Originally Posted by ChurnChop

I live in San Diego. I know your pain. Even with a bunch down here. I've been to 8 different WM. Very few if any kates work but eventually I find one each month.

I won't go to the cashiers anymore unless it's an emergency. Do this to save time:

Call them first. Make it easy for them though. On a prior visit take note where the Kates are in each WM, whether they are in the MC or next to the returns center or behind cash register 7 against the wall, etc. Thankfully most of the Kates in my area are across from the returns centers in plain view of the cashiers taking returns. I call the main #, sometimes multiple times to get an answer, ask to be transferred to the returns center, as an example, then ask the clerk, "could you look to your right (or left depending on your prior homework), you will see the ATM over there, can you tell me if it is on or if it says lane closed, etc. Most of the time they are very helpful since they can still be lazy or even help another customer and look over. Once they say it's off or broken, I've just saved myself gas money and a wasted drive.

I agree with others here who believe you should put in the individual effort or at least PM. Posting all the Kates that work will generate a flood of spoonfeeders. Plus if someone posts or PM's a Kate worked 5 minutes ago probably means it's overdue for a burnout before you get there.