[xlevus]

Does this really solve a problem? The only time I've needed to get keys cut was when I've either lost a key or moved house and needed a copy immediately.

Why would I risk my security and have to wait for the mailman? I can get a key cut at one of 10 shops near my house, door to door in 15 minutes.

And in the case of a lost key, I'd replace the barrel of the lock too.

[tomchuk]

Nail on the head. I can only remember one or two occasions where I've needed to copy a key and waiting a couple days for delivery would have been practical.

That said, I had a clever idea on my way to work this morning.

They've already got automated kiosks[1] all over the place, why not network those, give customers a login and let them save their keys to a centralized location. You'd then be able to get a copy of any of your keys without having the original present. You could even share keys with another account - visiting friend, whatever, so they can get a copy cut in their hometown. No need to save any info besides login credentials and keys (ie. nothing that could allow someone to trace a key back to a lock via a billing address).

[1] http://www.minutekey.com/