As an avid shopper and retail industry expert, I know all too well the pain of losing your keys and needing a copy made immediately. It always seems to happen at the most inconvenient time when most locksmith shops and hardware stores are closed. But what if you could just pop into your local 7-11 and make a new key in minutes?
In recent years, the ubiquitous convenience store chain has dipped its toes into the key copying business by partnering with a company called KeyMe to install self-service automated key copying kiosks at select locations. But how exactly does this work, and is it really as great a deal as it seems? Let‘s take a closer look.
How Do KeyMe Kiosks at 7-11 Work?
KeyMe is a tech startup that has developed fully automated, touchscreen-operated key duplication kiosks. These futuristic vending machine-like devices can scan and copy your house, office, mailbox, car, and even high-security keys in under 2 minutes, with no human assistance required.
The process is simple:
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Scan: Insert your key into the kiosk‘s imaging slot. Advanced computer vision technology scans the key to determine its exact specifications.
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Save (optional): Create a free account to save a digital backup of your key in the cloud. This way if you lose your keys in the future, you can retrieve the saved key outline and get a new copy made with just a few taps of the screen – no need for the original physical key.
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Customize: Choose from a variety of key styles and colors including standard brass, stainless steel, and funky decorative designs. You can even add custom engraving.
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Pay: Insert your credit card or tap to pay with Apple/Google Pay. Prices for a standard brass key start at just $3.49.
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Copy: Watch as the kiosk‘s state-of-the-art key cutting hardware automatically duplicates your key in seconds with remarkable precision. Retrieve your brand new key from the dispensing slot.
The whole process is remarkably easy and convenient, combining the latest in computer vision, robotics and materials engineering. You can see a quick video demo of how it works here.
Pros and Cons of Key Copying at 7-11
Now that we‘ve covered how KeyMe kiosks work, let‘s weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of using one at 7-11 from a discerning shopper‘s perspective:
Pros
- Unbeatable 24/7 convenience – make a new key anytime on your own schedule without having to get to a locksmith during business hours
- Some of the cheapest prices around, as low as $3.49 for a basic brass door key
- Quick turnaround time, get your new keys in under 2 minutes
- More high-tech and automated than old school key copying machines used by many locksmiths
- Ability to save a digital copy of your key for easy future duplication if you lose it
Cons
- Very limited availability – KeyMe kiosks are currently only in a small fraction of 7-11 stores, mostly in NYC area
- Some speciality keys like sidewinder-cut auto keys can‘t be copied, only standard flat keys
- No in-person professional assistance if you run into trouble or need advice
- Slight security concern with your sensitive key outline being stored on a third-party server, although they claim it is encrypted
As you can see, copying keys at a 7-11 KeyMe kiosk can be incredibly convenient and affordable in a pinch, especially if you‘ve previously stored a digital backup of your key with them. However, the biggest downside is that these kiosks simply aren‘t widely available yet outside of a few major metro areas.
Key Copying Costs: 7-11 KeyMe vs. Other Options
To appeal to price-conscious shoppers, KeyMe advertises that its keys start at just $3.49 each, which is definitely on the lower end. But how does that compare to key copy costs at other common retailers? Here‘s what my research found:
| Retailer | Basic Brass Key | Specialty Keys | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-11 KeyMe Kiosk | $3.49 | $5.49 – $69.99+ | Car keys must be shipped, takes 2-3 days |
| Home Depot | $1.49 – $2.49 | $2.99 – $5.00+ | |
| Lowe‘s | $1.99 – $2.99 | $3.49 – $5.99+ | |
| Walmart | $2.00 – $2.50 | $5.00 – $6.00 | Limited selection |
| Local Locksmith (avg) | $2.00 – $4.00 | $3.00 – $20.00+ | Prices vary widely |
| Hardware Store (avg) | $1.50 – $3.00 | $3.00 – $8.00+ | Selection and services vary |
*Prices as of March 2023. Specialty keys include decorative, high-security, RFID/transponder types
As you can see, for a basic brass door key copy, KeyMe‘s $3.49 price tag is competitive but not the absolute lowest. You‘ll pay around a dollar less at major hardware chains like Home Depot and Lowe‘s.
However, KeyMe really stands out in its wide selection of novelty and specialized key types, where its prices are often significantly lower than the competition. It also offers unique benefits like digital key backup and 24/7 access.
Why Hasn‘t 7-11 Rolled Out KeyMe Kiosks to More Stores?
According to 7-11 representatives, the company‘s goal is to eventually expand its KeyMe key copying services to more store locations beyond just the NYC area. However, although this partnership was first announced almost a decade ago back in 2013, progress has been very slow and availability remains extremely limited.
As a business analyst, I believe there are a few potential reasons for this:
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Complex hardware and maintenance: KeyMe kiosks are highly complex machines that require specialized parts, software and maintenance. Rolling them out and servicing them at scale across 7-11‘s 9000+ stores would be a massive undertaking and investment.
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Slim profit margins: Although KeyMe tries to keep its prices low to attract customers, the margins on duplicate keys, especially basic brass keys, are razor thin. When you factor in the costs of leasing space from 7-11 and servicing the kiosks, it may be a low or even negative ROI initiative, making it a lower priority.
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Regulatory hurdles: Key copying is a surprisingly regulated industry due to lock system security concerns. Different states and localities have varying rules around restricted keys that can‘t be copied, licensing requirements for key duplicators, etc. Navigating all of this red tape in each new market could be slowing down expansion plans.
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Limited consumer demand: While certainly a convenient value-add service, key copying is likely pretty low on the list of reasons why most consumers choose to shop at a convenience store. People go to 7-11 for snacks, drinks, gas and simple household goods – not errands like key copying that they may only need once every few years on average. So the additional foot traffic and revenue generated by KeyMe kiosks may not be enough to justify giving them precious floor space in most 7-11 stores.
All that said, I do believe 7-11 still remains committed to the key copying business in the long run. KeyMe kiosks may not become ubiquitous at every 7-11 but I can see them expanding to more high-traffic urban locations where there is significant demand. It will likely just take more time to figure out the economics and logistics.
The Bottom Line
So in summary, only a small percentage of 7-11 stores currently offer self-service key copying via KeyMe kiosks, mainly concentrated around the NYC metro area. If you are one of the lucky few to have a KeyMe kiosk in your neighborhood 7-11, it offers unparalleled speed, selection and convenience for copying keys 24/7 at great prices.
However, until 7-11 and KeyMe work out the kinks and significantly expand this rollout nationwide, the vast majority of consumers will need to stick with other options for key duplication such as hardware stores, locksmiths, or other retailers with similar self-service kiosk brands like MinuteKey.
The key copying industry as a whole is ripe for disruption, and 7-11 is smart to explore ways to get in on this business and offer more value-added services to its customers. But it seems the key copying revolution it once promised with KeyMe is still far from becoming a mainstream reality. As a savvy shopper, I‘ll be keeping my eye out for expansion updates, but won‘t be betting on 7-11 as my go-to key copy solution anytime soon.
