Michigan man puts a dime into a Coinstar machine. Then the screen seems to make the accusation worse: ‘I know sum’

There are many ways to deal with your collection of loose change. However, recently, an Eastern Michigan University student and TikToker, Tway, noticed an issue with his preferred technique. When trying to exchange his change through a Coinstar machine, he realized it wasn’t evaluating what he was dropping into the coin slot properly. The resulting TikTok post, which records the results after he dropped in a dime, has racked up over 1.4 million views.

In the clip, Tway holds up a coin for the camera and says, “This is a dime. Gonna put a dime in here.” After he puts the coin into the slot, he films the screen to show how it updates. First, the machine only registers an increase of one cent instead of 10, causing him to chuckle and say, “I know sumthin. I know sum.” Then the machine updates his tally by another cent, prompting him to investigate the coin return. 

He reaches into the slot and pulls out a coin, exclaiming, “This not a dime. This not my dime I put in here. This is a f—ing penny.” He then moved his camera back to show his viewers that it still didn’t update past the two-cent increase to his viewers. He had a theory, and went on to share his perspective in the on-screen text: “Coinstar be stealing’.”

Fee or a malfunctioning machine

The comments section was flooded with opinions. Some supported him, with one user commenting, “coin stars are wildly inaccurate.” On the flip side, some were critical of him. As one wrote, “I don’t understand why we still using coinstar.. GO TO YOUR LOCAL BANKS MOST DO IT FOR FREE!!!” 

Some believed that this was just a simple glitch. One person posited, “or the dime fell into the penny slot, cuz it is smaller.” Another user suggested, “It’s not [done] processing.” However, there was a large group of people who noted that the deduction is what he had signed up for. As one TikToker noted, “It literally has a disclaimer of the percentage they take before you start.”

According to Bankrate, Coinstar kiosks are incredibly convenient because they are found in thousands of grocery stores and retail locations, but that convenience comes at a cost. The company typically charges a fee of up to 12.9% of the total coin value, plus a flat fee of 99 cents per transaction. Although it should be noted that 12.9% of 10 cents is 1.29 cents. So the machine should have still added at least 8 cents to the tally.

Coinstar also has the convenience of being fast. Bankrate editor Pippin Wilbers noted that while his experience with a pint jar of change was loud, the machine did manage to sort everything in under five minutes. If you want to avoid those hefty fees, you can opt to receive your funds as a gift card for retailers like Home Depot or DoorDash, though there is usually a minimum amount required for that service.

If you are looking for alternatives to avoid the machine fees altogether, there are several other options available to deal with your collection of loose change. Your first move should be to check with your own bank or credit union to see if they still offer free coin counting services. While many national banks have moved away from this, regional banks and credit unions are often much more accommodating. 

You can also roll your own coins, which is a very cost-effective way to bundle change. Banks often provide free wrappers, and you can pick up inexpensive packs at office supply stores. Each wrapper holds a specific amount, such as 50 dimes or 40 quarters. This makes it easier to deposit the money at a bank. 

Another approach is to simply use your coins for your everyday shopping. Retailers are usually happy to accept rolled coins, which eliminates any exchange fees and helps businesses that need change for their registers. 

If you have a large collection, you should look through it for rare or valuable coins. One TikToker even makes change at a carwash to do this. Professional appraisers can help you determine if any of your pieces are worth more than their face value due to age, rarity, or minting errors. In a different case, a thrifter at Salvation Army stumbled onto a Roman-era coin, which might be too rare a find.

If you are feeling generous, Coinstar itself offers a way to donate your change to various charities, including the American Red Cross and Make-A-Wish Foundation. However, the company retains a processing fee of 10% for national charities and 7.5% for regional ones. Additionally, these donations are tax-deductible with your receipt.