The same goes for your car’s locks. You might think your car dealership is the best place to get your car rekeyed, but is that really the case? Let’s take a look at the difference between going to a dealership for automotive rekeying services and going to a locksmith.

Drawbacks of Using a Dealership for Automotive Rekeying

Dealerships have their own specialty: selling automobiles. While they do offer a variety of different services, they’re usually more expensive and have several other drawbacks (especially when it comes to automotive rekeying). Here are some of them:

• Lack of locksmithing expertise: Dealership staff is trained in a variety of automobile services, but usually not licensed in locksmithing or part of professional locksmithing organizations.
• More expensive: As with most services, expect to pay a premium for automotive rekeying if you take it to a dealership.
• Long wait times: If oil changes can take up to hours at a dealership, so can getting your car rekeyed. Expect to drop your car off or wait a while.
• Limited key options: Many times, your only option for automotive rekeying at a dealership is a standard factory key.
• You have to go to them: Finally, it can be inconvenient to travel all the way to your automobile maker’s dealership for just a rekeying service.

Benefits of Using a Locksmith for Automotive Rekeying

Locksmiths, on the other hand, specialize in residential, commercial and automotive locksmithing services. The best ones are specially trained and insured, as well as part of multiple professional locksmithing organizations. Here are some of the other benefits of using them for automotive rekeying:

• Locksmithing expertise: Again, a locksmith eats, breathes and lives security, so they’re the experts when it comes to locksmithing.
• More affordable: Most of the time, automotive rekeying services from a locksmith will be much cheaper than at the dealership.
• Short wait: Since each rekeying service is addressed on its own, you don’t have to worry about waiting in a line once your locksmithing technician arrives.
• High-security key options: In addition to factory keys, a locksmith can create laser-cut high-security or programmable keys.
• They come to you: Finally, locksmith companies like A-1 Locksmith will send a locksmith to you to complete your automotive rekeying service.

If you’re interested in learning more about our automotive rekeying services, give us a call today at 972-284-7500 or visit one of our 10 DFW locations.

An Independent Company is Often Less Expensive

Using an independent company for remote keyless entry system repair or installation is often much less expensive than going to a dealership. While an auto dealership may lead you to believe that it’s the only one who can install a remote keyless entry system for your vehicle type, the truth is, keyless entry system can be installed in virtually any vehicle. Remote keyless entry systems, remotes, and services are of 25 percent to 50 percent less expensive when obtained from an independent company than from a dealership. If you want to hold onto your hard-earned money, then you deserve the highest-quality service and products at the lowest possible cost.

Dealerships Cross-sell and Upsell

Avoiding the dealership has more benefits than just saving money on a remote keyless entry system repair or installation; dealerships are also notorious for cross-selling (selling you a product that you don’t need) and upselling (selling you a more expensive version of the same product). Dealerships are experts at both of these techniques, and have mastered the art of learning how to get customers, just like yourself, to agree to pay more for something you don’t actually need.

An Independent Business Will Focus On You

Finally, dealerships are often huge enterprises with hundreds, if not thousands, of customers to answer to. Because of this, your needs may not be prioritized like they should be, and a dealership representative may not always give you the extra time and attention you deserve. When you go to a local and independent business for your remote keyless entry system installation or repair needs, however, you can guarantee that customer service will be a top priority.

Consider a Remote Keyless Entry System Today

There are many benefits to a keyless entry system for your vehicle, and the advantages of choosing an independent business over a dealership are endless. To speak with a professional auto locksmith and keyless entry system specialist today, call the professionals at A-1 Locksmith now. With over 60 years’ experience in the business, you know you can count on our expertise, prices, and superior service.

Excessive Parts and Labor Costs

While going to the dealership will often get your ignition back into tip-top shape, it’s often at the cost of excessive parts and labor expenses. A dealership knows that it can make a buck by charging you more for ignition parts and cost of labor than would an independent company; in fact, in 2011, car owners who went to dealers for repairs rather than independent companies spent an average of $306 per year more on basic repair services. If you want to get the best deal in DFW, an independent company is a better choice.

Unnecessary Upselling

Because dealerships provide a variety of automotive services—as opposed to an auto locksmith service that specializes in auto lockout services and ignition repair—you may fall victim to unnecessary upselling. Upselling occurs when a dealer leads a customer to believe that they not only need a more expensive item related to the ignition repair, but that they might also need a non-related auto fix, too, like new tires or an oil change. Unnecessary upselling is common scam at auto dealerships, and can end up costing you a pretty penny or the nuisance of having to decline service you were never interested in.

Slow Service

If your car won’t start, it may take hours—or even days—for a dealership to get around to actually figuring out what’s wrong with it. And that doesn’t even take into account the time that it will take to actually repair your ignition. On the other hand, a trained locksmith from an independent company can often tell you right on the phone what’s wrong with your ignition just by learning your vehicle’s make and model. Because customer service is of the utmost importance to local companies, your ignition repair will be a top priority, and handled quickly.

Excessive Towing Fees

When you need your ignition repaired and choose an auto dealership, they’ll suggest that you tow your car in. Towing can be extremely expensive in Dallas, and can cost you upwards of one or two hundred dollars. However, you can save on towing costs by calling an independent service that comes to you.

In fact, at A-1 Locksmith, we have a mobile ignition repair service van that will travel to you. Not only will this save you money, but it also means that you won’t have to stand in the hot sun for hours wondering what to do or waiting for a tow. If you’re in an emergency lockout situation, or if your ignition won’t start, don’t hesitate to call us for immediate service now.

“Ignitiion” image based on “Ignition Lock” by BigPresh, CC-BY-2.0.