Are coinstar machines always honest?

constablescott · June 6, 2007 6:50AM

I had a Crown Royal cloth bag about half full of coins. I counted them out on the floor and put them in one dollar piles. Carefully counted them. I had $72.45. I went to the coinstar machine and dumped them in. When it got through counting it said I had $58 in coins and my "cut" was $53. I know for sure that I had $72 and feel really screwed. It would be my word against the machine so what do I do? Are these franchised or what? Do I call coinstar directly to complain or the Kroger where it is placed or should I just consider it a lesson?

291fifth · June 6, 2007 6:59AM

I suggest you file a detailed written complaint with the store. Make absolutely certain that you have your facts straight. Keep the complaint letter short and to the point. Do not make any threats. Simply request the store's assistance in clarifying the matter.

I also suggest you then get another group of coins together and have the manager of the store do a count. Then have him run them through the machine. If the count is off...well, I'll leave that up to you.

SilverEagles92 · June 6, 2007 7:01AM

Were they $5 gold coins in the bag??? I don't know that I could get $72 worth of coins to fit in half a crown royal bag if I tried.

AskRaq · June 6, 2007 7:05AM

<< Were they $5 gold coins in the bag??? I don't know that I could get $72 worth of coins to fit in half a crown royal bag if I tried. >>

Lotsa dimes I would guess!

constablescott · June 6, 2007 7:07AM

They were quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies. Perhaps you have very small Crown Royal bags. I believe the first response to be my best option, thanks.

lkrarecoins · June 6, 2007 7:09AM

At 8.9% commission, I would say they are not....

Find a Commerce Bank, they count for free, even if you do not have an acct at their bank

COINB0Y · June 6, 2007 7:12AM

It's probably better than some dealers out there.

flaminio · June 6, 2007 7:13AM

<< Find a Commerce Bank, they count for free, even if you do not have an acct at their bank

>>

Looks like the nearest one to me is about 3,000 miles away.

I like CoinStar, but I always get an Amazon.com coupon for full value rather than cash. It would suck if the machines were ripping me off...

Pentimento · June 6, 2007 7:18AM

2002 San Diego news report tested 5 machines. 3 were accurate, and 2 slightly off. They came out 5 cents ahead all told.

The BBB suggests that Coinstar is pretty clean.

Longacre · June 6, 2007 7:21AM

I always wondered if these machines were subject to weights and measures controls, like a gas station, supermarket, or similar business.

LanLord · June 6, 2007 7:33AM

If you're sure it ripped you off, get another group of coins, counted and ready to go. Put a mark of fingernail polish on the edge of each coin (not all the way around, but enough that you can tell the coins you put into the machine), and try again. If it shorts you, get the manager and tell him how you can identify all your coins.

Just an idea

mcheath · June 6, 2007 8:21AM

If you counted them already why not roll them while you are counting. Most banks will give you free coin wrappers. I know this doesn't help your current situation but next time you can keep all your money and lose the hassle.

dthigpen · June 6, 2007 9:08AM

<< I always wondered if these machines were subject to weights and measures controls, like a gas station, supermarket, or similar business. >>

That's a good question Longacre. Wonder if anyone here has a definitive answer.

droopyd · June 6, 2007 11:36AM

When I was a little kid (like about 5-6), I had one of those Crown Royal bags that I kept all of my treasured possessions in and that I took wherever I went. A Red Book was one of the things I kept in there and there was still room for plenty more stuff as well.

Longacre · June 6, 2007 11:37AM

<< When I was a little kid (like about 5-6), I had one of those Crown Royal bags that I kept all of my treasured possessions in and that I took wherever I went. A Red Book was one of the things I kept in there and there was still room for plenty more stuff as well. >>

I make my Manhattans with Crown Royal.

StrikeOutXXX · June 6, 2007 11:41AM

<< I had a Crown Royal cloth bag about half full of coins. I counted them out on the floor and put them in one dollar piles. Carefully counted them. I had $72.45. I went to the coinstar machine and dumped them in. When it got through counting it said I had $58 in coins and my "cut" was $53. I know for sure that I had $72 and feel really screwed. It would be my word against the machine so what do I do? Are these franchised or what? Do I call coinstar directly to complain or the Kroger where it is placed or should I just consider it a lesson? >>

OK, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but you did check the reject bin right?

I do the Amazon.com gift certificate like Flamino mentioned. I don't have a bank for 2 hours with a free counting machine, so coinstar it is.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 6, 2007 11:48AM

Do you guys cherrypick before you dump your coins ? Cherrypicking should be done daily out of pocket change

BlindedByEgo · June 6, 2007 11:56AM

<< When I was a little kid (like about 5-6), I had one of those Crown Royal bags that I kept all of my treasured possessions in and that I took wherever I went. A Red Book was one of the things I kept in there and there was still room for plenty more stuff as well. >>

When I was 5 or 6, I drank Crown Royal too.

I still like the very first suggestion.

pb2y · June 6, 2007 4:33PM

Had the same thing and at Krogers. Seven percent skin job off the top plus a counting "error"
Complain?? to who?? and what proof is there???
ROLL YOUR OWN

dthigpen · June 6, 2007 4:42PM

<< 

<< When I was a little kid (like about 5-6), I had one of those Crown Royal bags that I kept all of my treasured possessions in and that I took wherever I went. A Red Book was one of the things I kept in there and there was still room for plenty more stuff as well. >>

When I was 5 or 6, I drank Crown Royal too.
>>

Funny, me too.

DUIGUY · June 6, 2007 4:48PM

<< 

<< 

<< When I was a little kid (like about 5-6), I had one of those Crown Royal bags that I kept all of my treasured possessions in and that I took wherever I went. A Red Book was one of the things I kept in there and there was still room for plenty more stuff as well. >>

When I was 5 or 6, I drank Crown Royal too.
>>

Funny, me too. >>

Ya sayin nobody uses Crown Royal bags anymore??

ddink · June 6, 2007 9:43PM

I would definitely report it to the person in charge of weights and measures in your state.

slipgate · June 6, 2007 10:28PM

They probably figure that people that are too lazy to roll their own coins or look for free alternatives are too stupid to realize they've been ripped off.

crispy · June 6, 2007 10:42PM

<< If you counted them already why not roll them while you are counting. Most banks will give you free coin wrappers. I know this doesn't help your current situation but next time you can keep all your money and lose the hassle. >>

My bank doesn't like to accept rolled coins. If you bring them in as such, they will not give you the money right away. They want to take down your account number and break them out of the rolls and "deposit" your money into your account later. Having said this, I also have counted my change and on more than one occasion had the bank come up with what I thought was the wrong total. Their counting machine is in the back. Draw from that what you will.

BAJJERFAN · June 6, 2007 10:55PM

My daughter was working as a teller awhile back when silver was on the rise. An older gent brought in a bunch of silver dimes [about $150 worth or so IIRC] and asked her to count them. She knew what to look for and was planning a big score. After she got them counted he said now I want them all back. I woulda just made him buy the bag off the counter but she had to hand sort them all.

lathmach · June 6, 2007 11:26PM

It's nuts to use those machines. Spend your coins.
I do.
When I go grocery shopping on Thursday or Friday evening, I always take along all the loose change I have. Sometimes $50 or more. I never roll them.
When I get to the cashier, I very slowly and carefully count out all the pennies, nickels and so forth.
I then ask the cashier to count them to double check my count.
I can tell they like getting lots of coins this way so they don't have to go to all the work of breaking open new rolls.
The folks behind me in line seem to appreciate it too, since they see I recycle coins.

Ray

slipgate · June 6, 2007 11:28PM

<< It's nuts to use those machines. Spend your coins.
I do.
When I go grocery shopping on Thursday or Friday evening, I always take along all the loose change I have. Sometimes $50 or more. I never roll them.
When I get to the cashier, I very slowly and carefully count out all the pennies, nickels and so forth.
I then ask the cashier to count them to double check my count.
I can tell they like getting lots of coins this way so they don't have to go to all the work of breaking open new rolls.
The folks behind me in line seem to appreciate it too, since they see I recycle coins.

Ray >>

I'm sure the people behind you love you! Good One!

BAJJERFAN · June 7, 2007 1:18AM

<< If you're sure it ripped you off, get another group of coins, counted and ready to go. Put a mark of fingernail polish on the edge of each coin (not all the way around, but enough that you can tell the coins you put into the machine), and try again. If it shorts you, get the manager and tell him how you can identify all your coins. >>

It might be a good idea to make sure that the store manager can get into the machine BEFORE you doke any more $$$ into it.

UtahCoin · June 7, 2007 1:29AM

Check around. Many bank have coin counters in the lobby that allow you to dump in your coins, then spit out a receipt you take to a teller to get cash.

Are coinstar machines always honest?

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