Losing your Key Fob Really Hurts!
Let me share a recent story about a customer and the importance of having spare key fobs.
The customer owns a 2021 GMC Yukon for his limousine business and lost his only key during the holidays. I was the third locksmith he called because both of them did not have the equipment and skills required to make this key fob.
Making keys for late model vehicles is incredibly complex. In 2020 and beyond, General Motors has restricted key duplication so that only a few highly skilled locksmiths can provide new key fobs. I was the third locksmith called, following others who suggested towing the vehicle to the dealership.
The dealership quoted the customer $1600.00 for two new keys and required towing—plus, the earliest appointment was three weeks out. For a business that relies on this vehicle, every minute without a key means lost income.
The second locksmith recommended AA Lock and Key since we possess the necessary equipment and licensing to perform this task. Only a select few locksmiths hold a license from the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), which will soon be mandated for all locksmiths working on vehicles made after 2018.
When I arrived to make the keys, I encountered issues because General Motors’ website was down, forcing me to reschedule. The next day, the customer called, saying he found his key and no longer needed my services, and I didn’t charge him for my time.
However, just three days later, he lost his key fob again and called me in a panic. I reminded him this could happen, but I never expected it to occur so soon. I quickly made him two new key fobs at a fraction of the dealership’s price—all without needing to tow his vehicle.
This experience underscores the importance of having two working key fobs. It’s a costly lesson learned the hard way for this customer.
