ELI5: Why Do So Many Signs Outside of Businesses Have Burnt Out Letters, and For So Long?
Sometimes, the letters on signs outside of stores stop working because the little lights inside them get old or break. This can happen when it rains, snows, or even if it is very sunny outside for too long. Fixing the letters can cost a lot of money, and the people who own the stores might not have enough money or time to fix them right away. They might also think that people can still read the sign even if some letters don't light up. Sometimes, the store owners might not even know that the letters are not working. Also, many of the signs that are old enough for the little lights to die belong to stores that might not have been making enough money to change them in the first place, so it is more likely that they stay dark for longer.