Change to dollars

[johnnie]

This is not as life changing as most posts in here, but I want to take a bucket load of change somewhere to get it cashed in. It is just getting a bit full and I could use the extra cash.
What is the best way to do this? Take it to a bank, or one of those machines that you pour it in and they give you a ticket? Do I have to roll all that shit up?
As you can tell, I don't do this often. I have this feeling that if I just took the bucket in the bank, the teller will be pissed because they might have to do something they don't like doing.

[MissMillie]

1. Just take it to a Coin Star machine

I think they take 8 cents on the dollar, but I happen to think it's worth 8 cents on the dollar to not have to roll all those coins.

[GOPisEvil]

2. The counting machines in stores charge a percentage.

8%, I think.

My credit union has a counting machine that I can take coins to and get 100%.

[johnnie]

3. Thank you.

I guess the change machine will be my best bet. I just contacted my Credit union and she said I have to roll the change.

[DustMolecule]

4. Your bank - a bank will do it for FREE!!!

Do you think that people that own coin operated laundries/vending machines/car washes/etc. ROLL all of that change?! They just take the coins to the bank and the bank dumps it into their change counter for free.

No WAY would I pay 8% to a coinstar machine - that's robbery to me.

A woman at work told me she cashed in her 'change' that she'd been collecting for 1.5 years recently. She thought it would be around $300. Turned out it was almost $800! If she took it to the coinstar machine (which she DIDN't) that wouldv'e been $64 - $64 for what? when you can get it for free.

[johnnie]

5. I don't have a bank

I belong to a credit union, and the woman there told me to roll it all up. I wonder if I could go to any bank.

[DustMolecule]

6. Yep - go to any bank (a 'smaller' one is a better bet)

they're 'friendlier' in my opinion. Smile nice and ask if they'll dump it into their counter. They'll most likely do it.

If not, say you want to open a free checking account with some of the money you get from your change, if they count it for free. Then do that...you don't have to keep it open for long if you don't want to and that's better/cheaper than spending 8% for Coinstar.

As a matter of fact, when you're talking with the teller SAY that you don't want to spend 8% for Coinstar, they'll understand/appreciate that!

[jmowreader]

7. Call any small business that uses a lot of change

The first thing you need is a change separator and some empty change wrappers. Staples stores have these. They range from just a real simple tray with grooves in it for the coins to roll into, to a crank-type machine that puts the coins in the rolls for you.

Next, start calling small businesses that use a shitload of change--fast-food restaurants, hotels, that sort of thing. Don't bother calling a big business; they get change delivered every day by an armored car. (My store is serviced even on Sundays and national holidays.) Call them on Thursday and tell the store manager you have x number of dollars in rolled change and ask if they'd like to buy it. They won't take unrolled change, but almost all of them would be overjoyed to have change delivered--especially if you offer to bring it over on Saturday afternoon or Sunday when they're starting to run low anyway.

[TN al]

8. I think there may be some regional differences in change ettiquette...

...All of the suggestions sound reasonable and I think a reasonable person's expectations would be that they are all workable. Unfortunately from personal experience I can tell you that most of them do not work. Not all banks have change counting machines, at least they claim to not have one and if they do it is sequestered away from the view of the public. Being the cheap sob that I am I would schedule a night of television watching and coin rolling. Invite a friend.