Important Factors When Deciding On a Drive-thru Menu Board

When beginning your search for a new drive-thru menu board it is important to consider a number of factors that will minimize your long-term frustration.  Much like other products, the price is the main concern for many when “looking around.” 

However, you should never consider Option A as an “apples to apples” comparison to Option B simply because the advantages and disadvantages can vary even if the size is roughly the same.  Typically if a “local sign company” comes in with a cheap alternative, they are not hitting all the marks when it comes to the following:

UL listed- The Underwriters Laboratories is a safety and consulting agency that tests products for their long-term durability and products are labeled with their marking when it meets their standards.  The Spruce outlines why it is important to purchase UL listed products.

Design & Prints- This largely depends on whether you have an experienced design staff member on your team as well as a printing relationship.  If not, this area can quickly become an important criterion to meet.  Without it, you’re left with an empty, lit sign.  The added value to a solution that doesn’t offer these services would ultimately depend on the size of the drive-thru but would be certain to start in the hundreds.

Graphics Replacement- You have to look beyond the purchase and to when it comes time to make pricing or menu changes and the ease, or lack thereof, in doing so.  Too many times are we still seeing these signs made with heavy and expensive acrylic “graphics” that have to be secured in to place by screws.  When it comes time to swap this out it is not only expensive but you have to bring your toolbox along with you.  Others have doors that open and frames that swivel out leaving you just enough room to wedge a graphic back into a narrow channel to hold it in place.  The material, material material!  What are the graphics being printed on and what has the replacement cost?