Can you trust coin counting machines?

[scyther]

http://blogs.app.com/pressonyourside/20 ... g-machine/

What do you think of this? Can we trust coin counting machines?

[tuleja]

It's a well known fact on a lot of coin forums that numerous coin counters count some dimes as pennies. I only have one coin counter in my area and will never feed it dimes, I've purchased 9 penny bags off of it and average $4 in dimes per bag.

[scyther]

It's a well known fact on a lot of coin forums that numerous coin counters count some dimes as pennies. I only have one coin counter in my area and will never feed it dimes, I've purchased 9 penny bags off of it and average $4 in dimes per bag.

Wow, that's bad... well, good if you're buying penny bags I guess. But what I really meant was if it would get the number wrong (I only sort pennies).

[NHsorter]

Doing just pennies is pretty safe. Just weigh them before you dump so that you have a pretty good idea of what you brought in. Then if it is WAY off you will know that something is up and then you can complain and see if they can figure it out.

[slickeast]

Dumping pennies is a no brainer. I always have other denominations on my ticket and I know all I had was zincs.

The most I have ever been off dumping halves was $2. I dont know if the machine was wrong or the rolls or bags I searched were wrong. Either way $2 is worth it to dump $2000 in just a few minutes.

[hags]

Then if it is WAY off you will know that something is up and then you can complain and see if they can figure it out.

I'd only complain if you're fine with maybe losing a dump bank....

Maybe tell them you keep getting more then you should and they should service their counting machine....

hags

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

I try not to dump dimes......try is the word. But I don't dump where I buy but I do find lots of dimes in the penny bags!

[RichardPenny43]

I always have other denominations on my ticket and I know all I had was zincs.

I also get other denominations usually. It's a nice little bonus that more than makes up for the counter being off by a few cents.

[68Camaro]

In general it's not that the counter is wrong, but that coins dumped into the feeder can hang-up, sometimes resulting in an imcomplete count.

Those of us dumping only pennies see this frequently. The penny dumps often have the advantage, due simply to the size of the dump, of flushing out the feeding system, and we are sometimes the beneficiary of that. The feeding system doesn't always feed right - frankly - because people abuse the machines. They routinely throw in dirt, hair, paper and plastic chaff, foreign coin, plastic "coins", washers, fuzz balls, paper clips, staples, nails and screws, drill bits, etc. These machines are pretty good at dealing with trash, but come on - this gets ridiculous!

Sucks for people who've been short-changed, but I'm not sure it can be completely prevented.

[NHsorter]

In general it's not that the counter is wrong, but that coins dumped into the feeder can hang-up, sometimes resulting in an imcomplete count.

Those of us dumping only pennies see this frequently. The penny dumps often have the advantage, due simply to the size of the dump, of flushing out the feeding system, and we are sometimes the beneficiary of that. The feeding system doesn't always feed right - frankly - because people abuse the machines. They routinely throw in dirt, hair, paper and plastic chaff, foreign coin, plastic "coins", washers, fuzz balls, paper clips, staples, nails and screws, drill bits, etc. These machines are pretty good at dealing with trash, but come on - this gets ridiculous!

Sucks for people who've been short-changed, but I'm not sure it can be completely prevented.

Yes, all true. Well written Camaro. Hey, off topic, but I found a 67 Camaro token the other day. I was upset that is was not a 68, or else I would have mailed it to ya!

[slickeast]

In general it's not that the counter is wrong, but that coins dumped into the feeder can hang-up, sometimes resulting in an imcomplete count.

Those of us dumping only pennies see this frequently. The penny dumps often have the advantage, due simply to the size of the dump, of flushing out the feeding system, and we are sometimes the beneficiary of that. The feeding system doesn't always feed right - frankly - because people abuse the machines. They routinely throw in dirt, hair, paper and plastic chaff, foreign coin, plastic "coins", washers, fuzz balls, paper clips, staples, nails and screws, drill bits, etc. These machines are pretty good at dealing with trash, but come on - this gets ridiculous!

Sucks for people who've been short-changed, but I'm not sure it can be completely prevented.

Around here that is considered a clean dump

[HoardCopperByTheTon]

Ah, if only I had machines around here to dump in.. or get bags from. Alas, I must use my own machines to count or roll before dumping. Of course the advantage to this is that I can do it in the comfort and convenience of the penny processing center while I am running the Ryedales. So I guuess it's not all bad. At least I trust my own machines.

[Sheba]

This is probably a 'dumb' question ... especially for a 'hand sorter' that on rare occasions dumps maybe $40.00 worth of pennies in a free bank machine. But here's the question anyway ... are personal coin counting machine expensive ... I am assuming that a good, reliable one would be quite expensive?

Thanks! Just curious, not in the market for one

[Country]

You've got to know your dump banks. Some counting machines seem to be more accurate than others. Once I dumped $2000 worth of halves and came out $30+ in my favor.

I dump dimes. $2000/dump/branch. I've found that some dimes, the bent ones, will not get counted; Canadian 10c don't seem to be counted either. I pull out the bent ones and Canadians and put them in a CWR; taken to the bank in the paper roll for deposit when I get the $5 roll completed. Usually, there will be a few dimes counted as pennies. However, sometimes the $2000 will have a few dimes short because of short rolls. Since I'm still finding SILVER dimes in BWR boxes, if I come out less than a $1 short, I find that reasonable. Most of the time I'm about 50c short.

[OtusLotus]

When I dump, and I find that I am off by a few dollars, I ask the tellers to open the machine...
When I am done and off by .50-$1, I usually tell the teller and they give me the amount back that I said I am off by.

I usually know exactly how much I am dumping b4 I go.

[HoardCopperByTheTon]

This is probably a 'dumb' question ... especially for a 'hand sorter' that on rare occasions dumps maybe $40.00 worth of pennies in a free bank machine. But here's the question anyway ... are personal coin counting machine expensive ... I am assuming that a good, reliable one would be quite expensive?

Thanks! Just curious, not in the market for one

They actually are not very expensive. I hoard them ya know. You can generally get a pretty good used one for around $200.

[slickeast]

This is probably a 'dumb' question ... especially for a 'hand sorter' that on rare occasions dumps maybe $40.00 worth of pennies in a free bank machine. But here's the question anyway ... are personal coin counting machine expensive ... I am assuming that a good, reliable one would be quite expensive?

Thanks! Just curious, not in the market for one

Many have used this or the 303. Not sure what is different between the 302 and the 303. These are good entry level machines

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scan-Coin-302-C ... 33788a63b5

[slickeast]

I found the difference between the 302 and the 303

****The main difference between SC 302 and SC 303 is that the SC 303 has a different, more advanced, counting technology that in addition ensures lower noise.***

[jacer333]

Checking in for support of the Scan Coin...I bought a 303 several months ago for $200 and love it. Never had any major breakdowns and it is quite efficient in counting.