Coinstar- No counting fee
Sep 30, 2005 | 3:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: CO, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 406
Coinstar- No counting fee
I just saw this offer at my local Coinstar (Coin Counting Machine). It is available in select cities and stores (generally Albertson's family stores)
If you opt to turn your coin counting credit from your coins into a gift card rather than cash, you will avoid the hefty coin counting fee (I think it is like 9%!) The partners so far are Starbucks, Amazon.com, Pier1 and Hollywood Video, although at my local Albertson's only the first two were available.
I got several Starbucks cards last year (it was at QFC then) and gave them away as Christmas gifts. (the card is the same as you would get in a Starbucks.) It worked wonderful. I think it is for a limited time only (probably thru Christmas)
Find out more- http://www.coinstar.com/us/WebDocs/A1-0-3-1
If you opt to turn your coin counting credit from your coins into a gift card rather than cash, you will avoid the hefty coin counting fee (I think it is like 9%!) The partners so far are Starbucks, Amazon.com, Pier1 and Hollywood Video, although at my local Albertson's only the first two were available.
I got several Starbucks cards last year (it was at QFC then) and gave them away as Christmas gifts. (the card is the same as you would get in a Starbucks.) It worked wonderful. I think it is for a limited time only (probably thru Christmas)
Find out more- http://www.coinstar.com/us/WebDocs/A1-0-3-1
Sep 30, 2005 | 3:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 2P
Posts: 164
I love this! This is a good way to get your change changed into Starbuck's cards instead of going to the bank, waiting in line, and getting cash and spending it on useless stuff, like groceries, lol jk!
-Chris
-Chris
Sep 30, 2005 | 4:47 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 777
Several banks in NYC (such as Commerce Bank and North Fork Bank) now have coin counting machines free of charge in the branch. You don't even have to be a customer!
Sep 30, 2005 | 6:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: California
Posts: 2,164
Originally Posted by Magic Pickles
Several banks in NYC (such as Commerce Bank and North Fork Bank) now have coin counting machines free of charge in the branch. You don't even have to be a customer!
Sep 30, 2005 | 7:29 pm
#6
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
That 9% fee is steep but I have to admit, I took about a pound of coins to the machine once because my son had repeatedly begged me to try it out.
After seeing how much enjoyment the kid got out of dumping the coins in the tray, all the noise the machine makes and watching the number climb on the readout, he'd say the 9% fee was worth it for the entertainment value.
After seeing how much enjoyment the kid got out of dumping the coins in the tray, all the noise the machine makes and watching the number climb on the readout, he'd say the 9% fee was worth it for the entertainment value.
Sep 30, 2005 | 8:13 pm
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
I usually use the machine for pennies when there was the approx 9% charge. With the no charge for converting into various gift cards, I may do more than the pennies.
Sep 30, 2005 | 9:53 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 1,191
Originally Posted by YYCOllie
I say use the 9% for the dimes, nickles and penny's. Take the quarters out- the 9% should be for counting the shrapnel...
I didn't know banks are sometimes doing coin counting for free. I'll have to ask Wells Fargo if they're doing it.
Oct 1, 2005 | 1:46 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: CO, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 406
Originally Posted by Magic Pickles
Several banks in NYC (such as Commerce Bank and North Fork Bank) now have coin counting machines free of charge in the branch. You don't even have to be a customer!
Don't forget that the offer is only valid in select cities (about 20 or so) and at certain retailers.
Oct 1, 2005 | 11:52 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 283
I saw this about a month ago at my local Albertson's. I went through the entire coin-counting process (a very large jar of coins), only to find out at the end of the process that the gift card option was "not available at this time," and I had no choice but to pay the 9% fee for the cash-out. It sounded like the machine failed to connect with a central computer that issued the gift cards.
In addition to getting a new Starbucks gift card with the proceeds, it looked like you could actually add to an existing Starbucks gift card ... if it works at all, of course.
In addition to getting a new Starbucks gift card with the proceeds, it looked like you could actually add to an existing Starbucks gift card ... if it works at all, of course.
Oct 1, 2005 | 12:14 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Onepass, Skymiles, Worldperks, Hilton HHonors Silver, Mariot Rewards
Posts: 708
I'm fairly certrain that all commerce banks have the "penny arcades" as they call them, or free coin counting machines. Certainly every branch I have been to (Pa,NJ,NYC) has had them. And if you guess the amount within a dollar or two you win a prize! Locations http://bank.commerceonline.com/infor...ions/index.cfm
Oct 2, 2005 | 8:12 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Earth (PIT)
Programs: Airline/TSA Avoidance Platinum, Hotel Disloyalty Silver, Hertz 1.7*
Posts: 5,277
Thanks for the tip. I used the locator on the Coinstar site, and local machines in this area at Giant Eagle stores appear to have this feature. The advanced machine locator tells you exactly what cards, eCertificates, organizations you can donate to, etc. are available at each machine. Of the 4 currently available no-fee options, only Starbucks and Amazon are available here it looks like.