Is your drive thru equipment prepared for unpredictable seasonal weather? Winter can take a harsh toll to your drive thru which can significantally effect your customers, and essentially your business. Do you know how to perform regular checks on your equipment and what to look for? In this week's blog, read about winter maintenance tips and drive thru equipment repair from CE.

 

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Did you know that even the most well-built headsets will wear down over-time? Do you know what to do if that happens, or who to call? At time like these, CE can lend a hand. As an example provided in this article, you will find a list of HME's ION IQ replacement parts including...

 

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Crew members may not always tell you when a headset isn’t working just right. Some problems can cause inaccurate order taking or slower speed of service. If your staff or customers are experiencing any of these issues or concerns in this article, then it's time to call CE for your drive-thru repairs.

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As a leader in drive-thru equipment repair, CE has more than 40 years of helping QSRs fix their broken equipment. As a result, we can offer comprehensive equipment maintenance plans (EMAs) that save you time and money. Which is why the CE Drive-Thru Protection Plan is recognized as one of the best EMAs in the industry.

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Are your drive-thru crewmembers complaining about unwanted background noise in their headsets when taking customer orders? If so, it may be slowing down service times and reducing order accuracy. Most of today’s leading drive-thru headset systems include sophisticated noise cancellation technology. But if those pesky background noises are making orders hard to hear, it may be time to clean or even repair your equipment.

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As a professional restaurant manager, I have worked for many large, national QSR chains throughout my career. I can tell you that no matter who you work for, one of the biggest aggravations for any manager is when drive-thru equipment breaks down, especially during busy dayparts. It only takes one broken headset or timer system malfunction to throw a monkey wrench into the entire operation.

 

One of the most important lessons I learned early on was the importance of having a reliable drive-thru equipment repair vendor – one you could count on for fast service and quality drive-thru repairs.  And now that I own and operate a couple of QSRs in my hometown in the Midwest, it has become more important than ever to have a good relationship with a trusted repair vendor.

 

That’s why I rely on Commercial Electronics (CE) whenever my drive-thru equipment needs fixing. They offer free inbound shipping on all repairs. I can get advance equipment exchange on most components, which really comes in handy. And unlike some repair firms that use cheap after-market replacement parts, CE uses quality parts in all their repairs.

 

Best of all, CE has a great drive-thru protection plan that offers unlimited repairs for one fixed monthly fee. Some months, I don’t use it so much. But other times it more than pays for itself by keeping my drive-thrus operating smoothly and efficiently. Do yourself a favor and give CE a call. You’ll get quality repair work and the peace of mind that comes with knowing the equipment will work when they send it back to you.

Many QSRs have a drawer full of broken drive-thru equipment because they don’t have the time or the money to send it for repair. This can get you in to a pickle if you’re down to your last working headset. What would you do if it happened to break down during lunch rush? With a CE Protection Plan those worries can be a thing of the past.

There are several plans to choose from to fit any budget. Some benefits to having a Protection Plan include:

-Unlimited drive-thru repairs for a low, fixed monthly fee

-No long-term contracts

-Good for any model/any brand headset and timer

-Less downtime in stores

-Quality parts and service

For convenience at its finest, try CE’s premium coverage for headset systems. This provides you with advanced exchange and overnight shipping on base stations, vehicle detector boards, speakers, power adapters and chargers. Also included is advanced exchange on headsets and belt-pacs with second day shipping. Instead of waiting for drive-thru equipment to be shipped, repaired and shipped back to you, CE will send  replacement equipment within one to two days. All you have to do is put your broken equipment in that same box and hand it back to the UPS driver. It doesn’t get easier than that.

If you’re on a tight budget, there are other plans that provide full coverage and include mail-in drive-thru repair of headsets and belt-pacs for a low monthly fee.  

Failing to plan, is planning to fail. Protect yourself with one of CE’s Protection Plans.

I own a large, regional chain of QSRs, each one with dual drive-thru lanes. As you might guess, I use a lot of drive-thru equipment to keep those lanes running smoothly.  I happen to believe that HME makes the best drive-thru equipment, so all my stores are equipped with either the HME ION IQ or Wireless IQ.

 

When I need to purchase a new piece of drive-thru equipment or repair an existing one, it’s nice to know I can turn to one place for all my needs: CE. They’ve got everything from base stations to clothing clips, battery doors to speaker kits – and most of their products offer a choice of new or refurbished at very reasonable prices.

 

CE offers free shipping on all inbound repairs.  They have advance exchange programs when I can’t wait from something to get fixed. They even offer same-day repair service on many of the products they fix. And if you use drive-thru products other than HME, they can even fix those as well.

 

If you’re a dedicated HME user like me, I recommend keeping the CE phone number (877-731-0334) on your speed dial.  They have everything you need to keep your  drive-thru system running smoothly, including a full range of accessories. And they deliver it all with fast, friendly service!

Broken headsets are a leading source of frustration for drive-thru managers and their crewmembers. The top recurring repair issues for drive-thru headsets include:

 

1.    Broken headband wires

2.    Broken buttons, springs or mechanical switches

3.    Broken headbands

 

The solution to #1 is simple. Most drive-thru headsets are designed so that the wires run across the headband to the battery. When these wires get twisted or pulled, they can easily break, rendering the headset inoperable. To solve this problem, invest in a headset – like EOS | HD from HME – that transmits the signal wirelessly. With no wires to break, the headsets can be bent, twisted and pulled without fear of disrupting the signal.

 

To minimize repair #2, look for a headset with fewer moving parts. This makes it easier for employees to operate the headset, and minimizes the chances that something else might break due to constant use.

 

Finally, to avoid repair #3, get a headset made with flexible steel, as this allows it to snap back into proper position even after being pulled and twisted in many directions. It also provides a secure, comfortable fit for employees.

 

If all else fails and your headsets still need repairs, give CE a call at 877-731-0334. We’ll get your drive-thru equipment up and running again, often within 24 hours!

Have a question about drive-thru equipment repairs? Chances are you’ll find the answer at CE’s online Drive-Thru Repairs FAQs page.

 

Not all questions or problems need a live service technician to resolve.  So we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions that address common drive-thru repair issues. For example:

 

·         -How do drive-thru maintenance agreements work?

·         -What kind of warranty does CE include with its drive-thru repairs, accessories and systems?

·         -Should you buy a new or refurbished drive-thru system?

·         -What is CE’s return policy on purchased drive-thru equipment?

 

Get the answers to these and more at www.cerepairs.com/drive-thru-faqs.

 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our FAQs page, call us at 877-731-0334. Our friendly service representatives will answer any questions you have about drive-thru repairs.