Many customers spend hours, days, or even weeks performing research before making a purchase. And this logic is entirely understandable for most purposes: by conducting his or her due diligence, the customer can find the best deal on an item or service and potentially save their hard-earned money.
But while this tactic may prove extremely beneficial when shopping for a car or a TV, or when searching out someone who can help mow the lawn, the same cannot be said when contacting a locksmith for services of a more complex nature. In fact, price-shopping for a locksmith in the area may put you at risk of becoming a target of one of the many unscrupulous professionals in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
How Can Price-Shopping Hurt a Customer?
How can price-shopping for a locksmith be detrimental to the consumer? Ultimately, if you’re price conscientious then you may be quick to contact the locksmith claiming the lowest price ignoring all other factors. This can quickly backfire as some locksmiths who quote the lowest prices on their websites or even ads do so only to lure in clients, and proceed to take advantage of them through bait-and-switch scams.
The process of a bait-and-switch scam is simple, and it is unnerving how often it succeeds as this hurts the perception of the locksmith industry. Bait-and-switch is not exclusive to locksmiths, but this industry is plagued by it due to the time sensitivity of most services needed. The bait is the initial low, almost unbelievable, price that is often dressed up as a “service call” fee.
After the arrangement is made, the locksmith will show up to perform the services without making mention of any change in cost. It is when the locksmith is finished, however, that the price is increased, often exponentially; many dishonest locksmiths will then ask for a much larger payment, claiming that the original price quoted was nothing but a basic estimate, and that certain factors are responsible for the higher amount, including the mileage traveled and the nature of the emergency. The bait lured the business and the switch makes the margin.
How to Protect Yourself from Falling Victim to a Locksmith Scam
Is there any way that you, as a customer, can still find a reasonably priced locksmith without falling victim to a scam that robs you of your hard-earned money? Of course, it is important to remember that not all locksmiths are without principles; in fact many, like those at A-1 Locksmith, take pride in offering high-quality services at respectable prices to those in the Dallas area.
The easiest way to find the best locksmith is by searching for one with a solid reputation in the area. You want to look for certifications, association memberships, BBB rating and online reviews. You want to avoid prices that seem too good to be true and look for locksmiths that quote a flat rate.
Of course, if you need services right away, we invite you to contact us at A-1 Locksmith immediately for help. We have been serving Dallas-area customers for over 60 years, and are happy to put our experience and expertise to work for you. Oh yea, we quote what you pay, too!
