The Key Holding Service is a discreet service that will allow you to keep something locked and not have access to the keys for an agreed amount of time. When the agreed period is over, we send you the key. If you want we can also send you a new lock (but no key) so you can lock up your item when you are done using it. You can then send us back the old lock and key in your own time.
We don't much care what it is you want to lock, or why you want to do it. But we do understand that you want the key to the lock to be out of your control for periods of time. We can think of many reasons why this might be useful, fun or titillating.
Obviously you have to be careful when you lock something up and have no key. Depending on what you decide to lock up, please think about the following:
The first thing to do is to get the lockable item and find out what kind of lock it uses. We usually deal with small but high quality brass luggage locks, but we need to know what you need. When you have it, register for our service. Pick one of the plans that determine how long we keep the key before sending it to you, you can have fixed term or variable terms. Decide whether you want us to monitor your status, and if so, how strictly the rules should be applied.
Of course, the keys only come if you pay the membership fee. The fee is determined by a combination of shipping and handling costs, and how much effort we have to put into looking after your keyholding needs. If you need a key once a week, you will be paying more in shipping fees than if you need a key once a month. If you require constant monitoring, that also affects the price.
It is probably more helpful for the locking and unlocking to be monitored. We do this with a combination of web technology and you emailing pictures. On our website, we have a page where you can find a list of secret codes. These change all the time, but there is a code for today, the current hour, and the current minute. We will ask you to email us a picture of our lock, locked to the item, and the picture including one of the secret codes written on a piece of paper. This way, we know the lock was secure no earlier than when the code was issued and no later than when the email arrived.
If you find you need your key earlier than scheduled, we can arrange that. Once we have received the early release fee, we will overnight the key to you, and a replacement lock. If it is an emergency, you already know what to do. The appropriate tools to open anything can be obtained fairly easily, although you may need to call the Fire Department to get them. But that's pretty much the definition of an emergency.
If after an emergency either the lock or the item is destroyed, you will have to get another item. We may insist that you get a more secure item and opt for more intrusive monitoring.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Simple Holding | You send us the keys to your lock and tell us when you want them back. We keep them safe, and then send them back on that date. It's as simple as that. Unlike most of other plans, this is fixed price |
| Regular, Unmonitored | You tell us how often you need keys to a lock, and what kind of lock (this only works for locks we can mail, not ones that are attached to doors, gates or buildings). At the start of the plan we send you a lock, but no key. When the agreed time period has passed we send you the key to the lock you already have, and a new lock with no key. You send us the old lock and key by return |
| Regular, Monitored | As with the regular unmonitored plan, there is a regular stream of locks and keys in the mail. The difference is that we check that the locks are being used. There is a special page on our website that has 3 numbers on it that change continuously. Before you unlock, go to the website and write down the time shown and one of the numbers (we tell you which one). Take a photograph of the old lock in the locked position, including the piece of paper with the time and number. When you re-lock, take another photograph and email both to us immediately. From the time & number you included in the first picture and the time on the email we received, we know how long your item was unlocked, and that it is now locked. Please feel free to cover-up anything you do not wish us to see in the picture. We only care about locks. |
| Random Duration | Rather than a fixed period, let us introduce a little randomness. You tell us a general timeframe in which you would like to get the keys to the lock. You might choose 4-8 days, 1-2 weeks, or whatever you like. |
| Daily Spot Checks | To make the monitoring a little more interesting, you will be required to visit the website daily to pick up "today's number". We will contact you pretty much at random, you will have to send us a photo of the locked item including the number you picked up. |
| Random Spot Checks | Rather like daily spot checks, but you will be required to obtain a fresh number from the website within a fixed period of us contacting you. As ever, photographic evidence will be required. |
| Controlled | For the brave. You may hand over control of the timing of us sending the key to someone else. You will be in negotiation with them when you need the key. They may set tasks or have other requirements for you to fulfill. We have several controllers with interesting personalities on our team. Perhaps you have someone else in mind that could take on that role. Either way, contact us for details. |
| One off hold and return | $50 |
| Monthly membership Fee Includes "regular, unmonitored" service |
$99 |
| Extra for random duration | $15 |
| Extra for monitoring | $20 |
| Daily spot checks | $10 |
| Random spot checks | $10 |
| Controlled | $50 |
| Shipping and handling | Calculated at $8 per mailing, pro-rated over the month |
| Early release fee | $1000. Includes fastest possible overnight mailing |
We use USPS flat rate boxes that are generally delivered in 2 days in the contiguous 48 states. These cost $4.50, but the markup to $8 includes our costs for packing materials, labels, and the time spent in packing and dealing with returned locks and keys.
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