Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you're reading this, its surrounded by other one star reviews complaining that the locking mechanism will get weaker over time and slowly start retracting when its supposed to always lock. This is true, but there is a very easy fix. Lay it on its side with the screws facing up and unscrew all 3 screws, including the one in the middle. The case completely separates in two (if you were holding it normally, sides would come apart - but keep it where it is on your workspace), so lift the top side of the case (the side with the screws facing you) off, keep the remainder on your workspace. You'll see the button you would press connected to a wedge that locks the tape into place and has a spring (which will not fly off). The button is held in place by a tiny metal rod at the top that you are looking down on. Look carefully at how the button, spring, rod and wedge are oriented so you can put it back. Lift the button/wedge/spring off the rod and put the rod back into place in the bottom half of the case if it falls out. The wedge is dirty (with fine metal filings from the tape that act like a lubricant), and that's why it retracts on its own: the tape slips over the dirt. Take a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol, and clean the dirt off the wedge. Slip the button with the cleaned wedge back over the rod, push the spring in with your finger and press it back in place with the wedge against the tape. Put the top of the case back on, screw three screws in, and your tape will work as good as new. It's really a 5 star tape, I only reviewed it as 1 star so you'd see the solution to the sea of people complaining it doesn't hold (mine lasted through 3 years of weekly use) if you click on other one star reviews. It's a handyman tool, you'd think people would be curious to see if they could fix it, but alas, not many of us are that curious. In any event, buy it with confidence. It's a great tape: just don't pull it out past 25 feet. And note, if you upvote this comment, it will show up on the first page where everyone can see it as the most helpful bad review.