Flam's Key Service Inc

"Member, thank you so much for taking the time for a positive review! Integrity and ethics are the foundation of our business practices and it is nice to recognized for what we most value. So many consumers shop price only and it is what they CANNOT compare that makes the difference in the bottom line. Jack and Vikki Flam and Corey."

"Thank you Customer for taking the time to write a postive experience! Believe it or not, I just got notice of this review and others from 2012 now because notification was turned off. We do not take your business for granted and we are thrilled you got high security locks, we all sleep better at night!"

"HE NEEDED 3 SPECIALTY PROFILE LOCKS WHICH HE KNEW HAD TO BE CUSTOM ORDERED AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO ARRIVE. WE DID NOT EVEN ASK FOR A DEPOSIT ON THIS CUSTOM ORDER. HIS ORDER WAS FOR THE LOCKS ONLY AND THERE WERE NO PLANS FOR INSTALLATION. THE LOCKS WERE ORDERED THE SAME DAY AND NO ORDER FORM WAS LOST. THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ORDER WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MFG. WEEKS BEFORE AND WHEN HE CALLED FOR THE STATUS IT WAS THE 'COPY' I WANTED TO FIND, NOT A LOST ORDER. THERE WAS NO MISTAKE AND NO AFFECT ON THE ORDER. WHEN IT FINALLY ARRIVED IT WAS A WEEK OR SO OVER THE ESTIMATED TIME, I GRANT HIM THAT FRUSTRATION AND SHARE IT WITH HIM ALSO, AS VENDORS HAVE NO CONTROL ON EXACT SHIP DATES. HE SKEWED HIS REPORT BY FAILING TO MENTION THAT WHEN HE CAME IN TO PICK UP THE LOCKS (AND PAID APPROX. $116.00 INCL. TAX AND SHIPPING) HE ASKED WHAT WE WOULD CHARGE TO INSTALL THEM. WHEN WE QUOTED HIM A TRIP CHARGE AND LABOR HE ANGRILY SAID WE SHOULD DO IT FOR FREE TO COMPENSATE HIM FOR THE WAIT AND A MISTAKE THAT WAS NEVER MADE. FLAM'S HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS 55 YEARS AND LIKE ANY BUSINESS WE DO MAKE MISTAKES. THAT IS WHY IT IS DISHEARTENING WHEN WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO CLAIMS SUCH AS THIS."

"WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE FEED BACK AND THIS REPORT IS NOT ONLY WORTHY OF OUR RESPONSE BUT ONE WE FEEL SHOULD STRONGLY BE READ BY EVERYONE LOOKING FOR 'HIGH SECURITY' LOCKS AND DON'T WANT TO GET RIPPED OFF. 1. PRICE ISSUE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEMBER'S BILL OF $485.00 WAS NOT JUST FOR THE MEDECO LOCK BUT INCLUDED ANOTHER LOCK, RE-KEYS, KEYS, INTERLOCKING PLATE, SERVICE CALL, LABOR AND TAX. SHE ALSO STATED THE BILL WAS "LOWER THAN ESTIMATE" AND SHE BELIEVES SHE GOT EXACTLY WHAT SHE PAID FOR. WE ARE NOT "HUGELY" EXPENSIVE, "THERE WILL ALWAYS BE COMPANIES THAT ARE CHEAPER BUT THERE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE COMPANIES THAT ARE BETTER". 2. INTERLOCKING PLATE ISSUE. REGARDING THE INTERLOCKING PLATE: WE DID NOT USE THE WRONG SCREWS, THEY CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT UNLESS THE DOOR IS OPEN SO IT 'DOES NOT' DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRODUCT. IF THE TYPE OF SCREW DEFEATED THE PURPOSE THE MFG. OF THIS PRODUCT WOULD INCLUDE A DIFFERENT TYPE. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, FLAM'S WOULD NOT INSTALL IT IF THIS WERE TRUE. 3. REINFORCED STRIKE ISSUE. THE REINFORCED STRIKE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS THAT COMES WITH THE MEDECO LOCKS (WHICH BY THE WAY, MOST OTHER LOCKSMITHS DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO INSTALL). THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED A 'CUP' WHICH CANNOT ALWAYS BE USED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE JAMB IS SET. 4. 3" SCREW IN HINGE ISSUE: HOW MANY LOCKSMITHS WILL "DECLINE" THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN EXTRA BUCK? WE WILL NOT DECLINE A CUSTOMER'S REQUEST BUT OUR ETHICS DICTATE THAT WE TELL YOU FIRST WHEN WE THINK YOU ARE THROWING YOUR MONEY AWAY OR INVESTING IN OVER KILL (ETHICS AND HONESTY IS ANOTHER REASON FLAM'S IS LESS EXPENSIVE). IF SOMEONE IS THAT DESPERATE THEY WILL GET IN NO MATTER WHAT. 98% OF ALL BREAK-INS ARE BY AMATEURS AND THE GOAL OF GOOD SECURITY IS TO SEND THE BAD GUY NEXT DOOR BY MAKING YOUR HOUSE HARDER TO BREAK INTO. THE MEMBER'S EDUCATED DECISION TO INSTALL MEDECO AND THE INTERLOCKING PLATE ACCOMPLISHED THAT. SHE IS A SMART CONSUMER. LAST, BY USING FLAM'S, THE MEMBER PURCHASED THE NEWEST MEDECO PATENT AND AN UNCARDED SYSTEM. IF I TALKED TOO MUCH IT IS BECAUSE WE GET CALLS WEEKLY FROM PEOPLE WHO USED OTHER COMPANIES FOR MEDECO WHO RIPPED THEM OFF BECAUSE THEY SOLD THEM EXPIRED PATENTS, OPEN SYSTEMS THAT NO LONGER PROTECT KEY DUPLICATION, CARDED SYSTEMS VS. A PRIVATE KEYWAY, MOBILE ONLY LOCKSMITHS THAT DISAPPEAR AFTER THE JOB IS DONE OR RIP THEM OFF BY SELLING THEM A LESSER "HIGH SECURITY" LOCK BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY ONE THEY CARRY. IF THIS IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO MOST OF THE READERS IT IS MY POINT: YOUR PROTECTION IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE LOCKSMITH YOU CALL AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY IMPART. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS IT DOES MAKE US A LITTLE MORE CHATTY. AS FOR THE MEMBER'S POINT: SHE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND USING FLAM'S UNLESS THE RISK YOU'RE PROTECTING AGAINST IS SIGNIFICANT "AS IT MIGHT BE WHEN IT CONCERNS YOUR PHYSICAL SECURITY IN YOUR HOME". I BELIEVE THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF."

"AS THE OWNER OF FLAM'S KEY SERVICE I WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THERE WAS A PROBLEM BY WAY OF ANGIE'S LIST AND 8 MONTHS AFTER THE JOB WAS DONE. I AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY THAT EXCUSES SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AND ESPECIALLY JUSTIFYING IT BY SAYING HE DIDN'T CHARGE YOU FOR THE KEYS. IN ANY BUSINESS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING LAYS WITH THE OWNER, NOT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS TO CHOOSE A LONG ESTABLISHED COMPANY SUCH AS FLAM'S. ONE OF THE PRACTICES I VALUE MOST IS SERVING MY CLIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER THE JOB AND I FEEL SAD THAT OF YOUR OWN ADMISSION, YOU DID NOT ALLOW ME THAT OPPORTUNITY. FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE WHO READ THIS I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE PART YOU SPOKE OF IS CALLED A REINFORCED STRIKE AND COMES WITH MEDECO DEADBOLTS(NOT UPSOLD) AS IT IS HEAVY DUTY AND ALWAYS RECOMMENDED FOR STRONGER SECURITY. INSTALLING THIS KIND OF STRIKE TAKES AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES AND THAT IS THE SMALL COST THAT WAS DISCUSSED, NOT THE STRIKE. IT IS ALSO VITAL TO KNOW THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY INSTALL THOUSANDS OF THESE STRIKES, AND ANY PROBLEM THAT THE MEMBER ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS IS AN ABERRATION AND MUST NOT LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED. COMING OUT TO EVALUATE THE JOB AT NO COST, TO SEE WHERE WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND EXPLAIN YOUR MEDECO CHOICES IS WITH THE INTENT OF DOING THE RIGHT THING. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY OVER CHATTING, AFTER 55 YEARS IN BUSINESS I STILL NEED TO LEARN THAT SAME LESSON MYSELF."

"7 MONTHS AGO WE REPLACED AN EXISTING BALDWIN MORTISE LOCK FOR THE MEMBER, A SPECIAL ORDER LOCK FOR $310.00. WHEN SHE CALLED THIS MONTH AND DESCRIBED HER PROBLEM WE ADVISED HER IT SOUNDED LIKE HER STRIKE NEEDED ADJUSTING WHICH IS USUALLY CAUSED BY WEATHER CHANGES AND EARTH MOVEMENT, A COMMON SITUATION AND NOT RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK. WE TOLD HER IF THAT WERE THE CASE, AND IT'S EASY TO SHOW HER, IT MIGHT BE A BILLABLE SERVICE CALL AN NO LOCKSMITH WARRANTIES STRIKE ADJUSTMENTS (ESPECIALLY AFTER 7 MONTHS) AND IT IS PRINTED ON THE INVOICE. SHE STARTED YELLING AND BLUNTLY TOLD ME THAT SHE EXPECTED US TO BE THERE AND SHE WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE CHANCE TO QUOTE HER ON THE ADJUSTMENT AS SHE HAD ALREADY DETERMINED THE PRICE, FREE. SHE ALSO FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE $500.00 INCLUDED THE SERVICE CALL AND LABOR AND ONLY ONE CHARGE TO COME OUT WHEN IN FACT WE WENT OUT TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE JOB BEFORE QUOTING HER SO WE COULD ORDER THE RIGHT THING AND PROPERLY QUOTE HER. THE ORIGINAL QUOTE DID NOT CHANGE AND WE DID NOT OVER CHARGE HER FOR THIS LOCK (WHICH HAS NO PROBLEMS.) AS FOR HER CLAIM THAT I SAID ALL OF MY CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN, FLAM'S HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 3 GENERATIONS AND 55 YEARS WHICH I HOPE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN THE MEMBER. LISTENING TO MY CUSTOMERS IS WHAT I DO BEST EXCEPT WHEN THEY ARE YELLING TO LOUD TO LISTEN AND NOT INTERESTED IN A DIALOGUE SO, YES, I DID HANG UP ON HER. WHY DID SHE THINK I WOULD TAKE HER ABUSE A SECOND TIME?"