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National Companies Vs Local Independents
Wed 09 Dec 2009 - 17:12
National Companies Vs Local Independents
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jon_Quinton]Jon Quinton
It is rare that people have the need to call upon the services of a locksmith, but when they do it is usually in the aftermath of an emergency such as a break-in. Other times people commonly need a locksmith is after moving home, and wanting the peace of mind that the locks are new and only you have the correct set of keys. Whatever the situation, it is advisable to take your time and do your research, just like getting any other job done in the house. Try to call at least three or four companies and get multiple quotes for the job.
Local directories and national listings such as the yellow pages have a huge amount of information and tradespersons available, and people can often be confused as to who to call first. Typically they will be full of flash adverts competing for your attention, but none will show you how trustworthy, effective and reliable they will be. The same obviously applies to internet search engines and listings. So, how much time do you have and how much research can you do?
One thing you must be aware of when choosing a tradesmen, is that all may not be as is seen when looking at listings. It is all too easy for a national company to dress themselves up as a 'local' company when advertising in local papers etc. You will almost certainly be paying a premium for using such companies and you may not receive as good a service as a local locksmith could offer you. Look for advertisers with a single local number and mobile phone number, these are more likely to be genuine local companies. Always ask where the company is based and how quickly they can respond. If they have to call you back, they are probably looking for a local engineer whom they can sub-contract and of course this will increase the price...for you!
When looking on the internet, search engines such as Google, Ask, Yahoo etc are all reputable places to start but they all earn money from advertising and you will often see results at the top of the page under 'sponsored listings'. These advertisements come at quite a high cost so most local business won't be able to afford them.
At one time each village had its own "lock" expert, usually the local blacksmith. As locks became more sophisticated then the locksmith became more specialised. It wasn't unusual for a locksmith to spend 5 years as an apprentice before they were handed any of the trade secrets. Today however, because the locksmith profession is unregulated it is easy for people to become "qualified" in a very short time. Joiners, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, glaziers, handymen and even pest controllers offer "locksmith" services.
Some of these people are reputable and capable, many are not. It takes a long time to become a good locksmith and the investment in time and tools is expensive. A truly professional locksmith will be able to open most modern locks without harm; occasionally this isn't possible and a lock might have to be drilled. [http://www.keyway-home.co.uk]Keyway Locksmiths
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Quinton http://EzineArticles.com/?National-Companies-Vs-Local-Independents&id=3253549
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