It’s amazing how the smallest drive-thru parts can make such a big difference. For example, your headset batteries. If they lose their charge in the middle of a busy daypart, it can disrupt your entire process, especially if you don’t have backups immediately available.

To keep your batteries working better and longer before they need replacement:

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The holidays are a time for giving. At CE Repairs, the drive-thru parts repair specialists, we believe in giving all year round through our customer specials. When you become a CE customer, you are entitled to the following discounts:

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If you need new or replacement parts, don’t forget that CE has a great selection of drive-thru equipment parts and accessories from the leading brands. Give us a call at 877-731-0334 or visit us online at cerepairs.com.

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Everybody likes a good deal, especially when it includes getting something for free. When you purchase any three CE brand batteries for your drive-thru equipment, we’ll throw in a fourth drive-thru battery for free!

To receive your free drive-thru battery, visit our free battery special web page <https://www.cerepairs.com/freebattery> and order any three of the following batteries:

HME:

·         Wireless IQ

·         System 2000

·         System 400

Panasonic systems:

·         Attune

·         WX-C920

·         WX-c1020

3M systems:

·         XT-1

·         C1060

·         C960

When you’re ready to check out, type in the promo code PCBATW and you’re good to go.

Don’t Forget About CE’s Same-Day Drive-Thru Repair Service

Did you know something as small as a drive-thru battery could have a significant impact on your sales? Since most quick-service restaurants have shifted toward using wireless drive-thru headsets, batteries have been playing an important role in how quickly and accurately orders are placed. When a drive-thru battery wears out, it can cause unnecessary distractions that will hamper your business. Here are three tell-tale signs your drive-thru batteries need replacing.

1. Static or Cut-Outs—When your batteries are no longer holding their charge, you’ll likely experience a noticeable change in your drive-thru sound quality. Audio cutting out or static in the middle of orders are good indications that you may need new batteries. One way to determine whether it is the drive-thru battery or the headset causing the problem is by swapping the battery with another one. If the static goes away, you’ve likely found your culprit.

2. Shortened Charge Cycle— Most drive-thru batteries last about 10-12 hours once they’ve been fully charged. This will allow employees to work an entire shift without changing batteries. If your employees find themselves having to change batteries after just a couple of hours of use, it might be time to purchase new ones. To get the most use out of the batteries, make sure they’ve gone through the entire charge cycle, and only use the ones that are fully charged.

3. Expired Date—Most batteries have an expiration date printed on them. If your drive-thru battery has an expired date it’s best to replace it with a new one. If you are unable to locate the expiration date on your battery, a good rule of thumb is to replace your batteries every one-and-a-half to two years.

If you’re experiencing any of the above conditions but still aren’t sure if you need new batteries, give CE a call at 877-731-0334. A tech support rep will troubleshoot the problem with you and recommend next steps. If you know you’ve got old batteries, take them to an e-waste recycle facility, or send them to CE for disposal. New batteries can be purchased through CE’s website or by phone. You might even find a buy-three-get-one-free promotion under the special offers tab.


Remember, small details like replacing old batteries can have a huge impact on your sales. Be sure to check your drive-thru equipment on a regular basis and don’t hesitate to call when you’re in need of technical support.

Drive-thru maintenance is a critical part of running a quick-service restaurant. Most managers do a great job of keeping the exterior of the building clean and menu items and prices up to date, but many forget about the most important piece of the puzzle – their drive-thru equipment. Since ordering is impossible without communication, it is essential that your drive-thru headsets are always in tip-top shape. Whether you need a new drive-thru battery, ear foam replacement, or a complete drive-thru headset repair, CE has the solution for you.

Drive-Thru Repairs—If you have a broken headset or belt-pac send it to CE for repair. It will be fixed and shipped within 24 hours of receipt. Not only that, but you’ll also receive a four-month warranty with your repair. In the unlikely event that it breaks again within that time period, you’ll be able to send it in for a free repair.* For your convenience, CE provides free inbound shipping labels. Get yours here.

Advance Exchange—If you aren’t able to wait for a repair, CE will overnight replacement equipment to you for the price of a repair plus a small fee. Once you receive the replacement equipment it becomes yours, and all you have to do is send your broken equipment back to CE.

Accessories—If your drive-thru headsets are functioning but could use a little freshening up, CE also has an online shopping cart for small accessories. You can purchase anything from a new drive-thru battery or ear pad to microphone covers, belts and battery doors.

Technical Support—Aren’t sure what’s wrong with your headset, belt-pac or drive-thru timer? Call CE’s technical support at 877-731-0334. They will diagnose the problem and either help you fix it over the phone or provide next steps to take. For serious issues that require assistance on-site, or if you need help with installing any drive-thru equipment, CE also has a network of onsite technicians nationwide that can help.

From drive-thru repairs and accessories to technical support and nationwide installation, CE provides everything you need to keep your drive-thru up and running. If you have any questions regarding these services or would like to learn more, please visit www.cerepairs.com or call 877-731-0334.

Class isn’t quite back in session, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new. Most quick-service restaurants spend anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars on drive-thru repairs each year. But did you know that you can cut that dollar amount down significantly just by performing routine maintenance on your drive-thru equipment? Here are a few simple steps that, if followed, will help dramatically reduce your drive-thru repair bill:

Avoid Liquids

Electrical components and liquids simply don’t mix. Keep water and any other solvents away from your drive-thru headsets. If a headset does fall into some form of liquid, take the battery out immediately and allow your headset to dry completely before attempting to turn it on again.

Battery Performance

For best sound quality, make sure you are using freshly charged batteries. If your drive-thru battery gets low, swap it out with a fully charged battery from the charging station. Also be aware of the age of your batteries. Most will have a manufacture date printed on them. If you’re operating with a drive-thru battery that is more than one and a half to two years old and you’re having issues with sound quality, chances are you may need new batteries. 

Clean and Test-

Routine cleaning is one of the most important steps of maintaining your drive-thru headsets. Pick one day a week and set time aside to thoroughly clean each one. Once you have finished cleaning, test each headset to make sure it’s working correctly. If you come across a broken or non-operable headset put it aside until you have completed testing the rest.

When a drive-thru headset repair is needed, place the broken equipment in a box and print out a free shipping label from our website. Simply attach the label to the box and drop it off at a UPS facility or hand it to your UPS driver. CE also offers current customer and new customer promotions. Check the special offers tab to see if there is a coupon for your drive-thru repair.

Check back next week to learn more about drive-thru maintenance. If you have a specific question regarding any of your drive-thru equipment, call CE at 877-731-0334.

During the summer months quick-service restaurants tend to receive a heavier flow of traffic through their drive-thrus. With the increase of customers, drive-thru headsets are usually pulling double duty and have a higher likelihood of malfunctioning or breaking down due to constant usage. To minimize the amount of drive-thru repairs this summer make sure you are doing drive-thru maintenance checks on a regular basis. One of the easiest ways to save on drive-thru headset repairs is by following these simple steps below:

1. Clean Exterior of Drive-Thru Headsets

Use a damp cloth to remove particles and grease from your headset. If you use a mild soap, apply it to the cloth rather than the headset to ensure excess moisture doesn’t get into the electronic components. Stay away from spray cleaners and solvents as they can cause corrosion.

2. Clean Crevices

Use a small, soft bristled brush between the buttons and in the crevices of your drive-thru headset to remove small crumbs. This will prolong the durability of your headset and decrease the chances of component failure.

3. Check Condition of Earmuffs

The earmuffs on drive-thru headsets should be replaced every 60-90 days or more frequently if needed. This will provide better drive-thru sound quality, improve comfort, and promote better hygiene. If you have several employees, give them the option to have their own set.

4. Avoid Water

If liquid gets in to a headset or belt-pac it can cause significant electrical damage. If this happens to your drive-thru equipment, power it off, take out the battery and let all components completely dry before turning the equipment back on. If you are still experiencing issues with your communicator contact Technical Support at 877-731-0334.

5. Clean Batteries

To help prevent static, use a cotton swab moistened with alcohol to clean the contacts on each drive-thru battery, headset and charger port (make sure the battery charger is unplugged before cleaning). Not only will this reduce static, but it will also keep your batteries and drive-thru headsets functioning at peak performance.

6. Test Drive-Thru Headsets

Listen for static while adjusting the mic boom. If you hear static, try using a different drive-thru battery. If you are still experiencing static, call Technical Support.

Next, grab a partner to listen on a separate headset. Push the “B” button on yours and count from one to five. If they are able to hear each of the numbers clearly have them repeat the last step back to you. Switch out headsets and repeat. If at any point you are unable to hear all of the numbers there could be a problem with your headset. Contact Technical Support to troubleshoot further.

7. Keep Equipment Cool

To ensure you’re getting the best from your drive-thru equipment, store in a cool, dry place. This will help prevent from overheating, strengthen the life of your drive-thru batteries, and keep moisture from getting into electrical components.  

By following these seven steps you will experience less drive-thru equipment failures, better drive-thru sound quality, and happier employees and customers. What this means for you is reduced number of drive-thru repairs, better order accuracy, and improved overall customer experience.   All of these combined are sure to result in a wealthier bottom line.

For more tips or questions on how to improve your drive-thru efficiency give CE a call at 877-731-0334.

Now that schools are on break and the weather is warming up, everyone is spending more time out and about with their family and friends. With this busy season getting underway, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the increase of orders coming in from the drive-thru. Here are a few tips that will help you manage your work flow and set up your store for success.   

Keep Tabs on Popular Menu Items - When there are several eateries to choose from, you need to stand out for the right reasons. Whether it’s a seasonal special or the most popular item on your menu, you’ll want to take regular inventory to ensure you have enough in stock at all times to keep your customers satisfied. A happy customer is a returning customer.

Clean up your Drive-Thru Menu Board - Make sure your menu board places emphasis on the most popular foods and beverages for the season. This is a great time to check pricing and update any outdated items. Also check the lighting on your menu board. Because people are staying out later during the summer months, they tend to eat dinner later in the evening. If there are areas that look dim, or sections that are completely dark, get in touch with your drive-thru menu board provider to have a technician come out and replace the bulbs.   

Inventory Your Drive-Thru Equipment - Working at a fast pace provides more opportunity for equipment failure, so you’ll want to have as many working back-up components as possible. If you have any broken drive-thru headsets or a non-operating drive-thru timer, send them in for repair before it gets too far in to summer. That way, if one headset goes down you’ll have replacements to back you up.

Purchase New Drive-Thru Batteries - When using a fresh, new drive-thru battery your headset will allow you to communicate for longer periods of time, thus reducing the need to switch it out as often. You’ll also experience an improvement in drive-thru sound quality, which will aid in order accuracy and help increase your overall speed of service.

The first day of summer is right around the corner. Now is the time to take advantage of these tips to ensure your drive-thru is working at peak performance. For additional ways to boost your drive-thru efficiency and overall customer experience, check back next week or call CE at 877-731-0334.   

The words “low battery” are the last thing a crewmember wants to hear while they are in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush. In the time it takes to remove the dead drive-thru battery, find a new one, insert it and turn your headset back on, the customer at your menu board will be irritated that they have not been greeted. To keep this from happening and to improve your overall drive-thru performance, here are five tricks to maximize your drive-thru battery life.

1.       Clean Batteries

When a battery isn’t making a solid connection with the contacts in your drive-thru headset or belt-pac, it can cause communication to drop suddenly. The best way to avoid this is by cleaning your battery contacts and the contacts in your headset or belt-pac with an alcohol swab. Also clean the ports in your battery charger to ensure your batteries are getting the best connection when charging. When maintaining your drive-thru equipment, you want to make sure that all pieces being cleaned are turned off and that you allow them to dry completely before turning any equipment back on or inserting batteries back in.

2.       Know When to Charge

Because drive-thru batteries have a certain number of charge cycles in their lifetime, it’s best to charge only when they are low on power. By turning off your drive-thru headsets and belt-pacs when not in use, you’ll be able to save any power your drive-thru battery is holding, avoiding an additional charge cycle. If you are unsure whether they have reached the end of their lifecycle, there is usually a manufacturer’s date on the back of the battery. If your battery is more than one-and-a-half to two-years old, you’ll want to send it to an e-waste recycling facility or back to CE for disposal, and purchase a new one. CE offers batteries that work with HME, 3M, and Panasonic drive-thru headsets. Call 877-731-0334 today!

3.       Keep Equipment Cool
When batteries are fully charged, remove them from the charger and store them in a cool, dry place. For best results, also keep your drive-thru battery charger in a cool, dry place. This will keep them from any overheating that can cause electrical component damage. 
 

4.       Use Regular Outlets
To extend the life of your batteries, use regular outlets instead of switched or timed outlets. This will ensure your battery goes through the entire charge cycle.

5.       Check Battery Ports
Before turning on your drive-thru headset make sure the battery is securely in place. If the battery feels loose, or if the clip that holds it in place is missing, contact Technical Support at 877-731-0334. They will troubleshoot the problem and recommend next steps.

By utilizing these five tips, you’ll see better results in your drive-thru performance. Drive-thru sound quality will improve. You won’t have to switch out your batteries as often, allowing crew members to stay focused on customers. And you won’t be caught off-guard when it’s time to replace your batteries. For more tips on how to maximize restaurant efficiency, or any other drive-thru maintenance related questions call 877-731-0334.