Vending machines get creative

Many of us have been been locked out of our homes at inopportune times. And getting back in is never cheap.

KeyMe, a New York-based startup, claims its vending machines will keep you from reliving that nightmare ever again.

"We want to disrupt the traditional locksmith industry where there's price gouging, mistrust and poor customer service," said founder and CEO Greg Marsh.

First, use KeyMe's app to take a picture of your key and set up an account. The company extracts the key's geometrical information and stores it.

Then, hit up a KeyMe kiosk. If you have an account, all you have to do is log in and it spits out a copy of your key for $19.99.

"That's 70% to 80% less than what a locksmith would charge you," said Marsh.

The kiosk also offers a traditional key-copy service that lets you duplicate any standard key for $3 to $6.

Seven months after launching, Marsh said 10,000 keys have been duplicated in five KeyMe kiosks, which are located in 7- Eleven, Rite Aid (RAD) and Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY) stores in New York City.

"I think the demand is there for us to scale up to more than a hundred KeyMe kiosks in several major cities," said Marsh.