How Does The Safeway Key Copy Service Work?
Safeway offers key copy services through self-service kiosks provided by KeyMe. Similar to the well-known Minute Key kiosks, KeyMe kiosks provide an easy, user-friendly alternative to a locksmith and can create copies of a wide variety of keys in well under five minutes.
KeyMe Self-Service Kiosks
Often found near the entrance of Safeway stores, KeyMe kiosks use laser cutting and computer vision technology to create copies of home, office, and car keys. According to KeyMe’s website, their kiosks are even equipped to copy access cards and key fobs.
To find a KeyMe kiosk at a Safeway near you, click here and enter your address, city, or zip code into the search bar.
Not all Safeway locations host KeyMe kiosks, but many do. If you aren’t able to find one at your local Safeway, they can also be found at certain Albertsons, AutoZone, Bed Bath & Beyond, IKEA, Kroger, Fred Meyer, QFC, Rite Aid, and 7-Eleven locations.
Types Of Keys You Can Copy At Safeway
KeyMe can copy the following types of keys…
- Standard metal keys (house keys, office keys, shed keys, etc.)
- Car keys (including motorcycle, boat, RV, and ATV keys)
- Key fobs / transponder keys
- RFID tags
Unlike many automated key copy services, KeyMe can copy keys with electronic components, including plastic key fobs. If you have an especially complex chip key or transponder key, you might not be able to get your copy on the spot, but KeyMe will send it to you in the mail within a few days.
Pricing
Unfortunately, KeyMe doesn’t advertise any of their rates on their website. However, based on our research, we’ve determined that KeyMe’s prices range from $1.99 to $5.99 per key for standard metal door keys.
However, as you can see in this YouTube video published less than a year ago, a KeyMe kiosk tried to charge someone $10.99 for one copy of a standard brass key, claiming that it’s an uncommon key type.
When it comes to car keys, KeyMe states that their services are 70% less expensive than prices offered at most major dealerships. According to Angie’s List, dealerships typically charge anywhere from $50 to $175 per key copy, so we can assume that KeyMe’s prices are more in the range of $15 to $50 per key. In this KeyMe video on YouTube, they show someone copying a car key and being offered a price of $30.
How To Use KeyMe Kiosks
To use a KeyMe kiosk, follow these steps…
- Approach the kiosk and select your key type from the four options on the screen
- Following the prompts, insert your key carefully yet firmly into the key slot in front of you
- The machine will now scan your key to determine its shape, size, materials, etc.
- Next, you will be taken to a screen where you will be offered a range of prices, materials, and designs for your key (if your key cannot be copied on the spot, you will be offered the option of having your key copy shipped to you in the mail in 2-3 days)
- If you wish to proceed with your order, select the key type you wish to purchase
- If you do not wish to proceed, press “cancel my order” at the bottom of the screen
- For those who are proceeding, follow the remaining prompts to complete your payment and get your key (KeyMe kiosks accept most major credit cards and debit cards as payment)
In most cases, this whole process should take less than five minutes. For a more in-depth look at the process, here’s a super helpful video from TilTul showing exactly how to use a KeyMe kiosk.
It’s important to note that KeyMe kiosks frequently tell users that their keys are “uncommon” or “less common.” When this happens, KeyMe will not provide you with a copy of your key on the spot, but the kiosk will offer to ship your key copy directly to your address within about three days. This is because they have to send the key to an actual locksmith to complete the work.
Oddly, this seems to happen even with keys that seem extremely common. I’ve personally run across two separate videos online of people attempting to copy standard metal house keys and being told by KeyMe that the keys were uncommon and would need to be shipped back to them in the mail. This could be due to a lack of materials stocked inside of the machine at the time of the service.
Is KeyMe Reliable And Safe?
As far as we can tell, KeyMe is a 100% safe and reliable service. KeyMe does not save scans of your key after the copying service is complete, and you will never be asked to hand your keys over to KeyMe. Even when KeyMe is making the scan of your key, the key remains accessible to you outside of the machine and can be removed at any time.
Is KeyMe Better Than MinuteKey?
Figuring out whether KeyMe or Minute Key offer better services is a bit complicated, because Minute Key is a more well-established company. However, there are pros and cons to both.
The major benefit of using KeyMe instead of Minute Key is that KeyMe is equipped to copy a wider range of keys, including car keys, key fobs, and access cards. Minute Key, on the other hand, does not offer fob copy services at their kiosks (although they can still copy key fobs for customers who use the InstaFob service, which is not available at kiosks).
That said, Minute Key tends to be a better option for those who are simply needing a copy of a standard metal key, as their prices are lower. While KeyMe has been known to charge as much as $11 per key for standard keys, it’s rare for Minute Key to charge more than $3.
If you’re looking for a more affordable service with a simple set of options, you might want to go with Minute Key. But if you’re looking for more options at a slightly higher price, check out KeyMe instead.
