# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/61 "2020-07-06T20:03:21Z")
I’m curious about how the coin flow works at self-serve car washes and laundromats. Do they just take the coins from the payment boxes, count them, and then dump them back into the change machines? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/62 "2020-07-06T20:10:50Z")
I’ve seen laundromats with prepaid cards, admittedly these have been in apartment buildings and college dorms where the user is likely to return again. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/63 "2020-07-06T20:14:35Z")
Yes. There is still a trickle of loss though since not all the quarters obtained from the change machine get used at the car wash or laundromat. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/64 "2020-07-06T22:34:07Z")
The ones that do usually offer a discount, like $10 of washes and dries for $7. I use a prepaid chip card for my apartment building’s machines, and refill it at the rental office. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/65 "2020-07-08T18:37:51Z")
Several times recently I’ve returned items that I bought using a debit card. I expected they would return the cash to my card but instead they counted out bills and coins. Fine with me but this seems to be their procedure for returns, to give back cash, perhaps its because it was under a certain amount? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/66 "2020-07-08T20:16:40Z")
One of the grocery stores I go to takes debit cards but not credit cards. A couple times recently I found errors in them ringing up my order. They gave cash refunds rather than a credit on my account. I conclude that it’s either difficult to reverse a debit charge or lots more expensive. Most likely the latter. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/67 "2020-07-08T22:00:22Z")
I used to keep a handful of change on my desk drawer at work for using in the vending machines. We are all working at home now, so I’d guess all the vending machine coins are still in them. There used to be a branch of our bank close to work that had a coin counting machine for their customers. We have a bowl that holds about 300.00 in change that I could probably cash in when next I go to the office, but the bank lobby is closed and I doubt I can put that much coinage in one of those tube thingies. As we have both gone cashless for the most part, the coin shortage isn’t really affecting us enough to make us want to mess around with a coin star. Those are usually in grocery stores, which are **filled** with maskless people who don’t believe in the virus, so doing so could actually cost us more than the 10% fee. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/68 "2020-07-08T22:03:24Z")
I’ve heard from several people claiming to have $50-200 in coins in jars or buckets or what not - I can’t help but wonder if you call a bank, say you want to deposit a large number of coins, if you can’t get an appointment to enter the lobby and use the coin counter. I do know that all of my local banks will schedule appointments for various things that can’t be done through a drive-through, that would seem to be yet another one. If anyone does ask a bank about doing this let me know what they say - it might well be a win-win for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/69 "2020-07-09T02:05:02Z")
I thought about it and called our bank. Yes, they DO want my change. No, they can’t count it or let me use their coin counting machine for “reasons”. They would be happy to give me as many coin tubes as I needed and buy it from me after I have spent my time rolling it. I could also drive an extra 20 miles to a different branch where they are able to deal with the coins. Looks like that bowl will sit there for a very long time before being emptied. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, most homeless folks would probably like a baggie full of change and would also probably put it right back into circulation. Oddly enough, now I’m willing to count and package change. Homeless folks are the only reason I carry cash anyhow. This will kill 3 birds with one stone. Coins back in circulation, someone gets 10 bucks to spend and I don’t have to go to the bank or ATM to do it. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/70 "2020-07-09T05:42:38Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I can’t help but wonder if you call a bank, say you want to deposit a large number of coins, if you can’t get an appointment to enter the lobby and use the coin counter. I’ve actually never seen a coin counter for customer use at _any_ bank, and I work for a bank. The last time I deposited coins, it was a ridiculous process. They gave me a handful of wrappers so I could sort, count, and roll the coins at home. Write my account number on the rolls. Then, take them to the bank, where the rolls were cracked open and run through their coin counter. I’d have been pissed if I had to buy the wrappers. Last time I asked about it, they gave me a sturdy plastic self-sealing, tamper-evident bag that I could put the coins into, take them to the bank, then they’d ship my bag off to the cash vault for counting and deposit into my account a couple days later. Thankfully, Coinstar appeared and I just take the full value Amazon voucher now. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/71 "2020-07-09T06:21:22Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > I’ve actually never seen a coin counter for customer use at _any_ bank, and I work for a bank. My credit union had one in the branch that I patronized. I occasionally used that coin counter and I didn’t have to give up 10% or whatever to Coinstar. Unfortunately, they’ve closed that branch and its replacement doesn’t have one. I believe there’s one in a different branch now. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/72 "2020-07-09T07:38:52Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > I’ve actually never seen a coin counter for customer use at _any_ bank, and I work for a bank. Really? The bank I have my savings account at has one - a couple years ago I dumped about $48 in pennies through it. I guess I just assumed they were commonplace because it seems to make so much sense. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > Thankfully, Coinstar appeared and I just take the full value Amazon voucher now. Part of the problem is that CoinStar let their machines sit, along with the coins in them, for 4+ months. They turned their machine back on at the store I work at, maybe if they start hauling coin back to the bank the shortage will start to ease up. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/73 "2020-07-09T08:34:33Z")
I’m sure I’m not the only person who uses an online bank, the main advantage being that they refund those stupid ATM fees regardless of where I use them. I can’t remember when I last was inside a bank lobby, probably the early 2000s when I needed a cashier’s check for something. I assume many banks make it a pain to deposit coins because they don’t want to deal with them, thus the existence of Coinstar. One thing I’ve noticed is that many bars have now set their prices to whole dollar amounts and are inclusive of tax. The ones that haven’t tend to be fairly upscale places where almost everyone pays by card and thus they’ll charge in .25 increments and add tax. Be interesting to see if fast food places are the best to follow this trend. ---
**Author:** ![SlackWithHonor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackwithhonor/32/2954_2.png) [@SlackWithHonor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackWithHonor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/74 "2020-07-09T11:52:27Z")
I have a buddy who runs a local ice-cream store, I literally just took him in my rainy-day change jar because his store was our of change and he couldn’t find any anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/75 "2020-07-09T12:24:53Z")
I hate to be the one who says this, but you know that you wouldn’t have this problem if your prices included tax. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/76 "2020-07-09T13:10:09Z")
IMHO, having higher-value coins is another way we could have avoided this. If American coins had high enough face values that a few coins could actually buy something, more of us would spend our change rather than just accumulating it. (Or even throwing it out. I know people who will just throw pennies in the garbage.) ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/77 "2020-07-09T14:41:10Z")
Maybe this will be the final straw to get rid of pennies. Nickles are probably too much to ask I am sure. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/78 "2020-07-09T15:17:37Z")
I bet I have over a grand is coins in a 5 gallon water bottle. I have already rolled up $290 in quarters. I just refuse to give 10% or how ever much to the Coinstar machine. I may see if my new bank can count them or sort. I doubt I can even lift the jug. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/79 "2020-07-09T15:26:42Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > I just refuse to give 10% or how ever much to the Coinstar machine. We buy enough from Amazon every year that getting an Amazon gift card for the full amount is the way we do it. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982/80 "2020-07-09T15:47:50Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > I bet I have over a grand is coins in a 5 gallon water bottle. I had $800 in a half-filled 5 gallon bottle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-shortage-of-coins/913982.md?page=5)