5 Things To Know About Locksmith Services

Baldino's Lock and Key wanted to share this article from Angie's List we found. It has some great tips and tricks to finding a great locksmith.

Angie Hicks, Angie’s List founder: “The best way to protect yourself when hiring a locksmith is find one before you need one. All too often we hire a locksmith in an emergency situation. Oftentimes we’ll skip out on research. Find a company you’re going to use and tuck that number away in your wallet so you always have it handy.”

To view the video and read the rest of the article about locksmiths and protecting your home click here!
http://www.angieslist.com/videos/5-things-know-about-locksmith-services.htm?goback=%2Egde_1834534_member_163837311

Free Key Lockout Program

Getting locked out of your car; it doesn't happen often, but when it does it's always at the worst time, and what an inconvenience it is! The best way to deal with a situation like this is to be prepared.

Baldino's Lock and Key helps thousands of motorists who lock themselves out of their car each year. The easiest and cheapest solution is, believe it or not ... a sticker. If you take part in Baldino's Free Key Lockout Program you can be guaranteed the get into your car free and easy.

It may seem to good to be true, but it isn't. Baldino's Lock and Key has been providing locksmith, and security solutions since 1961 and strive to continue to be there and help our customers when they need it most.

Here's How:

1) Walk into any on of Baldino's 17 locations and ask for a Free Key Lockout brochure and a shop technician can sign you up on the spot. Or, you can go to http://www.baldinos.com/FreeLockoutProgram.aspx and sign up online!

2) If you sign up on the website a sticker will be mailed to you and all you have to do is place it so the sticker is visible in any window of your car.

3) Save Baldino Lock and Key's phone number in your phone so it's on hand.

4) Your name will be put into our database and if you ever get locked out just call Baldino's. Tell our dispatch department you are part of the Free Key Lockout Program and they will schedule an appointment for a road tech to visit, and get you into your car for FREE.

Waging War on Shady Locksmiths. An article by John Kelly.

John Kelly, reporter for the Washington Post, featured Baldino’s Lock and Key owner Mark Baldino in a recent article titled “Waging War on Shady Locksmiths.” The article details the practice of shady locksmiths and the damage they are doing the small locksmith business owners and the consumer.

“Mark Baldino’s war against shady locksmiths is waged from two tables pushed against the wall of his office in Springfield. The tables are covered with neatly stacked piles of paper. There’s a pile for Bing, another for AOL. There are piles for InfoUSA, Acxiom and Manta.

“It’s really about the search engines,” says Mark, 58, who with his younger brother, Gary, runs Baldino’s Lock & Key, the locksmith business their father started in a shed behind their house in 1961, now grown to 17 locations in our area.” …. To read the rest of the article check it out on the Washington Post webpage or click below

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/waging-war-on-shady-locksmiths/2012/03/14/gIQA9uPlCS_story.html

Take the Liberty quiz. What safe will fit your lifestyle & home?

Buying a new safe is a big commitment. They can be expensive, but worth the investment, and just like any investment to your home you want to find the right one to fit your lifestyle.

One of Baldino's Lock and Key’s biggest sellers are the Liberty brand safes. The brand is known for their gun safes, but can be used to store documents, jewelry, and many other valuable possessions.

Take this quick 7 question quiz from Liberty Safe to get an idea of which safe is best for you. Next, stop by one of our 18 locations and check out your safe in person. Our employee’s are there to answer any questions you have as well as set up a delivery date for you.

Take your quiz here http://www.libertysafe.com/safe-selector.php

Utilities Department Looks To Nexgen XT Padlocks For Accountability

A Southeastern utilities department was receiving reports of unsecure gates at remote water treatment plants throughout the city. After doing some research the utilities department discovered that padlocks were being left unlocked by employees. To address the security concern, the department installed 30 Nexgen XT small format interchangeable cores into the existing padlocks; which provided the necessary accountability and control. After trying the padlocks, the utilities department then expanded their system to accommodate additional facilities.

Many utility companies share challenges in providing accountability for remote facility locations. eCylinder solutions, particularly in padlock applications, provide a cost effective solution to enhance the accountability and control of remote facility security.

As an authorized Medeco Security Center, we carry the full line of Nexgen XT and eCylinder products. Contact us to today to find out how eCylinder can help address your remote facility costs.

Join Us at The Home Show

Join hundreds of home owners this weekend at the Suburban Maryland Home Show. Talk to home improvement vendors, watch product demonstrations, and browse landscaping exhibits. Get home improvement ideas to update your home or get a new look entirely! Baldino's Lock and Key will be on hand to show you the most up to date security trends that will not only keep you safe, but enhance your homes look. Address: Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex 18031 Central Park Circle Germantown (Boyds), MD 20841 Show Hours: Friday, March 9, 11:00am - 8:00pm Saturday, March 10, 10:00am - 8:00pm Sunday, March 11, 10:00am - 6:00pm For more information on the show visit the website at http://acshomeshow.com/for-consumers/why-attend We hope to see you there!

Test Your Locksmith: Are You, Your Friends, and Family Using a Reliable Locksmith?

We’ve told you before and we will tell you again … when choosing a locksmith checking out their credentials is essential to getting quality work.

The first thing most people do when they decide they need locksmith service is to get on their computer or whip out their phone and Google locksmith. Google returns the search with pages and pages of local locksmith companies. The problem is, most of these companies are not local. They advertise service in all areas with fake addresses, business names, and phone numbers. When you call you are actually dialing an 800 number that goes to a call center in another state. You may wonder what is wrong with that? Sometimes nothing, a few locksmiths are only mobile locksmiths with an office out of their home. If this is the case they will have the necessary credentials for the state they practice out of. Most of the time unfortunately, these locksmiths do not have the proper training and by law should not be practicing services in any area.

When you go to hire a locksmith try some of these things to make sure they are legitimate.

-When you call for service ask if they have a DCJS license

-Don’t choose just on price. If you think the price is to good to be true, it probably is.

-A locksmith doing any type of service should give you an estimate and go over the problem with you. If at the end of your service they tell you the price has doubled or tripled and the tech did not ask you before he continued is not a fair locksmith or giving you quality customer service.

-Find a locksmith BEOFRE you need one. Check out their credentials and visit their location to get a feel for if they will be a good fit for your needs. Put the number of the company in your phone so you will have it in emergency situations.

Here are some helpful websites to visit:

NATIONWIDE NEWS REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM

CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR YOUR STATE

FIND A LOCKSMITH