[alwann]

Background: Every night I put all my loose change in a jar. After a year or so, it adds up substantially.
Question: Do any of the vast number of banks in The Villages have coin counting machines?

Publix and Winn Dixie have them. But they charge a fee like 10 cents on the dollar. That adds up, too, if you're cashing in $100 or more in coins. Call me cheap, but call their fee "gouging." I hate the thought of wrapping all those coins.

[kjpvillager]

I used the one at Winn-Dixie (Coinstar). If you convert them to an eGift card, then there is no fee. I converted my coins to an Amazon eGift card and used it online. If you go to Coinstar's website it will give you a list of locations by zip code and what Egift cards they offer.

[villagetinker]

TD bank branches have these, but the closest one is about 45 minutes away....

I was recently in the Chase bank and the Community Trust banks and did not notice coin counting machines, but I did not ask either.

The last time I did the coin wrapping, I ended up with $300 in coins, took 1-2 hours, and did it while I was watch (OK listening) to a TV show.

[alwann]

Thanks, kjp. Wasn't aware of this option.

[kansasr]

There are actually several gift card options (actually you get a printout with either a code/bar code). These are some of the Winn Dixie options:
Amazon.com
AMC Theatres
Applebee's
Bass Pro Shops
Best Buy
Build A Bear
Chili'sCold Stone Creamery
Forever 21
GameStop
Gap Options
IHOPi
Tunes®
Lowe's

If you go to coinstar.com you can get more info

[BogeyBoy]

Best system I ever saw was in a bank in Pennsylvania. The coin counting machine was in the lobby. You dumped your coins in, they got sorted and counted, then a receipt printed. You took the receipt to a teller and they handed you the cash.

[Cedwards38]

Originally Posted by kjpvillager

I used the one at Winn-Dixie (Coinstar). If you convert them to an eGift card, then there is no fee. I converted my coins to an Amazon eGift card and used it online. If you go to Coinstar's website it will give you a list of locations by zip code and what Egift cards they offer.

Now that's a good idea because even the banks charge you a percentage to use the coin counters now. Thanks. Amazon.com, here I come.

[alwann]

Originally Posted by BogeyBoy

Best system I ever saw was in a bank in Pennsylvania. The coin counting machine was in the lobby. You dumped your coins in, they got sorted and counted, then a receipt printed. You took the receipt to a teller and they handed you the cash.

That's what I had with a small, local bank where I lived before TV. I see an interesting trend with banks and loose change. Not only have most banks removed their coin counters due to high maintenance costs, an increasing number of banks don't want your change at all -- in wrappers or otherwise. Credit and debit cards are moving us ever closer to a cashless society. Coming home from Ireland recently, I had a pocket full of one Euro coins. I couldn't exchange them. "We don't take coins," the exchange clerk told me. Not even do casino slot machines take coins! Soon, all we'll have left are gumball machines, if you can find one. (Where a penny gumball now costs a quarter.)

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by alwann

Soon, all we'll have left are gumball machines, if you can find one. (Where a penny gumball now costs a quarter.)

Maybe you could direct me to a gumball machine that will take all these Canadian pennies I have!

[tippyclubb]

This is what we used when we had $1,900 in change. Saved that up in 7 years. This coin counter wrapping machine worked very well. It sorts and wraps coins. Did it one night while watching Tv.

I can't get the link to attach, but you can goggle Amazon coin counting machines. It's the one for $29.66

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CLGVBAY/ref=s9_simh_gw_d0_g21_i7?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_ rd_s=mobile-1&pf_rd_r=08NH3BEEV8TFYJNYPKZX&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd _p=2068141862&pf_rd_i=mobile[/ame]

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by BogeyBoy

Best system I ever saw was in a bank in Pennsylvania. The coin counting machine was in the lobby. You dumped your coins in, they got sorted and counted, then a receipt printed. You took the receipt to a teller and they handed you the cash.

I think that was a TD bank, as it sounds exactly like the bank I used in PA.

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by BogeyBoy

Best system I ever saw was in a bank in Pennsylvania. The coin counting machine was in the lobby. You dumped your coins in, they got sorted and counted, then a receipt printed. You took the receipt to a teller and they handed you the cash.

BB&T in South Carolina had the same setup. In and out in minutes, no fee charged. That was 5 years ago, I don't know about now or the BB&T here in The Villages.