Equipment downtime is a killer to drive-thru profitability. No drive-thru operation can operate at peak efficiency when it's limping along on broken or partially functioning drive-thru headsets and drive-thru timers. That's why it's so important to act fast when it comes to drive-thru repairs and drive-thru equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.

Fast and Easy Drive-Thru Equipment Repairs

CE Repairs makes it fast and easy to get your drive-thru equipment repairs done so you can stay up and running. In fact, our drive-thru headset repairs and drive-thru timer repairs are as easy as 1-2-3:

1.  Place your drive-thru equipment in a box (include packaging around your equipment for protection during shipment)

2.  Fill out the convenient online form on the CE Repairs website (http://www.cerepairs.com/?pg=SendRepair). You'll get a UPS return service label to place on the box for FREE inbound shipping.

3.  Drop the box off any any authorized UPS service location or give it to your UPS driver.

Same-Day Service On Drive-Thru Repairs

In most cases we'll repair your drive-thru equipment within 24 hours of receiving it, or the repair is FREE. Some limitations and exclusions apply. Call 1-877-731-0334 for details.

Onsite Service Providers For Drive-Thru Repairs

Sometimes your drive-thru equipment repair is something that can't be sent in a box. That's why CE Repairs offers a comprehensive referral network of qualified onsite service providers. If your drive-thru speaker repair, drive-thru headset system repair, or any other drive-thru equipment repair requires onsite attention, call us at 1-877-731-0334. And remember to do it fast - because your drive-thru repair can't afford to wait.

A little troubleshooting can go a long way towards avoiding a costly drive-thru repair. The tips here might just prevent a service call on your drive-thru vehicle detector and save you time and money:

• If there is a problem with your drive-thru vehicle detection system, first try resetting the drive-thru system base station. If that does not work, try unplugging the whole system, and rebooting it that way.

If those two options do not work, check for the following:

• Loose electrical and cable connections
• Exposed or frayed loop lead-in wires
• Whether drive-thru menu board was relocated without also moving detector loops
• Effects from severe inclement weather

Free Technical Support

Don't forget that CE Repairs offers free technical support. Just give us a call at 877-731-0334, and our helpful drive-thru repair experts will answer your technical questions free of charge.

The most affordable drive-thru repair is the one that can be avoided altogether. That's why it's so important to perform regular maintenance on your drive-thru headsets and regular checks on your drive-thru speakers, drive-thru vehicle detectors and other critical drive-thru equipment.

Drive-thru headsets and belt-pacs are the workhorses of any QSR operation. They're made up of small parts and are subject to lots of wear and tear. Avoid costly downtime or a full-blown drive-thru repair with these quick maintenance tips for drive-thru headset systems:

• Prevent wear and tear on belt-pacs by disconnecting cables and connectors only when troubleshooting.

• Use clothing clips to prevent belt-pac cable from catching on something.

• Drive-thru equipment can be cleaned with a mild household cleanser sprayed on a damp cloth. Squeeze out excess liquid first; and do not spray cleanser directly on product.

• Use a soft bristle toothbrush to remove crumbs from crevices around buttons.

• Check date code on batteries and replace every 18-24 months.

• When adjusting headset microphone position, hold the boom at its base, not at the microphone tip.

• Store drive-thru equipment in a cool, dry place.

• Regularly check the outside speaker for sound quality and volume level. Microphones and speakers should be replaced approximately every three to four years. This is especially true in areas where the seasons are extreme, with lots of rain, humidity and snow.

These regular maintenance checks of your drive-thru equipment can prevent head aches and unforeseen costs in drive-thru repairs. If you have any further questions or concerns about a drive-thru repair call us here at CE Repairs at 877-731-0334 and a drive-thru repair expert will be able to assist you!

The CE Drive-Thru Repair blog has given a lot of attention to the importance of drive-thru headsets, drive-thru headset systems and drive-thru timer systems. And for good reason. Without properly maintained equipment, your drive-thru could be operating at less than peak efficiency - slowing down order times, messing up order accuracy and, worse yet, leading to costly drive-aways. But let's not forget - behind the scenes of any successful QSR are a host of drive-thru accessories that keep the operation running smoothly.

CE and Leading Brand Name Accessories

CE offers a complete line of drive-thru equipment accessories from leading brand names like HME, Panasonic and 3M, as well as CE branded products. Keep your drive-thru repair costs down and your drive-thru up and running with quality accessories like drive-thru batteries, speaker/intercom cables, shotgun speakers, ceiling speakers, grill speakers, external vehicle detectors, power supplies, cabled intercom systems and much, much more.

New and Refurbished Drive-Thru Accessories

To keep drive-thru repair and drive-thru equipment costs down further, CE offers refurbished drive-thru equipment and accessories in certain categories. Refurbished drive-thru equipment is put through a rigorous inspection system to ensure peak performance, so that your drive-thru never misses a beat. In some instances, CE will give you a choice between a drive-thru repair, a new piece of drive-thru equipment, or a refurbished unit or accessory. Just compare prices and make the decision that best suits your needs.

"My customers can't hear me!"

This is a very common issue and typically it's a very easy one to address:

-Most people may think the optimal position to wear your drive-thru mic is directly in front of your mouth. Although, the best place to wear your drive-thru headset mic is actually at your chin. This will get rid of any static or interfering noise that could be caused from speaking too closely into the drive-thru headset mic. Definitely do not wear the drive-thru headset mic at your forehead or beneath your chin.

-Always remember to remove the foam protector from the mic and confirm that the mic hole is fully clear. Sometimes this small hole will get clogged with debris and causes volume issues or "muffled" sounds.

-Replace the drive-thru headset mic foams regularly.  They should be in place to protect the mic area, and replaced regularly for sanitary reasons.

-If you use corded drive-thru headsets (as opposed to all-in-one), make sure that your connection to the drive-thru belt pack is free of debris and is very snug.  If some of your drive-thru headsets work better than others, then swap drive-thru headsets and drive-thru belt packs to deduce which drive-thru headsets or drive-thru belt packs are causing the problem.  Get the faulty ones repaired now to avoid running out of working drive-thru equipment at a critical time.

-Go outside to your order point and confirm that nothing (like a point-of-purchase sign) is obstructing your customers from the outside speaker or mic.

If you check off each of the items above but still have issues with less than clear sound to your customers, then you probably have a speaker or wiring issue.  Call in your local service company (CE can recommend one in your area if you like).  A relatively small investment will make for some much happier customers and you as well!

Speed and efficiency are the name of the game in the QSR business, and nothing can slow things down like cars backed up in the drive-thru lane due to faulty equipment. That's why CE offers same-day service on most drive-thru equipment repairs. Just send us your broken equipment (with free inbound shipping), and in most cases we'll fix it within 24 hours of receiving it or the repair is FREE. That goes for an HME headset repair (or any other brand), drive-thru timer repair, and a majority of drive-thru equipment repairs. Some limitations and exclusions apply.

Drive-Thru Repair Advance Exchange - The Ultimate In Speedy Service

Some drive-thru equipment repairs just can't wait. That's why CE offers a convenient drive-thru repair advance exchange program. Need a drive-thru repair now? Give us a call and we'll ship replacement equipment overnight. You don't even have to ship us the broken drive-thru equipment in advance. Just use the same box the replacement drive-thru equipment came in to send back your broken equipment for as little as $75 (plus the regular drive-thru repair cost).

Call For Onsite Drive-Thru Repairs

Need a drive-thru speaker post or full drive-thru speaker system repair? CE offers an extensive referral network of qualified service providers to help with onsite drive-thru repairs. Just call 877-731-0334 for details on our convenient nationwide drive-thru repair service and  installation.

The Drive-Thru Repair Experts

Here at CE, we've been in the drive-thru repair business for 40 years. Our expert technicians have the know-how to fix all major brands of drive-thru equipment including HME, Panasonic and 3M. And we know how to do it fast - and right - the first time.

We've talked a lot in this space about how the right drive-thru repair vendor can save you time and money. At CE Repairs, we start with expert, factory-authorized technicians who know the ins and outs of all major brands and will get your drive-thru repair done right the first time. We then back it up with a same-day guarantee on most drive-thru equipment repairs. Yet no matter how good our technicians are, the simple fact remains that drive-thru equipment is made up of sensitive electronics and small components and will sometimes just break - whether you're talking about a drive-thru headset, a drive-thru speaker system, drive-thru timer system or drive-thru speaker post.  

4-Month Drive-Thru Repair Warranty

CE is so confident in our repairs that we cover every drive-thru equipment repair with a four-month drive-thru repair warranty. If your HME headset repair (or any headset brand), drive-thru timer repair or drive-thru equipment repair fails within four months, we'll fix it again for free. (Some restrictions and conditions apply, of course.)

Drive-Thru Repair Equipment Maintenance Agreement

A drive-thru repair Equipment Maintenance Agreement is a great way to simplify your restaurant's budget and avoid large drive-thru repair expenditures. One monthly payment covers all drive-thru equipment repairs, and gives you peace of mind. CE offers drive-thru repair Equipment Maintenance Agreements on all HME, Panasonic and 3M drive-thru equipment.

The QSR industry has a number of quality name brands to choose from when it comes to drive-thru communication systems, drive-thru headset systems, drive-thru timer systems and related accessories.That's why CE covers all the bases with drive-thru equipment repairs and drive-thru sales and accessories for all major brands including HME, Panasonic, 3M, CE and Fast Track.

Factory Authorized Drive-Thru Repairs

CE is the only independent HME factory approved and trained facility in the U.S. Our expert technicians are trained to know the ins and outs of all major drive-thru brands and drive-thru equipment repairs. With CE, you can rest assured that your HME drive-thru repairs, Panasonic drive-thru repairs, 3M drive-thru repairs, CE drive-thru repairs and Fast Track drive-thru timer repairs are done right the first time - and fast.

Free Shipping On Your Drive-Thru Repair

With CE, all inbound shipping on drive-thru repairs is absolutely FREE - whether you're sending in a drive-thru headset repair or drive-thru timer repair. Just click on the link here for the easy online form and we'll provide free inbound shipping labels: http://www.cerepairs.com/?pg=SendRepair

Drive-Thru Repair Technical Support - All Brands

Sometimes you just have a quick technical question or issue that you'd like to discuss with a real live human being. That's why CE Repairs offers free drive-thru repair technical support. If you think your problem doesn't require a full-blown drive-thru repair, or you just want to talk something through with us, call 877-731-0334 today.

Drive-thru battery issues are the easiest to identify and most common cause of faltering systems. Here are some helpful tips that CE Repairs can offer you!

Other helpful drive-thru repair tips for batteries:

     When you detect an issue whether it be intermittent or low sound, no sound, "low battery" alerts, growing discharge rates, drive-thru headset resets are required more often. You shoudl first try swapping the battery for a fully charged one. 

    When charging a battery:            

1.  Always turn off your drive-thru belt pack or your all-in-one drive-thru headset before removing the battery
2. Only charge batteries after they're mostly run down and you have received the "low alert" message.
3. Keep the battery on the charger until fully charged and the green light comes on.
4. Keep the contacts on the batteries and chargers clean. You can do this with regular use of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab, or even a pencil eraser!
5. Drive thru batteries will typically last 12-18 months under normal, regular use.  Although they will continue to "work" after this time period, their ability to hold a charge will slowly begin to degrade, so be careful not to get used to subpar battery performance.
6. Most batteries include "date codes" so that you can keep track of the age of each individual battery.  See your supplier for interpretation of these codes.
7. Don't put batteries in your pocket or cash drawer.  These places commonly short the battery, discharging it very quickly and in some cases damaging it

We hope that these helpful hints and tips will prolong the life-span of all your drive-thru batteries!

The simplest yet,  at the same time,  one of the most critical components of your wireless drive-thru system are the batteries.  Each all-in-one drive-thru headset and drive-thru belt pack possesses one, and each battery has to be both "healthy" and "charged" to support your drive thru equipment.

You can expect anywhere from 6 to 14 hours of use from a battery depending on many factors:

• Battery technology - Nickel-Cadmium (lower performance) versus modern day Lithium-Ion (best performance)

•   Age of the battery itself - after, approximately, 18 months of usage you should be prepared for faster discharge rates which means, having to charge your batteries more often.

• How much you are using your drive-thru headsets, this is all depending on how busy your drive-thru restaurant is on an hourly, daily, and monthly basis.

Expect 2-3 hours of recharging time. It is important that you do not recharge your battery until you get the "battery low alert" from your drive-thru system, and then be sure to leave it on the charger until the battery is fully charged.  This will help to prolong the life of your batteries.

Always plan ahead by keeping spare, fully charged batteries!  A good rule of thumb to follow is to have one battery per drive-thru headset at the store, plus two spares.

Stay tuned for our next addition of helpful tips on maintaining your batteries to their fullest potential!