Southwire Retractable Extension Cord Reel - Three Grounded Outlets on Power Block for Multiple Devices - Tangle-Free Design with Smooth Retraction - Yellow - 20 Feet

Was using this yesterday. Cord was partially extended and without being touched it rewound itself. Mechanism that locks the cord gave way. This is the second reel I have had. First one had same problem and was exchanged. Maybe I am weird, but when I purchase something, I expect it to work. Clearly this is a piece of junk. DO NO BUY.

Stopped working after two years. Only used for three summer months, but after two summers would no longer hold in extended position. Wanted to add - disassembled the unit and found a plastic post had broken off. The ratchet arm pivots on this post so without it the cord was not held in extended position. Had the post been more substantial it might have held up longer.

Poor quality insulation around the wires. The insulation cracks every few inches and the wires separated from the outlet end of the cord making it unusable. The insulation needs more flexability to be able to wind and unwind in the reel.

The detente that allowed played-out cord to stay extended for multiple days suddenly stopped working and jerked the cord back into the reel. Then no detente would work and no electrical current was available. (I was not a tripped breaker.) Update: I oveooked the circuit breaker on the device. It was still able to provide power. I pulled the reel apart to see if I could fix the detente device. There was a cheap plastic claw with the mounting screw base that sheared off. I discarded the whole device.

The plug in unit broke after a few uses.

As you can see in my video, even when stopped the base needs to be slapped a couple times in order to work. When it is being rolled in and out, it is constantly getting disconnected. The roll also bunches up when retraction the last 5 feet. You have to sometimes reel it back in while feeding it to one side or another.

the actual cord length from reel to receptacle meaured at 16 feetand the reel suddenly retracted out of nowhere one day and doesnt lock when cord is pulled on anymore-also breaker trips if you plug anything more than a light or very small appliance-i would not buy again

There is a reason this is the cheapest. It IS the cheapest. Bought this for my workshop. BIG mistake. Plastic housing bounces around like kids toy. After only two uses the cord won't retract. This is going back and the more expensive brand with the steel housing (which I already have in my garage and have been quite happy with) will replace it.