Dean2
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2021
- Posts
- 2,718
- Reaction score
- 3,941
- Location
- Near Edmonton
- Ram Year
- 2021 2500
- Engine
- 6.4
Decided I wanted a couple of spare FOBs for the new truck. I called a couple of local dealerships, new FOB for my 2021 2500 are 200-235 each plus 80 bucks a pop to program them, plus a key cutting charge. Problem is, can't get a spare FOB for at least 3 months.
So go on Ebay, find an OEM new FOB for 90 bucks Canadian Delivered and find an aftermarket Chinese one for 25 delivered. Order the OEM and the clone, should ne here in a couple of weeks. Thinking it isn't likely the dealership will program a FOB they didn't supply, I start phoning around for cost to reprogram from the Auto Locksmiths. Prices are all over the map from 115 per down to a couple of quotes at 75 bucks for two and another at 70 bucks for both. The interesting part is I actually had a couple of places tell em, even though they can't supply the FOBs, that if they try to program ones I supply and it doesn't work they still wanted to charge me 80 bucks each.
The variation in friendliness, helpfulness etc was markedly different and quite honestly surprising. One place wouldn't even giove me a price over the phone, insisted I had to come to their shop to get a price. Yeh, NO!!!! In this day and age I have no idea how they get any work. Strangely enough, the places offereing the better pricing tended to be far more accomodating. Proves you don't always get better service by paying more.
So go on Ebay, find an OEM new FOB for 90 bucks Canadian Delivered and find an aftermarket Chinese one for 25 delivered. Order the OEM and the clone, should ne here in a couple of weeks. Thinking it isn't likely the dealership will program a FOB they didn't supply, I start phoning around for cost to reprogram from the Auto Locksmiths. Prices are all over the map from 115 per down to a couple of quotes at 75 bucks for two and another at 70 bucks for both. The interesting part is I actually had a couple of places tell em, even though they can't supply the FOBs, that if they try to program ones I supply and it doesn't work they still wanted to charge me 80 bucks each.
The variation in friendliness, helpfulness etc was markedly different and quite honestly surprising. One place wouldn't even giove me a price over the phone, insisted I had to come to their shop to get a price. Yeh, NO!!!! In this day and age I have no idea how they get any work. Strangely enough, the places offereing the better pricing tended to be far more accomodating. Proves you don't always get better service by paying more.