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If you ever spent time around lead gen and marketing business for general contracting services like remodel, HVAC (AC or Heating) and the like, you'd know how many shady actors are out there.

I thought myself more or less immune to much of these schemes as I have been around that industry a number of years in the past, but recently feel for a company pretending to be a local locksmith on google maps, when they are actually a lead gen company that sold me on an unrealistically low quote. When the guy showed up at 11pm and told me it was 5x the quote and explained all the reasons why the person on the phone really did not "lie" to me, I suddenly remembered what lead gen is...



My local, neighborhood locksmith who I see at my corner bar says there is a real danger of those guys coming back and breaking into your place, now that they know everything about your locks.


This guy took 2+ hours to open the door, so I'm not really worried about him specifically. That said, I did change out locks myself later on, although I'm sure if someone wants in, they'll just bust the window...


Its happened to me to as well. Even the legitimate locksmiths charge a lot. For example for just re-keying a lock (if your moving into a new place).


I don't mind paying what the service is worth, but being promised X and then paying 5X is not good business.


I've been curious if there's a business model there. Perhaps a way to vet and white-list businesses like Locksmiths to get around the scams?

Perhaps it could be partially automated by looking for storefronts in google street view?




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