Rex Key & Security

The door broke in my apartment. My management company is contracted with them. Conan came out in less than 20 minutes (beating his verbal ETA). He was professional and friendly. Got the job done quickly, effectively and masterfully. After a rough day at work, I appreciate their speedy and 24 hour emergency service
As a small business owner and some one who grew up in small/​family businesses, I really appreciate these guys

I thought that the electronic keys on our Honda Pilot needed to be replaced because they depleted batteries, faster than a typical electronic key should. I’d taken the keys to a leading competitor and all they’d do is replace the batteries. One day, I happened to go to Rex for a battery replacement and they cleaned the electronics and did something else magical… both key’s work just fine since and the battery life is what we’d expect. There was no extra charge beyond the $ 3-​$ 4 for the battery.
This is a shop with knowledgeable, confident technicians, who have a great sense of humor. I always leave there laughing because they’ve got jokes or are ribbing it with each other. They have a cohesive, family like service and I’ve made them my go-​to for any locking service needs.

I never write good reviews but I felt compelled to because they were so great! So polite and friendly :) really fast service too, would recommend!

Masterful service. I needed to make copies of keys that are found mainly on the East Coast. They ordered the blanks at great cost to them and I got my keys in 24 hours. And they worked perfectly when I got to New York. I will go out if my way to use this merchant.

This place saved my ass. A special thank you to Tim and the entire team for helping me replace my car key after my purse was stolen in SF. They were knowledgable, and did not give up after there was no code for my car (which thankfully came in later). Tim even called to follow up the next day just to make sure everything went well. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love this place and will go there for all of my key replacements, copies, etc.

I’ve been going to Rex Key for many years, mainly to buy locks. They have a great variety. I also like to get keys made there, as they always work perfectly. Sometimes I forget that quality counts and go to Home Depot for keys, but often I must take the Home Depot keys back for remakes.
Last Saturday afternoon, I needed some keys made so I hurried off to Rex, as I remembered that they usually close at 5:00. After driving around downtown Berkeley for awhile searching for parking, I made it to Rex at exactly 4:27, according to my phone. But the lights were out and the door was locked! The sign said that they close at 4:30 on Saturdays, but I guess actually they close whenever they feel like it. So I suggest that you call ahead.

I am having some bizarre car problems, key mechanism to open the door is broken, one key hole for the entire car, fobs dead, no key will open it! I called Rex, they sent someone out, Michael, he is the most patient man I have ever met, I have a 2001 BMW and in order to get it open you basically have to sprinkle fairy dust all over the car. After two tireless hours he had to call it quits-​mission impossible. He never got upset or gave up until I said. While we are both feeling seriously defeated I am still thankful he put so much effort in, thank you Michael! Hopefully someone has some fairy dust…

The ignition switch on my Toyota was getting more and more difficult to turn on. More often than not I had to repeatedly jiggle it and fight with it before it would eventually turn and start the engine. I researched the problem online and found out that I could take it to a local locksmith and have them fix it for considerably less than having it replaced. I called another locksmith closer to my house, but they don’t service ignitions and referred me to Rex. I called to confirm that they could help and they were very friendly and told me to bring it in. In less than an hour they had removed the ignition cylinder, fixed it, made me new keys and put the cylinder back in my car — all at a fraction of the time and cost of my mechanic.
Everyone I encountered over the phone and in the shop was extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful. This is the type of small business I like to support; thank you, Rex Key & Security!

Dudes were lifesavers today. After a terrible experience over at Long’s Locksmith (long story short, the owner there flipped out and was yelling at us and actually left without letting us get a word in, after they were unable to help us, and we had been waiting for almost 30 minutes) we came to Rex’s to have a padlock on our box truck cut off after putting the wrong one on. One of the employees came out, looked at the padlock, went inside to get the wheel cutter, sawed it off, and I paid $ 15. the whole transaction took about 6 – 7 minutes. Done and done.

Wow! This place has so many great reviews yet I had one of the worst experiences. I was locked out last night since 9PM and my apartment complex has an agreement with Rex Keys so I contacted him at 9:10PM. No response. Called and left another message at 10:10PM and 11PM. Unfortunately, I had to go with another locksmith but what irritates me the most is that the «on call technician» was supposed to reply to me within 3−5min. I wasn’t able to get in until 1AM.
I would give this a 0 star if I could.

Rex Key & Security makes your standard copy of keys, each for $ 2.75 +tax. You’ll be in and out within 5 minutes.
Super friendly, fast service. I definitely recommend this place for all key-​related services.

Would give them 10 stars if I could. Wife got her key stuck in drivers door lock on 2003 Honda. We called a locksmith in Walnut Creek who couldn’t get the key out and said «You have to take it to a dealer.» This is first year Honda started using the immobilizer system, so your key has to be programmed to the unit in the car. I found her backup key and tried starting car, but key wasn’t recognized by system. Called several dealers and got quotes of at least $ 150 to reprogram key, $ 310 to replace door lock and we would have to tow the car there. Desperately called Rex Key and they said «BRING IT IN!». We gave them the VIN and they took care of everything, $ 225 out the door.
The guys at Rex simply know their business and are reasonably priced. Plus even one of the locksmiths in Walnut Creek recommended them, that’s pretty good peer review.

THE STORY
Sis needed a key copy and I accompanied her. Went in there and told 1 of the 3 clerks that we wanted a key copy and gave him the key. He didn’t tell us the price and just went over to the machines and copied the keys in less than a minute. It turned out to be $ 3 with tax which does not seem to be too expensive but wish he told us how much it was before he started working on it.
SERVICE
He didn’t talk much and he got the job done. We were in and out in less than 2 minutes.
STORE
Very small store so every space was used and packed. The store was also very old and kind of smelled.

Never thought getting keys made could be an enjoyable experience but if anyone could do it, it’d be these guys.
Found out there was parking in the back so as I pulled into the lot, I was greeted outside while parking, mentioned I had a file cabinet in the trunk that needed a key, then the guy (Ryan, the world’s friendliest guy), carried it into the shop. I was out in MAYBE 6 minutes, probably less. Ryan carried it back and even told me I could tell my wife I’d done the carrying if only to get some added husband points (it was her cabinet after all). Nice. Love these guys…

I couldn’t be more pleased with the service I got from Rex Key & Security today. They (the owner, Joe, of the store even works out in the field) were on time, very friendly, informative and efficient. They rekeyed 8 locks at my business office within 30 minutes. I recommend Rex Key & Security enthusiastically, and I will be using them to install a combination lock as well.
Frank Davis, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist in Berkeley, CA

This place may be smaller than a single aisle at Home Depot, but they more than make up for it with customer service and knowledge. I’ve come in a few times over the years to have keys made, and the process was always prompt and pleasant.
More recently, I came in looking for an old-​fashioned crystal doorknob for a closet door I’d just installed. The awesome sales guy showed me the $ 20 dollar plastic versions and, after I asked, brought out the real deal knobs, which are much pricier. He asked what kind of door I had — hollow plywood — and recommended the lightweight handle. I was really set on shelling out for the old school ones, but the sales guy’s honest advice made sense. I really appreciated that he talked me into the hardware I truly needed, when he could’ve easily made a much higher sale.

When you buy a new used car in 2009 and it only comes with one key you think to yourself, «hmmm that’s kind of inconvenient» and then you think «I should get a duplicate made just in case» and then you add that to your «list of shit I should do» where all the shit you SHOULD do goes to die. Then one day in 2015 after looking for your, once again, «misplaced» keys you realize… Those suckers are gone. Long gone.
Here you find another kind of list. The list of shit you Must do. This is where REX KEY & SECURITY comes in.
Whichever list you are currently working from CALL REX KEY It’s nice when one is in crisis and in need to find a dependable and efficient service. My phone call was handled very promptly and professionally. They were able to send someone by to make a new key for my car. And this time I got 2! THANK YOU!

I couldn’t have had a better 1^st experience than I had today. The guys at Rex Key & Security are just sooooo cool. Super friendly, laid back, and really generous. Upon arriving home, I realized that I had somehow lost one of the sets of keys that they had just made for me (yea, welcome to my life). They replaced them at no charge when I returned. :-)
This shop symbolizes the down-​home, Mom and Pop stores in Berkeley. Since I lose keys regularly, I’ll be glad to come back here to replace them and get another dose of their warm Berkeley hospitality

I had an 18-​second exchange over the phone just now that will guarantee I don’t give my business to this place.
I snapped a key off in my mailbox a few days ago and looked up on YouTube how to jimmy it out myself. The first few suggestions were to buy a key extractor – a thin metal rod with some teeth on the end that can catch the exposed teeth of the key broken off in the lock.
So I search for my neighborhood Rex key place and Google gives me a 1 – 800 number. I call them.
Rex employee: Rex Keys (all flat and bored, but whatever).
Me: Is this the Berkeley storefront? (Me thinking a 1 – 800 number is unusual for a lil shop and wanting to make sure I’ve got the right place before I ask about the inventory)
RE: *all impatient and rude* Yes.
Me: …Do you have key extractors?
RE: *ALL agitated for some dumbass reason* what are you trying to accomplish with this conversation?
Me: *getting pretty heated at how rude this guy’s being* I’m trying to find out if you sell key extractors!
RE: *raising his voice* For what purpose?!
Me: TO EXTRACT A KEY, WHAT ELSE WOULD A KEY EXTRACTOR DO?
RE: You don’t need to get smart with me. What do YOU want with it, are YOU a locksmith?
I tell him the conversation is over, thanks for nothing and hang up.
I can see if you wanna try and upsell your service or something instead of just handing over the lil $ 7 tool for me to do it myself, but you don’t have to be so needlessly, randomly rude about it. «What are you looking to accomplish by this conversation» wtf? Like this guy had an attitude from the get-​go. I could get the problem fixed for free by my apartment management, but didn’t mind throwing a few bucks to a local business, big mistake I guess.
I was around the corner so I went in anyway on my way to TJ’s just to see what thy looked like for when I took my business to ACE or wherever else. Looked around and didn’t see any. So I don’t know if he was trying to get around telling me he didn’t sell them, but again, chill TF out.
Horrible customer service, go somewhere else.

What a godsend. I am notorious for losing stuff (earrings, rings, necklaces, umbrellas…) and unfortunately the keys to my apartment are not exempt and have been lost from my possession twice (two years in a row, different apartments).
I went to Rex last year in my time of need, and they didn’t let me down. Same can be said when I went again two weeks ago.
The guys here are super quick and friendly. I was in and out of there and on my merry way in under 5 minutes even with two customers ahead of me! And it only cost me not even one bubble tea drink ($ 2.62).
Thanks a bunch!