Landed in JFK without my keys. Does anybody deliver on a Sunday?

December 26, 2015 6:40 PM

Be glad you are not me. :) I just landed at JFK without my apt keys. I'm going to stay with a friend or get a hotel tonight. There has GOT to be a service that can deliver the keys same-day Sunday, right? FedEx says no dice. (Courier service?) The keys are in Hilton Head, SC. Thank you! Worse things have happened to people, but goddamn I am an idiot.
posted by jessca84 to Travel & Transportation (22 answers total)

Just get a locksmith to open the door and, if you don't have spares, rekey the lock?
posted by zippy at 6:45 PM on December 26, 2015 [7 favorites]

Own home or rent? Get a locksmith to let you in. Get overnight service on Monday. Maybe you have an extra set inside your home?
posted by Oyéah at 6:47 PM on December 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Apartment? Sorry but can't super, custodian, or owner help?
posted by artdrectr at 6:59 PM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Hotel + rush mailing fee > cost of calling a locksmith / super.
posted by suedehead at 7:01 PM on December 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: It cost me $300 to replace the (defective) lock a few months ago. And it's a holiday weekend; I'm sure they'll demand tons of money. Wouldn't a courier service be cheaper?

The super is away.
posted by jessca84 at 7:12 PM on December 26, 2015

What's your home like? It might be cheaper to break in and get damage repaired... $300? Is it an apartment with a really unique sort of fancy entry system?

The super must have an emergency back-up?

It cost me C$60 to have three locks re-keyed, same-day service.
posted by kmennie at 7:16 PM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Kmennie: I see you don't live in New York. I did my research, and I talked him down. I know you're trying to be helpful, but yeah.

Ok, no more thread sitting. Thanks for the replies so far.
posted by jessca84 at 7:20 PM on December 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Have you tried DHL? https://www.dhlsameday.com/
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:32 PM on December 26, 2015

Fed Ex does same-day every day according to their website... my guess is that Hilton Head is too remote for this service, perhaps. Can someone on the SC side get to Savannah or Charleston?

I'd ask a locksmith to let you in but not change the locks (which should cost less) and then wait for an overnight delivery.

Also... make a couple spares and store with trusted friends.
posted by bluedaisy at 7:41 PM on December 26, 2015

If you can get a friend to pick up your keys and bring them to the airport, they can probably find someone flying to JFK or another New York-ish airport who will bring them and meet you there. You would be surprised how often people are willing to help when asked.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:47 PM on December 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: If you can get the package to a major airport, you can use Delta Dash for same day service to your nearest airport. Smallest package rate is $78. I used it many years ago when we had a crew doing refurb work at a plant and they were missing a key part. I was the FNG who got to drive to the nearest airport to go retrieve the box.
posted by intermod at 7:50 PM on December 26, 2015 [7 favorites]

Best answer: I don't know what type of keys you'll have, but would they be the type that key.me could get cut from a photo if someone at Hilton Head can install the app and get a photo of them for you. They've got plenty of kiosks in NYC where you can get a copy printed.
posted by ambrosen at 7:50 PM on December 26, 2015 [28 favorites]

There are special security keys for NYC apartment front doors. $300 is on average what you'd pay a locksmith. You could maybe get a neighbor who knows you to buzz you in, and call a locksmith for you to open just for your own apartment door, but you definitely don't want to be messing around with the front door of the building. (Stated mainly for people not familiar with the area).

You can use this tool to get a quote of $500 to deliver the keys from Hilton Head to NYC on Sunday. https://www.upsexpresscritical.com/cfw/getQuote.do

So two nights in an airbnb sound cheaper to me.
posted by hyperion at 7:56 PM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Does your super or management co have a copy of your keys for emergencies? That might be another route to pursue.
posted by Mchelly at 8:14 PM on December 26, 2015

Best answer: Rekeying a lock in my experience costs about a quarter the price of replacing the lock. So if the lock was $300 to replace, getting it rekeyed should cost about $70. But yes, there'll be a surcharge for a holiday weekend, most likely.
posted by lollusc at 8:16 PM on December 26, 2015

I'd try Craigslist, Facebook and task rabbit to see if someone's driving that route and wants gas money. Ugh, good luck.

I did exactly the same thing about six years ago. I was able to get the super to drive back from Long Island and let me in, and I just stayed put til my keys got back to me. How "away" is the super and is there a back-up or emergency contact for your landlord or management company?
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 9:28 PM on December 26, 2015

An emergency locksmith can come in and pick your lock. I've done this twice recently and it's cost $95 for about 5 minutes work - ymmv. I wish I had seen this post before - I'm in Charleston but leaving around noon tomorrow. If I could help out from the CHS airport somehow let me know.
posted by bendy at 9:32 PM on December 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

fake / scam locksmiths are (or used to be) a known thing, particularly in NY - that may explain your previous bad experience. one of the solutions recommended there is finding an ALOA member.
posted by andrewcooke at 1:06 AM on December 27, 2015

Please update when resolved! I'm curious how this turns out.
posted by Borborygmus at 4:37 AM on December 27, 2015 [8 favorites]

OK - You have been given good advice on how to get the keys from an airport to your house in a day. How to get them to the airport?

Lyft.

Use the Lyft app to get a driver from Hilton head then IMMEDIATELY call the driver and explain the score to them. Tell them it's a key pick up and delivery to the airport. Tell them there is a $40 tip involved (and give it to them via the Lyft app) for their time and trouble in the delivery. You may have to call 2 or so drivers in order to get one to accept the deal.

Also like half the other posters - recommend getting a locksmith lockout service because you are not getting into your apartment until Mon or Tue otherwise.
posted by AGameOfMoans at 1:06 PM on December 27, 2015

Response by poster: I'M IN! Here's how it turned out:

--DHL was a great idea, but the cost was $336. Delta Dash sounded promising, but they were closed when I called.

--Joe in Australia, your idea of asking another flyer to take the key was so tempting, but I just couldn't do that to my parents, haha. All I could imagine was my dad getting hauled away for loitering or harassment as the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song played on in the background.

--The lowest locksmith quote was $225 thanks to the holiday weekend. I accepted this would probably be my fate.

--Ambrosen, this video is for you. Key.me saved my butt for $5!!! There was actually a tech glitch so I couldn't print the key at the kiosk, BUT it turns out the company is in NYC. An amazing customer service rep made a key at her office, and I picked it up. I'm going to write a thank you to her boss and do some random act of kindness as an offering to the universe.

Thank you guys so much for the suggestions! I hope the info here helps someone else.
posted by jessca84 at 1:14 PM on December 27, 2015 [35 favorites]

Sneakey can duplicate a key from distant, angled photos, not as conveniently as Key.me.
posted by clew at 10:48 PM on December 28, 2015