Hacking CoinStar: Kill the Transaction Fee

August 9, 2007 by guestauthor in Geeky,Howto,Tech with 8 Comments

My brother recently started putting all his spare change in a jar on his desk. The other day, he complained that he didn’t have any change for a soda, and blamed it on his coin jar. He’s not the sharpest tool in the drawer, but I’m sure even he could execute this dead-simple hack to bypass the evil 9% transaction fee at the CoinStar coing-counting machines found at many convenience stores.

Ask for your money as an iTunes gift card, but before clicking continue, un-plug the machines network connection (found in the back). Unable to complete your request, the machine will give you a cash voucher for the full value of your coins. Schweet.

[via Engadget]

http://www.terminaldigit.com TerminalDigit

I read this on a different site (not Engadget) a while ago, and I posted there as well. This is a myth/hoax/falsehood, and it absolutely 100% does NOT work. The machines are programmed to deduct the counting fee if they cannot connect to the network. Read here: http://www.terminaldigit.com/2006/09/06/coinstar-rocks/
http://www.clunkclunk.com Adam Nelson

Here’s an even better hack: instead of defrauding Coinstar, just take your coins to your bank. Many of them have coin sorters and counters, and can put the entire total in your account, free of any fees.
Erik

Why is the transaction fee “evil”? Would you rather Coinstar go out of business and we have to go back to rolling pennies into paper sleeves? Personally, I use the amazon.com gift card option which waves the transaction fee, but I’m glad Coinstar exists and would pay the 9% to avoid the hassle.

Gotta be honest, kinda sad you posted this Dan, even though it looks like it doesn’t work. There’s hacking to make something better and then there’s just plain stealing.
Rob D

Oh Erik, it’s not about stealing…it’s about getting the information out to the people. Think of it this way…now that people know the weakness of the CoinStar machine…Coinstar can now fix the problem…which means they will get their 9% , not go out of business and you can feel much better about Dan cause he helped get the information out there. Think if nothing was ever said…people did this… and Coinstar never knew…bye-bye Coinstar. Besides…what freak would reach behind the machine and pull the cable out just to save 9%….
http://www.kaboodle.com/justinl Justin

My bank has a machine just for coins that goes directly to your account O.o more banks should do that.
http://www.terminaldigit.com TerminalDigit

Justin: what bank? I’d actually switch banks for that feature.
Joey

Commerce has it.
http://www.kaboodle.com/justinl Justin

Wescom. So. Cal based.

Hacking CoinStar: Kill the Transaction Fee

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