SE 1" Retractable Clip-On Pull Key Reel ID Holder with Keychain - 202JCC

At first I thought this was perfect. It is nice a small, has a sturdy clip and a cable that would never break. However, after a month or so I heard a snap and the cable wouldn't retract. I took it apart and found that the spool that the wire wraps around is plastic, and had snapped in two. This little guy is metal everywhere but where it is actually needed.

Good stuff! The cable is much stronger than many string-based retractors, and the retractor itself is compact and neat. I use it for my ID badge, and I wanted something that would last, but not that looked like I'd be hauling 50 keys on it. This does the trick. The cable broke after 4 YEARS. I replaced it with the same model. I figure 4 years is a good long run for something that costs so little. Fair price and quality product!

The exterior design of this is perfect for me. It has an alligator clip, not the slip-on kind so I can easily attach it to my clothes. It has a nice chrome face instead of cruddy plastic and looks good. BUT, I'm on 3rd one in 9 months. The string inside snaps after about 2-3 months. They're kind of inexpensive so I bought a few last time. Because I know what to expect I justify it but may have to find a cheaper plastic one that DOESN'T break.

Looks great, and the clip works well. I was hoping the metal cord would last longer than a nylon one, but it frayed recently near the ring, after about four months. Fortunately, I was able to cut it at the fray and tie the cord back onto the ring, to get more life out of it. The snap clip is better than a standard belt clip for attaching it in a variety of ways, but I wish it was slightly longer, so it would swing open wider to attach to thicker belts and such. Snap clip works well and can attach to many things, but metal cord will break rather quickly (after only 4 mos. for me).Aug. 2016 - A couple months ago, the grip of the clip started to weaken enough so that the reel would come off of my belt whenever I pulled on the keys attached to the end of the cord. This made it ineffective, so I replaced it with another plastic reel I had. It just doesn't hold up to regular daily use. Since the cord broke early on, and the clip lasted only a year, I guess I won't be buying it again.

The good:- Very sturdy and solid, not like the cheap plastic ones that just fall apart if you look at them funny.- Strong alligator style clip, I never had it fall off and it didn't damage clothing.The OK:- I wish the cord was just a little bit longer, maybe an additional 2 inches. I'm 5'5 and I clip this to my pant pocket then pull my badge up to a card reader next to the doors. It reached fine but I had to stand a little closer to the door than I like and sometimes people come barreling through the doors like they are the only person in the world.- The cord detached from the little piece of metal that clips onto my badge today. I ordered the clip June 5 so I'm assuming I started using it June 10th and that I've pulled it 600 - 800 times over the 5 months since then. I was hoping it would last a bit longer than that, but this wasn't bad for a badge clip. I've had cheap ones break within a week before.

Not quite sure why I didn't read the other reviews before purchasing. But... I pulled this out of the packaging and noticed immediately that the clip was so small that it was unclear what, exactly, it was meant to attach to. This is not a belt clip (the whole reel is maybe the size of a quarter -- mini -- so the clip would comfortably attach to, perhaps, a cable, but not a belt). Second, the belt clip isn't strong enough to hold it on to anything while pulling out the reel. In fact, I had to hold it with two hands to pull the reel out. And, on the first pull of the reel... it jammed open and would not retract. Not expensive enough to make it worth shipping back, but definitely a poorly manufactured, ill-designed, low quality device.Bah.

I purchased this as replacement for the badge reel I had that recently snapped on me. Though in the time it took to ship out, I did manage to fix my old one.Though I do have it on backup right now, I did give it a go for a day to see if I like it, and I do. The lead inside is a steel wire, so it shouldn't be snapping at all.The one I have currently clips on to whatever, which in my case is a belt loop. This one clamps on and bites down to the surface behind it, which was my belt directly the one day. It does seem secure enough, but I'm sure extended use may cause it to dig into my belt. Though seeing as that is it's intended purpose, can't fault it any.Overall, it's a good sturdy one, and I look forward to using it proper soon.

I removed the reel from its package and extended the line to see whether it was long enough to reach the card reader at the office. The line extended smoothly, then retracted halfway and stuck there. I tried gently re-extending it repeatedly, thinking there was a small snag or something. Nope. The thing is hopelessly busted from the VERY FIRST TIME it was extended.Let me assure the reader I don't have superhuman strength and I'm used to treating mechanical devices with care. This was not user error on my part. This reel was a complete dud. I bought it because of other positive reviews so I know other people are happy with theirs, but it's still extremely disappointing. I cannot recommend this product.