I have a 2003 Tribute but, having bought it used, I have only one key. After reading about the high cost of having a spare made at the dealer, I tried Pop-A-Lock--who wanted $114 to make a spare--or $150 for an entirely new key! After a few questions, their tech told me that they have a 'diagnostic tool' that can put the car into "add key mode"..so apparently the thing can be done basically within the car even if you have no key at all.

I happened to check the local Walmart and, lo and behold, they'll make it for $60.00. Considerably cheaper, and I was going to do it, but it happened that the key machine was down at the moment (@#$%!). Still, I got to glance at their machine, a small box in a drawer behind the counter, and even read the instruction manual the employee had. That proved to me that for $60 (or $150) one can essentially turn it on, put in the original key, push a button, wait, remove that and put in the new blank key, push the button...voila! $60 bucks for pushing a button two or three times! (note: I don't know if they actually make a second independent key, or just clone what you have. It may matter if you ever wanted to use both of them later to make your own third key. Still, it's a spare key!)

The point of all this is that if it's arbitrarily $150..or $114..or $60, for what is really only $10 worth of time, or maybe $20 at most, surely there is some company that doesn't take advantage and gouge the public. I'd have hoped Mazda would strive for customer loyalty by simply making the key for free, but I guess that's not the case. So I may have to pay Walmart eventually, but if anyone knows of any location that makes transponder keys at a reasonable and honest price, I'd sure appreciate the information.
-JT