General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere are all the coins?
I believe them but I dont understand:
https://6abc.com/business/coin-shortage-wawa-asking-customers-for-exact-change/6308526/
Out of coins to make change? Somehow I find this weird. I would have assumed that the inventory for coin in the federal reserve would be astronomical, involving the necessity for scientific notation to count the number of coins present. Apparently Im wrong.
handmade34
(22,755 posts)had to buy owl decoy to chase away blackbirds... sign and clerk requested correct change... coin shortage I questioned the clerk and she just ignored me
Nevilledog
(50,659 posts)underpants
(182,271 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)weird.
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)RobinA
(9,874 posts)I have over a thousand dollars in coins in various boxes. Never thought it would be a problem. It's my mad money. I can't possibly spend on a whim because I can't lift it. Only hard, hard times will make me use them.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)fewer coins are being minted because the Mint is slowing down like other manufacturers.
Besides that, with all the stores closed, the normal flow of currency has pretty much stopped. You would have millions of coins working their way through the system at all the restaurants, malls, soda machines, and whatever but that just stopped dead. Little piles of coins are stored in all sorts of places until things get moving again.
benld74
(9,888 posts)But I usually card everything
Freethinker65
(9,928 posts)But I noticed signs saying quarters were needed this week.
Hmm??
Googled it
https://www.businessinsider.com/coin-shortage-exact-change-credit-stores-coronavirus-2020-7
TexasTowelie
(111,282 posts)The grocery store that I use has one of the coin counting machines, but I won't use it since they keep 11% for themselves. Therefore, if I'm low on other currency I will use the coin counters at the checkout line which actually makes the lines longer.
Moral of the story: Don't get behind me in line at the grocery store and if you do then stay 6 feet away from me.
underpants
(182,271 posts)This MF is paying with MF nickels!!!!
TexasTowelie
(111,282 posts)While I can somewhat accept not accepting rolled coins at the checkout counter, I somewhat expect a service counter that also handles faxes, money orders, lottery tickets, and utility payments should be able to accept rolled change and convert it into useful currency. Since that store (H.E.B.) has such a stupid policy, I decided to voice my opinion by slowing their operations elsewhere. A transaction that should take about one minute at the service counter now takes a few minutes at one of their cash registers which is where they make their profit.
BTW, I usually have rolls of pennies than I do of any other coins.
underpants
(182,271 posts)😆
They have all kinds of money options.
BTW - I am a regular at the service desk ringing out. Newer stores can weigh things there too.
When I get home from errands my wife takes one look at me and says, Oh youve got stories.
Im notorious for loud fidgeting, sighs, and grunts waiting in line. Im not even aware Im doing it.
People wiring money should be made to make a cart collection run in the parking lot before they can tie things up.
TexasTowelie
(111,282 posts)I was so poor for awhile that the service fees that a bank charges would have ate up any balance that I could maintain.
I use a Netspend debit card that I can reload if I need to make any online payments. The card is reloadable and I also minimize my risk if the card is lost or stolen. I only make 2 to 3 transactions per month which is less expensive than bank fees.
Of course, having a debit card doesn't really help me with my "change" problem. Life gets complicated trying to allocate among keeping cash in my wallet, maintaining a balance on the debit card, cashing in winning lottery tickets and scratch-offs, rolling coins, and spending the occasional gift card that I might receive for Christmas or my birthday.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Really nice of you to do that to minimum wage grocery clerks who are working their asses off in a pandemic as it is. Wow. Liquor stores around here are requesting people use cards so they do not have to touch the money. I imagine they would tell you and your coin rolls to go take a hike.
Response to Tipperary (Reply #33)
Post removed
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Now that I have, I see you say you are poor. If so, buying lottery tickets will not change that, I promise. And sorry, I find it difficult to believe the liquor store would take rolled coins. Seriously, paying for liquor with rolled coins? I think I would go without.
demmiblue
(36,742 posts)At least in my area.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)I have seen the signs that there is a coin shortage, but when I asked at my local grocery if they needed any, she said they were not having a problem large enough that she would ask her cashiers to count coins. I am like many people and have quite a bunch of loose change, so I would have been happy to help Id she had taken me up on it.
Strange times.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)They have to handle your (possibly contaminated) coins, they have to take time away from other customers, never mind the fact that NO ONE likes to count coins.
And making people who wait behind you in a checkout line? People who may have underlying conditions and only want to get in and out of a store quickly? I'm sorry, but that seems selfish to me. Especially since you really seem proud of holding everyone up.
Maybe find some friends who will give you bills for your coins if you can't use a bank?
I don't know your age, but many banks offer fee-free services for people over 60, or if you have direct deposit or keep a certain amount in savings. Worth a look. Might save you some stress.
demmiblue
(36,742 posts)They do not accept rolled coins via the pneumatic tubes.
And, from what I have seen, the tray lanes have been closed, as well.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)In my area, you can make an appointment to come into the bank.
But yeah, I really can't imagine anyone wanting to handle coins right now.
That's why I thought the post was unfair to the cashiers at the grocery store.
demmiblue
(36,742 posts)It was just commentary if he was considering going that route in the future.
I have used those automatic coin counters at the self-check-out in grocery stores... they really don't take a lot more time, and the cashier doesn't touch the coins. The liquor store, on the other hand, is a different story.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)I will check that out! Thanks!
demmiblue
(36,742 posts)It really makes it handy to be able to dump your pocket change, and proceed with whatever payment transaction you are able to do.
It would be cool of they had them at the full-staffed registers (which I prefer, but have mostly avoided due to the pandemic).
They are pretty fast and efficient.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)I can help the coin crisis without inconveniencing anyone as well! All good.
I have a ton of coins in various bottles around the place.
Polybius
(15,235 posts)Just put the coins in a jar and pour it into one of those machines that takes coins and gives you money in return. Most supermarkets have them.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)The poster seemed happy to announce he usually used pennies and seemed happy to know he was holding everyone up.
Not a good look.
George II
(67,782 posts)...the $2 bill in 1996.
Cash totals are rounded up or down (mostly down) to the nearest nickel, and the $1 bill was replaced by the $1 coin (loonie, because of the loon on the back side) and the $2 bill by the "twonie" (take off on the loonie!)
PCIntern
(25,341 posts)I Once asked this asshole teacher of mine from Great Britain for a change of a 10 and asked him if he could give me two threes and a four. Hilarity ensued.
live love laugh
(12,995 posts)this week. I didnt realize it was widespread.
Iggo
(47,486 posts)Now I got a bunch of real heavy jars.
CTyankee
(63,768 posts)person by appointment only, I feel sheepish about turning them in for paper currency. I guess I'll go to my bank (drive through and usually a line of cars waiting).
Oh, well, that's a pretty nice set of problems to have these days, considering what other depredations others go through...
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)About once a year I take it to my credit union and put it into their sorting machine and deposit it in my checking account.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)because the store was running short of change. That was a new one on me.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,057 posts)that we can all be made to be micro chipped in order to buy anything.
BannonsLiver
(16,161 posts)Every minute of their lives is torture, torment, fear, anger and pain. Its actually quite sad.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,057 posts)dweller
(23,558 posts)you know you want it to be true
✨
✌🏼
ornotna
(10,763 posts)It'll be milk next.
https://www.theonion.com/u-s-mint-introduces-new-double-stuf-quarters-1819592058
safeinOhio
(32,524 posts)never happened under Obama.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)I'm one of those who tosses all of my change into a jar and once a year I take it to the bank (usually two jars at that point) and convert it to bills. Typically I get about $150.00
If my bank were currently open I'd bring the jars in now to make my own small contribution to help, but where I am only the drive throughs are open.
And it's been my observation that every single coin counting machine in stores keeps at least 10% of the money. That's why I go to my bank, which likewise keeps a percentage, although I don't recall just what it is, if you do not have an account with them.
Backseat Driver
(4,333 posts)for free last week (probably to fill their payout machines without going to the bank for rolls of pennies, nickels, and quarters-just dump 'em in the hopper). They've just been allowed to re-open...
TlalocW
(15,358 posts)At my grocery store, and the lady told me about the shortage. I replied I needed one to hold in my hand while making a fist for a rumble later on, and she told me to look at the brass knuckles on aisle 3.
People who work at my local grocery are funny.
TlalocW
herding cats
(19,549 posts)Yes, I'm the problem, sort of.
I don't have time to roll them and my bank charges to run them through a machine now. I'm thinking of just doing my new counters in them for nostalgia.
Backseat Driver
(4,333 posts)Last edited Fri Jul 10, 2020, 03:54 AM - Edit history (1)
TexasBlueDog
(43 posts)...coins will be obsolete soon so no more are being minted. It's here kids, perhaps as soon as Jan. 2021. It's being blamed on covid ridden filth notes but its been planned for years. There's quite a bit about it just research it.
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)Coins are FOD in the aviation business so every time I'd walk out to the plane I'd empty my pockets...
I rarely if ever took coins back out...usually just to buy some chips or a soda from the vending machines.
I did this from 1986 when I started in commercial aviation at AirCal until I retired from American in 2017.
I recently started counting and sorting...its tedious.
I won't take them to the store though...no way I'm giving 10% away.
RobinA
(9,874 posts)People want to charge you for your own money these days. When civilization is reduced to rubble us hoarders will have the last laugh.
Amishman
(5,538 posts)Can't get to the coin counting machine and the vacuum tubes at banks can't lift a significant weight of rolled coins.
Some supermarkets shut down their coinstar machines so they wouldn't have to sanitize them regularly.
So consumers just tossed them in the jar.
Coins are expensive to make, keeping a huge surplus in reserve wouldn't make sense. It still took months of changed behavior to result in a shortage.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)Didn't someone mention that execution is the penalty for treason?
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I've even have one humongous jar (can't lift it) that I found after my father died.
Maybe I should take them to the bank. I'd seen some of the signs at my local grocery, but I had no idea what was up.
panader0
(25,816 posts)I have a coin collection. Wheat pennies, Indian pennies, silver coins, many different foreign coins.
Even a couple of very old Roman coins.
I also have quite a bit of old paper money from everywhere. As a child I traveled with my service dad
all over the world in the 50's and 60's.
Some of stuff can be quite valuable.
Now if I could just find my childhood stamp collection and baseball card collection.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Have to wait for a good rainy day. Always looking for a reason not to clean my house lol!
onethatcares
(16,130 posts)spent 30 years collecting coins, type sets,pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, different dollars, paper, silver, small gold and now the coin collector clubs are going away and I find myself with books and boxes of collectible babble.
I am not going to toss it in a coin star, nope, no freaking way. If there's a shortage they, the banks, should be paying us a premium for turning them in. But the conspiracy theorist in me thinks it's a way to get a line on unreported income. The bar code of satan or something like that to buy and sell.
Gaud, I need a drink and it's only 11:25 a.m.
panader0
(25,816 posts)My mom had two 2 and a half dollar gold coins from 1866 or so, in mint condition, in plastic
cases, and the cleaning lady found them and stole them. Worth about $450 each now. Damn.
onethatcares
(16,130 posts)it all seems the same anymore.
that stinks about the cleaning lady, she'll get karma some day.
I've metal detected some oldies but spent more time buying what I wanted to collect. I have a complete set of Lincoln Cents from 1958 to 2012 in brilliant uncirculated condition.. It took a few years to get together and a few dollars. Now I don't think I'll find a buyer for more than 2 cents a coin.
Everything trump touches dies
Mariana
(14,847 posts)I remember about 1980 there was a penny shortage. I don't know if it was national or just local. Anyway, the banks were offering stuff if you turned in $10.00 in pennies. My father put us all to work rolling up his pennies and he scored a nice Thermos bottle, a tee shirt, an umbrella, and a tote bag.
melm00se
(4,972 posts)the shortage. Coins aren't just disappearing into thin air. It is a bottleneck in cycle of how money works from the Federal Reserve to the bank to the consumer back to the bank back to the Federal Reserve.
Coins are stock piling somewhere along this cycle. This will sort itself out once the COVID shutdowns end.
PCIntern
(25,341 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)People not using subway, laundromats, any places where coins are used. That makes sense, I guess.
I didn't get it either.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)So whatever coins they had in jars at home are staying there.
DFW
(54,047 posts)They can't get anywhere near 100% face value for circulating coins.
The thing is, there are often all sorts of oddball coins in there. Kennedy half dollars, and dollar coins of Eisenhower, Susan B. Anthony, and the dull brass colored ones that are the most recent. Younger people at cash registers are often unaware that these coins even exist. That's not their fault, but the idiots that hire them don't tell them. Sometimes, when I pay with a dollar coin, I get arrogantly asked, "what in the world is this?" I ask, "what country are you from?" Usually, they say, "I'm American!" I answer, "right, you're American, and you don't know what a dollar is? What country are you REALLY from?" That usually makes them take a closer look, and learn something.
Goodheart
(5,264 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)JHB
(37,128 posts)Even when using cash, for a couple of months people have been minimizing contact by handing over 10s or 20s instead of providing exact change, and pocketing the change they get back. Others above have also mentioned the access problems for normal coin recycling.
llmart
(15,499 posts)Don't they still have to handle the change that comes back?
JHB
(37,128 posts)...followed by a squirt of hand sanitizer to the hands, unless gloves were worn. It's not that there's no contact, but it's minimized.
It doesn't really matter whether you think it makes sense or it seems inconsistent. It's something people do. I have, and I've got the "way too many" coins and singles to prove it.
Hotler
(11,353 posts)$3.00 per 100 count.
denem
(11,045 posts)(google rare 1978)
sl8
(13,584 posts)MineralMan
(146,189 posts)I can't stand to have change in my pocket, frankly, so any coins I get in change go in the 5-gallon plastic water bottle in my bedroom. It's not full, by far, and I've pretty much quit using cash in stores, but I still empty my pockets of change whenever there is any in there.
I'm pretty sure most people have a box or jar they put their change in these days. Once this COVID thing is gone, no doubt everyone will take all those coins and dump them back into circulation. Sadly, my local bank branch took out its public coin counter, for some reason, so even if the bank was open, I'd have no place to count all those coins. The CoinStar thing at the supermarket is too damned slow to use, in my opinion.
Eventually, though, I'm going to have to cash all of that change in.