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How to Find the Nearest Coinstar Kiosk to Convert Coins to Cash Now
Do you have a collection of stray-way change in your home that’s just sitting there collecting dust? What if I told you that you might have a few extra hundreds worth of coins that can contribute to this month’s groceries, to pay towards your debt, or to add to your vacay fund?
I know that that is all the motivation I need for me to locate a Coinstar near me to change those coins to cash! I love making my coins work for me!
If you’re in the same boat and you’re looking for the easiest way to convert your coins to cash, I’ve got you covered! Here’s how to find your nearest Coinstar Kiosk!
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What do you usually do with the loose coins around your home? Do they end up in a jar of doom? Or do they get lost in the back of a drawer?
If you’re like most Americans, you probably do nothing with your extra change.
In fact, according to a recent survey from MyBankTracker, more than half (55.5%) of Americans do nothing with their spare change!
Imagine if you could put your coins to good use – it could probably do so much for you. Let’s get started by gathering all your change and finding your nearest Coinstar kiosk. You can easily convert your coins to cash!
What is Coinstar?
Coinstar is the familiar green kiosk that you see in many supermarkets and pharmacies around your neighborhood. It provides an easy and convenient way for us to change our spare coins into some much needed cash. Coinstar was founded in 1991, over 30 years ago!
The Coinstar kiosk is set up in a way to allow for self service, making it simple and accessible to almost anyone. The kiosk itself has a similar appearance to an ATM machine, with a screen, a tray for you to add your coins and a slot for you to receive your payout.
How does a Coinstar work?
Coinstar is actually very easy to use. Here’s how it works. You simply add your coins to the kiosk and choose your payout method. There are several options for payout including cash (with a small attached fee), gift cards (no fee attached), and even the option to donate to charity (tax-deductible!).
After the machine has counted your coins, a voucher will be generated for you to receive your payment.
One of the biggest advantages is that you can use a Coinstar kiosk at any time and you can get your money instantly! The entire process, from start to finish may just take you a few minutes.
How to Use a Coinstar Machine – Step by Step Process
A Coinstar kiosk may look intimidating but I pinky-promise that it’s super simple to use! Just follow the steps below to convert your coins to cash.
Step 1: Use the screen to choose your preferred payout method.
This can be cash, eGift card or the option to donate to charity.
Step 2: Add your coins to the tray.
Ensure that the coins are clean and free from dirt and debris before adding them. Lift the handle to guide the coins into the slot.
Step 3: Collect your voucher/receipt
After the kiosk has counted your change, you will receive either a voucher or receipt depending on your payout method.
If you chose cash for your coins, you can use the voucher to exchange for the cash at the register in-store (Remember to do this on the same day). Similarly, if you chose eGift card, your voucher will include the code that you can use online or in-store.
If you chose to donate to charity, you will receive a receipt. Remember that this donation is tax-deductible!
When was Coinstar founded?
Coinstar was founded in 1991, even though the idea was actually born two years earlier in 1989. It started when Jen Molbak was sitting in his dorm room, looking at a jar of coins and wondering how he could convert these loose coins into much needed cash!
By 1991, Jen and two other classmates started building the kiosk and by 1992 it was ready for its first installation. The first ever kiosk was installed in San Francisco. Today, Coinstar has grown internationally and has helped millions of people conduct transactions.
How does Coinstar make money?
Coinstar makes its money by taking a small percentage (11.9%) of your change when you choose to receive your payment as cash. For example, if you add $50 worth of coins to the kiosk, you’ll receive $44.05 cash in hand, and Coinstar will keep $5.95 as a service fee (11.9%).
Basically, if you choose to receive your payout as cash, you’ll receive 88.1% of the total coin value that you add to the kiosk.
Remember, whenever you use a Coinstar kiosk, you are getting to convert your spare change to cash without needing to count, sort or roll the coins yourself. The kiosks are also always readily available at several locations in your local town or city. For this simple convenience, Coinstar charges an 11.9% fee when you choose to receive your payout as cash.
The kiosk will count your change, calculate 11.9% of the sum you added and keep that amount as its payment. This is how Coinstar makes its money.
Note that, a service fee only applies when a customer chooses cash as payout. No service fee applies for the eGift card or charity options.
What percentage does Coinstar take?
As previously mentioned, Coinstar takes an 11.9% service fee when cash is chosen as the payout method. This means that Coinstar will keep 11.9% of the total coin value that you add to the kiosk.
However, if you choose the eGift card or charity options as your form of payout, no service fee will be applied.
Where can I find a Coinstar near me?
Your nearest Coinstar is probably closer than you think, as most popular supermarkets and pharmacies house these big, green kiosks! Chances are there are more than a handful of these Coinstar kiosks near to your home.
Here are a few places you can look! You can even give these places a call in advance, to find out if they have a Coinstar kiosk on location before actually making the trip! Personally, this can be a huge timesaver when looking for Coinstars near me.
• Walmart Coinstar
Most Walmart stores have a Coinstar kiosk situated at the front of the store close to the checkout counters, for your convenience. This means that you can convert your coins to cash during your next grocery run! How simple is that?!
Coinstar Walmart Fee:
Coinstar kiosks at Walmart apply the same 11.9% fee when you choose to receive your payment as cash. You can avoid this fee if you choose gift cards as your payout.
FAQ:
Is Coinstar free at Walmart?
Using Coinstar at Walmart is only free if you choose gift cards as your form of payout. If you choose to receive cash, be prepared to give up 11.9% of your total coin stash value. This is the percentage fee for getting paid in cash.
• Hannaford Coinstar
If there’s a Hannaford in your area, be sure to check out the nearest location for a Coinstar kiosk.
• Harris Teeter Coinstar Near Me
Do you have a local Harris Teeter? Check them out for your nearest Coinstar kiosk to change those coins to cash!
• Coin Machine in Food Lion
Food Lion is yet another grocery store chain that houses Coinstar kiosks for your convenience!
• CVS Coinstar
CVS is another location that can be visited for a Coinstar kiosk near you.
• Winn Dixie
Do you have a nearby Winn Dixie supermarket? Then you may have a Coinstar near you! Check out your nearest Winn Dixie store to convert your change to cash!
FAQ:
What stores have coin counting machines?
All of the stores on this list have coin counting machines. This includes Walmart, Food Lion, CVS, Hannaford, Kroger, Shaw’s and more!
• Fiesta Mart
If you’re a Texan, you’ll want to check your local Fiesta Mart for a Coinstar Kiosk. Dallas folk, you can also check out Tom Thumb!
• Hy-Vee
Be sure to check a nearby Hy-Vee for a Coinstar kiosk!
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• Coinstar Kiosk at ShopRite
ShopRite usually has a Coinstar Kiosk to convert your coins to cash.
• PLS Check Cashers
If you have a PLS Check Cashers in your town or city, check them out for your coin cashing needs! Some PLS Check Cashers locations also have Coinstar kiosks available.
• Meijer Coinstar Near Me
Be sure to check your closest Meijer branch as they usually have Coinstar kiosks in-store also!
• Shaw’s
Shaw’s is yet another on this list of Coinstar kiosks near me!
FAQ:
Can you buy coins from Coinstar?
No, you cannot buy coins from Coinstar. A Coinstar kiosk allows you to trade in your coins in exchange for cash, gift cards or a charity donation on your behalf. However, you cannot actually buy coins from the machine.
Some kiosks do have the option to purchase cryptocurrency though. You’ll need to have a Coinme account which you can use to redeem your crypto voucher.
• Kroger Coinstar Near Me
Most Kroger stores also house Coinstar kiosks for your convenience. Check out your nearest Kroger to cash in those coins!
• Safeway
Safeway is a must if I’m trying to locate a Coinstar near me! Many Safeway stores have a Coinstar kiosk for you to convert those stray-way coins!
FAQ:
Where can I find Amazon Coinstar locations?
If you’re looking for “Amazon Coinstar locations”, I am assuming that you’re trying to find a Coinstar kiosk that has the option of exchanging your coins for Amazon.com Gift Cards. Well, most Coinstar kiosks have this option!
All you need to do is visit a Coinstar near you, choose “Get a gift card or eCertificate” and select Amazon.com. After the kiosk has counted your coins, you’ll receive a paper receipt with the unique code that you can use to shop on Amazon!
To narrow down your search, be sure to use Coinstar’s Find a Kiosk Search. Enter your zip code, click “eGift Cards” and select Amazon.com to filter the results. I use this to find a Coinstar near me with Amazon gift cards as a payout option!
• Stop & Shop
If you live near to a Stop & Shop, I’ve got good news for you! You can visit your nearest Stop & Shop store for a Coinstar coin machine.
FAQ:
What does Coinstar do with the coins?
The coins collected from Coinstar kiosks are safely taken away to their processing facilities to be sorted by denomination, recounted, rolled, and then sold to retailers who need it to fill their cash registers. Some may also be kept and deposited via the bank.
• Malls/Shopping Centers
Many malls and shopping centers may have Coinstar kiosks. You can look around during your next visit.
In addition to this general list provided, there may be other local supermarkets, restaurants and retailers that house Coinstar kiosks. These can vary depending on where you live. For example, Coinstar kiosks can be found in City Market, King Soopers, Family Fare, Homeland Food Stores and various Credit Unions.
To actually zero in on a Coinstar near me, what I’d do is use the zip code box below. Just punch in your zip code to get an actual list of all the Coinstar kiosks nearest to you! You’re welcome!
Coinstar Alternative: 2 Other Ways to Exchange Coins for Cash
1. Convert Coins for Cash at the Bank
If you want to avoid the fees associated with a Coinstar Kiosk, you can always go the good ol’ traditional way of changing your coins at the bank.
You’ll get your full value in cash but remember that you’ll need to count and roll your coins yourself. You’ll also need to go in to the bank during working hours, join the lines and wait your turn since many banks no longer have actual coin counting machines.
Exchanging your coins at the bank is a great alternative to a Coinstar kiosk, once you have some extra time on your hands!
Additionally, you can see if your local bank has an actual coin counting machine, and use that to convert your coins to cash.
Some banks let their customers use it for free. Most may have a small fee attached for non-customers. Weigh your options and do your research because you may find that the fee is cheaper than using your nearest Coinstar!
FAQ:
What banks have a free coin counting machine?
If you’re wondering which banks have a free coin counting machine, you may have to check out your local credit unions and small community banks. Bear in mind that sometimes this service is only free to customers.
Banks with free coin counting machines include JBT, Rockland Trust Bank, Manasquan Bank, Republic Bank and Hancock County Savings Bank!
2. Use your coins – a little at a time
Even though they may be bulky and inconvenient at times, your coins are still highly valuable. Why not use them to pay? Instead of keeping them stashed in a drawer, use them out – a little at a time.
How to Exchange your Coins for Cash & Avoid the Fees (Bonus Tips)
By now, you know that Coinstar will apply an 11.9% service fee if you want your payout as cash. This can be a huge chunk of your change if you have a lot of coins! Here are a few bonus tips on how to exchange your coins for cash without the added fees.
1. Use a bank to convert coins to cash for free
This was already mentioned above but still needed to be added here. Before giving up 11.9% of your loose coins, check your local bank or credit union to see if they offer this service for free!
2. Choose the gift card option as your payout
Remember that you’ll get your full coin value if you choose to receive your payout as a gift card instead of cash. Consider choosing a gift card that can actually work for you. Depending on how you use your gift card, it may sometimes be as good as having extra cash in your pocket!
For example, let’s say I have $50 in coins in my spare change jar. I go to a Coinstar near me and choose to cash out a $50 Amazon gift card instead of accepting $44.05 cash in hand. I skipped the 11.9% service fee of $5.95 and got my full $50 value.
I can now use this $50 Amazon gift card to top up on necessities for this month. This can be anything from personal supplies to grocery items. The $50 in cash that I would have used for these items can now stay safely in my wallet or savings account.
In other words, I “changed my coins for cash” using a Coinstar near me, but I skipped the fee!
You too can choose the gift card option. You can then learn to transfer your gift cards to your bank account or even sell your gift cards for cash!
3. Exchange coins at retailers
Small business owners and retailers are always looking to increase their coin inventory for their cash registers. You can speak directly to the owner to see if they’re willing to exchange your coins for cash.
4. Use your coins to pay
As previously mentioned, getting full value for your coins is as simple as actually using them to pay. Combined with your paper bills, you can use a little at a time so that you do not frustrate your cashier or the person standing behind you in line!
FAQs – Additional Info on Finding the Nearest Coinstar Kiosk
How much does it cost to use Coinstar?
The cost to use Coinstar depends on how much coins you are changing and what payout method you choose. This is because Coinstar charges an 11.9% fee, only if you select cash as your payout. This 11.9% is deducted out of the coins that you add to the machine, so the cost to use the kiosk depends on the value of the coins you need to change.
For example, considering the 11.9% service fee, the cost to use Coinstar to exchange $5.00 worth of coins will be around 60 cents. However, the cost to use Coinstar to exchange $40.00 worth of coins is $4.76.
Where can I change coins for free?
If you want to change coins for free, you’ll need to check out local community banks and credit unions. Some of the branches have coin counting machines that are free to customers. A few may offer this service free of charge to all persons.
Additionally, you can roll your coins yourself and go into your bank to deposit or exchange for cash.
If you want to skip the bank line, check out some of the local banks and credit unions with free coin counting machines such as JBT, Rockland Trust Bank, Manasquan Bank, Republic Bank and Hancock County Savings Bank!
How much does Coinstar charge for $10?
Coinstar will charge $1.19 to exchange $10 worth of coins. This is because of their 11.9% service fee when you choose cash as your payout. This will be deducted from the coins that you add to the machine. So you’ll actually be receiving $8.81 in hand when you choose to receive your payout as cash. Note that, Coinstar will not charge if you choose to receive your payout as a gift card.
How much does Coinstar charge for $20?
Coinstar will charge $2.38 to exchange $20 worth of coins. This is because of their 11.9% service fee when you choose cash as your payout. This will be deducted from the coins that you add to the machine. So you’ll actually be receiving $17.62 in hand when you choose to receive your payout as cash. Note that, Coinstar will not charge if you choose to receive your payout as a gift card.
What stores have Coinstar?
Many stores have Coinstar as there are over 24 000 kiosks in retail locations worldwide. Some of these stores include supermarkets and pharmacies like Walmart, Food Lion, Safeway, Kroger, Meijer, Hannaford, CVS and more!
How much money does Coinstar take?
The amount of money Coinstar takes depends on how much change you want exchanged. The standard fee for accepting cash payouts is 11.9% of the coins you add to the kiosk. So if you want to change $10 worth of coins, Coinstar will take $1.19. However, if you want to change $20 worth of coins, Coinstar will take $2.38.
Does CVS have a Coinstar?
Most CVS locations have a Coinstar kiosk. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest CVS location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
Can I convert Coinstar to PayPal?
Currently, Coinstar does not offer a direct method to convert your coins to PayPal cash. There is no option to transfer your balance to your PayPal wallet.
Does Harris Teeter have a coin machine?
Yes, many Harris Teeter locations have a coin machine for you to convert your coins to cash. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest Harris Teeter location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
Does Target have Coinstars?
I haven’t seen Coinstar kiosks in any Target store. However, there may be some Target stores that do have Coinstars. You can check your local Target to see if there is a Coinstar kiosk there.
Does Walmart have a Coinstar machine?
Yes, many Walmart locations have a coin machine for you to convert your coins to cash. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest Walmart location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
Does ShopRite have a coin machine?
Yes, many ShopRite locations have a coin machine for you to convert your coins to cash. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest ShopRite location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
Does Food Lion have a Coinstar?
Yes. Most Food Lion locations have a Coinstar located at the front of the store. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest Food Lion location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
Does Meijer have a Coinstar?
Yes. Most Meijer locations have a Coinstar kiosk located at the front of the store. You can use the Coinstar website to find the nearest Meijer location to you that houses a Coinstar, or you can give the store a call to confirm, before heading out!
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Final Thoughts on Coinstar Near Me to Exchange Coins for Cash
Now that you know of all the best ways to convert your coins for cash, go ahead and try a few to see which one works best for you! Find your nearest Coinstar and get those stray coins off your hands!
Do you know of any other ways to convert your coins for cash near you? Are there any other Coin counting kiosks that we missed from our list? Share with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
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