Schlage Lock sets cheapened!

[denis4x4]

In the process of changing property management companies, I had to change a deadbolt and door lock set, both using the same key. Had my choice of a Schlage combo set at $56 or an Ace house brand for $29.95. Went with the Schlage as that was the brand already installed some 15 years ago. The deadbolt was **** and not nearly as well made or as sturdy as the one I removed. Interestingly enough, the door set was well made and identical to the one I replaced.

Even Baldwin lock sets are now made in China, so that option is out the window.

The government may say there's no inflation, but I know better!

 

[PaulR]

Wow, I thought Baldwin was the best. That's what our office door lock is. Went to the locksmith to change out another commercial lock and they gave me an Arrow. Seems good, not sure where they're made.

 

[neverenoughtools]

Medeco for a deadbolt !

 

[Stuart in MN]

Medeco for a deadbolt !

I have Medeco locks on my doors, they are very sturdy and well made. Not cheap, though.

 

[jmh21586]

Name a product that is better now than it was 10, 20, 30+ years ago.

Everything is cheap junk nowadays.

 

[MalibuLX3]

I had to change the key to a front door recently. However, instead on replacing the entire thing ($200), I just took it to a lock smith and he re-keyed the lock for $10.

I'm not sure if this is something you can do with all locks, but definitely worth a call to ask before spending the money to replace the whole assembly when all you want to do is change the key.

 

[dirttracker18]

Schlage is total garbage now. My favourite local lock shop was a schlage dealer and they have now dropped them. They will sell their left over stock cheap if you want it but it comes with no warranty. Just a warning that it is junk.

Apparently they were bought out, can anyone confirm?

The schlage set I bought for the shop lasted less then two years and began to come apart.

 

[mobetta]

why not re-key?

 

[Norcal]

Schlage is total garbage now. My favourite local lock shop was a schlage dealer and they have now dropped them. They will sell their left over stock cheap if you want it but it comes with no warranty. Just a warning that it is junk.

Apparently they were bought out, can anyone confirm?

The schlage set I bought for the shop lasted less then two years and began to come apart.

Schlage has been owned by Ingersol-Rand for many years (used to be made in South San Fransisco) but they have gone downhill in quality over the years in the residential grade lines, I do not know if I-R has sold them or not....

Edit: I-R still owns them.

 

[Norcal]

If anyone owns properties, the act of investing in rekeying kits can pay big dividends instead of buying new locksets or paying a locksmith to rekey them they can be done right then on the spot, I have Schlage & a Kwikset/ Titan* rekeying kits & they are handy.

*Bleak & Dorker (B&D) seem to have gotton rid of thr Titan line.

 

[dirttracker18]

Certainly if you have an older Schlage set get them rekeyed.

In my case with the more recent Schlage set they would warranty it but just replace it with the current line, which is still garbage.

I was soooo dissappointed when I took mine apart and saw how cheap it is made now. My FIL had a brand new older schlage set still in the box that he had picked up and never used. It happend to have a key fob remote which is kinda cool. Works great too!

 

[srmofo]

I found that out also last month. I bought a new schlage for the house and started acting funny within 2 weeks, another month went by and the tumbler locked up. I couldnt get in my house. Lowes warrantied it out, but it still pisses me off. I havent had any trouble with the garage locks though

 

[BirdRacer]

I'm not feeling too good after reading this. Just replaced my back door set and deadbolt with Schlage because I was tired of the cheap set that was on there....

 

[CraigP]

I have to disagree with everyone. I replaced four entry door knobs and deadbolts with Schlage units from handlesets.com in October. The old Schlage units that were in there were seazed up and very difficult to use, and one KwikSet unit was clearly a piece of ****. I called two or three different locksmiths and they all recommended the Schlage B-Series. I have them and I'm very happy, they're sturdy, built better than the Schlage stuff I removed from my doors, and blow the snot out of the KwikSet unit too. Keep in mind there are two levels of Schlage products now and while I agree the lower level don't seem up to snuff, the B-Series is awesome.

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

I just replaced all the locks in my place due to some family issues, and went with Schlage locks from HD. They all went in really well except where I had to cut the holes to be actually round using a roto-zip. I can't complain about the quality as the locks all seemed to be of decent quality. I also like the fact that I can re-key the locks in a matter of minutes using their master/reset key system.

I'll be using a set of Medeco locks on the garage when I get the new one built, but until then I'm hoping that I won't have any problems until then.

 

[jomobco]

Name a product that is better now than it was 10, 20, 30+ years ago.

Everything is cheap junk nowadays.

Automobiles.

 

[danski0224]

Even Baldwin lock sets are now made in China, so that option is out the window.

Wow, I thought Baldwin was the best.

Besides now being made in China, Baldwin uses Schlage parts.

Hot tip- Schlage key blanks will fit into Baldwin locks.

 

[5lima30]

+1 on the newer Schlage residential locks not being what they used to. I went with a Schlage commercial on my new garage it does seem to be beefier than than the residential model. Although the S/S finish on the residential is much better looking than the commercial model IMHO.

 

[trythis]

Name a product that is better now than it was 10, 20, 30+ years ago.

Everything is cheap junk nowadays.

My computer, laptop, cell phone, 50+" TVs but my truck is 20 years old, you got me there!

drywall, goretex boots. There are some good things to be had, just stuff that did not exist 30 years ago.

 

[rodm1]

+1 on the newer Schlage residential locks not being what they used to. I went with a Schlage commercial on my new garage it does seem to be beefier than than the residential model. Although the S/S finish on the residential is much better looking than the commercial model IMHO.

That is the only way to go residential locks have become sow cheep a child can defeat them.

 

[Lugnut64052]

drywall, goretex boots. There are some good things to be had, just stuff that did not exist 30 years ago.

Drywall??

 

[egdede]

Gortex has also been around awhile.

 

[KrisKustomPaint]

That is the only way to go residential locks have become sow cheep a child can defeat them.

Pretty much any lock can be picked with next to nothing except patience. If you make your self a bump key you don't even need that.

 

[Vicegrip]

Pretty much any lock can be picked with next to nothing except patience. If you make your self a bump key you don't even need that.

Many good locks can't be bumped. Most anyone can rake or bump a Kwikset. You can rake a good cylinder with a spool pin or 2 for hours and not open it.

I do a fair amount of lock work and I use Yale D series. GA keyway is a good balance between cost and resistance to being picked.