I figured out that some CoinStar machines will give you gift certificates without subtracting a fee. Since I order stuff from amazon.com anyway, I got that one. Worked quite well.
If you go to their website, you can search for the ones in your area that give certificates.
Yeah, I noticed that a few months ago. A coworker of mine said the local Meijer (kind of like a Walmart for anyone not in the geographic area where Meijer is mostly located) had a coinstar that would let you print out a barcode for no fee that you could use in the store. Tested it with 50 cents, no dice, got 45 cents out of it to use in the store.
I did then find one like you mention. It is free as long as you choose an amazon.com code, itunes was another option and something else I don't remember. Tried that one with about $2 in quarters and worked fine, I certainly spend $2 at amazon in 2 years (Yes they do expire after 2 years so told use it for so much you'll get caught in the situation you'll have to buy something or lose the money).
Since then by pure dumb luck I got behind a lady at my local Chase Bank (which used to be Bank One) and she brought in a jar of coins she said were her daughters and they took it into the back (so it wasn't accessable by non-customers of the bank just walking in) and gave her $28 or something. So I do have a no fee source if I even want. Ask your bank. I asked somebody about another bank in town and that one had a machine in the back as well. So sounds like quite a few banks have free coinstars, you just have to have an account at the bank and stand in line as they are operated by the bank employee rather than you.
Free CoinStar
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Posted - 10/16/2006 : 00:13:43
