this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025
5 points (77.8% liked)

Unethical Life Pro Tips

5474 readers
1 users here now

An Unethical Life Pro Tip (or ULPT) is a tip that improves your life in a meaningful way, perhaps at the expense of others and/or with questionable legality. Share your best tips you've picked up throughout your life, and learn from others!

ULPT Rules:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

How would I make copies of keys that either say "Do not duplicate", are of that general type with like a locksmith business etched into it, or is some fancier "Best" Cormax brand?

I'm really close to getting into stable housing, been roughing it for a few years, and do custodial to make ends meet. There are a few keys that if I had copies of them would let me use a shower, toilet, A/C and a microwave for a few months then destroy the keys when I move in to a place.

Any ideas?

Sorry to ask, thank you for any direction or guidance you might be able to provide.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] jinx@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago (8 children)

minute key? there's one in most walmarts i've been to

[–] vimmiewimmie@slrpnk.net 2 points 4 days ago

Like @three@lemmy.zip mentioned, the service states you can't duplicate those types of keys. But on their website, after this statement, they link to their Terms of Service, which states

and you will not use the Service or the Minute Key Machine to duplicate any third party’s keys (including without limitation, protected keys such as “Do Not Duplicate,” “Do Not Copy,” public school, public university, or public institution keys)"

unless you are authorized in writing by such third party to duplicate such keys."

So, the machine physically CAN copy this type of key, you're just not supposed to?

And, additionally, I wonder how it copies a key type if it doesn't have the key template in it's inventory.

Unless it either has those templates and just tells people to use the honor system, or it somehow copies keys in a way which somewhat disregards the specifics of templates?

Also, unless the manner in which it copies keys is capable of duplicating various security features, this wouldn't work for say the more secure 'Best Cormax' key (which would give the shower access)?

load more comments (7 replies)