Have you heard about Coinstar? It's the coin counting service located at many grocery stores around the US. If you have heard about them, then you know they charge a fee to count your coins.
But did you know they now have a fee-free counting service? Oh yes; I said free! The caveat? The money has to be converted into one of many local merchants' gift cards. For example, if you want cash back, and you have $100 in coins, Coinstar will take a percentage (I don't know what that is) so you will get less than your $100. However, if you have $100 and convert the money to a Starbucks gift card, you get the full $100. That's a lot of coffee!
They just started rolling out this service a couple months ago, so I'm not sure if it is available in certain areas, but from what I was told it will be national so just be patient.
Here's the company's http://www.coinstar.com/us/html/a-home for more information and to find a Coinstar location near you.
BTW, the address I listed is corporate; no sense in me listing a location near me when they're found nationally. BUT, for anyone in my local area (West Palm Beach) Coinstar is located in Albertson's -- not Publix. Publix has a competitor, and every time I see the machine it always looks out of order.
EDIT: I just spoke with someone at the corporate office today and Albertson's is the only location that has the gift cards. All of the other locations have e-certificates. I think they're working on changing that though. Like I previously posted, this program just launched this summer so be patient. Oh, and one more thing: you have to convert all the money onto one gift card. If you want more than one GC you have to do seperate transactions. (I wonder if they're going to work on that feature for the near future.....)
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