. He said he didn't expect anything and doesn't ask customers to write reviews, a very humble man.
But in my case, I'm a yelper, I can't help but to post a review, especially exceptional, small local business.
If you want a locksmith you can trust, want quality work and services and affordable prices, call Jack, I wouldn't consider calling anyone else. read more