{"id":3493,"date":"2026-10-09T09:38:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T01:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/?p=3493"},"modified":"2026-10-09T09:38:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T01:38:06","slug":"how-to-adjust-the-contrast-on-a-pole-customer-display-4aef-e663b1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/how-to-adjust-the-contrast-on-a-pole-customer-display-4aef-e663b1\/","title":{"rendered":"How to adjust the contrast on a Pole Customer Display?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey there, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019ve ever stared at a pole customer display (you know, the little screen at checkout that shows customers what they\u2019re being charged) and thought, \u201cUgh, this is either too bright to see or so dim I can\u2019t tell if I\u2019m ringing up the wrong item,\u201d you\u2019re not alone. I\u2019ve been in this game for years as a pole customer display supplier, and let\u2019s be real, adjusting contrast is one of those tiny, annoying tasks that can make or break a customer\u2019s checkout experience. Last month, a retail client hit me up panicking because their new displays were so washed out in the store\u2019s bright overhead lights that half their customers were squinting\u2014and now they had to reprint their price labels for a whole section. Sounds familiar, right? Pole Customer Display<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Today, I\u2019m walking you through how to adjust contrast on most pole customer displays, no fancy tech degree required. I\u2019m skipping the super formal stuff here because let\u2019s be real, if I wanted to read a manual, I\u2019d have printed it already. This is straight from the trenches\u2014stuff I\u2019ve tested on hundreds of our displays, plus feedback from the cashiers who use them every single day.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get the basics out of the way: what even is<\/em> contrast on a pole customer display? For anyone who\u2019s not a tech nerd, it\u2019s the difference between the dark parts (like the black text showing the total) and the light parts (the background). Too low, and the text blends into the screen\u2014customers can\u2019t read it, they get confused, and you might have to deal with awkward questions at the register. Too high, and it\u2019s harsh on eyes, especially if a customer stands there for a minute holding a coupon or checking their loyalty points.<\/p>\n

Before we dive into the step-by-step, let\u2019s cover a quick pre-check: make sure you\u2019re not doing this in a dark room or with the display covered. If the store\u2019s lighting changes a lot (like a grocery store that\u2019s bright during the day and dimmer at night), you might need to tweak this regularly\u2014so it\u2019s good to figure out a quick routine for that. Also, grab a small, flathead screwdriver or a Phillips head, depending on your display model. Wait, but hold on\u2014most of our pole displays have physical buttons right<\/em> on the display itself, no tools needed. I\u2019ll note the exceptions here, but 90% of the units we sell have that.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most common setup: our standard pole customer display, which is the one 80% of our retail clients use. Here\u2019s how to adjust contrast in 5 easy steps. First, wake up the display. A lot of these go into standby after a minute of inactivity, so just press the \u201cPower\u201d or \u201cSelect\u201d button once. You\u2019ll see the current total (or whatever you have programmed) pop up. Second, find the contrast button. It\u2019s usually marked with a little \u201cContrast\u201d icon\u2014sometimes it\u2019s a sun with a plus and minus, other times it\u2019s just \u201c+\u201d and \u201c-\u201d buttons right next to the display\u2019s screen. No need to dig through menus here\u2014this is direct, because cashiers don\u2019t have time to scroll through 10 settings mid-rush. Third, adjust slowly. Press the \u201c+\u201d button once, wait 2 seconds, look at the text. If it\u2019s still faint, press it again. If it starts looking washed out, hit the \u201c-\u201d once. Fourth, test in real store conditions. Stand where a customer would stand\u2014most pole displays are mounted 12-18 inches above the checkout counter, so that\u2019s exactly where you should position yourself. If you can read the text without squinting and it doesn\u2019t hurt your eyes after 3 seconds, you\u2019re good. Fifth, lock it in. Wait, no\u2014some models auto-save, but if yours doesn\u2019t, there\u2019s usually a \u201cSave\u201d button or just pressing \u201cSelect\u201d to exit the adjust mode. Pro tip: If you have multiple displays, write down the setting number (if your display shows that) so you don\u2019t have to redo this for every single one next time. That\u2019s a time-saver, trust me.<\/p>\n

Now, what if you have a newer pole customer display\u2014like our touchscreen models? Wait, yeah, we sell those too, because a lot of retail chains want to upgrade. Adjusting contrast on those is a little different, but still super simple. First, you\u2019ll need to go into the display settings. On the touchscreen, there\u2019s usually a little gear icon (settings) on the side or bottom of the screen. Tap that, then scroll until you see \u201cDisplay Settings\u201d or \u201cContrast.\u201d Tap that, and you\u2019ll get a slider. Drag the slider left to lower contrast, right to raise it. Same rule applies\u2014test from customer height, don\u2019t go too high. One thing to watch for on touchscreen models: don\u2019t tap too hard, you might leave a fingerprint. I know, I\u2019ve done that.<\/p>\n

What about older models? Like the ones from 5 or 6 years ago that some small businesses still use? A lot of those require a tiny tool\u2014usually a flathead screwdriver\u2014to adjust a little dial on the back of the display. No buttons, no touchscreen, just a dial. If that\u2019s your setup, turn the dial 1\/8 of a turn at a time, test the front every time, until it looks right. Important: Don\u2019t yank the dial or turn it too far, you can break it. I\u2019ve had a client do that last year, had to send a replacement dial, which set them back 2 days. Avoid that.<\/p>\n

Wait, hold on\u2014common mistakes I see people make all the time. First, adjusting contrast when the checkout is busy. Yeah, I get it, you\u2019re ringing up 10 items a minute, but if you do this when there\u2019s no one at the counter, you\u2019ll get the wrong setting. The store\u2019s lighting changes when the sun hits the window, when they turn on the overhead lights for the evening shift\u2014so adjust when it\u2019s at its normal brightness, not when it\u2019s extra bright or extra dim for 5 minutes. Second, cranking contrast all the way up to fix a problem. No, that just makes the text look weird, like it\u2019s glowing. Third, forgetting to adjust when you move the display. If you rearranged your checkout counter and moved the display closer to a window, that changes the lighting\u2014you have to tweak it again. Last week, a client moved their checkout from the back of the store to the front, and their display was unreadable until they adjusted it. That\u2019s a good example of why this isn\u2019t a one-time fix.<\/p>\n

Also, let\u2019s talk about when adjusting contrast isn\u2019t<\/em> the fix. Sometimes, if your display is really old, or if the cable connecting it to the POS is loose, the problem isn\u2019t contrast\u2014it\u2019s a broken display. If you crank contrast and the text is still blurry or you see lines on the screen, that\u2019s not a contrast issue. That\u2019s when you should reach out to us, because we sell replacement displays and parts, and we can help you troubleshoot. I don\u2019t want you wasting 20 minutes adjusting contrast when you just need a new cable.<\/p>\n

Now, a little tip from us as a pole customer display supplier\u2014we usually pre-adjust our displays to a standard contrast setting before we ship them. But every store is different. A boutique with dim, warm lighting might need a lower contrast setting, while a big box store with bright LED overheads needs a higher one. So if you\u2019re getting a new display from us, you can always shoot us a note saying \u201cmy store has X lighting\u201d and we can tell you what setting works best for most places like yours. That\u2019s the kind of small service we don\u2019t advertise, but it\u2019s stuff that makes our clients happy.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s test this with a real example. Last quarter, a coffee shop client of ours had their new pole displays installed. They have big windows, so the afternoon sun is super bright, but the evening is dim because they use string lights. Our on-site tech adjusted the contrast to 62 (our display shows a number) during the day, and 48 in the evening. We even showed their cashiers how to switch between two preset settings\u2014most of our displays let you save two contrast presets, so they don\u2019t have to adjust it every time the sun goes down. That client told us their customer complaints about the display went from 1 or 2 a day to zero. That\u2019s the win we love to see.<\/p>\n

Another thing: if you\u2019re using a pole display with a separate base (not mounted straight to the pole), make sure the pole isn\u2019t tilted too much. If the display is angled downward, customers have to look up, which can make the contrast look off even if it\u2019s set correctly. Tilt it slightly toward the customer\u2014like 15 degrees\u2014and test it again. I know, that\u2019s a tiny detail, but it makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s recap, just to make sure we covered all the bases. For most pole customer displays:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Wake up the display with the power\/select button.<\/li>\n
  2. Find the contrast + and \u2013 buttons (no tools needed).<\/li>\n
  3. Press + to raise, \u2013 to lower, waiting 2 seconds between each press to see the change.<\/li>\n
  4. Test the contrast from customer height (12-18 inches in front of the display).<\/li>\n
  5. Save the setting (if needed) and move on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For touchscreen models:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Tap the settings gear icon.<\/li>\n
    2. Go to Display > Contrast.<\/li>\n
    3. Drag the slider until it\u2019s right, test from customer height.<\/li>\n
    4. Save and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For older dial models:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Use a small flathead screwdriver to turn the dial slightly.<\/li>\n
      2. Test front every time, don\u2019t force it.<\/li>\n
      3. Stop when it\u2019s readable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        And remember, if contrast adjustment doesn\u2019t fix it\u2014blurry text, lines, no display at all\u2014reach out. We\u2019re here to help.<\/p>\n

        I know this seems like a small thing, but adjusting contrast on your pole customer display isn\u2019t just about making text readable\u2014it\u2019s about making the checkout experience smooth. When customers can see their total clearly, they\u2019re less likely to ask \u201chow much is this?\u201d again, which keeps the line moving. It also makes your store look more professional\u2014no one wants to shop somewhere the checkout screens are unreadable.<\/p>\n

        If you\u2019re in the market for a new pole customer display, or you have questions about your current one, don\u2019t hesitate to get in touch. We work with all kinds of businesses\u2014small boutiques, big grocery chains, coffee shops, you name it\u2014and we\u2019re always happy to help you figure out what works for your space. No sales pitch, just real advice from someone who\u2019s been in the checkout game for years.<\/p>\n

        <\/p>\n

        When it comes to maintaining your pole customer display, adjusting contrast is one of the easiest, most impactful things you can do. Don\u2019t wait until you have a rush and the display is unreadable to fix it. Spend 2 minutes once a month checking it, especially if your store\u2019s lighting changes a lot. Your cashiers will thank you, your customers will thank you, and you\u2019ll avoid those awkward \u201ccan you repeat that?\u201d moments at checkout.<\/p>\n

        VESA Mount Monitor<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. POS Industry Association. (2022). Best Practices for Retail Customer Display Maintenance.<\/li>\n
        2. DisplayTech Solutions. (2023). User Guide for Standard Pole Customer Displays.<\/li>\n
        3. Small Business Retail Council. (2021). Checkout Efficiency Tips for Small Retailers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n

          Shenzhen Sunany Technology Limited<\/a>
          Shenzhen Sunany Technology Limited is one of the most professional pole customer display manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good price. Welcome to wholesale bulk advanced pole customer display made in China here and get pricelist from our factory. Contact us for customized service and OEM service.
          Address: 7F, Building 2, Pingji Avenue No.13, Longgang, Shenzhen, China.
          E-mail: info@sunany.com
          WebSite:           https:\/\/www.sunanypos.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Hey there, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019ve ever stared at a pole customer display (you … How to adjust the contrast on a Pole Customer Display?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":3493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3456],"class_list":["post-3493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-pole-customer-display-47b1-e6a938"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.votonmachinery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}