I have a sentry fire safe with an electronic lock
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I found this hope it will help. So I called the
sentry safe company, (800-828-1438), and waited for about 10 minutes to speak
to a representive, (that was alright since I have a speaker phone). The first
thing they asked me was about the condition of the batteries. I told them that
they were brand new. The person then asked about the brand name and expiration
date of the batteries. They were generic batteries, but the expiration date was
fine. They suggested a new set of batteries, and mentioned that I could bypass
the battery pack, (which sometimes fails), by unplugging the pack and using a
regular 9 volt battery.. So just to cover the base, I went down to the store
and obtained a brand new 9 volt duracell battery. I unplugged the battery pack
and plugged in my new battery. I then pushed the combination numbers and my
safe again failed to open.
I called the sentry company back using my
speakerphone feature again while waiting to speak with a technician. The tech
asked me about the batteries and I told him it had a new 9 volt at the last
technician’s recommendation. The person began to talk about the actuator
cylinder inside the safe, stating that it did not sound like it was actuating.
Then they told me something that really made me wonder about the quality of
this safe. They told me I would need to hit the safe with a rubber mallet in an
attempt to get the actuator to engage so I could open the sentry safe. OK, so
the safe is supposively built to keep my belongings safe from thieves and fire,
but now I am going to fix it with a rubber mallet? Good thing my sentry safe
was inside, somebody might have wondered about my mental state if they had seen
me beating this fireproof safe with a rubber mallet! (PS: If you use the
rubber mallet option or any other suggestions that sentry’s customer assistance
supplied, and have firearms or dynamite in your safe, you do so at your own
risk, use wise judgement for your own safety)
Well it just so happens that I had a rubber mallet
and did not need to once again go to the store to get something to personally
fix my great sentry fireproof safe. So I begin beating the sentry safe with
this mallet and then tried the combination again. Woolah, It opened! I stopped
for a moment and began to ponder how many other things I could fix with this
magical rubber mallet. I mean, what about the TV, the computer, my fridgerator
and that cell phone that always drops calls? Could it be that I have discovered
the fix all to all mechanical issues? As I began to look at my belongings in my
fireproof safe that I have just opened with a rubber mallet, I thought
"so if I close the safes door will I need a sledge hammer next time"?
Time for another phone call, back to the
speakerphone. The technician this time listened to my issue and asked me if I
had some lubricant like WD-40 with a small tube that attaches to nozzle. I
thought, "well of course I do, I was just using that to fix the
broken water pipe in the garage." The phone tech tells me where to spray the
lubricant on the inside of the sentry safe door. He has me do this in the open
and closed combination positions, and it’s now opening when I press the
combination numbers with the door open, hurray! The only problem is that after
working in the lubricant a few times the handle on the door does not lock
into the locked position. I no longer need the combination to unlock my
safe, I only need a can of lubricant! OK, this is one really tough safe,
what thief would ever think that they would need a rubber mallet and a can of
silicon lubricant to open up a safe?
Back to the speakerphone, this time a lady
technician. She wants me to get a screwdriver and pry off the plastic piece on
the back side of the door. At this point I said to her, you have built a
product that I need to have a rubber mallet, a can of 3 in 1 spray lubricant,
and a screwdriver to open? She stated that she was doing all she could to
help me fix my safe and asked me how long I had owned the safe. I told her
about 2 years and she stated that it was out of warranty. I thought, well who
needs a warranty when they have a magical mallet, a can of black led, and a
screwdriver? Anyway she directs me to pry the plastic backing off of the door
and when I do this little piece of plastic falls out onto the floor. I look at
this little plastic piece pondering in my mind, what’s it’s part in all of
this. Well the technician is directing me to look at the arms and gears and
some arrows that line up between the metal arms and plastic gears. What’s wrong
with that picture? Metal and plastic don’t really work together long before the
plastic breaks. I had to wonder for a moment, is this some really expensive
fireproof plastic? The arrows line up and with that information she directs me
to the area of the actuator again, she says "you see the circuit
board" and a little white button that sticks out from it?" I said
well yes, I see the circuit board and the little white button you are talking
about seems to be laying on the floor broken off. So I picked it up and said,
"this little broken piece of plastic that connects to the metal arm on the
safe is why the safe does not work right?" She tells me yes that’s the
problem, that i have broken it and since it’s out of warranty that there is
nothing she can do to help me. But she then asks me to hold on for a
moment…..
She comes back to the phone sounding sincere, like
she has just solved all my problems, and tells me that she has spoke to her
supervisor and that they can offer me 10% off on any safe that I would like to
purchase. I thought what great customer service, now they want to sell me
another safe with metal and plastic pieces that break and give me a huge
discount of 10%, and I bet it comes with a free maintenance kit which includes
a polo stick, some lard oil, and a screwdriver on the rocks! Needless to
say I declined their gracious offer.
I will say that all the organizations personnel,
(that I spoke with), were courteous and trying to be
helpful, (that was within the realm of authority they were
given). With a product such as this, and the great customer service I
experienced, I thought it was probably best to find a safe that was free of
little plastic pieces that break off, cause those plastic pieces won’t save
you 10% !