Kobalt Locksmith Boston

One year ago i used service from Kobalt Locksmith to replace a broken deadbolt lock. The experience was not pleasant. They refused to give a price over the phone. We waited for a long time for them to arrive. And they charged $ 334 to replace a deadbolt lock. After the service, i called them for an itemized receipt as to exactly what $ 334 were for and they never sent me one. What prompted me to write this review one year later was because the lock they replaced is broken, only after one year!

Got locked out of the apartment; called for emergency lock-​pick service out of a desperate search on Google — bad mistake.
At the first call, I asked for a quote, the lady told me that someone would call me shortly. This «someone» called me few minutes later, asking for my address, and told me that someone [else] would be there in about 35 minutes. I asked again how much was I to expect to pay, I was told very vaguely that there’s a $ 19 service fee for anyone to show up, and opening locks starts at $ 49 depending on what kind of lock. I couldn’t exactly describe the lock except that I put a key in to turn (vs. dead bolt); he told me I’m not telling him a lot. I informed him once again it’s the front door to my apartment. Thinking he’s supposedly the professional, he knew what he was talking about.
Almost an hour from the time the original call was placed, a guy showed up, quoting me $ 160 for the service! Being a captive customer at this point, I had no choice but to proceed. Nevertheless, it took him nearly 45 minutes to finally get the door open (for a supposedly «10-​minute job»), coincidentally as I was calling the building management and on way to look for other locksmith. Before then, he even tried to offer us another solution which was to pull the lock out for extra $ 40, and we would have to replace it at our own expense. Which was what urged me to try to locate another locksmith in the first place… but the second I put my phone to the ear, our lock was successfully picked! Go figure.
During the whole «show», I called back to Kobalt to complain about the HUGE discrepancy on the quote, stating that while I understand what «$ 49 and up» means, I did not expect a 300% increase upon the guy’s arrival! If I was told the cost would be at least be $ 160, at least I chose to enter that contract. But quoting me something ridiculously low to lure me in, then making me wait half a day only to tell me my ransom has just tripled is totally unacceptable business practice. As I called to voice my displease, the lady told me that she would have «someone» call me back again, a gentleman by the name of Roy, but I never heard back from him. The guy picking my lock claimed that he doesn’t know anyone by that name, but has heard of him in the last couple jobs he showed up for. Sketchy is all I can say.
Bottom line, this line of business is probably as dirty as it gets and definitely requires more regulation. But having «someone» call «someone» to show up and then try and charge me 300% of original «quote», on top of trying to up-​sell, with the coincidental success just as I was about to call a competitor… all these don’t leave a very good impression, and definitely would not get return business.
Not that I’m looking to lock myself out ever again, but people like this aren’t making the day go any easier.