Free $10 Gift Certificate from Coinstar

Posted on 11.10.2009 at 12:17 pm by Goob in Money

If you have at least $40 in coins lying around, you should consider taking them to your nearest Coinstar and cashing them in. For doing so, you’ll get a free $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com, Lowes, iTunes, or whichever other store you choose. The offer ends 12/06/09, so you’ve got almost a month to round up an spare change if you’re short of the $40 requirement. So far I’ve only been able to find three pennies, a Canadian Loonie, and a Cheez-It. I’ve got a ways to go, but at least I’ve now got a snack!

Their FAQ states that an 8.9% processing fee is charged for cashing out ($40 * 8.9% = $3.56 fee), but it also says that if you convert your change into a gift card, it’s free. So, for example, you could get a $10 and $40 Amazon gc or a $10 Amazon gc and $36.44 in cash.

Annye pointed out in the comments that the official rules states you have to exchange your $40 for a gift card, not cash. So on the plus side, you won’t have to pay any fees, but you also won’t be able to get pure cash. It’s still a good deal if you shop at any of the stores which they offer gift cards for. Sorry I initially missed that!

Cassandra

I did this, and instead of using $40 in change like I did, from the bank, you could insert bills as well. You get the free $10 back by mail only. It doesn't spit out of the machine with the $40 gift card, have to mail in the form. Good deal though.

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Kate

Maybe I'll just got to the bank and get $40 of quarters to dump into the machine....

Debbie S.

Susan, I LOVE that idea! Did anyone notice if there is a restriction on how many times a person can do this? or limits per household? Now that Susan has me thinking... this would be a GREAT offer to take advantage of - Especially with Christmas coming way TOO soon for ME :) lol

Hrdcorefan

The fine print says limit one per household !

ezFreeSamples Admin

Nice! Looks like it is time to get that change out from under the sofa cushions huh?

Sweet! I've been wanting to get rid of a bunch of pennies.

KFM

I did this when Coinstar had their "Coinstar is now free!" promotion, and got an Amazon gift card for my wife and I, and my parents got 3 or 4 Lowe's gift cards, ( and I got to dump over $150. worth of change in a Coinstar machine! :D ) Just make sure the machine you're at has the card you're looking for before you start dumping change in, I'm pretty sure you have to choose between the ones labeled on the machine. And pour slowly.. just in case.

Mike

I'll give you a penny for that Cheez-it. :D Mike

allie

susan, thats EXACTLY what I was thinking. haha.

Susan D.

Since I do a lot of shopping at amazon.com, it'd be worth my while to buy $40 worth of quarters and take them to Coinstar to redeem this offer! Heh heh heh...

Laela

aww thats cool, too bad I just cashed all mine in weeks ago

Annye

According to the official rules of the promo, you'll "obtain an official claim form when you convert in a single transaction at least 40 U.S. dollars (in coins only) into a gift card or eCertificate at participating Coinstar Centers" -- so it doesn't sound as if you'd get the bonus $10 if you cashed out at the machine. Still a great deal, though!