The RoboReel Again...

[Ryan]

A few months ago, I posted about an online find - the RoboReel. Frankly, my initial impression was not all that positive. It seemed to me that $300 was a bit spendy for what looks like an all plastic cord reel worthy of being called a "power tool." I...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[catmshtr89]

That thing is pretty freaking cool. I know for me the $300 price is out of my reach.

Chad

 

[Higgins]

nice tool, price point is too high!

 

[Lurch67]

$300 for a extension cord is a bit pricey.

I wish I would have wrote the article and recieved a "Free" test unit. This falls under the Category "You ****".

 

[Bears Fan]

Neat tool! but come on $300.00 seriously that's out of reach for most....

 

[bdamico]

Glad you got a free one.

 

[dlenkewich]

I think it may be easy to like for free.

Personally I wouldn't spend a dime on that thing - Personally I just really don't do "gimmicks".

 

[Steevo]

If you mount it on a 12' ceiling, and "program it" to reel back in until it is ten feet off the floor, how do you get it to come back down to you? Does it come with a remote control?
Now THAT would be worth $299

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

300 bucks? HA...ill keep hand spooling my extension cords......

 

[my58]

Maybe I am just too old or technically un-savvy but I had 1 and had nothing but problems. I had problems with the cord return feature constantly.

I liked the concept and spent the bucks but I felt like I got screwed with the quality of the product. I never mind spending top dollar when I feel like I get the best bang for my buck, however with this thing I felt like I got suckered into a bad buy.

Maybe they solved the problems I was facing, but once bitten twice shy.

 

[KMinAF]

I will wait for the $30.00 HF version. Remember when the oscillating saws first came out? They were over $300 too.

 

[Sticky]

For $300, I can have one of my dancers pull my cord.

 

[Ryan]

Maybe I am just too old or technically un-savvy but I had 1 and had nothing but problems. I had problems with the cord return feature constantly.

I liked the concept and spent the bucks but I felt like I got screwed with the quality of the product. I never mind spending top dollar when I feel like I get the best bang for my buck, however with this thing I felt like I got suckered into a bad buy.

Maybe they solved the problems I was facing, but once bitten twice shy.

Now this I'm interested in... Did you return it? How was their return policy? Which model did you have?

I got the one I have for free... But I'm thinking about buying another to replace the other reel I have.

For $300, I can have one of my dancers pull my cord.

Yes... Dancers... Damnit, why didn't I think of that? I knew they were good for something else...

 

[AaronH87]

i still think it would **** out. i just dont see it being worth the money. good concept, but the price is ridiculous.

 

[DENALIAKITAS]

I got the one I have for free...QUOTE]

Well that pretty much tosses out the unbiased review.

 

[KPSquared]

My plan is to wait for thr cheap chinese knock off. It will have a remote. . .

There's just no way I'd drop $300 on a cord reel.

 

[marty_p]

My plan is to wait for thr cheap chinese knock off. It will have a remote. . .

There's just no way I'd drop $300 on a cord reel.

$99.95 - maybe...

$79.95 - probably...

$49.95 - unsure how to resist...

>

$29.95 + a HF 20% discount coupon - SOLD!!!

 

[aosty]

Looks cool... they would sell many more of them if the price was 1/3 or 1/2.

 

[Gregger Rod & Custom]

I like vintage!

I have bought a pile of vintage 1950's - 60's "Cord o Matic's" at swap meets, garage sales and on line and mount them everywhere: Over each work bench, over the centre of the garage and on the wall (for across the floor cords). They work Great!

I only buy ones that look close to unused (you know the ones: guy buys it, installs it and never uses it) and have never paid more than $15 for one.

They work well and if one develops a problem I simply swap it for another one (which only takes a moment or two since the replacement is an identical model) and I'm on my way. (FYI: I've only had to do this once and I have a couple of extras on hand).

If I replaced them all with Robo Wheel's, I would need eight of them and I really cannot see spending $2400 to replace sprung retractors with electric.


Do not confuse my methods with those of a cheap guy. When it comes to tools and shop equipment I understand the value of quality. And in a case where something I use frequently has begun to annoy me I'm willing to spend the money to make the frustration go away. None the less, My cord reels neither annoy me nor do I foresee any increase in work shop enjoyment arising from a robo wheel installation.

Besides, it looks way to 'plastic' for my tastes. Like I have said before... I like vintage!

 

[ren71]

People complain about the price, but if it was Robo-Reel by Snap-On, they'd be back ordered.

If it's as good as they say, $300 sounds reasonable for the best of something.

 

[ket-tek]

Pony up for some late night TV spots, drop the price to $99 paid in 3 easy flex-payments of $33 no credit checks and only available if you act now and these will sell millions in 6 months..

Otherwise awesome features or not, $300 doesn't seem like an accurate price point no matter how good it works. People will pay tons of money for something that looks super-awesome but doesn't work well, but then have a hard time paying alot for something that works good if it looks like an ugly plastic kmart toy, it's unfortunate but just how alot of people think.

I do commend the inventor for well, inventing. And making new products and ideas, but I just don't need a robot to wind my cords. How about realtime wireless 120v AC power, now that I would pay $300 for.

GLWS

 

[my58]

Now this I'm interested in... Did you return it? How was their return policy?

I did not purchase directly from the manufacturer so the return was through a third party (Amazon) and it was handled well.

I was disapointed in the tech support when I tried dealling with Great stuff the manufacturer. They did not want to hear anything about a problem and just kept insisting I was the problem.

The frustrating thing to me was one of my purchasing factors was the Great stuff story. The guy sold his bussiness supposedly took care of all his employees and his wife was a big motivational influence for the products creation. I thought I would like to support a guy like that, I felt we needed more guys like that around and I figured if I was spending money on a cord reel I may as well get the best and show my support to a guy like that.

By the time I returned the reel I felt like I got taken in by a great marketing ploy. I would have loved to have supported a company like the one marketed and been able to watch it grow. Too bad the selling story was better than reality.

 

[Chandos]

Hmmm. We have a choice between the views of a guy who paid hard cash for one and had a miserable time of it, and a guy who got one free, who likes it a lot.

What's to balance here, really? Maybe a dozen or so reviews might tell us something, but I can't think of a dozen people, myself included, who'd even think about dropping $300 on a cord reel.

As many have said, at $75 it's a maybe, better with a 20% coupon.

If I ever really needed an electric cord reel, I'd make one. I could always paint in orange.

CHeers!

Chandos

 

[KPSquared]

Oh. . .and I forgot to add. . .the thing is still FUGLY as hell. I just wouldnt want something that looked like that in my shop. Looks like its straight from K-TEL. . .or maybe Mattel. . .

Maybe the creators should have asked the garage guys BEFORE investing so much that they had to sell it for $300.

 

[Greatbear]

The concept is cool as well as the various safety factors (i.e. no cord taking off full speed into the garage taking out a fluorescent tube as it gets sucked back into the reel, as happened to me once), but I wonder about the longevity and repair-ability of the thing. Namely the business end with the receptacles and controls. Over time, these things wear out, and I've clomped off the molded receptacle end and replaced it. This one looks like there is no way to do this when it eventually happens and retain the function of the reel. The cord with the receptacle end would have to be an expensive, proprietary assembly. Likewise, if the cord gets cut or frayed near the end, there's no taking out a small portion ending up with a slightly shorter but still functional cord reel. I'm thinking ahead, since I've had to replace a couple socket ends not long ago.

It's a big orange ball, and one that can be dressed up to look cool hanging from the ceiling. I'd consider it if the thing has a repairable future.

 

[rogsmart]

For 300 bucks it needs to be bullet proof with a life time warranty. It's not bullet proof and it doesn't sport the lifetime warranty. Your realistic price for something like that would be more like $199.95.

"The RoboReel Power Cord System is built to last.
That’s why we stand behind our product with our industry-leading warranty. With the Great Stuff Guarantee your RoboReel comes fully protected with a 4 year or 4,000 wind warranty."

So basically you're paying 75 bucks a year for something that the manufacturer is telling you will last 4 years. I can install a lot of electrical outlets for $300 that in the long run will be far more serviceable and useful than this expensive toy. No Sale here.

Oh, and a quick note to the owner of RoboReel. What you're hearing on the forum is called feedback. It's free, it's useful, and if you're a smart cookie you'll pay attention to it.

 

[KPSquared]

Oh, and a quick note to the owner of RoboReel. What you're hearing on the forum is called feedback. It's free, it's useful, and if you're a smart cookie you'll pay attention to it.

Best post so far. . .

 

[Lurch67]

"Fast forward a couple of months and my phone rings. On the other end, is the fella responsible for RoboReel. To put it bluntly, he’s pissed. He didn’t like the responses he read on the forum and wanted to hand over a RoboReel to prove how wrong we all were. I stuck my tail between my legs and agreed… and the next thing I knew, I was looking at a RoboReel mounted proudly on my shop ceiling."

I'm hoping he tries to prove us all wrong, by providing all of us Naysayers wrong by providing each of us a RoboReel!

Free RoboReel = "Great Product"
$300 RoboReel = "Overpriced Product"

 

[Cars&Classic]

I built a new house last year and wanted to do the Garage nice and like cord reels so i dont trip over cords and have them within reach.

I bought 3 new Snap on reels with lights, for 60.00 each from ebay but didnt do more because of the price, few months later i found the same reel for 33.00 at Costco. so I bought 6 more. I have 2 new lifts, selling old tool boxes to replace with new that are better maid and fresh paint so I am not cheep but i doubt i would pay 300.00 for one reel. At the most for somthing really trick and cool 99.00 but even for snap on I didnt buy as many at the 60.00 price. I doubt they will do well.

just had this conversation about over pricing with my son an hour ago leaving the sprint store. 700.00 for a new Iphone? reallly they can bould and sell 60:tvs for 600.00 and Ipads for 3-500.00 tons of mark up there just playing on the market.

Nice reel but seams like its priced as a sharper image or Sax fith ave person not the garage guy. I dont even think it would work to license through snap on . would have to be more trendy like corvette, BMW or Jaguar. maybe if they added a night light to the end of it those guys would buy it for thier toys. but not the "Garage Guy"

 

[Cars&Classic]

"Fast forward a couple of months and my phone rings. On the other end, is the fella responsible for RoboReel. To put it bluntly, he’s pissed. He didn’t like the responses he read on the forum and wanted to hand over a RoboReel to prove how wrong we all were. I stuck my tail between my legs and agreed… and the next thing I knew, I was looking at a RoboReel mounted proudly on my shop ceiling."

I'm hoping he tries to prove us all wrong, by providing all of us Naysayers wrong by providing each of us a RoboReel!

Free RoboReel = "Great Product"
$300 RoboReel = "Overpriced Product"

or even a discount to GJ members to try it. 50.00 shipped with feed back required every 30 days for six months, and the tread listed as a stickey.
if he believes in his product, offerin the first 50 Gj guys that deal would surley give him the feed back he needs to get his product moving . and I doubt there is another Venu any where that has people that spend money on tools that GJ members do. a quick look at the flooring threads he will see that the floor covering venders do contest for thousands of dollars in free product or discounts for feed back. maybe he should call them and see how it worked out.

 

[Vernmotor]

Cool but not $300.00 cool ! maybe $149.00 I can see 5-6 years down the road it breaks and you can't fix it. in the trash it would go. For 300 it need to have a 10 year warranty.and drop the 4000 wind thing..( who going to count )

 

[DynoDave]

Cool, but too rich for my blood. And I like a retro look. Maybe if it looked more like Telstar...

 

[The Frisco Kid]

I thought it sucked a few months ago too, can I get a free one?

Give me a break... I dig that this guy believes in his product, but this wasn't the answer. Moving the stupid price into the realm of reality is the answer. At 100-150, that's a pretty cool gadget. Of course at the rate they probably sell, he makes the same money selling 1 at 300 as 6-10 at 100 with less work and less capital *******.

 

[ket-tek]

and drop the 4000 wind thing..( who going to count )

The logic board that monitors/controls all the other functions sure will.

Then you likely pay shipping to send it in so they can just deny the warranty based on going over the wind count. (Just a hunch based on how most small companies seem to operate these days, maybe robo-reels will chime in to clarify)

 

[oberst]

Three hundred clams for the answer to the question no one asked? Nah. (I wonder if he tried to get this thing into the Griots catalog?)

(I always hold the end of my cord so it never "whips" into stuff on the return. In fact, I've never thought about just letting the cord go on it's own when it's time to reel-in.)

 

[n0fac3]

I hate dealing with extension cords... Not sure I $300 hate it though. When you start looking at other tools you can buy or upgrade, its hard to justifying paying so much for an inconvenience.

I am not sure I would put it in the gimmick category but I feel it needs more of a gimmick to sell. How about one that looks like the death star or R2-D2..

Rock on for being a Maker but fail for the high price point..

 

[KPSquared]

Three hundred clams for the answer to the question no one asked? Nah. (I wonder if he tried to get this thing into the Griots catalog?)

(I always hold the end of my cord so it never "whips" into stuff on the return. In fact, I've never thought about just letting the cord go on it's own when it's time to reel-in.)

Maybe they are talking about a reel failing and ripping the cord back on its own?

I'm in for the "I thought it was lame last time so give me a free one" offer. 4 years for $300 is a joke. Its not a tv in my living room. . .its a tool for my garage. If I'm gonna spend good money it better last forever. A made in china logic board. . .that's gonna be the failure ponit. Are they gonna sell me a new one? Nope. . .throw it out and start over.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I for one would not spend 300 dollars for one, Even if it had a life time warranty, Wait, if it is as good as some people think it is, It will come down in price to a more realistic price in a year or two, look at microwaves, and other eletronics. Oh and if they are handing them out free you can put me down for one, and I will give it an honest try...Rich

 

[zgears]

Ron Popeil got mad?

 

[Ryan]

It sounds like an internet forum - opinions from folks without experience!

I was totally on the "no" side before I used it for a few weeks. I really like it... In fact, I was planning on buying one of my own until I read my58's post. That makes me a bit nervous.