That $250 emergency locksmith in Tucson after I got locked out of my storage unit was a lifesaver but also a ripoff

I was stuck outside my unit on a Sunday with a broken lock, and the only guy who answered charged $200 just to show up plus $50 for a basic key grind. He drilled the old lock in 5 minutes and left me with a shiny new cylinder, but I felt like I overpaid because a neighbor later told me about a mobile locksmith who does the same thing for $75. I get that you pay for availability, but has anyone else found a decent cheap lockout service that actually shows up fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

hannaht292d ago

That's just how it goes with anything you need in a hurry. It's like the whole "convenience tax" thing extends to every service you can think of. I had a tire go flat on a Sunday once and the only shop open wanted $40 extra just for being open. It's the same with parking at the airport or buying a bottle of water at a gas station when you're parched. You're paying for the timing, not the actual work or product.

barbarab564d ago

And of course that's how it works, you pay extra for the convenience of Sunday service. Same thing happened to me with a plumber last month, they all charge double on weekends and holidays. It's like a hidden tax on being unprepared or unlucky with timing.