Has anyone gotten a "flip style" key off Ebay?

[kevinkay]

There are some choices-

buy a key with a virgin chip - get the key cut, transponder programed, and program the remote

buy a hollow case, cut open your old key, reuse the chip and get the blank cut

curious if anyone has done either, what the costs and issues with getting the chip programed and finding a lock smith to cut the blank.

One Ebay description mentions a brass blank because locksmith don't want to dull there machines cutting a steel blank?