Coinstar Reject Coins

[SusanMN]

Hmmm, ok, good point. Even though the machine belongs to the independent vendor, yet there must be some sort of legal subrogation for the management/franchise of the property to whom it sits on. For example, if the machine jams, guess who comes over to open it up and un-jam it ? A store employee (not the coin-star rep. employee). So that tells me that even though the machine is owned by someone else, yet they've got some sort of legal agreement of usage or staffing or something. Right ?

But even if we deduce that the machine, and the contents anywhere on/in it (the return tray, or wherever) belong to the vendor, not the store, then the problem still remains: You would merely be taking that independent vendor's property, right ? So no matter how you slice it, still not your property ?

the independent vendor did not pay for the coins and in fact rejected them. So why is it their property?

 

[Keith Jackson]

I would think that the general laws for the area governing lost or abandoned property would apply.

 

[kcm]

the independent vendor did not pay for the coins and in fact rejected them. So why is it their property?

Thank you Susan - worded beautifully!!


"So no matter how you slice it, still not your property ?"
Correct. Absolutely correct. ...Not ANYBODY'S property. That's because the property has been abandoned. What would happen when the next customer comes there, dumps $2 in change, then checks the return slot to find more money than they dumped? Are they supposed to magically know how much of that came from them? Or better yet, IF any came from them??

So in the long (and short) of it, it's abandoned property and is therefore available to anyone on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

[SusanMN]

And don't forget, the majority of what is rejected and left behind are foreign coins, Canadian in particular. If they were of value to Coinstar or a bank they wouldn't reject them.

 

[Honest Samuel]

I agree with my good friend, kcm.

 

[kcm]

is the machine here different?
mine has the reject thingy in the front - hard not to see it

I've seen at least 2 different Coinstar machines; maybe more. ...And I don't get out much! One was a larger machine, and the reject slot was on the side...at least the way they had it positioned. Another style was the upright model, similar to the older boxy soda machines. One had an open reject tray, while another had a plastic door that you had to lift open. I think there was a plastic door on the larger machine also. Anyway, the one without the plastic door looked like it wouldn't hold much at all. The others had much more capacity for rejects.

 

[kcm]

I agree with my good friend, kcm.

Why thank you, sir!

 

[kcm]

Ok, lemme throw this out there to gnaw on a while...:

There's a section here on Tnet dedicated to dumpster diving. When someone has something that they do not want, they throw it in a dumpster....providing they're responsible! Now you or I come along and, being the nitty-gritty scavengers that we are , we look in said dumpster and see that....what's this? Somebody threw out a beautiful jacket and a lamp - BOTH nearly new!! The lamp only needs a new shade, and a cord, maybe the socket, and possibly a paint job, but other than that it's practically NEW!!

The jacket? Well heck, they must've just cut the dang tag off, as the ONLY thing wrong with it is that huge mustard stain all down the front. Looks sorta Art Nouveau to me! So we snatch them up in a heartbeat and make out like bandits.

Actually, the dumpster "technically" has stronger claim to its contents than the reject slot of a Coinstar machine. Why? Because the owner/Coinstar/whoever HAS a reject slot! It means they do not accept the contents, and it is the responsibility of the dumper to take them. If they fail to do so, then there "may" be some specific abandonment laws that could come into play, but we're only talking about what normally amounts to chump change. Not hardly worth worrying about, IMO.

 

[SusanMN]

I've seen at least 2 different Coinstar machines; maybe more. ...And I don't get out much! One was a larger machine, and the reject slot was on the side...at least the way they had it positioned. Another style was the upright model, similar to the older boxy soda machines. One had an open reject tray, while another had a plastic door that you had to lift open. I think there was a plastic door on the larger machine also. Anyway, the one without the plastic door looked like it wouldn't hold much at all. The others had much more capacity for rejects.

Lot of different styles of coin counters out there. I did post the story of my big find on Tnet in July 2014.

 

[kcm]

Lot of different styles of coin counters out there. I did post the story of my big find on Tnet in July 2014.

Yeah, but I wasn't a member then, so now you gotta post it again.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.....the coins belong to the finder......

the independent vendor did not pay for the coins and in fact rejected them. So why is it their property?

I would think that the general laws for the area governing lost or abandoned property would apply.

.... So in the long (and short) of it, it's abandoned property and is therefore available to anyone on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All very interesting perspectives! If it falls under lost or abandoned property, then the state's lost & found laws would apply. And those don't kick in till $100 or-more value (depending on your state's particular dollar threshold).

But I don't think lost & found laws apply to private property. Do they ? ie.: what if I came to your house and "found" a mountain bike in the garage ? Or a cool apple phone on your night-stand ? Thus no, something tells me normal lost & found and "abandoned" laws are for public land. Not private land.

But perhaps I'm wrong. Because naturally there's private land that the public is allowed on, but "right to pass is revokable by owner" . Shopping centers would be that way, where ,.... you're not "trespassing" by being there, unless they tell you to leave and you don't comply.

In all likelihood , none of us is going to stop from checking the change slot. Even if we found out it's technically wrong. Why ? Because we know that no one cares less. But I'm still curious what the technical letter of the law says. I'm going to float it past an attorney call-in service that my company subscribes to. When I get the answer, I will post it here.

Great conversation guys. Thanx for the link Ron !

 

[Honest Samuel]

What is in houses and garages are private property. Take care Tom.

 

[kcm]

Yes, that's the grey area here. Most places have abandonment laws of $100 value or higher. This is lower - usually much so.

A yard or bedroom is not normally having the general public traversing it....not without the vice or narc squad watching as well. So while stores are private property, they are "commercial" property, as well as being a retail center. I'm not nearly a lawyer (can't stand lies!!), and I don't even play one on TV, but I'm willing to bet that the reject tray of Coinstar, or a soda machine, or a pay phone are all for whomever happens to check it first and find something. There's no possible way to log the contents of the reject tray, as doing so would show the machine that it's rejecting good, modern coinage. And it IS the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the machine is 1) in good working order and 2) calibrated properly.

Yes Tom, it would be truly enlightening to see what an attorney would have to say on the topic. Thank you!!

 

[SusanMN]

Yeah, but I wasn't a member then, so now you gotta post it again. View attachment 1391286

Easy to look up threads that members started or posted to. Just click on my user name at left, when my profile opens click on Latest started Threads, then scroll down.

 

[kcm]

Hey! ...Susan!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

What is in houses and garages are private property.....

Right. So too are coin-star machines located on "private property".

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Yes, that's the grey area here. Most places have abandonment laws of $100 value or higher. This is lower - usually much so.

A yard or bedroom is not normally having the general public traversing it....not without the vice or narc squad watching as well. So while stores are private property, they are "commercial" property, as well as being a retail center........

Yes Tom, it would be truly enlightening to see what an attorney would have to say on the topic. Thank you!!

Yes, there is private property where the public allowed and welcome (shopping centers, churches, etc...). I don't know what the legal defintions/names of each type is, but .... there must be some distinction.

And yes, I'm going to call right now to this lawyer service my company subscribes to. It takes 6 to 8 hrs. for them to call back. Will let y'all know the legal answer. I realize it won't change anyone's habits , but will be interesting to know.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Just posted a new thread to share the lawyer's answer, as to ownership of contents found in Coin-star machines.

 

[coinman123]

I once saw some silver coins in the reject tray and offered to buy all of them for 5 dollars (all I had in cash at the time, paying with credit card at supermarket). They were very excited for getting way above face for them, and I got some silver. Everyone happy in the end

 

[BigWaveDave]

I once saw some silver coins in the reject tray and offered to buy all of them for 5 dollars (all I had in cash at the time, paying with credit card at supermarket). They were very excited for getting way above face for them, and I got some silver. Everyone happy in the end

You wasted five dollars.