Hardware stores entice you with color and shape as if you were raised by crows. I went to Lowes to make some keys. I found a lime green booth taking cash or credit. It's a store inside a store.

No prices are visible.

Then just before cutting they key I found a $6/key base price, Aha, I must shop around. Perhaps they have a older cheaper device in a nice shiny gold color. But I only found a second green machine at $5.98/key.

Caveat Emptor only gets you so far in this corporate machine age.