Ronseal’s promise that it does exactly what it says on the tin is so well known that it jokes about it. In full-page press ads in the Daily Mail last year, Ronseal apologises for using the misleading strapline because some of its products are sold in buckets.
The ad says its product “does exactly what it says on the rotund 203.48mm by 189.12mm vacuum-moulded white polypropylene copolymer 5 litre labelled bucket.”
The press ad points readers to an online video in which a man, purporting to be Ronseal’s marketing director, apologises for the misleading strap line.
Of course, the company won’t change its strapline because it’s become famous, and much quoted and admired.
In contrast, the door industry is so used to troublesome hardware that it fails to warn homeowners of known flaws.
Research shows that 85% of homeowners see security as the most important factor when buying a door. Just over three quarters of burglaries are via the door, 43% by forcing the lock. Eighty nine percent of forced entries are by snapping it. The Domestic Door Security Report is on www.ultion-lock.co.uk.
Don’t leave the key in the inside of a cylinder lock
It’s widely believed that leaving the key inside the cylinder when you’re at home makes the door more secure, because no one will be able to use a key to operate the lock from the outside. But on some otherwise secure cylinders, leaving the key on the inside bypasses the cylinder’s snap protection. So burglars can snap the lock and be inside within 9 seconds.
Don’t leave your thumb turn at that angle!
Thumb turns are becoming increasingly popular. But with some it’s very easy to lock yourself out when you’re leaving the house if the thumb turn isn’t left exactly vertical. If you don’t leave it in the ‘perfect’ position you’ll be locked out and you’ll need a locksmith to drill his way in.
Warning labels and instructions
Most locks are delivered with printed instructions and warnings about these ‘idiosyncrasies’ in the box they come in. But the cylinder packaging, along with its instructions, tends to be discarded when it’s fitted to doors at the manufacturer. The message doesn’t reach the homeowner, the person that needs to see it.
Homeowners see very few lock warnings and are not aware of the shortcomings of their lock, even if the installers know. They only find out when they get burgled or lock themselves out.
Locks that lock and stay locked
Not all high security locks come with warnings, whether they’re passed on to homeowners or not.
Ultion keeps homes locked no matter where the key is. Put it in a drawer, or leave it in the cylinder on the inside if you choose, the door is secure. Leave the thumb turn in any position and you can still get in using the key. No ifs, no buts, no small print, it’s made to keep burglars out and homeowners safe and sound.
We’re so confident that it keeps homes secure that we’ve put our money where our mouth is and launched the free £1,000 Ultion guarantee. Homeowners just register their new Ultion and if they’re burgled as a result of their Ultion being snapped in the next ten years they can claim £1,000 from us. We don’t expect to be paying out anyway, but we’ve put a counter on Ultion’s web site showing how often we have had to pay. Claims registered so far: 000.
Ultion does what it says on our marketing. The only way into an Ultion is with the key. No warnings, no small print, no question!
As featured in Glass Times August