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Secret Shopper key duplication shop

January 16, 2020 10:32AM
So this MSC has been offering this shop for a few months and the fee just recently went up (a bit) in my area, so I assume they are having trouble finding a taker. Pay might be worth it with some bargain-driving BUT ....

During the making of the duplicate key, you are supposed to photograph the person making the dupe key. Huh?

It does not appear that the keymaker you are supposed to photograph on the job has an office you visit, you meet them somewhere where they bring a van representing the company. Yikes. (For what it's worth, it appears to be a legit company based on my research. But meeting their reps in a parking lot or somewhere strikes me as spooky.).

Has anyone done a shop like this? Is it safe? The MSC seems to be getting cold-busted by shoppers in my area.

Edit: Apologies, this probably should have been placed in other forum. Thank you for tolerating the noobs. smiling smiley

Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2020 11:24AM by KokoBWare.
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January 16, 2020 01:47PM
I have not done the shop but I had to have the dents on my car fixed and it was paid by the car insurance. They gave me a number to call. We mutually arranged to meet at a supermarket's parking lot at 8AM with the person. When he came, he was in his small van that had the sign for Car medic, in uniform, and told me that it was a franchise and he travels in 3 different states to do small car repairs that do not need an auto body shop. I actually took a photo of the car as I wanted to remember the info in case I needed to use him again. Obviously if it was a shop I could have easily taken a photo of him while he was working on the dents. I just handed him the keys and told him to call me when he was done 1 hour later so I could return to pick up the car.
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January 16, 2020 01:54PM
I applied for and as assignd to the key duplication shop abobut 2 years ago. It should have been easy, but the technicican they wanted me to use did not serve this area. It would have been a really nice shop, but eventually I had to settle for the abouot $15 for my efforts.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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January 16, 2020 02:32PM
Five cars in this household - two of them older than seven years, and one of them 20 years, and none of us have a non-remote key. Squashes that shop. So, I looked at it. But.. not a single person in the household had a key I could use to do the shop.
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January 16, 2020 02:39PM
I did the shop in 2016. The guidelines required a picture of the van. I have a chip key and he was able to make a flat key for me. I stayed under reimbursement and have an extra useless key in my glove box.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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January 16, 2020 04:08PM
Huh, well, that's good to know. I already have an extra key stashed in my truck. I live in the middle of nowhere on six acres, and I literally keep a key in the truck and don't bother locking it. But, it is good to know in case it gets bonused again.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I did the shop in 2016. The guidelines required a picture of the van. I have a chip key and he was able to make a flat key for me. I stayed under reimbursement and have an extra useless key in my glove box.
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January 16, 2020 05:14PM
When my car was new within a few years, it was broken into at least three times with the glove box searched for the spare key and manual stolen..(what police told me they were looking for) BMW is known to provide the valet key in the manual upon delivery and the thieves know that. It's old now so no more break-ins, thankfully. Heck, my glove box won't even open any more, so maybe that would help me out..(joke)

Be careful leaving a key in your glove box if you have a decent vehicle. Of course, vehicle break-ins are a common occurrence in my neck of the woods.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2020 05:16PM by MsJudi.
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