Betsy Carstairs

Yesterday turned into a bit of a nightmare when the key for my 18 year old BMW snapped off in the door when we tried to lock up & head into Turks for a cuppa. My real estate buddy Adam Goss was able to pull the piece out from the door out so we did have a key albiet in 2 pieces so not functional. Adam ran up to the Hardware store on Commercial Drive to see if they could cut us a new key but no that would have been too easy. We headed back down to Turks to brainstorm how to deal with the car with no key & a meter ticking. The next part of the puzzel was very cool. Adam & I got out our i-phones. Adam pulled up the Yellow Pages & asked for any lock smith within a 5 km radius while I called Brian Jessel BMW. Brian Jessel evidentally " does not cut keys or have the availability to give me a key for my car" This to me was rediculous so I asked if this was not a option where do they go to get keys for their "unchipped" keys. The 1st person was not even 1/2 helpful until I am afraid I lost it & he passed me onto "parts department" The 1st service representative in parts was equally unhelpful & after my insistance passed me onto another service person in parts. I finally was able to get the informaion that I needed. They deal with AG Security on Fraser. WHile I was trying to be civil with the Brian Jessel staff Adam was calling with no results the Yellow Pages list of locksmiths. His experience was equally frustrating  until he lucked upon Martin @ Mount Pleasant Locksmith. Martin asked Adam what the ID # on the Ilco key was. Martin checked to see if it was in stock & within 2 minutes of the initial call he reported that he had the blank & he was not like 2 other places we called "out for lunch"  between 12-1:00  Thanks to i-phone's technology, Adam's fast thinking & Martin's professional way of dealing with our problem we had our new key & were back to the car before the 2 hour time on the meter clocked out. Hurrah!!!!!!!