PSA: Coinstar has that deal again: $10 free if you get a $40 gift card

[HappyMommy2]

Guess what my parents & in-laws are getting from me for Christmas???  A Borders gift certificate, a Lowe's GC, itunes GC, and Amazon cards.  Plus, then I will keep the free ten dollar cards for myself and other gifts!!

If you get a gift card, they don't take their 9% fee.  PLUS, they are currently adding a bonus $10! 

Amazon doesn't start until Thursday, so that gives us two days to scrounge up all the change in the house and cars!!  (Great kid job!)

[Gracefulmom]

Thank you for posting this ... I've been thinking about cashing in our change. Now I'll do it for sure!

[Teensy]

Awesome!  Thanks for letting us know.

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2 

Guess what my parents & in-laws are getting from me for Christmas???  A Borders gift certificate, a Lowe's GC, itunes GC, and Amazon cards.  Plus, then I will keep the free ten dollar cards for myself and other gifts!!

If you get a gift card, they don't take their 9% fee.  PLUS, they are currently adding a bonus $10! 

Amazon doesn't start until Thursday, so that gives us two days to scrounge up all the change in the house and cars!!  (Great kid job!)

Just so I understand this, if I turn in my change at coinstar, and instead of getting cash I buy an amazon gift card with $40 or more of that cash, I get not only the full amount of my change ($40), but also an additional $10? So, a $50 gift card for $40, yes?

[zebra15]

I still have not figured out the quotes sorry, but yes gabby you are correct. No fees w. coinstar if you convert you coins to gift cards (ever) and during the holidays you get extra $$....

I need to get myself over there this week!!

Originally Posted by gabbyraja 

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2 

Guess what my parents & in-laws are getting from me for Christmas???  A Borders gift certificate, a Lowe's GC, itunes GC, and Amazon cards.  Plus, then I will keep the free ten dollar cards for myself and other gifts!!

If you get a gift card, they don't take their 9% fee.  PLUS, they are currently adding a bonus $10! 

Amazon doesn't start until Thursday, so that gives us two days to scrounge up all the change in the house and cars!!  (Great kid job!)

Just so I understand this, if I turn in my change at coinstar, and instead of getting cash I buy an amazon gift card with $40 or more of that cash, I get not only the full amount of my change ($40), but also an additional $10? So, a $50 gift card for $40, yes?

[nolansmummy]

I"m shocked you have that much change lying around . I try and save it but dh is always stealing it for soda or something.

This is a great deal though. Maybe i should withdraw 40 bucks in change from my bank, and turn it in :)

[omamasmama]

yay! I had no idea there was the option for gift cards and what a bonus this time of year. thanks for sharing.

[HappyMommy2]

Originally Posted by nolansmummy 

I"m shocked you have that much change lying around . I try and save it but dh is always stealing it for soda or something.

This is a great deal though. Maybe i should withdraw 40 bucks in change from my bank, and turn it in :)

 What looks like a little turns out to be a lot!  It adds up quickly.

[zebra15]

Plus you can go to the bank and 'buy' rolls of quarts just for this reason  LOL. 

I was at coinstar today and did my first run with this. I had enough change for my Amazon $40.00  Yes I pre-counted the change.

I will be buying rolls of quarters this weekend.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by nolansmummy 

I"m shocked you have that much change lying around . I try and save it but dh is always stealing it for soda or something.

This is a great deal though. Maybe i should withdraw 40 bucks in change from my bank, and turn it in :)

I am planning on doing this deal with 2- $20 bills.  I tried it another year and was a tiny bit short with change I had and the deal didn't work.  Generally, we try to spend change and pay for purchases with exact change.

[hillymum]

I just read up on this and you need to go to the coinstar web site and put in a code from your reciept then they send you the gift card. Just so you know you will not get it for a few weeks!

[AndtheStars]

Thanks so much for the tip!  I never heard of this before.  Off to the bank to get quarters!  Also, if I get $80 in quarters, can I get two $40 gift cards and two $10 in the same transaction at the same machine?  Anyone tried it?

[HappyMommy2]

I did it yesterday and did two $40 transactions, not one $80 transaction.  I used the same machine, but made sure to finish up after the first forty bucks, and then start again.

And yes, the free ten bucks card needs to be signed up for online.  I'm hoping those arrive for stocking stuffers for me and hubby, since it says it will be mailed in 1-2 weeks. (if not, we will use them in Jan) 

The $40 ones are for gifts for my parents, and I got those right away.  The Borders one is an actual gift card. The itunes one is just a secret code, so I am going to make up my own certificate in Word with the code and directions, and then wrap that for under the tree.

Also - it is not ALL gift cards that get the free ten bucks.  Look online, it is only a few (like amazon, borders and itunes).

However - if you get any gift card (starbucks etc.) you don't have to pay the 9% fee.

Edited by HappyMommy2 - 12/14/10 at 6:47am