(PRIVATE) Challenge: Plaid Barrier

These are the last three Challenge Lock videos and I am only making them available to LockLab supporters. The "Challenge Lock" series has come to an end. Not only am I out of the "Whipped" PacLocks, but there were many other things that I took into consideration.

1.  Cost.  Every day I was receiving between 5-10 locks from around the world.  I had to return most of them to the owner, which was a SIGNIFICANT expense - always more than $500/month but sometimes approaching $1000.  What little I receive in viewer support was quickly consumed in return postage.  I was spending several hundred dollars of my own money every month just to return locks.

2.  Quality.  Some locks were well designed and contained some unique innovations, but they were few and far between. Most "challenge locks" were threaded chambers with serrated pins built on old,beaten up Kwikset cores.  The number of trap pins and super springs has continued to increase as copycats realized this might be a way to get a "Whipped" PacLock - meaning I was breaking and bending more expensive picks.  I found this very discouraging.

3.  Time.  Unpacking, picking, disassembling, repacking, answering emails, etc.  Each challenge lock took a lot of time to figure out and then return - even if I did not make a video of it.  I was spending most of my time setting up and videoing locks that turned out to be copycats of other people's ideas - meaning I could not post the video for fear of viewers saying "WHAT? Another Kwikset with threaded chambers?"

4.  Viewer Interest.  My goal with LockLab was to remain "New Picker Friendly" and attract new members to LockSport, but LockLab was quickly becoming the "Challenge Lock Channel", interesting to only a limited number of people with advanced skills.  Every time I posted a challenge lock video people complained and unsubscribed to the channel.  New pickers were overwhelmed by the complexity of challenge locks and became discouraged. My analytics were very clear on this:  If I want to lose subscribers all I needed to do was post a challenge lock video.

5.  Channel growth.  The LockLab's growth was stagnating and I needed to change something before it was too late.  Since I stopped doing challenge locks the number of subscribers has increased, the number of comments increased, "likes" went up, and the channel has grown.

So, yes.  I stopped making challenge lock videos.  It was not an easy decision but I could not afford to continue doing it for all of these reasons.  The money saved from NOT returning challenge locks I am now spending on locks - and have been doing so for the past month or two.  I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to return to picking real-world locks in a wide variety.  It is good for me (mentally), as well as good for LockLab.

bill

[Jay]

Thanks Bill.
Your presence is both felt as well as missed. Hope you and loved ones are well.

[CartoonWeasel]

Happy retirement. You will be missed.
Enjoy your time with family and friends knowing your legacy will live on.

[NewLineFarms]

Thanks for sharing so much with me and everyone you will.be missed but fully support your decision

[sticustom]

Hey Bill. I heard you have retired and I heard the story behind it.
I wish you and your family all the best for the future. You are a good man with a beautiful family.
You were the very first lock picker I watched on YouTube and I learned a lot.
Be well, be strong, be safe. Cheers David.

[SargentSkroonk]

Congrats on your retirement Bill!!!

We greatly appreciate the knowledge you shared with us.

Now go party! 🕺

[threerailable]

My lock picking journey began with slight interest in how locks work, a roommates drunken Amazon purchase of lock picks, and of course watching your videos.

Bill, thank you for your years of service to the community and the immeasurable amount of knowledge you've shared.

[coltranius]

Happy Retirement! I’ve enjoyed your videos, your humor, and your skill. Thank you

[fusker]

bill you are the best I found about 10 years ago you tort me a lot even EU locks locks Ruko and more i pick locks for fun ewery day for fun ill miss you all the best wisses from Denmark

[TheKodaHack]

It’s sad to see you go, but I’m happy that you’re spending more time with what matters to you!

[akdefense]

Bosnian Bill, thanks for getting me into locksport. I've trained many with the knowledge, tips and tricks that you've passed on. You are by far one of the best presenters on the tube. We'll all miss you. You ROCK! Enjoy retirement and family. Stay safe & stay legal.

[sebastiand]

Thanks for the explanation. I follow you for just about a year and I always wondered about you saying "as you know, I do not work on challenge locks any longer...".

[pinkmillk]

Greetings, Bill!
Thank you for all of time and effort you put into making all of these videos over the years. They've been extremely informative and inspiring!
I wish you and your family the best! Enjoy your retirement!

[jermainerace]

8:40.. that pin looks like it came out of the sparrows "chess and checkers pieces" set.

[bobireland]

Sir Bill, you are among those cherished few who are bastions of incredible common sense and realistic information for those of us who are eternal students. Please stay safe and well.

[onkelTom]

Thank you BB for all your content! Be safe, healthy and joyful in your very well deserved retirement!

[jamesbp]

I loved the challenge lock videos SO SO much but I understand Bill. Would be nice to see one every once and a while 😉 maybe have a contest and pick someone to make a challenge lock with some rules, guidelines and limitations

[toportime]

I like how he give tips on how to make it harder to pick.

[dondod]

The final BosnianBill video that he posted with an original intro animation, what a legend. But how? How did he make SO MANY animated intros for each video. Insane dedication my man. I salute you

[scottandsheilaricca]

Thank you for all your work and wonderful content. You got me into a hobby I'll do for the rest of my life and greatly appreciate that.

[davidsanford]

Appreciate the work and time you have put into my learning sir! You have made a wise choice!