Expert Lock and Safe

I DO NOT recommend calling Expert Lock and Safe and Simon. I called him yesterday 4÷21÷15 trying to get help opening a safe where I lost the key and combo through years of moving. Over the phone I asked him for an estimate and he said it could be anywhere from $ 90 to $ 400 depending on how big and secure the safe was and he would have to see the safe to give a firm estimate. He charges a $ 55 service fee for showing up and if you use him he removes the fee but if not you owe him the $ 55. I had him come out assuming my safe, a small fire resistant safe that I paid about $ 100 for some 12 years ago, would be on the cheaper side. He takes a look and says it will cost $ 300+ to open it because of this and that. There was no way I was paying $ 300 to open the safe. So I told Simon no thank you and I reluctantly paid him his $ 55. But in doing so I said that as the expert here where I’m looking to him for help I would have appreciated him asking me questions about the safe to give me a more accurate estimate. He knows the business and if I had told him the make/​model/​size I no doubt believe he could have told me it would be around $ 300 (if it truly was) and I would have told him to not come out. When I said that to him his response was «well if I did that I would just sit around all day and just give estimates». For the record Simon was very nice but this is not an ethical business practice in my opinion. Yes, lesson learned on my part, ask more questions and provide make/​model info and if I don’t get a detailed estimate don’t have the person come out, but I try and trust someone that is the expert here. It seems like he says whatever to get out there to at least get his $ 55 and then try and rely on the fact that he is there and he is going to get his $ 55 no matter what to try and charge an unfair price and take advantage of the situation. I spoke to another company today, giving them the make/​model, etc that will do the job for $ 100 I just have to bring the safe to them. If you use Simon give him the details and ask him for a firm quote otherwise he will just take your $ 55 for his «gas and time» — he spent 5 minutes with me. But I do NOT recommend using him.

No STAR!!! BE AWARE!!!
He quoted me 55 $ to come out but couldn’t give me any further pricing on the phone.
He showed up looked at both safes without even bending over and said $ 285 for this one and up to $ 249 for this one. (without the guarantee of opening them) I said no way why couldn’t you have told me that on the phone. I said no thanks I think you could have saved yourself a trip if you would have been more upfront with me on the phone. He said you need to pay me $ 55 and I said for what he said you are thieving my company if you don’t pay me. I said you didn’t even touch the safes and then tried to gouge me on price. He pointed at the sky and I said don’t even try that Religion bullshit on me and he said he is going to be watching you for what you did. I said get the hell out of my house right now and he just stood there and thought about it for a second then quickly ran down the stair and out the front door. Do not use him! He is
a total crook! what happens to nice caring hard working people? I w=do NOT recommend this «company» to anyone!

I could not get my safe open and all it took was one phone call and with in minutes the gentleman walked me through it and had my safe open!!! Amazing and very nice!