programmed keys

[joe r]

Who programs chip keys on the drive for no charge? Or, if you charge, how much?

The price of the blanks is high and when you add a labour charge for programming it can be quite expensive.

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[coyotekid]

it runs all over the board.. we don't charge for it here... it takes about 10 minutes..
my "sister" store in the same area charges an hours worth of labor.. I did a survey locally and found that EVERY other dealer in our area charged for it.. some a half hour, some a full hour.. most of them said the reason was "why let parts make all the money?" Seems like a poor reason to me..
I would much rather keep the customer's relation positive and keep them coming back...

[Richard]

Parts cuts the key, and we program it too, for the price of the blank, which on som eof the Buick's is $50. To charge someone to program it to would be adding insult to injury.

[mkwalsh]

Keys are a nightmare! We have VW and Volvo, both of whom use laser cut keys which have to be programmed to the vehicles. Not only are the key machines expensive and tempermental, but you have to have service bring the car in the shop and program the key. With Volvo this requires purchasing a download (another cost), with VW you must hook up to a computer, also both keys are parts of a remote control. The expense to the customer is huge. But I do not think it should be given away. Every customer had keys for their vehicle at one time!! We did not lose them. Should we even begin to discuss the calls from customers who are out of state, lost their keys, the key has to be overnighted (you can't cut from code), and the car has to be towed in because the key needs to be programmed to start the car!!!!

I don't think the manufacturers think of this when coming up with these great "anti-theft" ideas!!!

I could rant on and on about laser keys....What ever happened to the good old days of a hand held punch cutter??? I use to be able to cut a key just by looking at it.

[dodgeboy]

WE CHARGE HALF HOUR FOR LABOR TO PROGRAM A KEY. WE NEED TO HOOK UP THE DRB III SCAN TOOL TO PROGRAM THEM. THESE DRB'S COST ABOUT $3000-$4000. TO PURCHASE. I HAVE 3 OF THEM. I CHARGE WHEN EVER THEY NEED TO BE USED. IT MAY SEEM LIKE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, BUT WITH THE COSTS OF KEEPING A BUSINESS RUNNING NOW DAYS, NOT TOO MUCH IS FREE ANYMORE!
JUST MY TWO CENTS WORTH

[robc]

In the NJ area it seems to vary from .5 to an hour.

I agree and remember the days of grabbing my handy Curtis nibbler too. I used to enjoy looking at a key and saying something like 3-4-3-2-5 by looking at cut depth on the original. Those days have more than passed me by. Remember when the Curtis code to cut book was like the great secret decoder ring in parts?


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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[capitolparts]

Rob, we still use a Curtis code cutter everyday. We sell Buick, Pontiac, and GMC. The programmable keys are cut and programmed by my parts guys. It's not that hard and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to do it.

Rich

[Jaybee]

Honda has a code duplicater that works with special keys that you can buy through them,Curtis or Ilco. We charge a little extra to try to pay for the machine. If my shop has to program it. we charge a half hour. ...John

[Hawk]

Seeing this discussion, I am going to put together a chart for the key blank and programming costs for each vehicle I sell (Chev and Cad) and make sure the customer gets a note card with this info at delivery. That way, they may purchase an extra now or do some planning for the day a key is needed. My first proactive idea in a long time!!!

Hawk

[Howard]

Hawk take a look at the new malibu Z body list on that key is 52.00 just had my 1st today