Do you use a system for returning lost keys?

kiitos on 04/09/2019 - 20:42
Last edited 04/09/2019 - 20:43

Today I thought I'd lost my car and house keys. Freaked out, retraced my steps for the day, asked at many businesses along the way, and eventually found them still in the ignition where I parked the car! That was a wake up call to be more mindful.

However, while I was looking, I was rueing the fact that for security reasons, I don't have any contact details on my keyring. I used to have a key return tag for a cafe that has now gone out of business.

Does anyone use a key return system like https://return.me or https://www.keyreturn.com.au/? Or do you have another way of securely providing a way for keys to get returned to you if found by someone inclined to return them? (By securely I mean not allowing the finder to know where you live.)

I was thinking I could just have the contact details of a friend or relative so they keys could be returned but not used to break into our house/car. Or to include an email address on them that isn't relateable to me or my address?

What do you do?

Poll Options

  • 48
    I have no contact details on my keyring
  • 1
    I use a key return system, details in comments
  • 0
    I have my own contact details on my keyring, break-ins be damned!
  • 2
    I have a clever free system of my own, details in comments
Sports & Outdoors

Comments

    • apsilon on 05/09/2019 - 06:30

      I have these (actually the Pro version with the replaceable battery) for my parents as they constantly misplace their keys. Always in the house mind you but they can never find them as they leave them in random spots. I got sick of it and bought the tiles for them and have them linked to my phone.

      They work well though need to be within Bluetooth range of a phone with the Tile app so could be of limited or no use in some areas.

      • Ugly on 05/09/2019 - 08:40

        If it's one of the white Tiles, write your mobile number on it in permanent marker as a backup.

      • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:25

        Look handy, though I was thinking more of the situations where I've lost them out and about; at home they're always in one of two places.

    • AlienC on 14/09/2019 - 05:58

      I need one of these but for my glasses.

      I am always losing my specs here or there and putting a tile on it would look stupid.

  • try2bhelpful on 04/09/2019 - 21:07
    +1

    We have a Mercedes key ring where people can drop your keys into a letter box and they are returned to the dealership. I’ve started putting my mobile phone number in my glasses case and my wallet so people can ring my mobile number if they find them. Koko Blacks rang me one day when I left my glasses behind.

    • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:26

      My wife also called Subaru, which was nearby and where we bought our car, while I was looking and they said they'd email around the dealerships, as they have had lost keys with a Subaru key handed in at a dealership.

  • oscargamer on 04/09/2019 - 22:06
    +1

    I've got a dog tag on my keys with my phone number. Might work. Might not. Cost $5

  • knightslay2 on 04/09/2019 - 23:23

    I have an Key Smart which is a key organiser which helps separate keys. I know there is a model which has a Tile integrated with it allowing tracking. I also know there is a Orbitkey which is another key organiser. I use them to keep my keys tidy and easily recognisable.

    • juzza87 on 05/09/2019 - 08:29

      I lost my keys because of one of these but without tile, they fell out of my pocket and I didn't hear the jangling key sound as they hit the floor. Combined with a Tile and a tag with mobile phone number would be a great solution.

    • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:27

      I have a Key Smart too! Pretty handy, and another reason I was bummed about losing them.

  • realfancyman on 04/09/2019 - 23:27

    Not really that big a deal if I lose my keys, I have spare ones

    • boomramada on 05/09/2019 - 08:15
      +4

      losing car keys are VERY expensive :)

      • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:28

        Yes, that was my main concern!

      • kronicmacstigator on 26/09/2019 - 09:48

        Man… Mine cost $40 each to replace. Including shipping and programming of the fob

  • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 00:59

    I've just got a keyring, carkey and apartment key in a small bunch.

    Each time I take it out, I remind myself that it'll cost me just about $2k to replace. That's enough to make me keep an eye on it.

    • EightImmortals on 05/09/2019 - 07:40
      +1

      2k? What are they made out of? Crystallised unicorn tears?

      • apsilon on 05/09/2019 - 07:44

        I'm sure they're referring to the fact that if you lose your keys you should replace all locks for those keys. Locksmith and decent locks adds up fast.

        • spal on 05/09/2019 - 07:48
          +5

          Car keys cost a fortune too.

        • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 08:01

          My apartment key is on a registered key system so I can order a spare without replacing the lock. But the locksmith charges an arm and a leg to supply a spare key. Then they screw us on the postage. The body corporate charges an arm and a leg to get a new swipe. And because it comes from a different place, they also screw us for postage!

      • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 07:53
        +1

        A $1,200 car key/remote makes up the bulk of it.

        Yes, its absolutely ridiculous and I'm glad I'm not the one who ended up paying for it.

        I don't think most people realise how much their car keys are worth.

        • EightImmortals on 05/09/2019 - 08:18
          +3

          Fair dinks? My whole car isn't worth that much. :)

          • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 08:21
            +1

            @EightImmortals: Trust me, I almost fell backwards when they handed me the printed quote!

            • EightImmortals on 05/09/2019 - 08:22
              +1

              @bobbified: Does insurance cover lost keys for that amount?

              • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 08:51
                +1

                @EightImmortals: I'm with RACV - they only cover stolen keys. For $1,200, I don't think it's worth putting a claim through given that the standard excess is $750.The increase in policy price the following year would probably be more than that $500 difference.

              • boomramada on 05/09/2019 - 09:28

                @EightImmortals: Only if you tell them that you left the key inside the car and someone stolen the car:)

                • AlienC on 14/09/2019 - 06:34

                  @boomramada: sometimes I read ozbargain and realise that my some of my fellow ozbargainers are not poor newstart centrelink plebs like me.. shit 2k is the budget of my next future car lol let alone just the key and lock.

    • try2bhelpful on 05/09/2019 - 08:05
      +2

      Car keys are a ludicrous price. I would add a tag with your mobile number; someone might be nice and, at least, you are giving them a chance.

      • bobbified on 05/09/2019 - 08:16

        That's not a bad idea. I'll need to pull out the trusty Brother label maker! I'll need to somehow attach it.

        The only good thing is the more recent cars come with keys that can stay in the pocket. So I really only need to pull out the bunch when I get home to open the door.

        • Quantumcat on 05/09/2019 - 15:58

          Engraved keyring would be the easiest and most durable way. A labelmaker label will eventually fall off

          • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:30

            @Quantumcat: Yeah, I'd agree too. Was thinking of a label, but some sort of metal tag would be best, even that will probably wear to illegibility eventually. Probably shouldn't keep my keys in my pocket all day.

  • Some Human on 05/09/2019 - 08:08
    +1

    No. If I’ve lost my keys, it’s 99% likely the couch ate them. Or 1% likely they’re somewhere else in the house…like the washing machine.

  • juzza87 on 05/09/2019 - 08:26
    +2

    The best option would be a tag "If found please call MOBILENUMBER". Doesn't reveal your address, name or type of car (though the key probably has the manufacturer on it).

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/09/2019 - 11:36
    +1

    I just always look in the last place I left them. That's where they always are.

  • Euphemistic on 05/09/2019 - 12:04
    +1

    I had a set of keys returned because I’d engraved a mobile number on the tag. I only engraved the number becuase I’d previously thought I’d lost them, but left them at work. Lost it when it fell out of the pocket on my backpack riding home from work. Lady rang me and said she’d found some keys outside her house. Fortunately it was only a house key, bike lock key and key for the locker at work, cheap to replace. . Would have been stuffed if it was the car keys, they have no ID on them.

  • try2bhelpful on 05/09/2019 - 14:09
    +2

    On a side issue. We found an unattended phone today. We looked around but nobody was coming for it so we opened the cover. The persons drivers licence was inside and a meeting notification for a business reasonably close by. I stayed to guard the phone whilst my other half went to the business to see if he could find the owner, which he did. The upshot was owner and phone were reunited. They offered us a reward but we felt it was Karma payback for the nice people in Barcelona who made sure we were reunited with my wallet in similar circumstances. I think someone took it from my bag, realised their was no local currency and dumped it. A boy came and got me whilst others guarded the wallet. For the phone, If we hadn’t found the owner we were going to drop it at the closest police station.

    The thing with the phone made me wonder what is the best way to provide contact details for a phone. I’m thinking of putting my other half’s phone number and an email address.

    • apsilon on 05/09/2019 - 14:14
      +1

      Re the phone, I have my email address on the lock screen with a "If found please email…..". Unlikely it'd be returned but there's a chance.

      • try2bhelpful on 05/09/2019 - 15:25
        +1

        I’ve managed to return a few phones ever the time, I promise if I find your phone I will email :).

        • apsilon on 05/09/2019 - 17:57
          +1

          Thanks, I would too but there are plenty that wouldn't.

      • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:32

        me too, an email and a landline number

        • kiitos on 07/09/2019 - 07:57

          Just thinking now maybe I shouldn't have my email address on the lock screen, as if they managed to unlock it they could use the phone to reset my email's password and then access other accounts. Hmmmm. Is that too paranoid?

          I include the email address in case I lose the phone overseas.

          • try2bhelpful on 07/09/2019 - 10:07
            +1

            @kiitos: You could setup an email address just to handle these sort of things. I've got several email addresses that I use for different things.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 06/09/2019 - 10:59
        +1

        A friend once found a phone and the lock screen message was "If found please call xxx". xxx was that exact phone's number lol.

        • try2bhelpful on 06/09/2019 - 12:41
          +1

          I almost did that as well; then thought “wait a minute”. I normally use my other half’s phone number.

    • boomramada on 05/09/2019 - 15:40
      +2

      I have reunited two phones, and someone else has reunited my phone and wallet in two occasions, so Karma payback does works ;)

    • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:39
      +1

      We have found a lost phone when we heard it ringing in the grass. The relieved owner came by a while later.

      On the flip side, I lost my car keys somewhere along the looong walk along Noosaville. Spent ages looking for it in the grass, paths and parks, and then faintly heard an announcement over the PA system at the local club further along past where we stopped. Someone had found it and taken it to the club, so that was lucky.

  • kiitos on 05/09/2019 - 21:35

    OK, think I'll try an engraved tag with mobile number and/or a dedicated email address.

  • AlienC on 14/09/2019 - 06:36

    Nope.. but I wish there was a system for finding lost glasses.. the times I have spent trying to find my eye glasses oh man.. it is mind boggling how this option of tracking your specs is not a common thing yet.. hidden / untapped market for sure just gotta figure out how to fit the GPS in the glasses.

    • try2bhelpful on 14/09/2019 - 17:08

      I keep a card in my eyeglasses case with both my, and my other half's, mobile phone numbers. Given I tend to leave them in coffee shops this seems to work well.

      • AlienC on 14/09/2019 - 20:31

        This is a great idea unfortunately I don't use my glasses case to be honest I dying even know where it is.

        I put my glasses down everywhere because I honestly hate wearing them.

        Wish somebody would put in some inbuilt chip or tracker or something with maybe wireless charging.

        I know I could see myself buying that or adding that option at my next glasses purchase.

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