Tell me about Coinstar

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I have accumulated a ton of change. 

I could roll it, but that is a pain and then I have to physically go to my bank and turn it in.  That is also a pain.

There is a Coinstar machine at my grocery store.

Are they legit?

Are they accurate?

Do they charge a fee?

[wanttofire]

They charge a fee. But if you get a giftcard then no fee is charged. I always get a giftcard, it is super convenient

[swamp]

Are they legit?   yes

Are they accurate?  yes

Do they charge a fee? yes, 7%. Well worth it.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Jan 16, 2015 12:30:19 GMT -5 wanttofire said:

They charge a fee. But if you get a giftcard then no fee is charged. I always get a giftcard, it is super convenient

What kind of gift card?

[swamp]

Jan 16, 2015 12:46:45 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Jan 16, 2015 12:30:19 GMT -5 wanttofire said:

They charge a fee. But if you get a giftcard then no fee is charged. I always get a giftcard, it is super convenient

What kind of gift card?

there are pictures of them on the machine. Amazon is one, I believe. Not sure of the others. I just get the cash. I figure 7% is well worth not having to roll coins.

[Deleted]

Don't banks count coins?  I've been with a credit union for eons, but they have a counter right in the lobby that prints a receipt to deposit.  No fee. 

[wanttofire]

Amazon, itunes, starbucks, gap, etc. i would go to the website to see what they have available in your area

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Thanks for the info!  Will lug it all to the grocery store this afternoon and turn it into "real cash money" because I have a tendency to accumulate a ton of gift cards with tiny remaining balances on them, too.  

[Tennesseer]

I had what turned out to be over $450 in loose coin.  Coinstar's fee was well worth it.

[Tiny]

This is more of an "my experience" thing: 
One of the banks I bank at counts coins for free - you don't have to 'roll' them. 
Two of the banks I bank at counts coins for a FEE (1% at one, 5% at the other) - you don't have to 'roll' the coins.

There's a coinstar machine at the grocery - it charges a FEE (which I think is more than the banks that charge a fee!) OR you can get gift cards with no charge.


That 7% fee seems kinda high - if you don't need to roll the coins - I'd check to see what kinds of fees your bank changes to count the $$.  

[nytaxpayer]

They give Home Depot gift cards, which I can always use.

[zibazinski]

I get Starbucks and give them as gifts. I hate Starbucks.

[Abby Normal]

Jan 16, 2015 12:51:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Don't banks count coins?  I've been with a credit union for eons, but they have a counter right in the lobby that prints a receipt to deposit.  No fee. 

Mine will deposit or give you cash back.  I've never paid a fee.

[nytaxpayer]

list of no fee gift cards

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2015 12:51:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Don't banks count coins?  I've been with a credit union for eons, but they have a counter right in the lobby that prints a receipt to deposit.  No fee. 

Same at my credit union. You can even go through the drive thru as long as you use the commercial lane (with the slide out drawer).

[Baby Fawkes]

Jan 16, 2015 12:53:27 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Thanks for the info!  Will lug it all to the grocery store this afternoon and turn it into "real cash money" because I have a tendency to accumulate a ton of gift cards with tiny remaining balances on them, too.  

I have used them many times and always opt for the Amazon gift code. If you do that you won't have to worry about really small remaining balances because it's all digital and the gift card balance is stored in your account. Whenever you go to checkout that will always apply whatever gift card amount you have to the checkout first. If there isn't enough on the gift card to cover it then you will get charged to the credit card etc for the remaining. Really simple.

The other advantage of doing it this way is that when you are done with the coinstar machine you get your receipt with the gift code and walk away. You can go to the Amazon website at your own convenience to redeem it. If you want real cash you'll get a receipt that you'll then need to take to customer service to redeem for cash and depending on the length of the line you could be waiting longer.

[Baby Fawkes]

Jan 16, 2015 12:51:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Don't banks count coins?  I've been with a credit union for eons, but they have a counter right in the lobby that prints a receipt to deposit.  No fee. 

My old credit union used to have that at it was really nice. Unfortunately that was the only thing that I ended up liking with that particular place though so I moved to a new credit union that is great. The only thing missing from the new place is a coin counting machine. That's when I started using Coinstar instead.

[wanttofire]

Jan 16, 2015 13:23:09 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Jan 16, 2015 12:53:27 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Thanks for the info!  Will lug it all to the grocery store this afternoon and turn it into "real cash money" because I have a tendency to accumulate a ton of gift cards with tiny remaining balances on them, too.  

I have used them many times and always opt for the Amazon gift code. If you do that you won't have to worry about really small remaining balances because it's all digital and the gift card balance is stored in your account. Whenever you go to checkout that will always apply whatever gift card amount you have to the checkout first. If there isn't enough on the gift card to cover it then you will get charged to the credit card etc for the remaining. Really simple.

The other advantage of doing it this way is that when you are done with the coinstar machine you get your receipt with the gift code and walk away. You can go to the Amazon website at your own convenience to redeem it. If you want real cash you'll get a receipt that you'll then need to take to customer service to redeem for cash and depending on the length of the line you could be waiting longer.

Yep. I get amazon gift cards. Nice to know I have money there if I want something.

[Abby Normal]

Jan 16, 2015 13:24:48 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Jan 16, 2015 12:51:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Don't banks count coins?  I've been with a credit union for eons, but they have a counter right in the lobby that prints a receipt to deposit.  No fee. 

My old credit union used to have that at it was really nice. Unfortunately that was the only thing that I ended up liking with that particular place though so I moved to a new credit union that is great. The only thing missing from the new place is a coin counting machine. That's when I started using Coinstar instead.

Have you asked?  One of our branches has a self service machine that prints out a receipt.  One of the smaller branches (the one closer to us) has the machine in back.  I just walk in and hand it to them. 

[Timberwolf]

I'm surprised any financial institution would not have a coin counting machine.  They definitely do not want you to roll the coins anymore because then they have to unroll them and count it all out.  I feel bad for you if your bank charges a fee to count your money.  I guess getting a gift card is the way to go with coinstar if you must use their service, but then you lose the flexibility of using the money any way you want.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My bank won't take rolled coins. If you do that they'll make you unroll them.

They have an automatic change sorter behind the desk. You hand them your change and they will pour it in. A receipt will print off telling them how much money to give you.

[dondub]

  Our banks don't have coin counters anymore. As I have a coin op washer and dryer in one of my apt. buildings I have been using Coinstar since day 1. They are from this area (Seattle) and were founded by the son of an old nursery family from east of Lk. Washington. Very convenient and you can get the gift cards or the cash. I don't mind paying the fee as it was always a hassle to roll the coins and the tenants are paying it anyway.

 The machine I use is in the local grocery store so I usually count the coins and redeem the slip when I do a bit of shopping. Sometimes I get the Amazon gift card to buy used books or CDs.

[Baby Fawkes]

Jan 16, 2015 15:59:52 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Jan 16, 2015 13:24:48 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

My old credit union used to have that at it was really nice. Unfortunately that was the only thing that I ended up liking with that particular place though so I moved to a new credit union that is great. The only thing missing from the new place is a coin counting machine. That's when I started using Coinstar instead.

Have you asked?  One of our branches has a self service machine that prints out a receipt.  One of the smaller branches (the one closer to us) has the machine in back.  I just walk in and hand it to them. 

Yeah, I asked about it a while back. They don't at my local branch, but they do at the one that is ~20 miles from me. That's the nearest one unfortunately. It's not worth it for me to make a special trip there for it seeing as there is no service fee for me to Coinstar and we always buy stuff from Amazon anyway.

[sesfw]

Do they charge a fee? yes, 7%. Well worth it.

Coinstar in our area charges 8.9% fee.  I used it one time and then found out our credit union had one in the lobby and I've used it ever since.

I don't care for any of their gift cards. 

[cronewitch]

Boeing credit union has a free coinstar for customers my niece has a credit union that only take $200 a day in coins. I haven't taken coins to coinstar because they charge 8.9% so I gave over 500 in coins to my niece so she could send her son to the credit union 3 times

[alabamagal]

Just use your loose change. Then you don't have to lug it to the store and redeem it.

You are not really saving anyone's just tricking yourself into thinking you are getting free money

[happytraveler]

I'd be happy to pay 95 cents on the dollar for loose coins....I can wrap the coins while mindlessly watching tv. Where else can I make 5% on my money risk free these days.

[Deleted]

I panic any time I go somewhere and have to pay a meter.  If I ever have cash in my wallet, it's in twenties.  I don't know anyone who uses cash.  where are you guys getting all this change from?

[Deleted]

Most of the meters I've encountered lately take cc.

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2015 15:42:32 GMT -5 oped said:

Most of the meters I've encountered lately take cc.

i know now you can pay for meters with some app on your smart phone but the last time I parked at one of those, I didn't have a smart phone yet.  I think I have an event this week that may require meter parking - hopefully they take credit cards.