Running a quick-service restaurant really keeps you on your toes. When speed is the name of the game, there’s little time to react when your drive-thru equipment breaks down. That’s one of the reasons stores receive multiple drive-thru headsets with the purchase of a drive-thru headset system. Should a headset stop working, there is another one there to back you up.

In most cases, stores will send in their drive-thru headsets once they break so they can be repaired and go back into the mix. However, sometimes those broken headsets are forgotten and, before you know it, you’re down to your last one. When there’s no time to wait for drive-thru headset repairs, CE offers advance exchange to get your drive-thru back up and running fast.

To take advantage of CE’s advance exchange program, simply call 877-731-0334, explain the issue you’re having and CE will send the replacement drive-thru equipment you need -- most of the time overnight! All you have to do when you receive the equipment is take it out of the box, place your broken equipment back into the box, and seal it. CE makes the process so easy you don’t even have to drop the box off at a mailing facility. UPS will be notified to come back to your store within three to five business days to pick up.

There’s no time in the life of a quick-service operator to stress over drive-thru equipment repairs. With CE’s advance exchange repair option, you can have peace of mind that no matter what obstacles you face with your drive-thru equipment, CE will have a solution.

For more information on how CE can help you with repairs, installation, or accessory sales call 877-731-0334, or browse the website to learn more.

Everyone knows summer is one of the busiest times of the year for quick-service restaurants. With the weather warming up and schools letting out, more people are traveling and looking for affordable eating options on the go. If you haven’t started your drive-thru maintenance, now is the time to get on the ball. When you’re expecting heavy traffic, you want to make sure your business is fully prepared. CE not only provides the best quality service at the lowest price, but also provides discounts and specials so you don’t have to break the bank in order to have your drive-thru equipment running properly. Below are five ways to save with CE:

Bonus Bucks--For every $100 you spend on drive-thru repairs, CE will send you $5 in bonus bucks. You can redeem these with any future drive-thru repair. Simply place the bonus bucks in the box with your broken equipment and CE will deduct that from the total repair bill.  

New Customer Discount--Haven’t used CE before? Just for giving us a try, you’ll receive up to 50% off of any all-in-one drive-thru headset or belt-pac for any HME, Panasonic, or 3M drive-thru system. On top of that you will receive a four-month warranty on your repair.

Current Customer Discount--If you frequently use CE, there is an option for unlimited repairs at a low monthly fee. CE’s Drive-Thru Protection Plan covers all models and brands of drive-thru equipment. With a Protection Plan you can expect to receive reduced downtime at your store, high-quality parts and service, and peace of mind, knowing that your system is covered.

Free Drive-Thru Battery Specials--Many underestimate the power of the drive-thru battery. It not only keeps your headsets functioning, but when using newer, fully charged batteries they increase the amount of time between charges and also improve drive-thru sound quality. If you’re looking to purchase a drive-thru battery, consider ordering more than one at a time. They are always useful, and when you buy three you’ll receive the forth one free!

Multi-Store Discount--CE understands that keeping your drive-thru equipment in its best condition can get expensive. Running multiple stores can calculate to multiple repairs in a given month. That’s why CE offers up to 25% off select products and services for multi-store owners. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice great service to stay on budget.

The last thing you need is for your drive-thru equipment to take a vacation when everyone else is. So grab those busted headsets, dust off those dirty belt-pacs, and send them to CE. You'll get them back refreshed and ready to work, just in time for the summer rush.

Many calls that come in to technical support are from people who are having issues with their drive-thru headsets. More specifically, it’s an issue with the sound quality of their drive-thru headsets. What many people don’t know is that their headset could be experiencing sound-quality issues as a result of a drive-thru battery that is approaching its expiration.

Many drive-thru batteries are meant to last about 400 charge cycles. If you are charging them every day, that will give them a life expectancy of about a year and one to two months. Most stores carry at least four and sometimes up to six or seven batteries, so the general rule is to replace them every one and a half to two years. In case you forget or simply don’t know how old your batteries are, most drive-thru battery chargers have a built-in diagnostic light that will come on when a battery has reached the end of its life. This will remind you to purchase a new one. Also, most drive-thru batteries will have a manufacture date on the back of them. If the date is more than two years old, it’s definitely time to recycle them and order more.

There are many benefits to new batteries. They last longer in between charge cycles so you don’t have to charge them as often, they help keep your headset from cutting out when you’re speaking to a customer, and they help minimize the sound of buzzing and static which improves the overall sound-quality of your drive-thru headsets.

If you’re thinking it might be time to order some new batteries, now is the time to do it. CE has a great drive-thru battery offer, buy three and get the fourth one free! This includes batteries made for all brands of drive-thru headset systems including HME, 3M, and Panasonic.

What are you waiting for? Call CE today 877-731-0334 and take advantage of this battery promotion before it’s too late! Your employees and customers will thank you.

It’s a fast-paced world in the QSR industry. Even with a first-rate staff, there’s no guarantee that equipment won’t get dropped or that it won’t fail. Drive-thru systems are no exception. Like any other equipment that is used daily, drive-thru systems require maintenance from time to time in order to keep things running at their smoothest.  In instances like these you need a repair facility that will get you back up and running – fast!

When it comes to drive-thru equipment maintenance, here are five ways CE has the competitors beat:

1. Same Day Service – Most equipment will fix and ship the same day, or within 24 hours of receipt. If that isn’t quick enough, CE also provides protection plans for a low monthly fee that allow an advanced swap-out of the equipment that needs repair. This means CE will ship replacement drive-thru equipment the same day they receive your call. Once you receive your replacements, just drop your broken equipment into the same box and UPS will come back to pick it up.

2. Factory Authorized – CE is factory authorized by Panasonic and is also the only independent repair facility in the United States approved by HME. CE does a 35-point inspection to ensure that every drive-thru repair receives the VIP treatment. Because the technicians are trained by the original manufacturer, you know your repair is built to last.

3. Free Inbound Shipping – On top of same-day service and factory approval, you’ll also receive free inbound shipping. Simply click on the Send In A Repair tab, and follow the three easy steps to send in your broken drive-thru equipment.

4. Nationwide Service – CE is not only centrally located, but also has an additional repair facility for maximized convenience and quick turnaround. This allows the capacity to service equipment nationwide.   

5. Lowest Price Guaranteed – If you weren’t convinced by the first four reasons to send your drive-thru equipment to CE, this will surely grab your attention: CE guarantees the lowest price for your repair. On top of those savings, CE also runs drive-thru battery promotions, and offers discounts for new and current customers.

So whether you have a drive-thru intercom system, timer system, or just need to send in drive-thru headset parts for repair, there’s no need to look any further. When it comes to drive thru equipment maintenance, CE has the competition beat.

With all of the rain, wind, and snow during the winter months, it’s likely you will have some drive-thru maintenance to do when the sun peeks through. Use the checklist below to ensure your drive-thru equipment is performing at its best all year round.

Drive-Thru Speaker Post: Check the vents in the speaker post to make sure they aren’t clogged by leaves, mud, or any other debris that could have become wedged during a storm or high winds.

Drive-Thru Lane: When there is a lot of snow or rain it can cause cracks and potholes in your drive-thru. So check your drive-thru lane for any cracks, especially near your order point and also at your cash and pick-up windows. If moisture gets down into the concrete it can disrupt the underground loops that detect your vehicles. 

Menu Board: Check your menu board during the day and also at night. You want to make sure that all of your electrical components are working correctly and that your menu board is free of any debris. Replace any lights that have shorted or burned out. This is also a great opportunity to check that your menu board is current. Look over the menu items as well as the prices to ensure you aren’t misleading customers.   

Drive-Thru Headset System: Test all drive-thru headsets and batteries. If you come across any that aren’t working, call CE’s technical support at 877-731-0334. If the problem cannot be solved over the phone you can use the free shipping label located on the website to send in your drive-thru headset repairs. If you need a new drive-thru battery, you can also purchase it on CE’s website.

Drive-Thru Timer: Compare your reports from the past few weeks. If you see something that looks out of the ordinary, pay close attention to your remote display. Is it detecting every car? If it only detects some and not others, or doesn’t detect any at all, contact CE’s technical support. They will help you troubleshoot the problem and recommend the next steps to take.

With your post-winter checklist completed, you will have the confidence that your drive-thru is in optimal condition. Sit back and watch your sales spring ahead.

I’m an owner of a quick-service restaurant in Oklahoma with an HME System 30 Timer and a 3M XT1 Headset System. In the winter we have a heck of a time with thunder storms and, wouldn’t you know, a lightning strike near my restaurant took down a power line and caused us to lose power throughout my entire store. We were left in the dark for several hours until the utility company could get out and restore our electricity. Once everything came back on, a surge caused my drive-thru headsets and timer to malfunction.  At this point anyone would be stressed and irritated. The last thing I wanted to do was sit on the phone with two separate companies, giving all of my information twice, in order for two separate technicians to come out and fix each piece of equipment.

Fortunately one of my shift managers took one of CE’s magnets off the filing cabinet and tossed it to me. Turns out CE repairs and services all major brands of drive-thru systems. Instead of taking up all of my time on two separate phone calls, I was able to have one of their technicians come out and repair both pieces of equipment at the same time. The convenience alone is a great reason to use CE for anything drive-thru related, but what puts them above the rest is their quality of work and the pride they take in the services they perform. Since the electrical outage, I have used CE for a couple of drive-thru headset repairs and to purchase a new drive-thru battery.

Whether it’s for a drive-thru intercom or timer system from 3M, HME, Fast Track or other, CE handles all drive-thru needs.  Their prices are the best in the market that I’ve seen, and their turnaround is the quickest.  There’s a reason why CE is the best, and you can count on me to be a life-long customer.

 

If you have broken drive-thru headsets, belt-pacs, drive-thru battery chargers, or timer systems, everyone knows that CE is the best place to send your drive-thru equipment for repair. But did you know that CE also provides onsite installation and service?

For drive-thru equipment problems that can’t be fixed by troubleshooting with technical support or shipping them for repair, CE has installation and service providers nationwide to help. Here are a few common problems CE technicians can fix onsite:

-Broken loops

-Bad speakers and microphones

-Wiring issues

-Malfunctioning vehicle detector boards

-Installation of base stations and drive-thru timer systems

-And more!

Whether you have HME, Panasonic, 3M, or any other major brand drive-thru equipment, CE is your one-stop shop for all your drive-thru maintenance needs. Don’t need any repairs, but can use a new drive-thru battery or other drive-thru accessories? CE also provides small accessories for all major brands. They even have an online shopping cart for your convenience. Now that’s what I call a full-service company!

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.

People often purchase something because of all the bells and whistles that come along with it. Once they have it though, it’s tedious and frustrating to set everything up so they don’t end up utilizing most of the features, which led them to purchase the product in the first place.

Starting with the ION|IQ and now with EOS | HD, HME has made it easier to take advantage of all the amenities included in your drive-thru system. With an easy to follow digital menu screen on the front of the base station, and a quick start guide included at the back of the operating manual, you are now able to set up your customer greetings, employee reminders, and alerts in three easy steps. To make it even less of a hassle, there are 12 pre-recorded reminder messages to help you get started.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when setting up your drive-thru system:

1.       Record three to four greetings that play out to your customers at different times of the day. This can include specials or menu items you are trying to push for your different dayparts.

2.       Add a couple of important reminders for your employees such as “please check dining room trash” or “please wash your hands.” This will allow them to focus on other tasks so they aren’t constantly trying to remember everything.

3.       Also include one or two alerts to notify your employee that the freezer or back doors have been left open.

With the quick start guide and these helpful tips you are on your way to using your drive-thru system to its full potential.

 

These days, sound quality in the drive-thru is really important when you’re up against the clock. With menu items becoming more intricate, the last thing you need is a customer having to repeat themselves due to voice breaks in your headset. The more time spent at the menu board, the longer others have to wait, and the fewer cars that get served. At the end of the day, this means less money coming in to your store.

The best way to avoid these issues is by staying up to date on your drive-thru equipment. Invest in a drive-thru system with wideband technology and state-of-the-art noise reduction capabilities, like EOS | HD from HME. With wideband you get an expanded audio range that includes higher and lower frequencies which provides a more accurate representation of a person’s voice. With the additional range you’ll have clearer conversations which will strengthen your order accuracy and speed up the order process.

If you aren’t ready for a new system, another great option is to purchase a protection plan from CE for all of your drive-thru repairs. For a flat, low monthly fee you can send in your drive-thru equipment as often as you need to get serviced. Whether it’s for static, or a broken headband or mic boom, CE will get it fixed and back out to you in no time.

There are so many options at the menu board these days, don’t let fragmented communication be one of them.