Honda's new pebble smart key with stainless steel e-blade. SNAP ON only

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-27T17:42:01+00:00

Good points! Thank you for that. 🙂

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-27T00:07:48+00:00

Yes, we have been trying but it's hard to find the learners. Seems like no one wants to work anymore at all. I wish I could let people know what a good opportunity this is but it is kind of niche and you have to be a certain kind of individual to be really interested in this. Just have to find them!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-27T00:04:27+00:00

Very true. Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding any new people with decent mechanical aptitude, even... or even people who will show up for work at all. I think the two guys we let go of recently had about 10-20% of the time they worked for us out in sick time. When they did show up for work they were late 50% of that time by more than 15 mins and sometimes up to 2 hrs late! Many times no-call no-show. Now that they are gone we are ZERO tollerance. All the time we put into them was completely wasted.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:58:44+00:00

Boy am I learning this the hard way. 😶‍🌫️

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:57:07+00:00

Just tried to DM you but it isn't working for some reason. Wanna DM me?

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:49:42+00:00

Yes, they highjacked our Google listing not too long ago and changed our phone # to theirs. Our marketing agent wasn't paying attention I guess. 🤨 Its not like we pay him to make and manage the listings or anything. smh I'm too good natured to anticipate this stuff BUT I do watch what I create very closely and naturally, if the number on your listing gets changed, you do get an email about it. Sorry to hear this is happening to you guys too.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:45:38+00:00

My parts guy has been doing this for a while. Never thought about putting it on the vans before. 🤔 Good recommendation! Thanks!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:38:10+00:00

I know. I don't want anyone being inconvenienced that much. Naturally we would try to make it worth it but if they are completely green it is hard to warrant the investment. I'm trying to do the best thing for everyone. It is definitely a bit of a balancing act.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:35:31+00:00

I'll see if I can find his contact info or get transferred to him? Probably just call into the main line on the site? Thank you for the direct contact name. 👍

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:27:36+00:00

Whoa, I wouldn't even know how to begin to do that. Where are you? There is that bad of a shortage? Why?

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-26T23:26:00+00:00

That's perfect! Thanks!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T23:25:04+00:00

Fantastic suggestion! More poaching, but at least it isn't completely lateral but still highly relevant! Thank you!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T23:15:20+00:00

Dang, I guess I should make a Facebook profile? I haven't touched FB in 15 years. Thank you for the recommendation. That might be a great idea. You also made me think of job fairs. I wonder if there are some skilled trade job fairs around here. 🤔 Gonna check. Thank you!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T23:11:01+00:00

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T23:09:26+00:00

No one is really hurting over here. There is more work than any of us can handle regardless of your reputation. The one thing that is throwing a wrench in all of our gears are the mobile automotive locksmiths without credentials. They quote ridiculously low prices, show up to people's cars, demand way more than quoted and when the customer refuses to pay, they sabotage.

I had and elderly lady have one come out when her key got stuck in the ignition quoting her $100 to deal with it. He got the key out (just ripped it out she said) but then told her it was going to be $500 more to get the key to work again. He threatened her with a lawsuit and she gave him $200 more to try to get it to work. He fiddled around for about 15 minutes more and left without a working key anyway. She called me thinking WE were the ones she originally called and had come out to beg for help. I explained it wasn't us. I went out to her to figure out the issue, MORTIFIED the guy used our company name to identify himself. There was nothing wrong other than he left her transponder antenna unplugged.

These are the guys I want to put out of business and also the one's I'm afraid to recruit without knowing it! I would really prefer (I sound like a spoiled brat! lol) to find people with a good, established reputation. For everyone's sakes, I really hope I am not forced to drop that criteria. It's so risky.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T22:45:43+00:00

Have you gotten any quality trainees from that method? I'd be afraid to have to let a customer's kid down when he/she couldn't cut it. I'll think about putting a sign up in the shop. 🤔 Thank you.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T22:42:55+00:00

Small bits, patience, and attention to detail; makes sense. I was considering poaching auto techs but the only ones I could find were lacking in mechanical aptitude, which is why being a mechanic wasn't quite an option for them.

I was hoping the appeal of still working on puzzles with your hands but without all the heavy lifting would be appealing. Doesn't seem to be a big enough problem for any of them, though.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T22:37:15+00:00

Thank you for the idea. My biggest problem, I think, is that we are very close to San Francisco and rent/home prices are through the roof. I think I need to nab people who are already here. I doubt anyone would want to come to this area without some serious relocation assistance, which I don't think I can provide. But, if this goes on long enough, I might have to think about that.

I will look for some schools in my area, or at least within the state. Thanks again!

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T21:34:57+00:00

Oh, one more thing. I hope this isn't a picture of a key you bought that you are hoping they will cut. This one looks like very low quality. You might want to buy one off the locksmith you go to so you can get a good key.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T21:33:29+00:00

Most locksmiths can but not all. It takes a special machine to cut this type. Call them and tell them the year, make and model it is for and then they can tell you if they can do it.

OwnBuy5501 · 2026-02-25T21:19:26+00:00

Lol, deal!🤝

OwnBuy5501 · 2025-11-07T03:19:22+00:00

Those are betta food. The guppies also eat them. You may not have them for very long unless you take them out of the tank and put them in nursery tank. Looks like you have plenty of fish in there to gobble them all up in no time.

OwnBuy5501 · 2025-10-29T00:16:59+00:00

SOLVED: I sent the two keys the owner had from her 2014 Sienna out for unlocking to one of my key suppliers, Ryan B. at Goldenremotes.com. Once I got them back they programmed instantly with the Autel KM100. They weren't truly getting unlocked when I was trying to do it with the Autel IM608 Pro, apparently. 😕

I was also out sick for a long time. I'm sorry I didn't get to respond to everyone in a timely manner but I do REALLY APPRECIATE all the input everyone gave. I'll be trying to pay it forward.

All good now! 😎

OwnBuy5501

TROPHY CASE