Self Checkouts and Penny Dumping

[cesariojpn]

A little birdy told me that a new Supermarket nearby will have Self-Checkouts and the machines are "new, top of the line." Is dumping a "reasonable" amount to pay for groceries in these machines a viable option? Or not?

[bman]

I doubt it, all of the ones I've seen have a coin slot that you feed one coin at a time.

[Tourney64]

My Walmart has them and you can dump change easily. Not sure how much you can easily dump.

[cesariojpn]

I doubt it, all of the ones I've seen have a coin slot that you feed one coin at a time.

Looking online, there are models where there is a "hole" where you can dump multiple coins in.

[Zincanator]

Walking over to the Coinstar machine instead and choosing the no-fee gift card option will probably still be much faster.

[RichardPenny43]

I used the self checkout at walmart tonight and saw they accept coin.

There are eight self checkouts and I was the only one there.
I know the bank lobby counter is the easiest but, I think just for [shucks] and grins I'll go back tomorrow to see how much zinc these things will take.

[J_Dodge]

I has got to check out the local Wal-Marts - great idea!

JD

[mishra142]

Richard keep us posted on your results.

[RichardPenny43]

Richard keep us posted on your results.

Went tonight to buy a case of beer. I put $5.52 of zinc into the machine before it stopped. The attendant had to come over and type in some codes to "fix" the problem. The machine gave me back a 5 dollar bill, 2 quarters and 2 copper pennies. Then I had to swipe my card. The whole process took about ten minutes. I think I'll stick with my banks' lobby counters.

BTW, I counted the pennies I brought back home and the total was right.
So at least the machine is accurate.

[Zincanator]

How long did it take to load $5.52? Just curious. I'm very patient if it's in the name of beer

[cesariojpn]

So i'm guessing the hoppers for coin might be small, not counting the fact the coin already loaded in.

[fansubs_ca]

I find from my experience at Safeway is you can usually get away with dumping
a total of 600 coins in any one trip.

The machines have compartments for the different types of coins which I think
start the day full. Anything that is beyond that goes into a general overflow
at the bottom. So if you use up that overflow on pennies you can't nesseccarrily
put in any other types of coins unless that particular bin is a bit depleted.
(The bins for specific types of coins that the machine can dispense are small.)

[RichardPenny43]

How long did it take to load $5.52? Just curious. I'm very patient if it's in the name of beer

It took about ten minutes, you can only load about 50 coins at a time.
Look at the pic above.
Where it says coins in, a green light comes on and you put in a handful of coin, then the light goes out and will reject all coins until the light comes back on.
It counted coins about one per second, then pause, then start again, then pause...
I almost gave up after the first 100 coins but figured I had to know the machines limit.

[hobo finds]

Richard keep us posted on your results.

Went tonight to buy a case of beer. I put $5.52 of zinc into the machine before it stopped. The attendant had to come over and type in some codes to "fix" the problem. The machine gave me back a 5 dollar bill, 2 quarters and 2 copper pennies. Then I had to swipe my card. The whole process took about ten minutes. I think I'll stick with my banks' lobby counters.

BTW, I counted the pennies I brought back home and the total was right.
So at least the machine is accurate.

Did you take enough pennies to purchase a case of beer?????

[RichardPenny43]

Did you take enough pennies to purchase a case of beer?????

Yes!
I brought my canvas bag with $20 in zinc pennies.
30 pack of High Life, $12.87

[Zincanator]

Beer and pennies go together like wine and cheese, I tell ya!

[bman]

will the Walmart machine take half dollars?

[Dano]

I use some of these machines at a Shaw's supermarket around me. No it won't take halves, but they do take the small dollar coins. I use it to dump some of my nickels and dimes. Slow as heck and not designed for any kind of volume, but better than paying a fee!

[Madwest]

will the Walmart machine take half dollars?

Mine does.

I also buy groceries quite regularly at a regional store - Woodman's. Woodman's doesn't take CC, so no rewards. That's reason enough to pay in halves. I found that the bin holds $90 in halves before it fills and someone has to come.

I drop $8-$10 at a time in the cup and then it takes 30-45sec for the counter to catch up. So I alternate between dumping coins and bagging.

I run $75 through one self checkout, push my cart aside, pay, bag, and load. Then, I take the rest through an adjacent self checkout. I've done it a dozen times or more. No problem.