How accurate is Coinstar (coin counting machine)?

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simonizor

Golden Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,312
0
0
banks don't take loose change, you have to roll it first before you can exchange it at the bank
What banks are you going to? Why would you have to roll it up? That would defeat the purpose of having them put it into the counting/sorting machine.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
I have never been to nor heard of a "bank" that requires you to roll your change. WTF? It's a bank, they have to count it.

Fortunately, 99%(?) of them have coin counting machines. Because.. they're a bank.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
I have never been to nor heard of a "bank" that requires you to roll your change. WTF? It's a bank, they have to count it.

Fortunately, 99%(?) of them have coin counting machines. Because.. they're a bank.

i have citibank. they will only take $2 max loose change at the teller.

for anything more it has to be wrapped :(
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
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learn to use your coins. is it that hard? the next time you go out, carry 50 cents of pennies on you. pre counted. so when you need 2 quarters, pull that out.

rinse and repeat. Carry $1 worth of nickels or dimes on you. Use them as you need.

The inability for people to use change boggles my mind. That's how coinstar makes a killing.
Agreed. I keep change to a minimum in the car simply by making change from that when purchasing anything.

< has less than $10.00 in change in mass storage container.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
I have never been to nor heard of a "bank" that requires you to roll your change. WTF? It's a bank, they have to count it.

Fortunately, 99%(?) of them have coin counting machines. Because.. they're a bank.
It's been this way for BofA for atleast 15 years and my credit union for almost as long.
Most banks won't touch it if you don't have a merchant account.

Name & account number on the rolls and the Credit Union takes whatever I've got.
 

Numenorean

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 2008
4,442
1
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learn to use your coins. is it that hard? the next time you go out, carry 50 cents of pennies on you. pre counted. so when you need 2 quarters, pull that out.

rinse and repeat. Carry $1 worth of nickels or dimes on you. Use them as you need.

The inability for people to use change boggles my mind. That's how coinstar makes a killing.

The inability for people to not know what the hell to do with a debit card boggles my mind.

I never have change anymore.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
My bank account is at Umpqua bank. I almost always counted my change before I deposited it. They'd just take it all to the back to their counting machine and then give me a number and say, "Alright, you have $XX.XX, does that sound right?" I'd say yes... and we'd all be happy. I've stopped counting at this point because I trust them enough.

So, take it to your bank. If they don't accept it unless it's in rolls... get a new fucking bank account somewhere else that has better service.
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,320
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Banks have their own industrial rolling machines. They don't want you shorting them a coin or two per roll.

wrong.....they arent worried about a few pennies here and there. But they do know how much 50 cents worth of pennies weigh when rolled!
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Meh I've gone twice and the most it's shorted me was 40 cents out of a hundred dollars. Not a big deal and it saved me tons of time. I'd definitely go again.
 

dpearson

Member
Jul 23, 2009
184
0
0
If I'm not mistaken, Coinstar also takes a 8&#37; cut.

You know, for the cost of using the machine.
 

ebaycj

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2002
5,418
0
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If I'm not mistaken, Coinstar also takes a 8% cut.

You know, for the cost of using the machine.

Unless you get store credit or a gift card. Then it's a much more reasonable rate (might even be zero).
 

blinblue

Senior member
Jul 7, 2006
889
0
76
My credit union has a coin counting machine. I've been meaning to bring in my collection sometime. No idea how accurate it is, but I'll be sure to count it before to see what the tallies are
 

dpearson

Member
Jul 23, 2009
184
0
0
If you take cash. I get Amazon gift cards and get the full amount.

Really? I thought the only options you had with Coinstar were cash and donation to charity. Though it's been several months since I used one. I'll look into that the next time I take my coins in.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Really? I thought the only options you had with Coinstar were cash and donation to charity. Though it's been several months since I used one. I'll look into that the next time I take my coins in.

All the ones I've ever seen have cash, donate, and giftcards for many different stores and online stores. They don't take any money out if you get a giftcard for one of the stores on it.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,060
9,443
126
Back when I was hoarding coins, I'd take a portion out for the day, and replace it with paper. No rolling, no hassle at the store, and I'd get every penny I cashed out. I spend change as I get it now.
 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
5
81
If you take cash. I get Amazon gift cards and get the full amount.
This varies by location. Several stores in my area have Coinstar machines, but not all of them have the toll-free giftcard option.
WalMart is one chain that has only the count-for-fee machines...
 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
5
81
You can go to Coinstar's website and find machine locations along with available services at those locations.