http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
That's certainly better than cheating/stealing from Coinstar.]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 10:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Whilst trying? Whilst? Sounds like pretty cumbersome British or Aussie English. Try the more efficient word, while.]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/tut tut]]>Aug 7th 2007 6:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
WTF Engadget? There are clever hacks to legitimately save some coin, but this is just shitty. If you don't like the Coinstar fees, don't use the kiosks - they have to pay a pretty penny to the stores to rent the space. I doubt they're raking in millions in profit with that 9% fee after paying for the space, the kiosk hardware, the labor for servicing them, and even the shipping costs of all those coins. (I worked on a kiosk project once where it rounded change up to the nearest dime - it was cheaper to do that than ship and stock pennies and nickels.)

If someone doesn't like the fees - take your coins to your bank and deposit them, or have them convert them to cash. They'll generally do it without a fee for account holders.

Or just spend your change as you get it and you won't have any built up to deal with in the first place. (Which is what I do, I pretty much never have more than $1 in change to my name - I optimize my payments each time. Simple math.)]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
I'm with you on the spending change. As far as simple math goes, the cashiers have a hard enough time figuring out why I give them $20 and three pennies when my total comes to $17.78, what are the chances the average consumer will be able to do that kind of complicated math so quickly?

Next week on Engadget... "How to hack a bank using only a ski mask and a shotgun."]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Just ask yourself: Is 9% of whatever you're counting going to kill your wallet?]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
I do believe that it is unethical to hack the machine. They are providing a service and charging for it same as any other company. 9% is actually a very small amount to pay. I wonder how much Amazon marks up its products I am sure its more than 9%.

-SKP]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Who cares what their revenue is? Their net profit margin was 3.48% in 2006. That's less than simply putting money in the bank. They are by no means ripping anyone off.]]>Aug 7th 2007 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
....they still have banks]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 9:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
I have NEVER had a problem getting my large plastic container of change counted at my bank, and I've been a member with many different banks! Bank One (now JP Morgan/Chase), Wells Fargo, US Bank, Washington Mutual, etc.

This is their JOB! They have a change counting machine specifically for this purpose.
]]>Aug 7th 2007 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 4:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
The fee would have been more than nine percent of the cash value since it was per roll, and not based on the amount of money deposited.

I was told that they did not charge the fee if you deposited (I believe) less than 5 rolls.

I dumbed about 40 rolls into a CoinStar machine instead.

A month week later I went to the bank and closed my account.

It turns out my account was not actually closed, only all the money was withdrawn, leaving me a zero balance.

A month and a half later I received a statement with an overdraft on it. The only transaction was for the monthly fee they levee on your "free checking account" when your monthly balance is below $2000.

I had to pay the overdraft to close the account or next month I would have had the fee again.

WaMu Sux!

What were we talking about?
]]>Aug 7th 2007 10:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
So, here's my hack based on Engadget's standards: When at the Candy store, wait until the owner's back is turned and they you'll find you can take all the candy you want without paying a cent! All you have to do is make sure they don't see you doing it.

This kind of hack is music to the RIAA's ears. Turns out we are all criminals after all.

]]>Aug 7th 2007 5:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
I know some people just aren't feeling the hacker spirit, and that's OK I guess, but please keep in mind that "knowing" is different than "doing". I'm sure we all know about lots of bad stuff that we don't actually go and do. Yes, even you.]]>Aug 7th 2007 10:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 5:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 6:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
On another note I have come up with another 'especially satisfying little hack' that 'saves the little man a dime or two', it involves redirecting all the ad traffic revenue from engadget into a communal paypal account for redistribution to all readers.

It's win-win for the little man, wouldn't you say? I mean, it's not like engadget is performing a service for which they should be paid, am I right?]]>Aug 7th 2007 6:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 7:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 8th 2007 12:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 6:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 7:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
"Hacking Engadget to Disable Display of all Ads."]]>Aug 8th 2007 7:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Use Firefox and install the Adblock add-on. On this page alone I can see 109 blockable items in my Adblock (though many of them are legit).]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Looking at ads is for suckers.]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
You can even download an altered HOST file here to block all of Engadget's ads:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Not that it's wrong or anything to circumvent revenue streams, right Engadget?!]]>Aug 7th 2007 11:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 8:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 7:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/Aug 7th 2007 7:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Anyway, I think the proper protocol is to tell CoinStar before you tell the world, but if the hack has been "public knowledge" since 2005, I think it's pretty much their fault this is allowed to continue.

Keep in mind: the other day I saw an ad for these things, and apparently you also pay no commission on gift cards to a lot of other stores, like Circuit City. I don't amass a lot of change -- I tend to spend it as I get it -- but if I did, I probably shop at Circuit City enough that I could just use a CoinStar machine to pay for something I was going to buy anyway...]]>Aug 7th 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
http://www.theunderstory.com/index.htm]]>Aug 7th 2007 9:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/tut tut"

Actually, what we did was eliminate much of the superfluous British spelling and pronunciation. But unfortunately it remains in the "old" country. Now if we could just get the Brits to streamline some of their spelling and terminology, we could bring them into the linguistic 21st century. How is maneuver spelled in British English? Manoeuver or something like that? Really clumsy. The Brits love those oe's.]]>Aug 7th 2007 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
I'm not trying to get into a fight with you, just pointing out that there are differences, that even out, on the whole, to be neutral. Language is constantly changing and evolving - nobody changes anything by proscribing the illogical (cf. esperanto, "simplified spelling"). Language is not good or bad, it just *is*.]]>Aug 7th 2007 3:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/
Also where I come from, the banks have coin cointing machines in their lobbies, with no charge applied for counting if you're a bank customer. Thus, no need to pay 8.9% to Coinstar.

]]>Aug 7th 2007 8:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/hacking-a-coinstar-machine-to-bypass-transaction-fees/

Goodbye deontology, hello legal liability ! *polite golf clap*]]>Aug 7th 2007 8:27AM