Self Check-Out machines that take $2 Bills and Halves? Attn: FredShecter

Hey,

I noticed at my local Meijer grocery store, while using a self check-
out, that the coin slot looked big enough to take halves. So tonight,
I tried a half if the machine, hoping it wouldn't some how jam the
machine, but the machine just spit the half back out at me, so I was
wondering, if these machines are made to fit halves down their coin
slot, is there possibly a switch that the store's self check-out
vendor can flip to allow halves to be accepted? Because, I keep
hearing that there are switches in some machines that can be flipped
to take $2 bills and $1 coins, but I've never yet heard of a switch to
flip to accept halves.

So, should I ask the manager of this store if there is a switch that
can be flipped to accept both, halves and $2s? Because these two
denominations are currently not accepted by the machines (I think $1
coins work in these machines, however, but if not, I could ask about
those as well) I think this would be a good idea and a good way to get
these odd denominations circulating a bit better (maybe not great, but
better), if some machines took them. But like I said, I ws shocked
when I saw that half just spit out into the coin return, like it was
some foreign coin or something.

Fred,

If you read this, I know you've told me about switches to flip on
vending machines, to take $1 coins, and $2 bills, so do you think that
there may be a switch for halves in some machines?

Tom

wrote in message
...
Hey,

I noticed at my local Meijer grocery store, while using a self check-
out, that the coin slot looked big enough to take halves. So tonight,
I tried a half if the machine, hoping it wouldn't some how jam the
machine, but the machine just spit the half back out at me, so I was
wondering, if these machines are made to fit halves down their coin
slot, is there possibly a switch that the store's self check-out
vendor can flip to allow halves to be accepted? Because, I keep
hearing that there are switches in some machines that can be flipped
to take $2 bills and $1 coins, but I've never yet heard of a switch to
flip to accept halves.

So, should I ask the manager of this store if there is a switch that
can be flipped to accept both, halves and $2s? Because these two
denominations are currently not accepted by the machines (I think $1
coins work in these machines, however, but if not, I could ask about
those as well) I think this would be a good idea and a good way to get
these odd denominations circulating a bit better (maybe not great, but
better), if some machines took them. But like I said, I ws shocked
when I saw that half just spit out into the coin return, like it was
some foreign coin or something.


What you encountered is simply a fact of life today. The Mint hasn't
produced half dollars with the expectation that they will circulate for some
years now. The public has shown it does not consider that particular coin
to be useful anymore. It also is content with using the $1 and $5 bill and
ignoring the $2 bill. So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by
trying to force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like where you
can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place where you can't
use them.

Those of us who have a nostalgic feeling for the half dollar are free to
collect and enjoy them, and okay, maybe spend them once in a while for the
novelty of it. I do agree that it is sad to realize that our modern
machines will reject halves, but we do have to move on.

After having the auto totes at the race tracks not accept $2 bills, I
pretty much lost hope. I even tried some machines while in Vegas
this last weekend - nope. Quite a few clerks out that way were
surprised when I paid with $2s. The CTA transit vending machines are
still the only ones I have been able to use $2 bills in.

Tony - you could always head to Vegas and Slots a Fun and put halves
in perhaps the last casino in Vegas that still has coin in machines
(but don't bother with a two!).

In article ,
"Bruce Remick" wrote:

So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by trying to
force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like
where you can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place
where you can't use them.

Halves and $2 bills are current denominations. Why should a machine
purposely not accept a current denomination? Someone who points this
out to the store is simply pointing out a defect in the machine.

I do not carry dollar bills, nor an excess of quarters, so a machine
that does not accept $2 bills or halves is less convenient for me.

One could argue that since halves have not been made for circulation for
a few years that it has been "abandoned", but just because most people
don't use them doesn't mean a machine should be set up not to accept
them.

Paul

--
Paul Anderson
OpenVMS Engineering
Hewlett-Packard Company

"Paul Anderson" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"Bruce Remick" wrote:

So why would you want to keep poking at windmills by trying to
force-feed abandoned denominations like halves and $2 bills into a
commerce that is thriving without them? Spend them if you like
where you can, but why not just accept it when you run into a place
where you can't use them.

Halves and $2 bills are current denominations. Why should a machine
purposely not accept a current denomination? Someone who points this
out to the store is simply pointing out a defect in the machine.

Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending machines
aren't configured to accept them. I'd also be curious to know how many
machines are configured to accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current"
as half dollars, but another which doesn't have enough vending machine users
to worry about. Otherwise, I don't know why all machines won't accept all
types of coins and bills.


I do not carry dollar bills, nor an excess of quarters, so a machine
that does not accept $2 bills or halves is less convenient for me.

Why don't you carry dollar bills? On the other hand you apparently carry
enough half dollars for a $2 purchase, so I don't see how it's a
"convenience" thing.


One could argue that since halves have not been made for circulation for
a few years that it has been "abandoned", but just because most people
don't use them doesn't mean a machine should be set up not to accept
them.

Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
accept them. Halves aren't THAT old yet, and are not totally obsolete.
But I wonder if the machines then would have to be rigged to store and
dispense halves along with all other 5¢ thru $1 coins, and if that would
create a problem that wouldn't be cost effective to remedy. I presume that
machines that stock only products that sell for multiples of 25¢ would not
have to handle nickels or dimes.

"Bruce Remick" wrote in message
...
I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.

Unless someone who wanted to buy that 25¢ wants to pay with dimes and
nickels.
If you think people don't care about small change anymore, stand behind
someone on a supermarket line who gets shortchanged a penny.

On Oct 29, 7:18*am, Duh_OZ wrote:
After having the auto totes at the race tracks not accept $2 bills, I
pretty much lost hope. * *I even tried some machines while in Vegas
this last weekend - nope. * *Quite a few clerks out that way were
surprised when I paid with $2s. * The CTA transit vending machines are
still the only ones I have been able to use $2 bills in.


Well considering the Vegas Monorail tortures you by making you carry
around 5 pounds of $1 coins as change if you are unfortunate enough to
have to use a $20 bill, at the very least those stupid machines should
be set up to take almost any kind of bill or coin that you can shove
into them.

In article ,
"Bruce Remick" wrote:

Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending
machines aren't configured to accept them.

That's probably true, although I expect the self-checkout machines at
the supermarket probably accept pennies.

I'd also be curious to know how many machines are configured to
accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current" as half dollars, but
another which doesn't have enough vending machine users to worry
about.

The dollar coin denomination is current, but the form factor of the Ike
is not current. I would expect machines to accept the current dollar
but not the Ike dollar.

I wonder if any vending machines _ever_ accepted Ike dollars?

Why don't you carry dollar bills?

I carry dollar coins instead. But you knew that. ;-)

On the other hand you apparently carry enough half dollars for a $2
purchase, so I don't see how it's a "convenience" thing.

I carry as many halves as quarters, and often would not have either four
halves nor four quarters in my pocket.

Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
accept them.

I agree that halves have been increasingly "abandoned" over the years.
So although I would argue strongly that machines that accept coins
should take dollars, and machines that accept bills should take $2
bills, I wouldn't argue strongly about halves.

I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.

I doubt that, as those products might change price and then the machine
would have to be retrofitted or changed in some way. But then again,
I've seen machines that accept only quarters. The most annoying are car
wash machines that don't accept any coins but quarters. That sure would
be fun, putting in 24 coins for a $6 wash!

Paul

--
Paul Anderson
OpenVMS Engineering
Hewlett-Packard Company

"Paul Anderson" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"Bruce Remick" wrote:

Pennies are current denominations, too, but I suspect most vending
machines aren't configured to accept them.

That's probably true, although I expect the self-checkout machines at
the supermarket probably accept pennies.

I've never used those, so maybe you're right.


I'd also be curious to know how many machines are configured to
accept Ike dollars, a denomination as "current" as half dollars, but
another which doesn't have enough vending machine users to worry
about.

The dollar coin denomination is current, but the form factor of the Ike
is not current. I would expect machines to accept the current dollar
but not the Ike dollar.

Nonetheless, it's still a coin that circulates in theory. I agree that it
would be extreme to expect vending machines to accept them. There are so
many more practical options.


I wonder if any vending machines _ever_ accepted Ike dollars?

Good question.


Why don't you carry dollar bills?

I carry dollar coins instead. But you knew that. ;-)

On the other hand you apparently carry enough half dollars for a $2
purchase, so I don't see how it's a "convenience" thing.

I carry as many halves as quarters, and often would not have either four
halves nor four quarters in my pocket.

Okay, so then it's your choice to carry more coins than most folks would.
Personally, I'd find it inconvenient to pay for a $4.95 item with all coins
rather than to use a $5 or $10 bill.


Even during the final years when halves still were being minted and
distributed for circulation, merchants and customers had essentially
abandoned them. I won't argue that machines should still be set up to
accept them.

I agree that halves have been increasingly "abandoned" over the years.
So although I would argue strongly that machines that accept coins
should take dollars, and machines that accept bills should take $2
bills, I wouldn't argue strongly about halves.

I would imagine that it is easier to set up a machine to accept multiple $1
bills than a $2 bill. It could be done, and maybe it is in some cases, but
I would expect that vendors would try to keep their machines as simple as
possible.


I presume that machines that stock only products that sell for
multiples of 25¢ would not have to handle nickels or dimes.

I doubt that, as those products might change price and then the machine
would have to be retrofitted or changed in some way. But then again,
I've seen machines that accept only quarters. The most annoying are car
wash machines that don't accept any coins but quarters. That sure would
be fun, putting in 24 coins for a $6 wash!

With today's inflation, most of the machines I see tend to sell items that
cost more than a dollar. Rather than price items at $1.35 or $1.80, they
seem to set the prices at multiples of 25¢ so all one would need is $1 bills
or coins, and maybe quarters if handy. I don't use vending machines, so I
can only guess that nickels and dimes are also accepted but just not
returned in change.

I agree that coin-operated car washes and laundry machines could be a pain
in the neck-- I don't use those either-- but I would think that the car
washes try to make it convenient enough so you would only have to insert
dozens of quarters as a last resort. Still not a deal breaker, assuming
they have a quarter machine on site. If they haven't done so already, it
shouldn't be long before most have a credit card option like most gas pumps.

"reality" wrote in message
...
On Oct 29, 7:18 am, Duh_OZ wrote:
After having the auto totes at the race tracks not accept $2 bills, I
pretty much lost hope. I even tried some machines while in Vegas
this last weekend - nope. Quite a few clerks out that way were
surprised when I paid with $2s. The CTA transit vending machines are
still the only ones I have been able to use $2 bills in.


Well considering the Vegas Monorail tortures you by making you carry
around 5 pounds of $1 coins as change if you are unfortunate enough to
have to use a $20 bill, at the very least those stupid machines should
be set up to take almost any kind of bill or coin that you can shove
into them.
____________

I don't recall whether the slots accept dollar coins either, do they? It
would be one more handy Vegas method to suck up those 5 pounds of dollar
coins, assuming most people would play until they ran out of coins.