W.J. Strickler Signs

Archive for the ‘LED Message Center’ Category

It is true, the latest version of color LED message centers produce TV quality pictures, but please don’t think of them as TVs during your buying process. There are many possibilities to consider to protect yourself from making a bad purchase. It is not as easy as just comparing specifications. There are many factors needing to be addressed by a seasoned LED sign professional to insure a quality installation and years of  profit producing use. Please remember a sign is an outdoor product that must be engineered and constructed to withstand: UV rays, heat, cold, water and wind damage. Not the sort of challenges experienced by a wide-screen TV. What do you think?

A recent incident reminded me of some of the heartache when the wrong message center is purchased. We were contacted by a business owner who had purchased a very inexpensive LED unit a couple of years ago. The sign never worked properly, it has been very difficult to program and when programmed the text would only work in red monochrome mode even though she had invested in a full color unit. We will offer her a high quality domestic unit to replace her problem unit. It is sad to see someone have to go through this kind of experience but it is not uncommon.

Following are some words to the wise to keep you from making a “bad purchase”.

1. SPECIFICATIONS DO LIE………we have experienced prospects who say “The other company’s specs are as good or better than yours”. For those who purchase an off shore EMC (Electronic Message Center), the specs do lie. The pixel pitch (resolution) turns out to be a lie. The LED’s are driven too hard, as in extra electrical current being forced into the sub par LED’s to make them bright enough causing extra heat. Heat is the main enemy of LED’s and will cause a rapid deterioration and eventual failure. The software is a nightmare to use and even when an adequate level of proficiency is achieved it still only has basic capabilities. Images are not crisp. Colors are not produced well. The sign cannot be automatically dimmed causing a sign that is too bright at night. The sign is not waterproof over a long period of time. There are hundreds of feet of wiring and connectors that will begin to breakdown over time producing service nightmares. HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Visit at least three of the manufacturer’s signs in the field and ask the owners of the businesses to share their ownership story.

2. HOW WILL YOU BE TRAINED TO OPERATE THE SOFTWARE TO PROGRAM YOUR MESSAGES?……… over the phone? Really? Do you want to receive your training to operate a piece of electronic advertising equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars during a two hour phone call and then be left out in the cold? HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Make sure you purchase your sign from a local sign company who has a software trainer who knows the software inside and out. The trainer will spend four to eight hours at your office teaching software use and answering questions. The trainer should also follow up 6 to 8 weeks after the sign is installed with follow-up training. The trainer should be available by phone or email to help with questions that inevitably arise as the sign is being used, better yet, participate in a hands on software demonstration.

A properly programmed high quality EMC

3. WHO ARE YOU REALLY BUYING FROM?……… Is the LED manufacturer reliable? Do they manufacture their own signs or do they re-brand cheaply made imports? HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Make sure the business has several years of experience in manufacturing LED message centers. Ask to see at least three operating signs. Compare your findings to information you receive from other manufacturers.

My next installment will provide more buying tips.

Buy the correct EMC! Following are some more tips to protect yourself from a bad “buying decision”.

4. IS THE WARRANTY SOUND?…….. The longer the warranty term, typically the better the EMC manufacturer and their product. The EMC manufacturers we use offer a five year warranty and when the provider has been in business for 80 years that means something. Conversely, if an EMC manufacturer offers a five year warranty but has only been in the market for a few years, well, their warranty may not be as solid. HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Confirm the EMC manufacturer has a long track record. Speak with several end users who have owned their EMC for more than six years to judge the strength of the warranty as well as overall performance.

5. DOES THE EMC MANUFACTURER HAVE A DEDICATED SERVICE DEPARTMENT?……… The vast majority of EMC manufacturers do NOT have a reliable service department to support your sign company who sold the EMC to you. Hard to believe isn’t it, you just purchased an electronic advertising tool for tens of thousands of dollars and you can’t rely on the display to be supported properly? HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? Make sure the EMC manufacturer has a dedicated support staff housed in the continental United States with hours of operation that mirror your own. Does the manufacturer have an “in house” parts department who will send replacement parts to your sign professional without having to receive the defective part before releasing the replacement part? How long are parts kept in stock? If the unit you purchase is replaced with a newer model, will you be able to obtain parts two or five years in the future? The EMC manufacturer should stock parts for at least ten years after a model is discontinued. Does the manufacturer maintain a service history of your sign? There should be a detailed long term record kept regarding your sign to help assist in trouble shooting.