Originally Posted By: 92saturnsl2
This is a line of thinking espoused by anyone who wants to charge more for their product. It doesn't always mean that extra quality is being passed on. An OEM key cost less than $5 to make (I'm sure of this)-- the dealer is simply gouging people by charging $40+ for a cheap piece of molded plastic/alloy metal with some fifty cent circuit inside. I understand why dealers have to charge what they do, but I just don't buy the extra quality aspect. Every OEM keyfob I've ever owned will fall apart with time or if you drop it just right, just as easily as a cheap E-bay one.
I'll take the gamble on my pair of $13 remote/keys (Ebay). I bought a set so that I have three keys, in case one goes belly up and I have to replace it, I can program it myself. I can do this over 10 times for the price of one key from the dealer. At the rate my wife loses them, puts them in the wash, drops it in the driveway only to be run over later, this is very helpful. If the key doesn't cut on the first try? I'm out a few bucks, not the locksmith's fault. I'll take that bet everytime! I understand not everyone has the same mindset as I, and that's okay. The keys I received from Ebay mimic the OEM quality, fit and finish in every way. To each their own.
FWIW, I found a locksmith that will charge $65 for cut/programming the initial key. I have yet to hear from a couple others, I doubt I will find a better deal though.
I don't want to deal with keys at all, and I have seen aftermarket keys and fobs fail in ways that I have not seen OE keys and fobs fail, so for me it has nothing to do with wanting to charge more for keys. I'd rather be selling any other part on a car. I will gladly refer people to other key resources, but I don't want to cut a key that didn't come out of my inventory unless the customer understands that if it doesn't work, it's on them. A lot of people think if they buy a key off eBay, then take it to a dealer for cutting and programming and it doesn't work, the dealer should be on the hook for getting them a working key. Nope. If someone knows what they are doing I'll work with them, but I'm not trying to get involved with the general public's eBay keys. A lot of people don't understand that the cheapest possible route is a gamble. They just think the cheapest route should work exactly like the most expensive route every time, so there's no incentive for dealers to charge less than they normally would.
The dealer doesn't pay the raw cost of making the key blank to buy it...an OE circle +, PK3, or VATS key costs a GM dealer around $17. Professional cutting equipment is very expensive, and cut keys are time consuming and low profit relative to other parts, so if a dealer just charges the retail price of the blank, that's a good deal. Any gouging is done by the manufacturer.
$65 is a great deal for a cut and program from a professional locksmith. Sounds like a winner.
