Self Check-Out machines that take $2 Bills and Halves? Attn: Fred Shecter
malanu...@aol.com
I noticed at my local Meijer grocery store, while using a self check-
out, that the coin slot looked big enough to take halves. So tonight,
I tried a half if the machine, hoping it wouldn't some how jam the
machine, but the machine just spit the half back out at me, so I was
wondering, if these machines are made to fit halves down their coin
slot, is there possibly a switch that the store's self check-out
vendor can flip to allow halves to be accepted? Because, I keep
hearing that there are switches in some machines that can be flipped
to take $2 bills and $1 coins, but I've never yet heard of a switch to
flip to accept halves.
So, should I ask the manager of this store if there is a switch that
can be flipped to accept both, halves and $2s? Because these two
denominations are currently not accepted by the machines (I think $1
coins work in these machines, however, but if not, I could ask about
those as well) I think this would be a good idea and a good way to get
these odd denominations circulating a bit better (maybe not great, but
better), if some machines took them. But like I said, I ws shocked
when I saw that half just spit out into the coin return, like it was
some foreign coin or something.
Fred,
If you read this, I know you've told me about switches to flip on
vending machines, to take $1 coins, and $2 bills, so do you think that
there may be a switch for halves in some machines?
Tom
Bruce Remick
<malanu...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19e820c5-ea84-465e...@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> Hey,
>
> I noticed at my local Meijer grocery store, while using a self check-
> out, that the coin slot looked big enough to take halves. So tonight,
> I tried a half if the machine, hoping it wouldn't some how jam the
> machine, but the machine just spit the half back out at me, so I was
> wondering, if these machines are made to fit halves down their coin
> slot, is there possibly a switch that the store's self check-out
> vendor can flip to allow halves to be accepted? Because, I keep
> hearing that there are switches in some machines that can be flipped
> to take $2 bills and $1 coins, but I've never yet heard of a switch to
> flip to accept halves.
>
> So, should I ask the manager of this store if there is a switch that
> can be flipped to accept both, halves and $2s? Because these two
> denominations are currently not accepted by the machines (I think $1
> coins work in these machines, however, but if not, I could ask about
> those as well) I think this would be a good idea and a good way to get
> these odd denominations circulating a bit better (maybe not great, but
> better), if some machines took them. But like I said, I ws shocked
> when I saw that half just spit out into the coin return, like it was
> some foreign coin or something.
>
What you encountered is simply a fact of life today. The Mint hasn't
produced half dollars with the expectation that they will circulate for some
years now. The public has shown it does not consider that particular coin
to be useful anymore. It also is content with using the $1 and $5 bill and
ignoring the $2 bill. So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by
trying to force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like where you
can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place where you can't
use them.
Those of us who have a nostalgic feeling for the half dollar are free to
collect and enjoy them, and okay, maybe spend them once in a while for the
novelty of it. I do agree that it is sad to realize that our modern
machines will reject halves, but we do have to move on.
Duh_OZ
pretty much lost hope. I even tried some machines while in Vegas
this last weekend - nope. Quite a few clerks out that way were
surprised when I paid with $2s. The CTA transit vending machines are
still the only ones I have been able to use $2 bills in.
Tony - you could always head to Vegas and Slots a Fun and put halves
in perhaps the last casino in Vegas that still has coin in machines
(but don't bother with a two!).
Paul Anderson
"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by trying to
> force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
> commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like
> where you can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place
> where you can't use them.
Halves and $2 bills are current denominations. Why should a machine
purposely not accept a current denomination? Someone who points this
out to the store is simply pointing out a defect in the machine.
I do not carry dollar bills, nor an excess of quarters, so a machine
that does not accept $2 bills or halves is less convenient for me.
One could argue that since halves have not been made for circulation for
a few years that it has been "abandoned", but just because most people
don't use them doesn't mean a machine should be set up not to accept
them.
Paul
--
Paul Anderson
OpenVMS Engineering
Hewlett-Packard Company
Bruce Remick
"Paul Anderson" <paul.a...@hp.com> wrote in message
news:paul.anderson-AC1...@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
> In article <PeZNk.25963$Tx1....@newsfe19.iad>,
> "Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by trying to
>> force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
>> commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like
>> where you can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place
>> where you can't use them.
>
> Halves and $2 bills are current denominations. Why should a machine
> purposely not accept a current denomination? Someone who points this
> out to the store is simply pointing out a defect in the machine.
Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending machines
aren't configured to accept them. I'd also be curious to know how many
machines are configured to accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current"
as half dollars, but another which doesn't have enough vending machine users
to worry about. Otherwise, I don't know why all machines won't accept all
types of coins and bills.
>
> I do not carry dollar bills, nor an excess of quarters, so a machine
> that does not accept $2 bills or halves is less convenient for me.
Why don't you carry dollar bills? On the other hand you apparently carry
enough half dollars for a $2 purchase, so I don't see how it's a
"convenience" thing.
>
> One could argue that since halves have not been made for circulation for
> a few years that it has been "abandoned", but just because most people
> don't use them doesn't mean a machine should be set up not to accept
> them.
Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
accept them. Halves aren't THAT old yet, and are not totally obsolete.
But I wonder if the machines then would have to be rigged to store and
dispense halves along with all other 5¢ thru $1 coins, and if that would
create a problem that wouldn't be cost effective to remedy. I presume that
machines that stock only products that sell for multiples of 25¢ would not
have to handle nickels or dimes.
RF
news:zl%Nk.15913$o57....@newsfe02.iad...
>I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
>multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.
Unless someone who wanted to buy that 25¢ wants to pay with dimes and
nickels.
If you think people don't care about small change anymore, stand behind
someone on a supermarket line who gets shortchanged a penny.
reality
> After having the auto totes at the race tracks not accept $2 bills, I
> pretty much lost hope. I even tried some machines while in Vegas
> this last weekend - nope. Quite a few clerks out that way were
> surprised when I paid with $2s. The CTA transit vending machines are
> still the only ones I have been able to use $2 bills in.
>
Well considering the Vegas Monorail tortures you by making you carry
around 5 pounds of $1 coins as change if you are unfortunate enough to
have to use a $20 bill, at the very least those stupid machines should
be set up to take almost any kind of bill or coin that you can shove
into them.
Paul Anderson
"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending
> machines aren't configured to accept them.
That's probably true, although I expect the self-checkout machines at
the supermarket probably accept pennies.
> I'd also be curious to know how many machines are configured to
> accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current" as half dollars, but
> another which doesn't have enough vending machine users to worry
> about.
The dollar coin denomination is current, but the form factor of the Ike
is not current. I would expect machines to accept the current dollar
but not the Ike dollar.
I wonder if any vending machines _ever_ accepted Ike dollars?
> Why don't you carry dollar bills?
I carry dollar coins instead. But you knew that. ;-)
> On the other hand you apparently carry enough half dollars for a $2
> purchase, so I don't see how it's a "convenience" thing.
I carry as many halves as quarters, and often would not have either four
halves nor four quarters in my pocket.
> Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
> distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
> abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
> accept them.
I agree that halves have been increasingly "abandoned" over the years.
So although I would argue strongly that machines that accept coins
should take dollars, and machines that accept bills should take $2
bills, I wouldn't argue strongly about halves.
> I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
> multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.
I doubt that, as those products might change price and then the machine
would have to be retrofitted or changed in some way. But then again,
I've seen machines that accept only quarters. The most annoying are car
wash machines that don't accept any coins but quarters. That sure would
be fun, putting in 24 coins for a $6 wash!
Bruce Remick
> In article <zl%Nk.15913$o57....@newsfe02.iad>,
> "Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending
>> machines aren't configured to accept them.
>
> That's probably true, although I expect the self-checkout machines at
> the supermarket probably accept pennies.
I've never used those, so maybe you're right.
>
>> I'd also be curious to know how many machines are configured to
>> accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current" as half dollars, but
>> another which doesn't have enough vending machine users to worry
>> about.
>
> The dollar coin denomination is current, but the form factor of the Ike
> is not current. I would expect machines to accept the current dollar
> but not the Ike dollar.
Nonetheless, it's still a coin that circulates in theory. I agree that it
would be extreme to expect vending machines to accept them. There are so
many more practical options.
>
> I wonder if any vending machines _ever_ accepted Ike dollars?
Good question.
>
>> Why don't you carry dollar bills?
>
> I carry dollar coins instead. But you knew that. ;-)
>
>> On the other hand you apparently carry enough half dollars for a $2
>> purchase, so I don't see how it's a "convenience" thing.
>
> I carry as many halves as quarters, and often would not have either four
> halves nor four quarters in my pocket.
Okay, so then it's your choice to carry more coins than most folks would.
Personally, I'd find it inconvenient to pay for a $4.95 item with all coins
rather than to use a $5 or $10 bill.
>
>> Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
>> distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
>> abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
>> accept them.
>
> I agree that halves have been increasingly "abandoned" over the years.
> So although I would argue strongly that machines that accept coins
> should take dollars, and machines that accept bills should take $2
> bills, I wouldn't argue strongly about halves.
I would imagine that it is easier to set up a machine to accept multiple $1
bills than a $2 bill. It could be done, and maybe it is in some cases, but
I would expect that vendors would try to keep their machines as simple as
possible.
>
>> I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
>> multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.
>
> I doubt that, as those products might change price and then the machine
> would have to be retrofitted or changed in some way. But then again,
> I've seen machines that accept only quarters. The most annoying are car
> wash machines that don't accept any coins but quarters. That sure would
> be fun, putting in 24 coins for a $6 wash!
With today's inflation, most of the machines I see tend to sell items that
cost more than a dollar. Rather than price items at $1.35 or $1.80, they
seem to set the prices at multiples of 25¢ so all one would need is $1 bills
or coins, and maybe quarters if handy. I don't use vending machines, so I
can only guess that nickels and dimes are also accepted but just not
returned in change.
I agree that coin-operated car washes and laundry machines could be a pain
in the neck-- I don't use those either-- but I would think that the car
washes try to make it convenient enough so you would only have to insert
dozens of quarters as a last resort. Still not a deal breaker, assuming
they have a quarter machine on site. If they haven't done so already, it
shouldn't be long before most have a credit card option like most gas pumps.
Bruce Remick
"reality" <realit...@ausi.com> wrote in message
news:c617c871-0029-4cd5...@w24g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
____________
I don't recall whether the slots accept dollar coins either, do they? It
would be one more handy Vegas method to suck up those 5 pounds of dollar
coins, assuming most people would play until they ran out of coins.
mazorj
"RF" <R...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:gea1vi$k1i$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
Or the ones who pay by dumping a purseful or a pocketful of change on
the counter and counting them up to the purchase price. To them, it
may be that "a penny saved is a waste of time" but they don't throw
those nickels and dimes away.
I once got stuck behind a young couple at Costco that paid for about a
$200 purchase with boxes full of mixed pocket change they had
accumulated. I guess it was their version of a savings account. It
took forever even though the cashier called in a floor supervisor to
help verify the count. I was tempted to offer to buy the lot, but one
look at the cashier and supervisor told me I better not press my luck.
The irony was that right across the street was a bank with a free coin
redemption machine in the lobby. It would have done the job in under
a minute. You don't even have to have an account there.
mazorj
>
> "Paul Anderson" <paul.a...@hp.com> wrote in message
> news:paul.anderson-B1C...@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
>> In article <zl%Nk.15913$o57....@newsfe02.iad>,
>> "Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending
>>> machines aren't configured to accept them.
>>
>> That's probably true, although I expect the self-checkout machines
>> at
>> the supermarket probably accept pennies.
>
> I've never used those, so maybe you're right.
The cost (and the cost savings) of automated check-outs makes the
added cost of handling pennies justifiable. Not so for vending
machines that may only gross $25 a day.
>>> I'd also be curious to know how many machines are configured to
>>> accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current" as half dollars,
>>> but
>>> another which doesn't have enough vending machine users to worry
>>> about.
>>
>> The dollar coin denomination is current, but the form factor of the
>> Ike
>> is not current. I would expect machines to accept the current
>> dollar
>> but not the Ike dollar.
Never seen one, never expect to.
...
> With today's inflation, most of the machines I see tend to sell
> items that cost more than a dollar. Rather than price items at
> $1.35 or $1.80, they seem to set the prices at multiples of 25¢ so
> all one would need is $1 bills or coins, and maybe quarters if
> handy.
One would think. But yesterday I went to a grocery store soda machine
and it wanted $1.35. And to add injury to inconvenience, it was for a
soda you could buy inside for as little as 40 cents.
> I don't use vending machines, so I can only guess that nickels and
> dimes are also accepted but just not returned in change.
All of the modern vending machines I've seen lately let you insert
coins and bills (but rarely the $2 bill and never a half or a dollar
coin), keep a tally of how much you've inserted, deduct the cost of
the purchase and refund the difference in nickels and dimes. The few
that don't usually are old-timers.
> I agree that coin-operated car washes and laundry machines could be
> a pain in the neck-- I don't use those either-- but I would think
> that the car washes try to make it convenient enough so you would
> only have to insert dozens of quarters as a last resort. Still not
> a deal breaker, assuming they have a quarter machine on site. If
> they haven't done so already, it shouldn't be long before most have
> a credit card option like most gas pumps.
Back in the 1960s I once encountered an unattended gas station out in
the farm fields of North Carolina. Just pumps at an island on a patch
of paving surrounded by chain link fencing and a gate. There was
absolutely nothing else in sight for a mile or more. It was quarters
only and no change, but gas was around 40 cents so most people either
came prepared or used it just to get a few gallons until they could go
somewhere for a fill-up. I recently saw another unattended station in
NC but it was credit cards only - and not far from a stand-alone,
unattended ATM! (Okay, the ATM was on a site where a bank was coming,
but the gas station still was all by its lonesome.)
The last time I went through a "quarters only" car wash, it cost $1.00
or maybe $1.50 at most, so it wasn't much of a problem. Nowadays you
get either the option to add the cost of the $6.00 wash to your gas
purchase if it's an adjunct to a gas station, or if it's a stand-alone
the coin machine accepts bills. Most won't make change but when
dealing in round dollars that's not much of a problem either. A few
even take (or only take) credit cards.
som...@some.domain
RF
>
> Halves and $2 bills are current denominations. Why should a machine
> purposely not accept a current denomination? Someone who points this
> out to the store is simply pointing out a defect in the machine.
Half dollars simply no longer circulate. Even the Mint has conceded this
point since they stopped making them for circulation several years ago.
The $2 bill likewise doesn't circulate. I can rarely get them at my bank
and have never rec'd one in change for a purchase.
Fred Shecter
small dollar coins are "current" until they decide to optically sort and
melt the Susies (don't hold your breath for that).
I know of no vending machine that can accept half dollars.
If someone wants to know what a machine can do, simply look it up on the
web. The technical manuals are all online.
All self check machinces accept and dispense the annoying one cent coins.
--
-Fred Shecter
remove zorch two places to reply
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"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:zl%Nk.15913$o57....@newsfe02.iad...
malanu...@aol.com
<fredzorcheshec...@earthlink.zorchnet> wrote:
> Ike dollaes are "uncurrent" as they were superseded by the SBA in 1979. All
> small dollar coins are "current" until they decide to optically sort and
> melt the Susies (don't hold your breath for that).
>
> I know of no vending machine that can accept half dollars.
Yes Fred, but these machines actually fit halves down their slots, and
its not a tight fit, the coins fit down the slots very easily, so I'm
thinking that these machines are in fact, meant to accept them.
>
> If someone wants to know what a machine can do, simply look it up on the
> web. The technical manuals are all online.
>
> All self check machinces accept and dispense the annoying one cent coins.
Yep, I'm aware that the self checkouts take them annoying Zincolns.
>
> --
> -Fred Shecter
> remove zorch two places to reply
> Current eBay auctions:http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsassZshr...
>
>
>
RF
"Fred Shecter" <freds...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:MbSdnUYYNdIkwpfU...@earthlink.com...
>
> All self check machinces accept and dispense the annoying one cent
> coins.
Do they also dispence (sic) non-annoying one cent coins?
Superfly
I had four rolls of dollar coins ($100), two rolls in each front
pocket, and it was not a problem to walk around with them. Why does
this non-sensical baseless myth about dollar coins being too heavy
persist?
Jim Menning
"Superfly" <Super...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:978d7c9e-fb79-4cfb...@1g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> I had four rolls of dollar coins ($100), two rolls in each front
> pocket, and it was not a problem to walk around with them. Why does
> this non-sensical baseless myth about dollar coins being too heavy
> persist?
When I strut around, I usually use 4 rolls of half dollars all taped end-to-end in
one front pocket.
Bruce Remick
"Superfly" <Super...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:978d7c9e-fb79-4cfb...@1g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
_______________
That must impress the ladies.
Maybe the myth persists because of the personal experiences of those who
perpetuate it. No one said it was a "problem" to walk around (all day?)
with dollar coins. I'm sure most of us could walk around with no problem
carrying even more than four rolls in our pockets. But most would simply
say carrrying that a lot of loose coins in their pocket is either
uncomfortable or unnecessary, regardless of the coin denomination. And four
rolls of dollar coins? Do you do this often? Why on earth? Hope you have
a strong belt and durable pockets.
Paul Anderson
"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> But most would simply say carrrying that a lot of loose coins in
> their pocket is either uncomfortable or unnecessary, regardless of
> the coin denomination.
It's possible that using dollar coins instead of dollar bills will
_reduce_ the weight in your pocket. This would require that people
_spend_ and _use_ coins instead of always getting change back from a
larger bill.
I doubt that most people would have a problem carrying exactly the same
number of dollar coins that they now carry as dollar bills. And if we
get rid of pennies, the weight would go down further.
som...@some.domain
(stolen from sandra bernhardt)
Bruce Remick
> In article <FoIOk.4603$sh3....@newsfe01.iad>,
> "Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> But most would simply say carrrying that a lot of loose coins in
>> their pocket is either uncomfortable or unnecessary, regardless of
>> the coin denomination.
>
> It's possible that using dollar coins instead of dollar bills will
> _reduce_ the weight in your pocket. This would require that people
> _spend_ and _use_ coins instead of always getting change back from a
> larger bill.
For me, it's enough to carry my keys in a front pocket (now with that pesky
car door remote as well) without adding an assortment of coins, too. I
don't know about you, but I find that I'm seldom spending much less than
five dollars whenever I buy something anymore. IMO, it's not worth carrying
five or more dollar coins just for the thrill of handing them to a clerk. A
$5 bill works just fine. Any change I might receive will only be a couple
small coins and won't last long in my pocket once I get home.
>
> I doubt that most people would have a problem carrying exactly the same
> number of dollar coins that they now carry as dollar bills. And if we
> get rid of pennies, the weight would go down further.
I doubt there would be a problem either. It's just that some of us are in
the habit of using bills. Anyone could carry $100 in various bill
denominations in their wallet-- including five ones-- and hardly notice it.
As for pennies, I do get rid of them as soon as I get home. But I do agree
that they have outlived their usefulness and could be done away with
entirely-- except to occupy us as collectors.
Bruce Remick
<som...@some.domain> wrote in message
news:yOLOk.712597$J72.5...@fe05.news.easynews.com...
Certs? or cents? Mad at me, or is that a half roll of Certs in your
pocket?
RF
news:paul.anderson-A9B...@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
> same
> number of dollar coins that they now carry as dollar bills. And if we
> get rid of pennies, the weight would go down further.
Don't you ever tire of beating that poor dead horse?
Right now I have thirteen singles in my money clip.
13 of those plug ugly Pres Bucks is abot 12 too many to carry.
mazorj
<som...@some.domain> wrote in message
news:yOLOk.712597$J72.5...@fe05.news.easynews.com...
Who, if she uttered that line, stole it from Mae West asking the same
thing about a comb.
Duh_OZ
> After having the auto totes at the race tracks not accept$2bills, I
> pretty much lost hope. I even tried some machines while in Vegas
> this last weekend - nope. Quite a few clerks out that way were
> still the only ones I have been able to use $2bills in.
>
Was in a Home Depot and tried a self checkout and fed in a $2 which
was accepted. Finally, another machine besides a CTA (transit)
vending machine that accepts them.
shreadvector
I used some Twos in the parking garage payment machine when I took my
wife to the doctor last week. I'll be trying them out (along with
dollar coins) in various vending machines around the hospital this
week since she is going in for surgery.