I am a property manager and I frequently need to get keys made. Having been to Flam's a few times I can tell you that sure, they know their stuff. But that's not saying much. I mean, what do you really need to know to operate a machine that duplicates keys or change a lock.? Any trained monkey would be able to do it. With that said, I don't feel that the price is justified when coming to Flam's. It is pretty expensive to get copies of keys made here. Not only that, they have some funky hours. What it neglects to say on this page is that they are closed from noon to 1pm during the week for lunch. The whole shop shuts down and everything grinds to a halt. Instead of staggering employee lunch's so they can remain open for that hour, they'd rather close up shop. Oh, and they close by noon on Saturday. I guess business must be great for them to have random hours. Not really a big deal because there is a friendly and more reasonably priced locksmith about a block away. Silver's Locksmith is about half price and does just as good work. Might not be a full service shop with all the (overpriced) doorknobs for sale like at Flam's, but if you need some keys made quick then save Silver's is the spot. Flam's has a few parking spaces out back in the alley. read more

For nine months, I've been trying to get a copy of my deadbolt key made, and no one could do it. Everyplace I went to made something that didn't fit in the lock. Jack discovered that (because my lock is apparently Korean) the blank that would work wasn't the same brand as the lock. He made a copy for free, and told me to go home to test it. It worked! I immediately went back and had him make multiple copies of all my keys. While you're there, he will tell you his theories on schools today and many other things, at great length. It doesn't matter whether you agree with him or not. I've gone to a LOT of key makers in this town, but Flam's the only master locksmith in the area. His prices are great, too! read more

Not only are these people extremely knowledgeable about all things security, but they are genuinely interested in helping you and will give you all the options, even if it means less cash going to them. My mailbox key to our building went AWOL. It's one of those boxes that's one partition of a 5 partition unit and each has individual locks. After cajoling a USPS carrier to keep the box open, the first locksmith I called (it got a 5 star average here on Yelp) informed me they would have to come out - $79 - replace the lock - $45 - and I needed to purchase the parts - $20. $134 in total. When called Flam's, they told me I could just take the lock out (he gave me quick instructions), bring it in and all I'd have to pay for is the lock and it would be easy for me to re-install it. Then he realized he could simply cut two keys based on the lock brand, model and code. I don't want to embarrass them by typing the extremely low cost to me, but let's just say it was extremely lower than the $134 the other locksmith wanted to charge. When the first locksmith called me back to see if I wanted to go forward with the service, I told them the option Flam's gave me (didn't mention their name) and the lady went, "Good for you!" and hung up. I think I didn't pay enough to them. The least I could do is write this awesome yelp review about this awesome locksmith. read more

Flam's changed out all the locks on my house when I bought it some 20 years ago, keying everything alike. All good. One latch recently stopped working easily. I took the entire lockset off the door and met with Stanley, who diagnosed the problem, sold me simply the deadlatch (instead of the whole mechanism, which he assured me I didn't need,) serviced the latchset, and was both pleasant and informative along the way. Why go anywhere else? read more

This lady(the owner), sent me a thoughtless response that has nothing to do with my main concern. I grew up in Sherman Oaks all my life and they have always been the talk of the neighborhood as having over-priced keys. How dare Vicki Flam go on attack of coffee, when I have never drunk coffee. What a insult to anyone to compare your leisure to why you should be able to afford her "Over-priced keys" For how many years they have been around their store is always empty. Please do not send me any more private messages talking trash and attempting to justify your "Over-priced keys" read more

My business is right around the corner. We have used Flam's several times over the years to have extra keys cut for our employees. We dropped off our keys early afternoon and said we would be back later to pick them up. I didn't have the time to do that and figured I'd get around to it the next day. The owner, conveniently dropped off my keys and the set that he had made to our business before we closed for the day. He was worried that someone would be missing their keys! He left my assistant the keys & receipt & wasn't concerned that I hadn't paid. He trusted that I would. Unbelievable! I can't tell you how much I appreciate that kind of customer service. That is the difference between Home Depot & Flam's. read more

The most charming Mom and Pop shop I have come across in a long time. Seriously, I haven't found nicer locksmiths or better customer service on Ventura Boulevard....... It's hard to tell when people in small business are sincere sometimes, if they truly care about the customer, or just want to engage them to sell more inventory.......but the Flam's are genuine and pure souls with every individual. They aren't here to screw your wallet, they are here to help! Luckily, I didn't have a major locking issue---- just a simple situation. Either way, I ended up in a conversation with this couple for over two hours. They are more comforting than an apple pie. Skip your average, mean locksmiths and visit this mom and pop shop! They are the best! read more

Great mom and pop lock shop. They have been here forever and the owner knows his locks and will try to fix it first before telling you that you ned a new one like other shops that just want to replace. He will actually take the time to take the lock apart and see if it is repairable. Thanks Flam's read more

I know them for almost 20 years, and these are the guys you like using. These are the real businesses that are still there to help clients with honesty and care. I, myself learned from them a lot about running a business with love and care. They are a very busy operation and its not always simple to satisfy everyone when you run many calls. It's easy to throw a bad review for a person who doesn't want to pay for a non warranty issue, or for a key that took a while to copy since it wasn't a good original key to begin with. They have been around for three generations so without any dough you can do and will enjoy doing business with them. You will be in good hands. I love them based on many experiences dealing with them. Sincerely, Avi Ben David read more

Reading some of the other Yelp reviews I'm puzzled at the negative experiences. Today was the first time I went to this place because the keys I got copied at the hardware store didn't work. They re-cut the bad keys (which I tested as soon as I got home and they worked), and I even got a couple extra copies there (which worked the first time). As for the service and attitude in the store, they were extremely knowledgeable and professional. Much like most people, I thought keys were keys and didn't know/care about difference in quality. But I appreciate people who are experts/specialists at what they do, no matter how mundane it may seem. Oh, and for those who complained about key prices -- my keys were $2.50 each. Probably doesn't match WalMart's $1.80 keys, but who cares??? read more

I went here for a garage door opener. Later for a few key ring color coders. Then... later for a few keys. when i brought in my keys to be copied, flam took one look at them and said "you have issues with this key dont you?" without even telling him, he knew i had this janky key from my old landlord that only worked when it wanted to. i was impressed not only by that, but by his approachability and great stories he tells while he's taking care of your order. PLUS, my order was like $12.18 I gave him $13. he took just the $12. I made a questionable face and Flam said "Dont worry about it, real change comes from within". So dont be an air-headed valley-girl on your phone the whole time. eEen if its not flam, try taking 2 minutes and have an interesting conversation with a stranger sometime, it may make your day just a little bit better. other than that, if i need to get keys made anywhere else, ill just go to Jose A. (below). I hear he trains monkeys to make keys. read more

I bought a condo and Flams was the only place I could get a copy of my "highly secure", "Do Not Copy" keys made. I understand charging me the high price of $15 per key because of this special key arrangement. But, I had these shipped from Sherman Oaks to Calabasas via UPS...and they charged me $13.95 to ship a small envelope AND, on top of that charged me another $2 for "handling". Handling? Really?!?!?! So essentially 2 keys cost me $50. In the future, I will find another shop that can cut these special keys so I am not ripped off again. read more

Vickie Flam does not return phone calls and only responds via Yelp after she reads reviews. I had this experience with her in 2020 and again currently. In 2020, when she didn't return a phone call, I sent her a letter. After she ignored the letter, I wrote a negative review to report that her employee, Stanley, who works in the store, pulled down his mask when he had to cough a phlegm-filled cough. This was during the height of the Covid pandemic and was disgusting and dangerous. On 10/4/22, when I was in the store, employee, Stanley, spent time giving me much information as to how to install a door knob. When he started to write up the sale, he remembered my name from over two years ago. He told me that I gave him a very negative review and he would not help me. He walked away and had another employee, Cory, write up the sale. I asked Cory to leave a message for Vickie to call me. He sent her a message while I was there. She never called me. I guess she doesn't mind that Stanley has refused to give me future service. Since Stanley is the only employee who works behind the counter, he, in essence, has told me that I may not do business at Flam's anymore. Apparently, Vickie Flam doesn't care if she loses business from a long-standing customer. I can only guess that Vickie never took the time to explain to Stanley how his actions in 2020 endangered customers because it appears that he still doesn't understand. Stanley must not have considered that his current inappropriate behavior would also be reported to Vickie Flam and reported on Yelp. I am guessing that Stanley knows he can refuse service when he doesn't like a customer because Vickie supports him. read more

Mr. and Mrs. Flam were amazingly helpful! I had a problem locating a replacement keyway for our condominium building and they worked very hard in assisting me. They were both very polite, patient, and knowledgeable. I would recommend them anytime! Mrs. Flam even educated me as to what credentials to look for in locksmiths for future reference. Although they could not service my building directly they STILL helped me every step of the way! Thanks to them I was also able to save our condominium building some much needed money! read more

Top-notch service! I spoke to Corey over the phone, sent him some photos and told him what I thought I wanted. He offered an alternative that took less time to install and looks better than what I had asked for originally. He came out the following morning and the problem was solved! I am a happy customer! read more

Friendly staff, great prices and even better service. I was in and out in ten minutes and for less than $6 for my auto key copy.

I just read Vicky Flam's response to my review which I would like to revise based upon the painful and personal information she shared about her husband. As I had said, I was satisfied with the products and service at their shop but had only been upset by the poor judgment of a thoughtless employee who endangers the health of customers. I did not know the reason why I had not received a response to my request for a phone call or to my letter; I only knew that there hadn't been a response. An employee, Cory, told me that Mr. Flam was no longer going to the shop because of the coronavirus, which was not accurate. I never met the Flams but wish them all the best and will continue to be their customer. read more

After getting fed up with my home depot key copies that randomly stop working after a few uses, I thought I'd finally go to a professional. These guys are great and my key copies work every time!! Also, love the old fashion feel you get when you go in. They are simply the best! read more

I've used Flams for my business and my home. The service and quality of work is phenomenal. Furthermore their level of knowledge and experience of staff is awesome. For a new home I moved into, they were able to rekey all the doors that had different keys and upgrade the lock to something more reliable and difficult to pick. They also helped with some of the room door knobs and latches throughout the house. Finally you can't beat their customer service. Wish there were more companies around like them! read more

We were locked out of our mailbox and didn't have a spare key. With Coreys help and patience he was able to open the mailbox without damage and replace the lock as well. The customer service here is amazing and they don't try to rip you off. Honest price! Every other place we had called quoted us 3x more than what we had paid. We definitely recommend. Thank you! read more

The best guys ever) I came with broken key at all and guys made a miracle! It was a key for big Hino truck and when I tried to start engine everything works perfectly!!! Thank you so much! read more

Flam's Lock & Key - Keys & Locksmiths Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I have been going to Flam's for some time now, and I prefer going there over a larger, more impersonal store. Also, they have many things other stores don't have. Today I called for a rather unusual key, which they didn't have, but Stanley gave me the names and numbers of 2 places that would have it. That is really great service, and I appreciate it. read more

Had a locked trunk with no key. Over the phone Flam's said they could do it for $10-$25. Not only did they get the trunk opened, they had a key. All for ten bucks. WARNING!!! Sherman Oaks Lock & Safe wanted $65 for the same job. DO NOT USE THEM! Go to FLAM'S!!! Thanks again read more

He has everything you need for your key, locks and more. I was driving around for hours trying to find a place to copy my keys for work. I was so excited when he said he can do it for me!! read more

This place is a JOKE!!!!!! Stood inside for about 5 minutes and no one was there. Finally an older man came out from the back, looking like he was sleeping. And keys I got made and totally over paid for didn't even work!! And he wanted to charge me again to fix his mistakes. Looks like it's time to retire. Stick to Home Depot. read more

Definitely support this small business and don't waste your time at Home Depot. I Didn't think a key shop would ever impact my day in such a great way. Customer service is Absolutely perfect. Met who I think was Flam but this gentlemen was very trustworthy and so kind. read more

This place is great. I got locked out of my apartment and I posted on Nextdoor, asking for recommendations for a locksmith and overwhelmingly, everyone replied with, "Flam's." They were right. Super efficient. Super professional. Very, very helpful and kind. Can't recommend enough! read more

Vicki, You were prejudiced and predetermined to screw me over prior to ever speaking with me from speaking with the building's disturbed, hysterical and overreactive Board member. You insisted over and over again that it was a defected strike plate and that it would take hours to get someone out to look at it for $75. You then hung up on someone locked outside of their property. It wasn't a defective strike plate as you insisted and it cost you any credibility that you might have had. You lost a homeowner and a good paying customer. I'd never consider trusting you or your company with my security. read more

Quality of work provided was fine. Corey's personality was extremely unpleasant and I felt more like a burden than a customer.

Flam's Key Service is the friendliest lock and key I have ever come across. They always remember my name and always help get me the best deal on whatever I need. They have gone out of their way on several occasions to help my company out with various lock problems. I highly recommend! read more

Once again Flams came through for us. Thoughtful, efficient, courteous and extremely knowledgeable, professional and fair, Corey repaired a problem lock that we lived with for 20 years! THANK YOU again Corey and Flams for always a successful job! read more

Absolutely amazing family-run business. The best customer service. Very impressive, reasonable and trustworthy. Am completely pleased.

We needed a lock changed and Vikki took GREAT care of us. She spent time with me on the phone explaining our options and I never felt rushed or pressured at all. Super-wonderful customer service from her and the locksmith they sent to our house was courteous and super speedy. Honest people and great pricing... Flam's is now our local choice for a Valley locksmith. read more

The best service. They really care and do a great job rekeying, and all things lock! This is the place to go. Enchantment brought to locksmithing! read more

I bought a transponder key from a sketchy online retailer and the first locksmith that I brought it to wouldn't even attempt to cut it for me. Then, I went to Flam's, where I met Jack Flam. Once I gave Jack the green light to cut my key, he made it his personal project. Jack probably spent 2 hours cumulatively over two days working on my key and he refused to accept my money until the job was done right. I highly recommend Flam's and will be returning there whenever I need another job done. read more

This is a great business. They seem to really care about the quality of their work and customer service. I recently had to get our front door re-keyed and from my initial call with Vicki, I found everyone I interacted with to be extremely helpful and informative. Eric, who came out to do initial rekey, was a pleasure and also extremely informative. What really impressed me was the response when I called back two weeks later. Over these two weeks I started noticing an issue with the lock that I wasn't sure if was related to the original re-key or "user error". I called in to see what could be done and Eric was back at my place within the hour to take a look. I really appreciated the prompt response and willingness to hear out my concerns. I was convinced it was just "user error" but when my husband started complaining of the same issue, I figured it was time to call and have it looked out. (Turns out the lock was acting irregularly.) Eric really went above and beyond to help me get the problem fixed. He worked on the issue for at least an hour and a half and despite how frustrating the problem was, he really kept his cool and never gave up. He really was determined to get the issue fixed. When I asked how much it would be to replace the lock, he said he could get me a more accurate quote if I liked but he would expect about $150-200 to replace everything. He said he really prefers to try to fix things though particularly if they were working before. I really appreciated that. He said he needed to go back to the shop and brainstormed with his shop mates. He then called me back in less than 1/2 hour saying he had a few things he wanted to try and wanted to see when it would be convenient for me to come out. He came right back with a bunch of parts and fixed it in the jiffy! What really impressed me was Eric's determination, honesty, sense of responsibility for a certain level of quality of work and his customer service. He waived the service fee despite having had to spend so much time on the issue and only charged me for the parts ($15!). It's always so refreshing to meet someone who takes their job so seriously and also able to balance it with a good personality and temperament. I will only go to Flam's and will be recommending them to everyone I know. read more

Corey and Julian from Flam's were great! Flam's was recommended to me. I spoke to Corey and was able to get an appointment within 2 days of calling. Julian arrived exactly on schedule and he was able to re-key doors and a mailbox. He answered any questions I had, and made sure everything was in great working order. The fees were reasonable and on-par with expectations. I am keeping Corey's/Flam's card on hand for any future work. Thank you, Corey and Julian!! read more

Just moved to the neighborhood and wanted to hire Flam's but after an hour of runaround, annoying upselling about lock specialties from someone I think was the owner, the estimate came to over $200 just to re-pin and install a lock on the front door. When I balked at the price, I got nothing but attitude. I went elsewhere (Silvers Locksmith on Ventura, near Ralphs) and got just as good work at under half the cost. read more

WOW! We had a break-in and our deadbolt was ruined in the process. A call to Flam's and someone was out the same afternoon...they actually seemed concerned that we should spend even one night without the right protection. The man they sent was not only capable, but he worked quickly (saving me money), cleaned up after completing the job (not even a speck of sawdust) and was totally professional. I only needed them for this one emergency, but I'll have no hesitation to call them again for other, more complex work. read more

I was recommended to Flam's by a friend and was not disappointed. These folks have been doing locks for a long time and got me the security I wanted. Sounds kinda corny but it's true. Talk to Vicki, she's a stitch and knows her locks. read more