Keyme locksmiths

Hoping someone can give me some insight.
I recently got locked out of my apartment. I called KeyMe and was connected to a locksmith who said it would take them 35 minutes to arrive. It ended up being well over an hour and when I called KeyMe back because I had no call back number they told me they did not have me in the system and had no idea who I spoke to. She helpfully offered to schedule a call for Wednesday.
So I called another company who told me it would be at least 40 minutes. 5 minutes later another locksmith calls and says do you still need someone? And I said yes because they said they could be there in 20. (Admittedly at this point I am flustered and upset. Primarily at myself) I call the second guy and cancel. He says no problem.
Not two minutes later the first guy shows up and I get to pay a whopping $200 to get in my door. He also insists on Venmo or Zelle. It’s the New York area on a Sunday. I’m unhappy but not surprised.
Door now open. I’m trying to call company number 3 back and cannot get anyone on the phone initially and finally end up paying a $30 cancellation when I do connect. Smith still shows up and I send her away pointing out I called and canceled.
I’m now wondering how this third company even got my number? Did KeyMe send them? Any ideas?

KeyMe is looking for an experienced User Experience Designer to join our product team. You will own the full user experience across our kiosks, locksmith services, and the KeyMe website. You will create effective and elegant solutions that will delight customers.

I ordered a couple blank key fobs for our Toyota Corolla. We have a working one, it's just the plastic case is falling apart so we want to make new ones. I found one decently priced on Amazon ($40 for 2) blank key fobs on Amazon. But when I checked Bob's Locksmith on E 96th, where I've had a good experience making copies of basic house keys, their page on auto keys emphasizes that they don't make car key fobs from blanks that you buy online, but it looks like they make them from their own blanks. The problem is, it's much more expensive, starting at $50. I've filled out their form asking for a quote and am waiting for a response.
Anyone have a suggestion? There's also apparently this 'KeyMe Locksmith' at Menards, but it looks like a kiosk, and I've recently had a bad experience with the kiosk at Lowe's making basic keys.

Moving is always a hectic process. Boston on September 1st is a nightmare from box trucks stuck on Storrow Drive to the narrow streets backed up with traffic. To make it even tougher some schools start moving kids into the dorms on September 1st.
My first tip for the move is to book your box truck months in advanced. I would book it around the end of May. I booked one in July last year and they didn’t have one for me. A client of mine booked one in May and they told him that it was good he did it so far in advance because they were already receiving inquiries for them, and they run out quick.
The next tip I have is to ask your landlord if it would be possible to move some stuff in August 31st or even early in the morning on 9/1. This will make it less hectic and for a more relaxing day. A lot of bigger property management groups won’t allow this, but some smaller landlords will.
When you first arrive to the apartment make sure to document everything. Take a picture of every room, appliance, and fixture that is in the unit. This will save you if the landlord tries to blame you for damage down the line. It is also very important to fill out an apartment statement form and be as descriptive as possible. Then send it back to the landlord.
I always make a copy of the keys as well. You can get overcharged if you lose them. The easiest way to do this is to go to a locksmith or a 711 that has a keyme machine these will print the key with no questions asked.

I got my car key copied by a locksmith a few weeks ago and he told me about how much he can make in a month, and also that he works 60 hours a week. He told me they're always looking for new technicians and they pay for training so I've been thinking about it but he says that commission earnings is part of the negotiation process, and I have no clue what a fair percentage would be, and also that he makes $10K a month but everything I've researched suggests even working 60 hours that's an insane amount more than most locksmiths and I'm not sure if I'm being lied to.
I have no experience with lockpicking so I'd be starting from scratch in training, and obviously he did copy my key. I just don't know if it's a scam working with this company and I haven't found any relevant employee reviews. It's for a company called KeyMe Locksmiths, according to Google it's based in New York but this location is in Las Vegas.

I work for KeyMe Locksmiths (https://www.key.me/), we provide locksmith services and self-service key-duplication kiosks in places such as 7-Eleven, Rite Aid, and Bed Bath & Beyond. I work on the software that runs on the kiosks and have been here for just over a year now. We're hiring pretty enthusiastically and my team in particular is hiring for someone to work on a codebase that is largely Python with newer features in Haskell: https://boards.greenhouse.io/keyme/jobs/5180897002. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Is it common for locksmiths to not have company names and use generic invoice pads, etc?
I recently used KeyMe to get some locks changed at my house. They directed my call to a “local” partner who took my information and dispatched a locksmith to my location. We discussed the work to be done, and the price was similar to other quotes I received. I went ahead and opted to use this person for the service.
I was out of my element and didn’t get the business name. All the paperwork is just labeled with a generic “Locksmith Services”. And when I call the number back for more information I’m just told that the business (the call center) is 24 Hour Locksmith Services and they can’t provide any information on who they dispatched to my location.
I’m happy with the finished result, and I don’t feel like I’ve been scammed for money. I’m just uneasy that I can’t find any information on the business/person who performed the work. I realize now I should have asked for info upfront and to see a license, but that wasn’t top of mind in the moment.

Hi all...I received a call today from AZ (I’m on the east coast). The guy said his company’s name was KeyMe Locksmith and he wanted to partner up with my company because they’re getting “tons” of locksmith service calls in my area (typical line I get from anyone wanting to dispatch calls for me). No out of pocket cost for me or any monthly/yearly subscriptions. They supposedly just call me for a service call and take a cut of the cost. He sent me some emails with application and background check....I was wondering if any of you guys have any info/history with this company? Is it just another scam call (like the ones I get daily!) or is it worth looking into? Thanks in advance for any advice. Much appreciated.

About Us KeyMe is reinventing the $12 billion locksmith services industry with advanced robotics and AI, building the world’s most trusted brand in “access solutions”. Our network of self-service kiosks are located in thousands of retail locations ac …
Read more / apply: https://ai-jobs.net/job/2042-computer-vision-enginee

About Us KeyMe is reinventing the $12 billion locksmith services industry with advanced robotics and AI, building the world’s most trusted brand in “access solutions”. Our network of self-service kiosks are located in thousands of retail locations ac …
Read more / apply: https://ai-jobs.net/job/2042-computer-vision-enginee

Hello, I am locked out of my apartment and very cold. I think I left my key at Starbucks which won't be open for another 2 and a half hours IF it's even there. I think I might call a locksmith but I'm broke and wonder if they do payment plans. Another option is to wait until 5 am and hope my bank will let me overdraft again at a keyme station where I have a copy of my key at

NYT This Tech Makes D.I.Y. Key Duplication Easy. Maybe Too Easy.
In case you don't sub:
SAN FRANCISCO — A yellow booth with a screen caught my attention on a recent grocery trip. A blue ring on the contraption glowed, luring me toward it.
This was no lottery ticket machine — it was a kiosk for duplicating keys from a company called KeyMe. And it was for copying not just ordinary keys but also special ones, including digital access cards and the high-security Medeco key that I use to get into my apartment building.
My apartment complex typically charges $100 for a copy of this key, which is an advanced physical key that is difficult to reproduce. KeyMe offered to mail a duplicate to me for about $10. So I tried it.
I immediately felt regret. Did I just compromise my building security by sharing the key with a private company? If KeyMe were hacked, couldn’t someone break in to my home?
This is a question people may increasingly wrestle with as KeyMe and similar services like MinuteKey and My Key Machine grow quickly. KeyMe has kiosks in 2,000 stores across 46 states for retailers like Safeway, Bed Bath & Beyond and 7-Eleven, and the company said the number was rising. KeyMe also offers a mobile app that lets you take a photo of a key and store the data on its servers. That means if you are locked out, you can simply go to a kiosk, log in to your account and quickly cut a duplicate key.
I decided to take a closer look at KeyMe, a company founded in 2012 and based in Manhattan. Deviant Ollam, a security consultant who gives lectures about lock-picking at Defcon, the hacker convention, also provided an assessment of the company’s security practices.
Mr. Ollam had concerns. Chief among them: the ability of an abusive ex to use KeyMe to break into a former partner’s home.
“The idea of intimate jealous partners having access to people’s online accounts is very well known — but possibly not among smart male technologists,” he said.
In the end, I recommend against using KeyMe’s app or creating a user account to use the service. But I was happy to make copies from the kiosk. Here’s what I found.
How KeyMe works To help you find a nearby KeyMe kiosk, the company provides a locator tool. At a kiosk, the screen presents options for key types to copy, including standard house keys, special security keys, vehicle keys, and access cards and fobs. After selecting an option, insert a key into a slot and let the kiosk scan it; for access cards, tap the card on a scanner.
If you copy an ordinary house key, you can cut the key directly at the machine. For more specialized types, the machine will most likely say that the keys need to be programmed elsewhere and be mailed to you. Prices vary: A standard key costs about $3, an access card costs about $12.50, and a car key starts at $20.
After you make or order a copy, you can create an account and store the key data with the company. That requires registering a fingerprint.
To set up the mobile app, enter an email address and create a password. Inside the app, you can take a photo of a key by placing it on a white sheet of paper and taking a photo of each side of the key. Then it can determine whether the photo is good enough for you to cut a copy of the key at a kiosk or whether it has to be mailed to you.
Tough security, but with flaws More important than how KeyMe works is how the company protects your data.
KeyMe says it retains as little identifiable data as possible. The company immediately purges a customer’s name and mailing address after it ships off a key order, it said. It does keep a customer’s email address and key data, and if someone registers a fingerprint, it keeps a mathematical representation of the fingerprint.
To defend against cyberattacks, KeyMe said, it divides up pieces of user data and stores them across three different places. That means hackers would have to break into all three systems to obtain the information.
Greg Marsh, KeyMe’s chief executive, said the company was able to hold criminals accountable. That’s because unlike traditional locksmith companies or key copiers at hardware stores, KeyMe has an information trail on what keys were produced and by whom. In the event of a crime, the police could check whether a key was duplicated with KeyMe and track down who had copied it.
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“We’re the only company that exists where if law enforcement has a key in question, we can actively say whether we have a key or not,” Mr. Marsh said. “Part of our mission is to build proactive relationships with law enforcement.”
That raised a red flag for Mr. Ollam, the lock-picking expert. He wondered how difficult KeyMe would make it for law enforcement authorities to gain access to user data — for instance, whether it would require subpoenas for all requests or just a casual note.
Mr. Marsh said KeyMe had not been involved in any instances where it copied a key that was involved in a crime. So the company has not handed over user data to the authorities and has not devised a regimented procedure.
“But we would never just turn over customer information to a third party, including law enforcement, without very prudent and thoughtful measures,” he said.
I asked Mr. Marsh why he did not commit to a clear procedure now to give customers confidence. He said that crimes varied and that the nature of an investigation would determine how a customer’s data would be shared.
Mr. Ollam brought up the hypothetical situation of an abusive ex, who gains access to his or her former partner’s email account. In that case, the person could reset the KeyMe password, log in to the app and have a key copy mailed over.
In response, KeyMe said that people trying to gain access to their key data at a kiosk would be required to scan a fingerprint before a duplicate could be reproduced. Mr. Marsh acknowledged that someone could get into an email account and reset a KeyMe password, but said the same vulnerability applied to many types of internet accounts that rely on passwords.
I noted that plenty of websites offered two-step authentication. That involves sending a temporary code to another device, like a cellphone, which must be entered before someone can log in with a password. KeyMe lacks this feature.
Mr. Marsh said KeyMe had discussed enacting two-step authentication. But given that KeyMe tries to retain a bare minimum of user data, the feature would be complex to incorporate, he said.
And the test results ... Because of KeyMe’s vague responses about cooperating with law enforcement and the password-reset vulnerability with the app, I do not recommend using the app or creating a user account for the service.
But if you simply want to make or order a key copy at the kiosk, the service is useful, especially for key types that you can’t typically duplicate at a hardware store.
In addition to my Medeco key, I tried copying a few standard house keys and an access card. The machine took a few minutes to cut the house keys, which worked well. For the access card, I opted to copy the data onto a small sticker that could be adhered to my phone case. The sticker copy arrived in the mailbox after about three days, and it worked perfectly.
But the duplicate of the special Medeco key failed to turn the lock for my building gate. Mr. Marsh said this key was so tricky that KeyMe’s machine-learning software and a human check had failed to reproduce it correctly. The company has decided to stop supporting my specific key.
On one hand, I was disappointed. On the other hand, it was a relief that the key was too tough to copy. Convenience is not everything, especially when it comes to making sure your home security stays as strong as possible.
Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer. He reviews products and writes Tech Fix, a column about solving tech-related problems. Before joining The Times in 2011 he reported on Apple and the wireless industry for Wired. @bxchen

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 89%. (I'm a bot)

At a kiosk, the screen presents options for key types to copy, including standard house keys, special security keys, vehicle keys, and access cards and fobs.
If you copy an ordinary house key, you can cut the key directly at the machine.
Prices vary: A standard key costs about $3, an access card costs about $12.50, and a car key starts at $20.After you make or order a copy, you can create an account and store the key data with the company.
That's because unlike traditional locksmith companies or key copiers at hardware stores, KeyMe has an information trail on what keys were produced and by whom.
If you simply want to make or order a key copy at the kiosk, the service is useful, especially for key types that you can't typically duplicate at a hardware store.
In addition to my Medeco key, I tried copying a few standard house keys and an access card.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: key^#1 KeyMe^#2 copy^#3 company^#4 data^#5
Post found in /technology and /nytimes.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

I ran into this app while checking out this OnComp column that talks about Startpage.com. It's in the section titled "App Happy." The author writes:

“KeyMe” lets users scan their house or car keys and order a duplicate to be sent in the mail. They also have kiosks in places like 7-Eleven and Bed Bath and Beyond, where the key is duplicated on the spot.

The App website has an interesting FAQ section that addresses "do not duplicate" keys:

Can I copy "Do Not Duplicate" keys?
Yes, KeyMe can copy any key marked 'Do Not Duplicate.' The reason is that the 'Do Not Duplicate' marking carries with it no greater security than any other brass key. The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has gone so far as to call the use of such markings "deceptive" because they provide "a false sense of security." It further advises its members to handle these keys in the same manner as any other key. The only exception to this is within the Los Angeles city limits. Due to a city ordinance, these keys may not be copied. For more information about Do Not Duplicate keys, and other secure key varieties, visit our blog today! Read More!

The App also advertises the following regarding RFID keys/access:

We Copy Access Cards and Key Fobs
We can clone and duplicate most RFID Keys that are commonly used today
Turn Your Fob into a Sticker
If you are sick of carrying around your keys, KeyMe can make your RFID into a sticker. With a sticker about the size of a silver dollar, you can turn your phone or wallet into a house key!
We simply code your RFID into a sticker instead of a fob or card, that works just like the original.

Here's how they reportedly prevent fraud:

How does KeyMe prevent fraudulent key copying?
KeyMe is the most convenient and secure way to duplicate keys. Our kiosks require a fingerprint scan and/or a credit card swipe to access scanned keys. Like an ATM, all transactions are recorded to provide an added layer of security. Our mobile app requires keys be scanned on both sides on a white paper background from 4 inches away to prevent "flyby" scans of your keys. We provide real-time notifications any time new activity occurs on your account so you can monitor & manage the security of your keys. When ordering keys, we store only the necessary personal information on file and keep no information that could be used to link your key with a location or lock. If you have any additional questions regarding security, contact us!

Hey /Miami,
I've been trying to get a Medeco key copied myself because my building association wants to charge me $500 to get a copy made. Even though KeyMe promised to cut Medeco keys, they emailed me today saying they couldn't copy my specific key. Does anyone know of a locksmith who will do the copy no questions asked?
TIA.

I'm a big proponent of anarcho-capitalism, but over the last two years I've been neglecting it a little in order to start a robotics company. It's been an amazing learning experience, both professionally and in terms of seeing how government makes it difficult for capitalism to function.
If I had to pick just one thing, I'd say the biggest problem that government caused for us is relative impoverishment. Starting a company requires lots of savings. The founders need savings in order to spend time working on the company before they get investors. There were many great people who could have joined us in the beginning if only they had savings to draw on instead of debt payments to make.
Similarly, it was difficult looking for early hires. Early stage startups typically pay low salaries but compensate with equity. People who do not have savings to rely on are less likely to take that risk. Investors need savings before they can buy into the company. When government destroys the middle class, it also ruins one of the best sources of funding and recruiting for new companies. This hurt us even more because, for a hardware company like ours, we needed a lot of money to build prototypes and prepare our manufacturing processes.
Anyway, despite this and many other state obstacles, we've managed to get the company off the ground with two products. The first is a robotic key making machine which can duplicate keys automatically. The nice thing about it is that it can remember what your keys look like in case you lose them or get locked out. Then you only need to go back, scan your fingerprint and it will make new ones.
The second product is a mobile app with related functionality. Check out the video on our website to see what it does.
You can also read about us here.
It's been really rewarding to create products that help people, and create quite a few jobs in the process. The best moments, though, are when people question if our service is a front for the NSA, because then I get I get to wear the anarchist label with pride.