Why you should buy locks from your locksmith

Big Box stores purchase locks by the case,
in truck or box car load. To get them at a low price they
usually order cases that are KA or keyed alike.
That means every padlock in that case uses the same key and
EVERYONE buying those locks will have a key to all the other locks in the case.
This could apply to entry locks and deadbolts to padlocks and other utility locks.

Next time you are in one of the big hardware stores just look
on the front of the display box(case) the locks are in.
If you see KA in front of the product number like 3KA0392
it means all the locks in the case use the same key. If you can see the key it will have a number stamped on it also. Look at another lock in the same case and
those keys will have the same number stamped on them also.

When you purchase locks from a locksmith, he or she, can key them
to your existing house key. Your local locksmith can also service the locks
if you lose your key. All that has to be done is open the lock, if locked,
and make a new key or rekey it instead of buying a new lock.

Your local locksmith can also get rekeyable padlocks so you can use
existing your house key instead of having another key. Rekeyable padlocks
are useful when you need to add a lock but do not want another padlock key.
An example: You already have 2 Master #1 padlocks and need
2 more but you don't want 2 different keys. Your locksmith can key up
2 rekeyable padlocks to the key you already use. You could even get them to
use your house key. You can have one key for your house, garage,
padlock on the shed and each padlock on the kids
bicycles.