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The High Cost of Losing Your Keys
Edmunds.com
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The High Cost of Losing Your Keys
Advances in key technology have made vehicles more difficult to steal, but the price has been costlier key replacements.
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Infiniti is a good car, really. But one cost to maintain the car is $400 for a key, versus $25 for a key for a FORD or other American vehicle.
My suggestion, to compensate for the cost of the ramped up prices of the dealership, take your car AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE to a "reputable" mechanic. This should save you a great deal of money over what it costs to pay for Infinity Dealer rip-offs when you have no other reasonable choices.
http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/05/21/19-tips-for-finding-a-great-car-mechanic/
In addition to these tips, ALWAYS have the mechanic provide in writing that they will provide you with the old parts for anything they need to replace. If they need the old part as a core to get a replacement part, then inspect the core before it is exchanged to get the new part. Unethical mechanics often claim replacing parts but do not actually replace them.
Anything a mechanic says to make you nervous about a marginal item, should require you to get a second opinion. Example: Ford Ranger clutch master cylinder leaking and needed replacement. Mechanic said flywheel had scratches and clutch needed replacement. 125,000 miles later the clutch is still working fine. The last Ford Ranger was at 450,000 miles when I finally sold it; and I still see it occasionally.
So far in the form of oil changes, interior upholstery repair, routine checks, tires, flushing the fluid systems... I've "saved" $3,100 by using my mechanic and his referrals instead of accepting the estimates provided by the dealership. Dedicate a small notebook to keep precise tracking of expenses, you'll really be surprised what you find are wastes of money.
Because of Infiniti Dealership practices, avoid the dealership.
Would I ever buy another Infiniti; yes. But not from a US Infiniti Dealership. My next Infinity is being imported through an online broker.
A good locksmith will always try to help you out, no matter what situation you're in!
New solutions are emerging that actually replace your car keys with a smartphone based system that creates a digital key foot print on you BCM computer inside your vehicle. This way you can send keys digitally to your whole family as well as track usage. AAA said they should be available by 2015 in most dealerships as an aftermarket add-on.
The "transponders" are RFID tags and those are cheap. A military, defense application RFID tag runs up to about $5 (they are probably using RFID tags that are closer to $0.09 a unit). The remote for the locks, about $5 as well.
The "laser" cut keys are not cut by lasers, they are cut by high speed milling machines. They are a bit more complicated than than standard key that you can get made for $3, about $5-6 worth made. So we are at about $15 for a modern key. Multiple that by 2 and that should be around the retail price for a key $30. Given that I'm seeing non-manufacturer versions on Amazon for less than $30, my estimate is generous.
As for the labor for programming the car to accept the key's RFID and cut the key, the technical skills are pretty low as the tech just enters the codes into the system and the system does the rest. Takes about 10 minutes or less and does not really need a train automotive technician.
Fake Online Locksmiths May Be Out to Pick Your Pocket, Too (New York Times)