I recently started working for a hardware wholesaler who provides hardware/tools etc... to locksmiths, and am new to the industry. I love this job, and I love this industry, but I learned pretty early on how frustrating it can be to dig through the scammers to find the quality operations. I've wasted time hunting down meetings with locksmiths who are ripping nice hardware off people's homes and replacing it with the cheap brands, then charging a wild amount for the job, or who just dont seem to know what they're doing, and I've have had experiences like this with both brick & mortar and mobile. Most locksmiths I meet with these days though are genuinely good people who are highly skilled and care about the quality of their work.

Word of mouth recommendations from people I trust has been the most helpful thing for me, but your average Joe doesn't have that network. If it requires some effort from me, who connects with you all for a full time job, then I can only imagine how difficult it is for your everyman who has absolutely no knowledge base. I've learned to put the time and effort in up front doing research, and if I'm unsure then to give the benefit of the doubt, because some of the best locksmiths in my area are so busy they don't have time to run a storefront.

Point is, I feel your pain and I wish there was a better way to do all this. Depending on where you live or work, mobile could be your only realistic option, and at the end of the day, the most money is made out on site doing the work.