Safe & Locksmith

I manage about 100 properties in DC. I’m always needing to copy keys and occasionally need to have locks changed or repaired. For key copies, there is no better place to go in DC. They have all the blanks you need, including padlock keys and Corbin Russwin keys that are only found on utility room doors in new construction condo buildings. When they don’t have a key i have seen them grind and hammer a key to make it work. The only other place I get keys cut is the 17^th St True Value, but they don’t have some keys.
Don’t schedule them for a service appointment unless the lock is a mortisse lock or multipoint. For simple locks I use people who are cheaper. If you can remove the lock then that’s your cheapest route. Then you can bring it in and have them work on it.

I’ve had keys made at Central lock at least 3 times, if not 4. Very conveniently located, especially when I needed them made in a crunch They all work fine and I’m happy :).

I will not go with this locksmith– for the following reasons:
SHOW UP FEE/​Service call fee — $ 149 just to show up during normal business hours (not an emergency) and they are 2 blocks from my condo. Their «show up fee» is the highest of the 5 locksmiths I called, really 3x the next highest guy.
Looking at other reviewers, they quoted $ 100, $ 189, now $ 149… sounds like games
When I sounded astonished by the «show up fee», the guy starts mumbling about how the «first task in included»… OK, so is the show up fee just to show up, or does it include work? And why wouldn’t that be clearly stated up front in the conversation.
This lack of clarity and seeming shifting of that really is included in the «service call fee» is why I will not go with this establishment. It sounds like this is their standard mode of operations (reading others Unilocal reviews).
Enough for me not to trust them.

Wow, should have read the crappy reviews. They messed up on all 4 keys I had them make. DO N OT USE!

Do not under any circumstances use this store. Their prices are hyper-​inflated compared to similar establishments. A lawsuit is almost certainly in their future.

I requested a simple key for a file drawer. The guy from this store said he could have it done in a matter of «seconds.» Key didn’t work. Had to order another key overnight from an online vendor.
Check out my pic for a comparison of the keys, supposedly made from the same code. Huge discrepancy.
Contacted the owner who offered some b.s. and refused to provide a refund. I have a feeling this key was made a bit too hastily. No matter, customer has to pay for it. Very clever Safe & Locksmith.
AVOID this shop. Plenty of other options in NW.

$ 400.00 for a change of lock!
Professional scammers! The lock was a regular lock that you can buy in Home Depot for max $ 40.00. When I called they said that the locksmith will have locks starting at $ 25.00, and then they slam me with this price. Beware.

I was surprised to see the other negative reviews on the site. I’ve used this company three times over four years and every time has had professional service at a reasonable price. Most recently, I had a lockbox that I stupidly jammed while attached to a doorknob. I went to another locksmith who wanted me to drop off the doorknob for the whole day and wasn’t sure how much it would cost to remove. I came here and they did it in a few minutes and only charged me $ 5. So, not sure why other folks had bad experiences, but I had a good one.

I lost the only key to my motorcycle and on a reccomendation, I called Central Safe & Lock to see about getting a new key made. I asked if they stock Yamaha keys and they said they did. I asked if they could create a key from my ignition if I brought it in and they said to just drop it off.
I took it over to them and dropped off the ignition along with the keycode I retrieved from the bottom of the lock. They took them both and said to come back in about an hour.
I come back an hour later and they produce the ignition and a key along with a bill for about $ 30 bucks. The key is a car key, not a yamaha motorcycle key, and sticks out way too far from the lock. Oh… and they lost the keycode that I gave them.
I take the ignition home to find that the key doesn’t fit any of the other locks on the bike. On a return trip to the store, they cut another few keys and try random changes in the key until they finally produced a key that would fit most of the locks on the bike… not all.
In their defense, only a few of the pins on the key work for each specific lock, so it would be difficult for them to make a replacement key without access to all the locks. Of course, that’s exactly why I gave them the keycode that they misplaced.
Both times while I was waiting, a steady stream of patrons came in to the store, not to get keys cut… but to get keys fixed because they wouldn’t work.
Avoid this place.

Central Lock was one of the only locksmiths in the DC area that carried the lock brand and accompanying tools that I needed for my door. I needed a deadbolt installed and my locks to be rekeyed.
The service I experienced was terrible. The company does not schedule or uphold appointments – they just give you general ranges of dates and show up unexpectedly at your door, whether or not you’ve scheduled that particular day. This is quite a problem, especially for people like me who have a full time job and it may be quite difficult to take off on a whim.
I had one locksmith come out to install my deadbolt, but he made a mistake during installation as a result of faulty order-​taking in their main office. When I had the second locksmith come out to fix this issue, he also showed up without much notice, then proceeded to give me an attitude when I told him that his company needed to respect a customer’s time by sticking to appointments because we also have full time jobs. After sarcastically retorting «oh wow, you have a job», he proceeds to tell me that «i bet we [his company] are busier than you». Then he refused to let me test out the lock and when he finally gave up my keys, he jeered at me for turning the lock in the wrong direction – he was probably close to 60 years old and acting like an immature 10-​year old.
If I have any locksmith needs in the future, I will be sure to stay far away from Central Lock. I don’t need my time wasted or someone to show up at my door to insult me.

I booked an appointment over the phone. They were very polite, and I told them I had a new doorhandle and dealbolt I needed installed, how much would that be. They told me they had a $ 100.00 service fee that would cover that. He asked if I had the handle and deadbolt or did I need them to provide it. I said I’d already purchased it. We booked the Appt. for Friday. The locksmith calls and because I’ve dealt with locksmith issues before I said «This is all covered under the $ 100.00 service fee right?» He sounded confused and said «What do you mean?» I told him that when I booked the appointment they told me that there was a $ 100.00 service fee which would cover this.” He said that he couldn’t be sure what it would cost, if he had to drill it would be more etc… I called back the main number. got somebody on the phone. he said that there must have been a misunderstanding when I booked the appointment because if I already had the door handle and deadbolt their service fee went way up. I told him to cancell the appointment.
Again, They knew I already had the door handle. The locksmith, when he called sounded surprised when I meantioned the $ 100.00 service fee which was supposedly their standard fee according to the guy over the phone. The locksmith said «It’s usually much more than that.» This company obviously tells you one price over the phone and hits you with another one when they’ve completed the work. Do NOT get scammed!