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PennySaved
Penny Collector Member
359 Posts |
 Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:03:00
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I am not sure how often you guys are asked why are you buying $50 or more worth of pennies.
Some of the branches I go to don't ask me, some ask me out of their own curiosity, some ask me and I feel like they think I am doing something deviant with the pennies.
Sometimes I am just up front and tell them that I collect pennies. Sometimes I just make up some excuse.
It becomes a little frustrating when you get the 20 questions.
I feel like it really shouldn't matter. I could go home and poor the pennies in a bath tub and bathe in them if I really wanted and its none of the bank's business.
I feel its a real lack of professionalism on the part of the tellers sometimes in their line of questioning.
How do you guys deal with it?
Don't get me wrong; I have two branches that are really nice and know me by name and order me pennies without any fuss. Sometimes though, I like to go to a random branch (luckily I did that Saturday that is when I found the solid BU roll of 1963's)
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JobIII
Penny Collector Member
USA
464 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:16:37
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| It isn't really the banks business to know what you do with them. But if you aren't at least professional in the way you ask for orders or communicate with a bank's staff, you may soon find yourself looking for a new supplier. It's an odd request and you don't have to lie about it. if you don't want to answer the 20 questions just say you collect coins, or whatever you like and stick to that story. |
Selling Coppers 1.35 + shipping. *800.00* ~sold~ |
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jonflyfish
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:22:37
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| When placing orders of $500+ FV I don't get questioned. When I stop in randomly and ask for $50 FV the teller often asks why I want so many or comments about how that is soooo many pennies. I reply "I just like pennies", smile, then leave it at that. |
The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; second is war. Both bring a temporary (and false) prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunities. |
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Investin Cents
Penny Sorter Member
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:23:33
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I've only picked up 2 $50.00 bags so far, but I think if you are getting that many most folks know what you are doing. The lady clerk I used twice wished me luck looking through them, and then offered to take back what I did not want. Other times getting 1/2 dollar or nickel rolls I use my kid as an excuse, but that was at banks I did not have an account at. Mostly though I'd just say nothing or simply tell the truth - "just collecting coins." Good luck!  |
If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one? - A. Lincoln |
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dakota1955
Penny Hoarding Member
800 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:25:23
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| I never have been ask why I want so many cents. |
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Bluegill
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1479 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 16:32:55
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I haven't been asked in probably a year. Even banks I have never been to before haven't asked me as of late. If they do, I just tell them I'm hunting for wheats, IH's and old Canadians with the king on it. Nothing more, nothing less.
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coinwolf
Penny Pincher Member
USA
137 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 17:32:47
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I just tell them the truth, Me and my little girl like to sit at the table and sort through them thus giving us family time together! Most smile at me and say thats cute or nice especially if I take her with me. |
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3250 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 17:50:45
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They all know me, ahhhhhh!!!! No questions anymore.
Deal |
Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to own cars.
If you want peace, prepare for war. |
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Heavy Metal
Penny Sorter Member
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 18:09:39
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I just say, "Now that would be telling now wouldn't it." All mysterious like.
I have a business account, so they don't ask too many questions anyway. |
Ever notice how it's a penny for your thoughts, yet you put in your two-cents? Someone is making a penny on the deal! - Steven Wright
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oober
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 20:59:45
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| If you want a strange look, tell them your building a shelter so the aliens can't read your mind... :) |
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TXTim
Penny Collector Member
465 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 21:02:40
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Straight on with the truth every time including sorting copper and picking off wheats & IH's.
I then ask them if they have any wheats and sometimes score a few!
That always opens up the silver question and half dollar inquiries.
Never lie to them and you'll never get burned. |
Beer is my currency. |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
5235 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 23:55:39
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I just tell the truth. I say "it's a cheap hobby. I sort through them looking for the good ones, and I still have my money." Then I tell them I found a $1200 one once.  |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Let me see if I understand this? If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor; the Iranian border illegally you are detained indefinitely. If you cross the US border illegally, you get a driver’s license, a social security card, welfare, food stamps, free health care!
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myfundsarelow
Penny Pincher Member
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 23:56:19
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| hi all, cool snacks in the summer hearty cakes and treats other times of the year does wonders, just include all tellers on duty they even call me when they want to unload rolls of cents & other coins, You have to spend money to make money PEACE!! |
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planner
New Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 06:16:38
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I was asked by a local teller if I was building something. I asked her what she meant and she told me of a friend who gets with his kid and they build models of castles and the like. They glue the pennies together.
I commented that it sounded interesting and that I'd have to consider that (white lie).
I've never been asked directly by her what I am doing with them and never actually told her I was going to build anything. But, since I keep stopping in for $25 loads, she has it in her head that I have a project under construction.
Now she wants a picture when we are done. |
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Mikep2020
Penny Pincher Member
USA
205 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 09:04:07
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Almost everytime I pick up a box or two, no matter the bank or branch, unless its a teller i've dealt with on previous occasions, the teller always asks why I want so many pennies. My response is always the same, I sort through the pennies for wheats, S-mints and error varieties. 4 out of 5 times, the next question is either, "Have you found anything of significant value?" or "What types of errors do you look for?" I always say, I haven't found anything worth more than few dollars, or, I look for double dies and Wide AM's and go into more detail on the error varieties if they want to talk more about it. A few have asked me if I plan on returning the unwanted coins to that branch, and I always tell them NO, and they always seemed relieved.
I never use the word "copper" or the word "hoard" when dealing with tellers just to be cautious, I always keep the discussion to collectible pennies. |
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3 Blue Stars
Penny Sorter Member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 09:34:07
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| I tell them that I only patronize the really cheap strip joints. They get a laugh and I go on my way. I don't use it on all the tellers, just the ones that look like they need a chuckle. |
You're kidding, right? |
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Market Harmony
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
699 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 10:07:12
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Honesty has been my best policy when I buy cents. I told the story of my current situation in another post but I can't remember where it is posted. In essence, the truth opened up an opportunity to be able to get unlimited coin, free of charge, and the opportunity to sort the coins from a charity fountain.
On the dump end, I get questions or comments like:
(public) "How long did it take for you to build up that many pennies?" oh, about a week [smile big]
(public) "I've never seen so many pennies" I wish I had less with me [wry grin]
(teller) "What do you do with all these halves?" I look for certain dates. That's a nice shirt.
(teller) "Are you looking for silver?" If I find any, I keep them, but it doesn't happen very often. That's a nice shirt.
If someone ever asks a question that you don't feel comfortable answering honestly, then just smile and ask them, "Why do you ask?" Trust me on this... it works. |
Market Harmony
Producer of rare and unique Gold, Silver, and Copper bullion products. Also offering PM refining services. |
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coppernickel
Penny Sorter Member
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 11:46:43
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My anwser is, "It is for my side business. We go through a lot of cents."
It calms them and has a simple reason. It is true as well. |
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PennySaved
Penny Collector Member
359 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 12:07:28
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It just bothered me the other day. I was in a bank and of course I was asked and I told her that I collect pennies so I go through them and take out the older pennies like wheat pennies.
Her response was she has another customer that has the same request. She asked me "What are you guys REALLY looking for" Almost like it was something sinister and I just repeated that I collect pennies and am looking for wheat pennies etc. |
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Robarons
Penny Collector Member
USA
370 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 13:12:06
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The bank tellers that have an ounce of coin knowledge do this to me. One teller I know knows her silver dates and knows that ALL 2009 coins are worth a lot on the bay. So she knows something is going down when I sort pennies and its like she wants her cut.
For the most part tellers are nice and think its a weird/funny little hobby to have. This in turn makes them save 'odd' coins for 'that penny/coin guy'. |
Robber Baron= Robarons |
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TXTim
Penny Collector Member
465 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 13:35:25
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quote:
Originally posted by coppernickel
My anwser is, "It is for my side business. We go through a lot of cents."
It calms them and has a simple reason. It is true as well.
Be careful!
That can lead down a slippery slope to the commercial account hot seat. They'll want to know why you don't have a commercial account for your business. One teller told me not to use the coin counter for my vending machine business - she just assumed I had a business with all the coins I was stuffing in the machine.
Commercial account = big fees.
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Beer is my currency. |
Edited by - TXTim on 08/25/2009 13:36:13 |
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biglouddrunk
Penny Sorter Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 16:33:36
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| If asked I tell them I doing a charitey drive or I tell them my widow mother is making penny sets for the grand kinds that normally keeps them quiet. |
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PennySaved
Penny Collector Member
359 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 16:37:24
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| Turning them in is usually worse. What do you tell them when you turn them in? I know they are crabby because they have to store them in their vault until their armoured car guy comes in. |
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jtm3
Penny Collector Member
USA
398 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 17:27:48
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No, but the Head Teller at my main bank figured it out herself.
No problems though cause they no I won't come dumping them there. |
Turn your old video game consoles (and games) into GOLD or COPPER!
Buy/Sell/Trade sub-forum
Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth.
George Washington |
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slickeast
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1356 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 17:31:58
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I have been in the banks and credit unions sooo much they don't even ask. The dump banks don't care. They just ask..pennies or halves.
The pick-up banks (bags) know me when I walk in and they say ..do you want all of them. I always say yes, how many today? While they load them up I get my cash ready.
Sometimes someone will ask. I just say that I sort the old ones out. If they ask more I usually tell them the wheats. Some know that I have a "machine" that does it but they don't know the name of it. I have a better relationship with some tellers and regularly have phone conversations with them.
Become a regular at the pickup banks, they will hold stuff if they KNOW you are gonna show up.
TRY to visit the dump banks less often. Spread the dumps around. If they ask "Where have you been? We haven't seen you in a while" Then you are doing good.
Answer that with..oh I was on vacation, working too much, taking some time off.....but don't say that you have been dumping somewhere else. |
You don't have to be the BEST you just have to be.......SLICK
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chris6084
Penny Pincher Member
102 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 18:02:10
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quote:
Originally posted by TXTim
quote:
Originally posted by coppernickel
My anwser is, "It is for my side business. We go through a lot of cents."
It calms them and has a simple reason. It is true as well.
Be careful!
That can lead down a slippery slope to the commercial account hot seat. They'll want to know why you don't have a commercial account for your business. One teller told me not to use the coin counter for my vending machine business - she just assumed I had a business with all the coins I was stuffing in the machine.
Commercial account = big fees.
Yes. Do not say it is for a business. Every bank that has thrown the f word at me (fees), has told me if the coin I order was for business, they would charge me, if it was personal, there was no fee. My dump bank with counters charges 10% to business accounts. |
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Do you use excuses when buying pennies?
