Thread: Let's talk locks and prices

Hello,

I am curious to see what other self storage facilities pay for locks.

We order our locks from Chinrose International. We pay $3.95 each, but order in 100 lock orders, lowering our price to $3.55 per lock. We have to order at least 100 to get the better price. We order two types of locks: the primary is the ones we give out to our customers; the other is a red lock we use for overlocking units. Both are 2 3/4" in diameter; the ones we give out are all keyed differently; the red ones are all keyed alike.

I have two gripes about these locks. First, the quality seems to have declined a bit in the last year. We are finding that the red locks do not consistently open with the key provided. Last night, in the dark, I had to fight with a red lock because the key it came with didn't work - I had to use 3 different red lock keys before finding one that would work. Second, Chinrose never has enough locks in stock. Case in point: for our last 4 orders, we have been told "we don't have that many in stock; can we send you 25 next week, then the balance by the end of the month?" We make it work, but it is frustrating.

What do you pay per lock? Where do you buy your locks? Are your orders filled at the time of order?

Thank you,

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim1970

Hello,

I am curious to see what other self storage facilities pay for locks.

We order our locks from Chinrose International. We pay $3.95 each, but order in 100 lock orders, lowering our price to $3.55 per lock. We have to order at least 100 to get the better price. We order two types of locks: the primary is the ones we give out to our customers; the other is a red lock we use for overlocking units. Both are 2 3/4" in diameter; the ones we give out are all keyed differently; the red ones are all keyed alike.

I have two gripes about these locks. First, the quality seems to have declined a bit in the last year. We are finding that the red locks do not consistently open with the key provided. Last night, in the dark, I had to fight with a red lock because the key it came with didn't work - I had to use 3 different red lock keys before finding one that would work. Second, Chinrose never has enough locks in stock. Case in point: for our last 4 orders, we have been told "we don't have that many in stock; can we send you 25 next week, then the balance by the end of the month?" We make it work, but it is frustrating.

What do you pay per lock? Where do you buy your locks? Are your orders filled at the time of order?

Thank you,

Jim

I've been using Chateau Products out of Florida for years for my locks; sounds very similar to yours. The pricing sounds very similar also. Never had any problems with the red locks. www.chateauproducts.com or 800-833-9296

Jerry Hamilton
Clarkesville Mini Storage
Clarkesville, GA.

We also use Chateau, In the case of the red overlocks, we tell them to give us ones with the same key, so I have about 40 now that all open with the same key. Their service is great, and pricing quite reasonable.

Gee only 40 locks? We have to keep a lot of them, good way to make them pay.

We only have 172 units. We are "retired", and that is part of the reason we chose the facility. The late fees generate about $700 a month in extra income. I have not had to use all the locks yet.....lol.

We have 580 units, and usually lock up 50 or so on lock up day each month....in Florida we had 650 units and locked up about 150. Have I mentioned how happy I am to be HERE, and not in Florida any more?

And I have purchased from Chateau for the last 6 years, no problems.

We use Chateau as well, we used to use the cheaper 870's but we started having to many problems with them and now only sell the 970's and the 99x. The 970's cost a buck more each but I feel the product is much better.

We also use Chateau, but we overlock with the blue ones and they are keyed the same. We generally overlock at least 100 units a month or more. We have a problem with delinquent tenants. It usually takes all month to get most of them to pay. Then we usually send out about 10 auction notices. But they do pay ALL their late fees and we charge $10.00 every 5 days and top out at $50.00.

We use LAI and I can count on one hand any lock trouble. Check them out.