I mentioned in a previous post how I like to save up all my change throughout the year and cash it in at my local Coinstar machine for gift cards in December. Well, I found out today that Coinstar has a special promotion going on this month!
If you cash in $40.00 in change at a Coinstar machine, you can get a extra $10.00 in a gift card from the same merchant. The promotion is valid until 12/31/2010, except for Amazon. Participating merchants are:
Amazon (offer expires 12/22/2010)
ITunes
Lowe’s
Borders
Regal Cinemas
Rixty (online game card)
However, the bonus $10.00 is not available to you right away. You will be given a promo code at the bottom of your receipt when you turn in your change, and you enter that promo code at Coinstar.com. The $10.00 gift card will then be mailed to you in a week or two.
What a great way to get a 25 percent return on your spare change! Also, remember that when coins are redeemed for gift cards using a Coinstar machine, there is not a transaction fee. If you turn in $15.99 in change, you get a gift card for $15.99.
Happy Shopping! Also, keep this in mind for next year, in case this promotion rolls around again!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the cool tip! I’ve been frustrated that my bank no longer will cash in change…you must walk it over to the Coinstar machine which immediately charges 8-9% of the value.
I’ll keep this in mind!
Many blessings,
Nancy
It is amazing how few banks will actually process your change for you. I don’t think I have actually rolled any coins in ages.
Good luck!
Good catch Kris. Ten dollars is ten dollars!
I love ten dollars! I love using my change for presents. I love not feeling pain at Christmas!
I just turned in my change a couple of months ago…. I hope I have enough now to get the bonus~
Lisa – start digging under the cushions…
Coinstar is convenient, as who wants tons of change sitting around? With that $10 gift card, it’s a good deal. Heck, I wish I had more spare change laying around now!
Also, I like the tip regarding no transaction fee when the change is redeemed for a gift card. If it’s able to be used in your normal course of day-to-day expenses, this is a real good find.
Squirrel – I love the thought of giftcards to Amazon and Itunes because they both come in handy for my kids! (And me… 🙂 )
I found another bunch of change I totally forgot about. I am going to take it back and see if I can cash it in for a different company than I used earlier to see if I can get another 10 dollars off. I didn’t notice if it was one offer person, or per company.
I’m glad they changed their business model because there is no way that I would have paid 7% or whatever the transaction fee was otherwise. I can always use a gift card to amazon though.
I love the gift card option. I just cashed in $160.00 in change, which helps with that Christmas shopping!!!
I always have had a problem with the redemption fee they charge for basically giving you money for your money. And from their perspective it’s a great business model. But this change (albeit temporary) sounds good for the consumer.
I had a business idea of creating a mobile version of coinstar where you could schedule a visit to your house rather than having to go to the store with your jug of change. The major flaw in my idea was that having a money truck drive to any location would make a great target for some unscrupulous theives.
I do like your idea, but you are right, I am sure you would be a huge target. (Especially for the Trailer Park Boys. (That is a movie by the way, where the Trailer Park Boys try to pull off the perfect robbery, and it involves a lot of change…)
oh wait, did i read that right? coinstar is no longer charging fees at all? if so, that’s great!
CNC- they only charge if you exchange your coins for cash. If you redeem for a gift card, you get the full amount.