Payment Links for Locksmith Deposits: Reduce No-Shows by 87%

The scenario every locksmith dreads: You book an appointment, drive 18 miles, arrive on time—customer doesn't answer. You've wasted 90 minutes and $30 in fuel on a no-show.

This happens 10-25 times per month to most mobile locksmiths.

TheKeyBot's Payment Link Collection solves this by sending secure payment links during calls to collect deposits (50% or custom percentage) before you leave your shop.

Result: 87% reduction in no-shows.

The No-Show Problem

Industry statistics for locksmiths without deposits:

• No-show rate: 15-22%
• Monthly no-shows: 18-27
• Wasted time per no-show: 60-90 minutes
• Lost fuel: $15-$30 per no-show
• Monthly cost: $3,240-$7,020

How Payment Links Work

Step 1: AI books appointment
Step 2: AI offers deposit collection
Step 3: SMS payment link sent instantly
Step 4: Customer pays via phone (30 seconds)
Step 5: You receive confirmation—job secured

Example: "To secure your 2:30 PM appointment, we collect a 50% deposit of $72.50. I can text you a secure payment link right now. Takes 30 seconds."

Key Features

Customizable Deposit Amounts

• 50% (standard)
• 25% (light commitment)
• 75% (high-cost services)
• 100% (scheduled work)
• Custom per service type

Real-Time Processing

• Powered by Stripe
• Instant confirmation
• Apple Pay / Google Pay
• Automatic receipts

Automated Reminders

• 15-minute reminder if not paid
• 1-hour reminder
• Final notice before cancellation

Refund Management

• 24hr notice: Full refund

• <24hr: 50% refund
• No-show: No refund
• Fully automated

Real Results: Austin Mobile Locksmith

Before payment links:

• 120 jobs booked/month
• 22 no-shows (18.3%)
• Lost revenue: $3,960/month

After 50% deposits:

• 125 jobs booked/month
• 3 no-shows (2.4%)
• No-show reduction: 87%
• Recovered revenue: $3,400/month

Owner quote: "I went from 20+ no-shows per month to almost zero. The deposits weed out tire-kickers. Now when I book a job, I know it's real. I have $67 in my pocket before I leave the shop."

Financial Impact

100 deposits/month:

• Average deposit: $70
• Stripe fees: 2.9% + $0.30 = $2.33 per deposit
• Total fees: $233/month

No-shows prevented: 15/month
Revenue per no-show: $180
Monthly value: $2,700

Net benefit: $2,467/month = $29,600/year

Plus:

• Improved cash flow ($7K+ collected upfront)
• Better scheduling efficiency
• Reduced stress
• Higher team morale

Setup: 10 Minutes

1. Connect Stripe account (3 min)
2. Set deposit percentage (50% recommended)
3. Configure refund policy
4. Enable & test
5. Go live

Included in TheKeyBot subscription.

Customer Objections Handled

"Why do I need to pay a deposit?"
AI: "The deposit secures your time slot and covers dispatch costs. Full refund with 24-hour notice."
Acceptance: 95%

"I don't have a card with me."
AI: "No problem! I'll text you the link. You can pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card anytime in the next hour."
Acceptance: 88%

Best Practices

1. Frame positively: "To secure your appointment..."
2. Make it easy: One-click payment
3. Communicate refund policy upfront
4. Track data: Monitor acceptance rates
5. Reward repeat customers: Reduce/waive deposits for VIPs

Get Started

Stop losing money to no-shows.

👉 Enable Payment Links - Included in subscription

Questions? Call (817) 586-9634