Now more than ever there is a need to diversify the products and services you offer in order to stay ahead of your competition. One of the easiest and most profitable solutions is offering aftermarket car key replacement cases!
Why would someone want to replace their key?
Car key cases get broken all the time! A spring may have broken in a flip key, or a button may have stopped working due to excessive use. Alternatively the case or buttons may just be extremely worn down due to normal wear and tear by people throwing their keys down on the side or dropping them on the floor etc.
People usually go straight to their local car dealer to ask for a new key; however when they learn that the average price for a new key is £250+ they quickly turn to their local key cutters.
If you are offering replacement cases you can provide them with a brand new case and blade for a fraction of the price of getting a manufacturer replacement key whilst making yourself a VERY good profit for a few minutes work – if that!
What is a car key replacement case?
The aftermarket replacement cases available at CitySafe are empty shells. In many cases they look identical to the original key cases, and come with replacement screws or button (unless the buttons are attached to the circuit board). Some cases also come with a sticker of a manufacturer’s logo which you can stick on if you choose.
Once a customer brings in a car key to get a replacement case, all you have to do is find the replacement remote case style that matches it most. Make sure that it has the correct blade; cut it; and then finally transfer the internal circuit board from the old case into the new one. It’s that simple!
What price should you charge for a replacement case?
As you can imagine, prices fluctuate depending on the case, vehicle make and model. Most people charge around £20+VAT for the lower end cases such as Vauxhall, Ford and Volkswagen. For higher end cases such as BMW and the new Nissan Smart cases people charge around £45+VAT. There can also be a slightly higher price for a flip key compared to a standard blade out key case. As a point of reference you should charge around £30-£35+VAT for a Peugeot flip key, and around £25-£30+VAT for a Toyota blade out key case.
When you consider that the cost of a lower end case at CitySafe is as little as 99p+VAT, and under £6+VAT for a higher end case, the profit margin that can be made in offering replacement remotes in your shop is huge!
What different types of keys could you come across?
There are 3 different types of keys that you are likely to come across:
Here at CitySafe you can find all 3 different types of keys in our range of replacement cases!
What happens to the original remote?
We would strongly recommend that your customer keeps the original remote and puts it in a draw at home. If they end up misplacing their brand new remote that you’ve just made them, although they won’t be able to start their car, they will have a blade that will be able to lock and unlock their vehicle doors. This will make it a lot easier and cheaper for a locksmith to program a new key as they won’t have to pick and potentially replace the locks.
So what are you waiting for?
Start making money by offering aftermarket replacement cases today! At CitySafe we have over 70 high quality cases for you to choose from in a variety of shapes and there’s numerous button combinations available!