Need a Car Key? Read This First! (Part 2) 2. Buying Car Keys Online Another customer contacted us to program a head remote key for a vehicle with a relatively simple security system. Programming wasn't the problem. After inspecting the key that had been purchased from an online marketplace, we discovered that it didn't even contain a transponder chip. Without one of the key's most important electronic components, programming was impossible. In this case, we supplied a proper key, cut it, programmed it, and everything worked perfectly. Keys purchased from online marketplaces frequently have issues. Sometimes they're missing internal components, sometimes they're poorly manufactured, and sometimes they're simply incompatible with the vehicle because the wrong version was ordered. To be fair, there are also many cases where customers buy the correct key online, and we're able to program it without any issues. Everything works exactly as it should. However, compatibility isn't the only concern. Sometimes the problems don't appear until several days after the programming is complete. For example: • the buttons stop working, • passive keyless entry becomes unreliable, • the battery drains unusually fast, • or the electronics inside the key fail. When this happens, the locksmith who programmed the key cannot reasonably be held responsible for the quality of a product they didn't sell. If programming was correct but the key is defective, it's beyond the locksmith's control.