New tape measure

I use to have a heavy black digital 25' tape measure that lasted me a few years. Seemed it had a few falls and did need a battery replacement a few times. Then one day it no longer worked. As for accuracy I couldn't tell you other than when I measured 24" say the other tapes did as well. For my projects it really didn't matter and I've come to use tape measures by a simple rule, start a project with one and use that same one throughout. If I'm making a cabinet and use the same tape it makes no difference if all the parts are measure with the same tape. All parts that are supposed to be say 12" will be the same. Now if they are 11-31/32" or 12-1/16" it doesn't matter as long as all the other parts are measure and cut with the same tape measure. No difference then say suing a story stick.

That said, I have found differences in tape measures but usually it's in different models or brands. I usually buy the same models and the one's I've come to favor have both metric and imperial. Let's face it with aging eyes sometimes it's easier to read mm than fractions and far easier to remember 80.5 mm then 3.169291" or 3-3/16". At least that's what I have found for me.

As to the cost of this tape measure, $30 on eBay w/free shipping seems reasonable if it last and has a decent warranty. But then again, I wouldn't want to drop it too often but I wouldn't want to drop my digital calipers either. None of those digital tools are designed for that kind of handling that I'm aware of. As for the memory function, I trust my measure and write on the white board I hung in the shop for clarity as my memory has always been short, a trait I got from my mother. Use to be written on paper but seem to misplace those as well. The white board is mounted on the wall. I misplace that I'm in deep stuff.

Well most of us share at least one opinion, it seems to me that I often drop a tape measure and this looks fragile to me. One of the most frustrating things about tape measures is that they don't stay put when you extend them. For Christmas, my son bought me a 25 ft DeWalt tape and I must say, I'm impressed. They must use a higher grade of steel because I can extend this one to more than 10ft without it flexing. I like that. As far as the features on the electronic one, they are time savers for sure but I carry my I Phone with me everywhere and often use the calculator feature and the level app and the flashlight ... and I bought an Otter rubber case that is almost indestructible ! I have had it since 2016 and dropped it several times and it is still like new. It is nice to know that these things are available and the price seems reasonable, but given the reviews, I will spend my $$$ on something else.