Why are car keys so expensive?

[MonkeyBusiness]

Freelander keys - £153 + reprogramming (I didn't bother to ask if that was including VAT).

I understand keys are a bit more advanced than they used to be but surely the chips inside are (excuse the pun) cheap as chips?

What are the most expensive keys to replace?

[MonkeyBusiness]

tbc said:

Land Rover / Range Rover / Jaguar will price these whatever they like becuase they know the majority of their customers are more than capable of affording their cars and th majority will think little of parting with £150 if it means being able to drive their overpriced and unreliable RR and Jaaaaaagggsss again without much hassle.

ebay is a good place for keys, then all you have to do is pay to get them reprogrammed

This is exactly what I was intending to do but obviously the dealer is telling me I can't.
Thank you.

[MonkeyBusiness]

After spending the best part of £160 for a new key from Land Rover, guess what turned up this week?
Yep, only the bloody keys I'd lost.

I've now lost my only key to the garage door