With tight economic times consumers continue to look for more economical products to help their bottom line, however, something to take into consideration is the cost in the long run. Take the following into consideration.
The main thing of course is security. Usually for better security you have to pay more. This isn’t always true. There are some cheaper padlocks on the market that offer superior cut and pick resistance. The savings on these padlocks is ususally minimumal.
When and if the padlocks fails will you be able to remove it? How much will it cost to remove it?
Do you need more keys than are supplied with the lock? Many cheaply made padlocks are hard or expensive to get extra keys for. Many companies that produce them do not produce a key blank for them. The keys for these are usually quite thin and no after market key blank that will fit them without modification and then the key is usually to weak to be of any real use. Some do have better quality keys, but be prepared to bring the padlock with you so your key maker can find an appropriate blank that fits the lock. Some off shore padlocks do have aftermarket keys made for them. These can cost you from $3 to $15 or even more. There are a few of these cheap padlocks that use commonly available blanks, however, these are in the minority.
Our recommendation would be to stick with a commonly know brand such as Master or American. These companies have guarantees backing their products. This is true for the United States. For my readers from other countries: pick a brand well known in your area.
