I went to Lowes yesterday to get a couple of duplicates of my house key to give to a house sitter and a neighbor. At the desk where they normally duplicate keys I was told that no one who is trained on the machine was at work that day and instead I would need to use the self-service kiosk. I first put my key in and am told that it is an odd key and the machine will not be able to make it. It's from a schlage handset and is probably literally the most common house key type there is. I re-insert it and the machine decides it can make my key after all. Normally at a hardware store it costs $2-3 to copy a key. This one is $9 for the cheapest option, but there are numerous more expensive options, you know, in case you want a key that is blue with polka dots on it. Annoyed but needing the keys I order 2. After about 5 minutes of screeching sounds and numerous prompts encouraging me to sign up for their mailing list it spits out two keys that are easily the thinnest, flimsiest things I have ever felt. But hey, they are a cool green color, so they have that going for them. I am annoyed by the whole process but relieved to have keys before I head out of town.
So I head home and try them...AND THEY DO NOT WORK! I tried them in all four handsets. I held them up against my actual key and the profile looks slightly off in multiple places. In a way this may be good because I am afraid that they are so thin they would break off in a lock.
Is my experience unique or are these machines terrible?
I guess I will head to Ace. It's a little bit out of my way but the one here is usually staffed by people who express some interest in doing their jobs.