Re: Seadoo DESS Key
Lots of independant shops now have the ability to "make" keys. It's obvious BRP either doesn't want to deal with the bad press they might get by going after the companies that "figured out" how to do it or they realize it's going to cost the delaers far more in the long run by being nutso about thier intellectual property.
Just so the facts are clear..while common folklore calls the bit in the key a resistor, it isn't. It actually is a transistor type bit that provides a binary value to the computer when power is applied to it. Not that it matters, each key might as well have a seven digit numer printed on it. The ignition system is told that number is valid for a startup.
As far as charges go, I can't stay in usiness by giving stuff away. I have an hourly labor rate and on my very very best day from the time the customer pulls in with the baot, byu the time I make out a ticket, get the stuff out, connect it, cut the key get paid etc etc etc it's at minimum 15 minutes.
Sure I'll make a key for free now and then, but that is typically when the ski is in the shop for other things.
In my situation, getting a key made on the spot is worth a whole lot to most folks. Nobody has ever balked at the price I charge for keys. They typically know what the alternatives are. I don't take advanatage of that fact, as I could likely charge double what I do now and nobody is going to drive away.
Anybody who complains jetski keys are pricey should take a trip to thier car dealer to see what it costs to get a repalcement remote control for thier late model car.
Wanna talk pricey?..spec out a dealer replacement cost for a yamaha pwc remote control.
As of now, any good shop will have one of several systems on market to code seadoo keys based on the buy in price of these systems, expect to be charged $25-$50 to get a key ( that's on top of the cost of the key itself) You have to make lots of keys to pay off a $2k investment and if your nearest dealer is a day away and you're looking at losing a nice weekend on the water, it comes down to the price of a couple of cases of beer and a bottle of jack.