# National Shortage of Coins?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982 "2020-07-01T19:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/181 "2020-08-02T22:12:08Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I’m sure I still have some old £1 coins somewhere, for example, and would have to deposit them at a UK bank if they turn up. But they are not in circulation, and once deposited (and you can’t do anything else with them) they would disappear as well. I just saw something about there being 150 million £1 coins still out in the hands on the public. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/182 "2020-08-17T14:30:14Z")
Does everyone here WANT to go plastic only? Out here there is no coin shortage except for the stores who are pretending. They just as soon go card, saves them money so they can lay off or fire more employees I’m all for change but not sure this is a good idea Think about how easy the government can get into your account…if they put in money they can easily take out. I think plastic is convenient but I dont think that safe to go all plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/183 "2020-08-17T14:34:25Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Out here there is no coin shortage except for the stores who are pretending. They just as soon go card, saves them money so they can lay off or fire more employees Where is “out here” and how do you know the stores are “pretending”? And how is plastic unsafe? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/184 "2020-08-17T14:35:18Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Out here there is no coin shortage except for the stores who are pretending. What? How do you know they’re pretending? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/185 "2020-08-17T14:36:49Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > I’m all for change I see what you did there. > [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Think about how easy the government can get into your account… I thought about it. I don’t see the issue. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/186 "2020-08-17T14:38:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > > > I’m all for change > > I see what you did there. I think you’re giving him too much credit. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/187 "2020-08-17T14:39:21Z")
I already listed one possibility of danger Out here, oh sorry, forgot to explain. In the outside of the city, like in the country. Neighbor works at the bank and she said there are no problems there. Has anyone talked about a cashless society and its pros and cons? Oh of course its just a conspiracy theory about the stores but they will do anything to get rid of employees to save money. Self check outs is another example of removing employees. Ordering on line is handy too but that does away with cashiers too. They can pay the people peanuts that are fulfilling orders until they figure out another way to fulfill orders. So yeah no proof except for the previous actions of retailers and working for them ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/188 "2020-08-17T14:40:30Z")
Him? Definitely, I didnt mean a pun at all. Too dumb. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/189 "2020-08-17T14:41:41Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Him? Sorry about that! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/190 "2020-08-17T15:03:32Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Has anyone talked about a cashless society and its pros and cons? Tattoo my national creditcard number on my forearm, if it makes shopping simpler I’m all for it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/191 "2020-08-17T15:38:48Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Munch](#): > > > > > [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > > > > > I’m all for change > > > > I see what you did there. > > I think you’re giving him too much credit. What a card you are. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/192 "2020-08-17T16:16:54Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > Oh of course its just a conspiracy theory about the stores but they will do anything to get rid of employees to save money. Self check outs is another example of removing employees. Ordering on line is handy too but that does away with cashiers too. They can pay the people peanuts that are fulfilling orders until they figure out another way to fulfill orders. Self checkouts I think are fine, the store still employs staff to maintain, stock machines with cash and change, in my store in the Midwest there is always at least one cashier standing by to help, cleaning the self pay registers, etc. not sure the net loss in employment is that drastic. I like having the option of using them if I have just a few items and I can then be out the door without standing in a traditional line behind three people buying $200 dollars worth of groceries just so that I can buy $10 worth of something. On line ordering also still employs as many people, they are still working, just behind the lines where we can’t see them. A cashier has to ring up every item, put it in a crate, organize hundreds of crates til you come by to pick it up, yet another employed person brings it out to you or another employed person brings it to your house. I don’t think stores are pulling anything over on us. I’m also not sure one person’s anecdote that ‘nothing has changed in her bank’ is really that definitive. It’s important to not spread broad conclusions from a few anecdotes filtered through lots of tellers-that’s how panic buying and hoarding starts. I’m old enough (really old, BTW) that I like using coins and hope they stay around but I also like that for the most part we can now debit card almost any amount instead of minimum charges-that was annoying. If pennies went away, perhaps even nickels, I wouldn’t mind. For cash rounding up or down to the nearest dine would be fine, it equals out in the end. Charges could stay to the nearest cent since no actually coins need be involved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982.md?page=9)