This makes sense. When you are looking for a service company to use, for example, who do you usually ask first? Most would say friends or family. 

This is why reviews are often the best way to research a company and locksmith companies are no exception. Whether you’re considering hiring a home, business or auto locksmith, here are some customer reviews for A-1 Locksmith that you’ll want to check out first.

1. A-1 Locksmith – Fort Worth

“Great experience with this locksmith. Had a destroyed key fob. Bought a new one from amazon and called. Got an appointment within a few hours. Service person showed on time and was done quickly. Paid a very reasonable price. Customer service was excellent and service was fast and easy!” 

– Laci. S.

2. A-1 Locksmith – Colleyville

“Couldn’t have been more pleased with A-1 Locksmith! Matt was quick to respond via text and helped me understand what would be rekeyed and what couldn’t. Then, Steve came to our new home in Keller to rekey locks and exceed our expectations from start to finish! He called to give us a heads up he was on his way and when he arrived he was quick, professional and most importantly, SO KIND! I’d recommend A-1 to anybody in the Keller area in need of their services. I know who I will be calling when a need for a locksmith arises in the future.” 

– Julia O.

3. A-1 Locksmith – Addison

“The only locksmith around that had the key I needed. I went to 4 locksmiths before.” 

– Thaynan B.

4. A-1 Locksmith – Frisco

“I just had a safe delivered after purchasing it through A-1 Locksmith’s Frisco location and couldn’t be happier with the whole experience. The staff was very friendly and extremely educated on their inventory of safes and offered great recommendations on what would best fit my situation. In addition to the safe recommendation, I also received guidance on what accessories would best complement my safe as it pertained to my specific situation and needs…

… I’m very happy with the experience and would recommend A-1 Locksmith to anyone.” 

– Trevor A.

5. A-1 Locksmith – Plano

“I started going to A1 Locksmith, Plano Location, about a year ago. Started off with a key fob through Triple A, which led me to this location and I will not go anywhere else! I’ve NOT had a bad experience! As a matter of fact, their customer service is consistent! Very helpful, informative, engaging and A1 service is what you get! My last visit was about a week ago, and Dane and Josh were awesome!! Far exceeded my expectations! Thank you for a great customer service experience, EVERY TIME!” 

– Faith S.

These are just a few of the A-1 Locksmith reviews you’ll find online. With an average of 4.8 stars, based on 8,000-plus reviews, we’ve earned a reputation as a reliable locksmith company. Be sure to stop by one of our DFW-area locations today or give us a call at 972-284-7500 the next time you have a locksmithing or security need for your home, business or vehicle.

The same can be true for locksmiths. While locksmith reviews have their merit, you need to take them with a grain of salt. From fake reviews to businesses rebranding to avoid a poor reputation, it is important to look at the legacy and stability of a locksmith when considering customer reviews. Here’s why:

Some Could Be Fake

According to Gartner, 10-15 percent of all online social media reviews in 2014 were anticipated to be fake. Also, a 2013 study indicated that approximately 16 percent of all Yelp reviews were fake. Who is writing these reviews? Sometimes, companies pay people to write bad reviews for their competitors, as Samsung did in 2013. Other times, company employees create several fake accounts to write positive reviews for their company. Then there’s always the possibility of bots creating reviews. To determine if a review is fake or not, we recommend you take time to read it and see if it sounds like the person had a real-life experience. Or, you can even message them to see if they respond. Either way, look at all reviews with a bit of skepticism.

Others Could Be Misleading

Oftentimes, businesses rebrand themselves to avoid a poor reputation they’ve developed online. (You may have seen this before with apartment complexes.) After their rating has plummeted, they simply change the name of their company and create new websites, social media pages and review listings. To spot these instances, look for locksmiths with only a few reviews and a perfect rating. You might already doubt these companies, as studies show that 95 percent of consumers don’t trust reviews when there aren’t any negative scores. Do your research and see if the company is hiding any of its real reviews.

Reviews Only Tell Part of the Story

Locksmith reviews are definitely beneficial when they’re real and not misleading. Be sure to look at the legacy and stability of a locksmith when considering their customer reviews. If the company has been around for a while and maintains a positive score, that’s a good sign. Other indicators that you’ve found a trustworthy locksmith include:

• A good BBB rating
• High voting scores from actual residents
• Professional association memberships
• State licenses

OF course, the best way to see if locksmiths are worth their salt is to give them a try for yourself. To see why A-1 Locksmith has been voted the #1 Dallas locksmith three years in a row, call us at (972) 284-7500 to schedule a consultation or talk about your security issues today.

The internet is also great when it comes to locating quality professionals for your various home, office and property security needs.  Via your computer or smart phone, a few taps of the keyboard or screen will have all the information you need to pick an experienced and reliable locksmith or security consultant, right at the tip of your fingertips.  Want to know more about using the world wide web to evaluate your locksmith partner and weed out fly-by-night or disreputable companies from your short list, then read on!

1.   Certifications, Accreditations, Licensing and More

One of the first, easiest and best ways to ensure you’re dealing with a professional locksmith is to check out their various accreditations.  Many organizations will list this information on their website.  The state of Texas, as well as other jurisdictions, also maintains lists of licensed locksmith companies.  Always be sure to verify with the certifying authority any information provided.

2.   Industry Participation Adds Cred

In addition to certification by government and third parties, you should use google or other search engines to determine if your individual or locksmith company is active in various trade industries involving security.  Professional outfits like to keep up on the latest-and-greatest happenings in the world of locks and security.  Bonus points for education articles or contributions to blogs that provide vital info to the public.

3.   Check out those Reviews

While it may seem second nature to many, checking out online reviews is one of the most essential and often overlooked aspects of gauging reliability of your potential locksmith.  Yelp, Google Reviews and paid sites such as Angie’s List, all offer platforms for prior customers to rate their service.  Try to peruse a variety of sources to be sure you have the most accurate information.

4.   And by Reviews We Mean the Legitimate Ones

While we’re on the topic of reviews, it’s important to remember that not all reviews are created equal.  Some disreputable companies will ask friends and family to provide five-star ratings, with little to no detail regarding service.  Others will pay third-party services to flood their profiles with positive feedback.  Carefully read the reviews to determine whether they were made by users with active profiles and whether the review itself has quality and applicable information.

5.   Peruse That Website

Since you’re online anyways, another great way to ensure you’re not getting on board with a less-than-awesome locksmith partner is to give their website a thorough once over.  A website should look professional and customized with more than just minimal contact information.  If a website looks canned or has too many stock pictures that don’t match up with the services offered, this may be a red flag that you should look elsewhere for your locksmith needs.

6.   Verifiable Customer testimonials

Whether on their website, through reviews or by email request, the internet is a great place to get ahold of customer testimonials for your locksmith partners.  Testimonials amount to resume references for those in the locksmith or other trades professions.  Be sure the testimonials are from real people and ask if it’s okay to contact the prior clients for confirmation or a more in-depth assessment.

7.   With Age Comes Wisdom and Experience

Whether your grandmother or your locksmith partner, the old saying about listening to your elders certainly applies for general knowledge, experience and know-how.  When choosing a security professional, use available online resources to confirm length of time in business as well as total number of years of locksmith experience.  Fly-by-night operations will often operate under a variety of business names in a short period of time in an attempt to avoid poor reviews or customer service issues.  In addition, when dealing with a locksmith that’s been around the block a time or two you can rest easy knowing your security is in the hands of someone with the right set of knowledge and skills.

The Internet Bottom Line

Using the internet as a valuable resource for weeding out potential bad apples for your locksmith needs is never a bad idea.  If you’re in need of a professional locksmith in the Texas area, call A-1 for a free consultation.  In the meantime, feel free to check out our credentials, industry awards, independent customer tutorials, reviews and more at https://devkey.a-1locksmith.com/.

Unfortunately, too many companies use fraudulent tactics to advertise, and many companies’ services aren’t nearly what they claim to be. The same is true for locksmiths in the Dallas area; if you’re looking for a locksmith and type in “locksmith Dallas” into Google, not all of the local listings that pop up will be reputable. Here’s how to identify spam Google local listings, and protect yourself from locksmith bamboozlers.

No Address

One way to spot a scamming locksmith company is a lack of physical address on their website or ad. In fact, even if you type in “Dallas” as your location, it’s likely that dozens—if not hundreds—of the results that pop-up won’t be for Dallas-based companies at all. If you can’t find a legitimate address for the locksmith company, then it’s likely the locksmith business is a scam. Additionally, keep an eye out for non-local numbers. If you’re trying to call a Dallas area code, any toll-free numbers, like 888, 800,844, etc. may be scams.

Listed as #1

Another easy way to identify fraudulent locksmiths is if they’re listed as very first on a search results page, or at the far right of the Google page, and have the word “Ad” next to their name in a small yellow box. These companies are companies that have paid for their high ranking spot. While some locksmith companies will get there organically, many scammers will pay hundreds of dollars to be listed as number one on a Google search results page. Many locksmiths who do advertise are legitimate, but you need to fact check these and not assume that the top position is a mark of credibility.

No Reviews or Manipulated Reviews

A Google Local listing is relatively easy to create, which is why spammers/scammers take advantage of these listings. Google will eventually identify the listing as fraudulent, but then the scammers will launch a new listing. What is not easy to generate are authentic reviews. Check out the reviews for specifics to a job and watch for language that is vague. Check for the location of the reviewer as well. If a listing has no reviews then it is likely a new listing and one that is not in your best interests to call.

Unbelievable Promises

Ads for fraudulent locksmith companies are often complete with unbelievable promises. Keep an eye out for the following when looking at Google local listings

• Any mention of discounts or special offers that seem like a “steal”
• Promises of quick arrival (10 to 15 minutes); and
• Any guarantees of a price under $40.

Remember, if an ad looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

How to Protect Yourself from Scams

When using Google to find a Dallas locksmith, make sure to check companies’ addresses and phone numbers, where they’re listed on Google’s ranking, and be savvy about unbelievable promises. To avoid a problem altogether, let the team at A-1 Locksmith help you with all your commercial and residential locksmith needs. With over 60 years’ experience, we’re ready to put our expertise to work immediately.  Don’t hesitate to validate our claims as being the best locksmith by reviewing our online testimonials.

But in the case of being locked out of a house or in need of a locksmith to overhaul a security system, many individuals may not apply the due diligence researching as they would other important decisions. Not researching the locksmith, however, puts the individual at risk; instead, he or she should invest adequate time to find the best locksmith for the job.

How, though, is it possible to find the best locksmith in the Dallas area? If you are searching for a skilled locksmith to handle your job professionally, consider these tips on how to find the best locksmith in your location.

Compare Costs Beforehand, But Don’t Fall for Price Shopping the Locksmiths

How do you know if the prices you are being quoted by the first locksmith you contact are fair? To be sure, while many locksmiths may quote reasonable prices to first-time clients, other, unscrupulous professionals may instead choose to request astronomical amounts in an attempt to defraud the consumer. By asking for prices from numerous locksmiths, you should quickly discover an appropriate cost for the job you’re requesting, in turn narrowing down your search.

You’ll also want to be on the lookout for any cost that seems too good to be true as it likely will be. If you price shop for a locksmith you will more than likely fall into the bait-and-switch trap. Therefore, price is one factor, but reputation is key.

Look for Online Reviews

Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to find the best locksmith in your area is by utilizing one of the many review services available online. Specifically, websites like Yelp or even Google Reviews allow clients to post their opinions on the services provided by the locksmith. Here you can glean a significant amount of information about the locksmith’s reputation; cheated customers rarely hold back regarding their dissatisfaction, whereas pleased clients are often happy to help others find a reputable locksmith in the area. It may even be beneficial to search various social media sites associated with a given locksmith to view the way they interact with the community.

Ask Your Friends

Far too many people have friends or family members who have unintentionally locked themselves out of their homes, or who have chosen to retain a locksmith to install a new security system. And if you happen to know someone who has been in this situation, you should not hesitate to use their experiences to your advantage. By asking them about the services they received, including the quality, professionalism, timeliness, and prices offered, you may be provided with an exceptional picture of what you can expect from the locksmith they chose. And, of course, if they had a poor experience, their words of warning can help veer you away from making a bad decision.

Consider Calling A-1 Locksmith

Ultimately, there is no single formula for how to find the best locksmith in your area. It involves a mix of research, trial and error of friends, and instinct to find the right professional for the job. If you’d rather spend this time on other pursuits, however, consider calling A-1 Locksmith for your needs. Our experienced professionals have spent years providing locksmith services for countless satisfied clients, and we are prepared to assist you immediately.

We encourage you to fact-check this claim by exploring our online reviews or requesting a free quote that will be the amount you pay.