Figuring out a dump schedule and working around the competition

[giniro]

So I've been realizing lately that my area might just be too full on hunters to justify driving all over looking for CWR and loose. Practically everywhere I go either they tell me 2 or 3 people come in once a week and clean them out or I find nothing but dumps. One place the guy told me several of their customers refuse to buy MWR which is a sure sign of other hunters being wary of peoples rewrapped dumps. So I'm thinking my only option is to start buying boxes of halves and stop wasting gas trying desperately to hit loose and CWR before the other guys get to it. When my bank initially told me they could only get 2 boxes of halves at a time, which is too much for me right now, I was scared away but now I'm thinking maybe they will let me have them order 2 boxes then pick up one a week. Going to see about that after work today but first I'm going to have to clear out the dump that has been sitting there.

Luckily I have identified 3 places that have free coin counting machines within 10 miles of my place(2 are 3 miles away). Do you guys see any problem with dumping $500 a week at one location or should I spread it out? Thinking maybe $250 each at banks #1 and #2 one week, then $250 each at banks #2 and #3 the following week, then $250 each at #1 and #3, rotating like that. Maybe I'm overthinking it and I should just do $500 at a single bank and rotate so each place only sees me once every 3 weeks. I know this is kind of small potatoes to most on here but I'd like to draw the least amount of attention and strain my dump banks as little as possible. Also there's the limit on my bank roll. So far I know for sure the counters at #1 and #3(furthest away) can handle at least $350 in 1 go without changing bags.

Any advice would be appreciated.

HH Giniro

 

[kfs]

What denomination of coins are you dumping?

A typical machine will handle a lot more nickels and dimes as opposed to half dollars.

The machines I used, unless they are already pretty filled would easily take $500 in halves. I have seen the bags when they are pulled and they have to have a $1000 worth of halves in them.

 

[thripp]

My advice would be to dump all the coin at bank #1 until you get cut off there, and then start on bank #2 until you get cut off there, and then finally bank #3 until you get cut off there. Then, find a bank that will let you dump for free in bags. If that doesn't work, drive further away or start rerolling or repacking your dumps. The problem with spreading out your dumps is that in my experience, you get cut off just as fast or faster anyway, and it costs more time and gas for you. The "shock and awe" approach seems to work better.

 

[giniro]

What denomination of coins are you dumping?

A typical machine will handle a lot more nickels and dimes as opposed to half dollars.

The machines I used, unless they are already pretty filled would easily take $500 in halves. I have seen the bags when they are pulled and they have to have a $1000 worth of halves in them.

Just doing halves right now, may try dimes someday but I'd be too scared of miscounts to put dimes through the coin counter. I know it's just the cost of playing the game but I just hate that feeling.

My advice would be to dump all the coin at bank #1 until you get cut off there, and then start on bank #2 until you get cut off there, and then finally bank #3 until you get cut off there. Then, find a bank that will let you dump for free in bags. If that doesn't work, drive further away or start rerolling or repacking your dumps. The problem with spreading out your dumps is that in my experience, you get cut off just as fast or faster anyway, and it costs more time and gas for you. The "shock and awe" approach seems to work better.

Do you really think I'd get cut off dumping $500 a week? I guess I shouldn't be too worried as unless things go horribly wrong I should be moving out of the area in 6 months.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

$500 a week might or might not be enough to get you cut off. Since you have 3 coin machines so close, I'd dump the whole $500 @ bank 1 the first week, at bank 2 the 2nd week, and bank 3 on the 3rd week. Start over at bank 1 in week 4. Thats $500 per bank once every 3 weeks which will probably not get you cut off. At any rate, within a couple of months you'll have more info of which banks will be more conducive to your dumping activities.

 

[FormerTeller]

Build a relationship with the bank, and they won't cut you off; certainly not for $500 a week. Tick them off, and they'll cut you off in no time.

 

[OtlFrutiger]

FormerTeller is right. Be nice. Always be nice. You can accomplish quite a bit with just a smile.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

Build a relationship with the bank, and they won't cut you off; certainly not for $500 a week. Tick them off, and they'll cut you off in no time.

Not necessarily true. I once got cut off from a dump bank within 3 months of dumping $500 weekly. I had a very good relationship with the bank as well as a decent sized account with them at the time, and had promised (and would have followed through) to move a nearly 6 figure CD into their bank when it matured in a few more weeks. I even had a "sit-down" with the manager and received her approval to dump up to $1000 per week before I put the first coin through their coin counter. You just never know what a bank will/won't do now...or a few weeks down the road.

 

[kfs]

Do you really think I'd get cut off dumping $500 a week? I guess I shouldn't be too worried as unless things go horribly wrong I should be moving out of the area in 6 months.

How busy are these banks? The banks I dump off halves at are usually quite busy at least 3 of the 4 almost always have one or two people waiting in line. I often see different tellers. If you are not going up to the counter every time telling the tellers the machine is full, they may not really notice you.

And do not forget try a disguise or two every other week.

 

[323GTX]

Hi Giniro,
I live in Columbus as well, so I guess you could count me amongst the "competition" you mention in your post. I see CRHing as a hobby and something enjoyable, not as a competition... but I get the gist of what you mean. You are quite right, there are many CRhers in town (as I've been told by every teller I meet). The good thing Columbus is very large, somewhere around the 15th largest city in the US population-wise, and has well in excess of 125 branches of several banks within the city limits. Which is good for CRHing. As far loose and CWR halves... I don't even bother asking. Just too many people in the know. So, I just order boxes.

CS Bank is the only bank in Columbus that I know of with coin machines available for free public use (even if you don't have an account with them). They are a small, local bank with only 6 branches. I went into a branch last month and explained what I wanted to do (dump halves once or twice a week). I also told them that I would open an account if what I described would be OK. The teller responded with an enthusiastic "Sure, no problem!", so I opened an account. I've never dumped more than $500 at one visit to a branch, and I've spaced my visits at any single branch to be at least 3 or 4 days apart.

For a few weeks, no problems. The only thing is that even though the bags they use hold $1000 in halves, and even though I only dumped $500 at a time, the bags almost always have to be changed while using the machine. So there are definitely several other CRHers using these as well. Two weeks ago I was dumping and the bag needed changing almost 3/4 of the way through my usual $500 dump. A manager or assistant manager walked up to me and asked if I was using the machine as part of a business... I said, "No, I'm a coin collector" and explained to her that I was told what I was doing would be OK. I also said that I had an account (which I didn't even need!). She said, "These machines aren't intended for this kind of use". She didn't directly tell me to stop, but she made her point clear. So, I haven't gone back since. Not sure what I'm going to do with them.

So, now I re-roll and dump two halves boxes ($1000) at a time at various banks and branches around the city. This isn't that difficult, since there are so many banks and branches in town. For example, without leaving the Columbus metro area, one could visit over 35 different branches of Huntington Bank alone before repeating a visit to the same branch.

If I were you, I'd keep dumping at CS Bank (if that is indeed the bank you are using) until they say something to you. If they don't say anything, great! If they get an attitude, then you are basically left with re-rolling or getting a bank to accept dumps in Coinlok bags (which is what I plan to do eventually).

Good luck, and maybe we'll see each around.

--Brian

 

[Infowarrior]

Only 500 a week?

You dont have anything to worry about... that is small time IMO...

I guess it depends what type of machines you are using, if it is bag machines, then that sucks, I avoid those... my main dumps do not have bags, i can dump 1-2k easily...

For a while before I got a good pickup/dump schedule, I was at branches dumping 500-1000 at a time, 3-4 days in a row, and multiple locations... wasnt all halves, but mostly halves, with some dimes/quarters...

I dont think you have anything to worry about, Hadly anyone at the dump banks even flinches anymore when I bring up a 1000$ reciept... I have some of them saving halves and ikes for me also...

 

[FormerTeller]

Not necessarily true. I once got cut off from a dump bank within 3 months of dumping $500 weekly. I had a very good relationship with the bank as well as a decent sized account with them at the time, and had promised (and would have followed through) to move a nearly 6 figure CD into their bank when it matured in a few more weeks. I even had a "sit-down" with the manager and received her approval to dump up to $1000 per week before I put the first coin through their coin counter. You just never know what a bank will/won't do now...or a few weeks down the road.

Perhaps I should have prefaced my comment with "In general..."

 

[FormerTeller]

Hi Giniro,
I live in Columbus as well, so I guess you could count me amongst the "competition" you mention in your post. I see CRHing as a hobby and something enjoyable, not as a competition... but I get the gist of what you mean. You are quite right, there are many CRhers in town (as I've been told by every teller I meet). The good thing Columbus is very large, somewhere around the 15th largest city in the US population-wise, and has well in excess of 125 branches of several banks within the city limits. Which is good for CRHing. As far loose and CWR halves... I don't even bother asking. Just too many people in the know. So, I just order boxes.

CS Bank is the only bank in Columbus that I know of with coin machines available for free public use (even if you don't have an account with them). They are a small, local bank with only 6 branches. I went into a branch last month and explained what I wanted to do (dump halves once or twice a week). I also told them that I would open an account if what I described would be OK. The teller responded with an enthusiastic "Sure, no problem!", so I opened an account. I've never dumped more than $500 at one visit to a branch, and I've spaced my visits at any single branch to be at least 3 or 4 days apart.

For a few weeks, no problems. The only thing is that even though the bags they use hold $1000 in halves, and even though I only dumped $500 at a time, the bags almost always have to be changed while using the machine. So there are definitely several other CRHers using these as well. Two weeks ago I was dumping and the bag needed changing almost 3/4 of the way through my usual $500 dump. A manager or assistant manager walked up to me and asked if I was using the machine as part of a business... I said, "No, I'm a coin collector" and explained to her that I was told what I was doing would be OK. I also said that I had an account (which I didn't even need!). She said, "These machines aren't intended for this kind of use". She didn't directly tell me to stop, but she made her point clear. So, I haven't gone back since. Not sure what I'm going to do with them.

So, now I re-roll and dump two halves boxes ($1000) at a time at various banks and branches around the city. This isn't that difficult, since there are so many banks and branches in town. For example, without leaving the Columbus metro area, one could visit over 35 different branches of Huntington Bank alone before repeating a visit to the same branch.

If I were you, I'd keep dumping at CS Bank (if that is indeed the bank you are using) until they say something to you. If they don't say anything, great! If they get an attitude, then you are basically left with re-rolling or getting a bank to accept dumps in Coinlok bags (which is what I plan to do eventually).

Good luck, and maybe we'll see each around.

--Brian

Mental note to self - don't road trip to Columbus to CRH...

 

[BRChiver]

Build a relationship with the bank, and they won't cut you off; certainly not for $500 a week. Tick them off, and they'll cut you off in no time.

This is the best advice; I keep less than a $300 daily Balance and they treat me like gold. You have to be a people person in this hobby and be able to read people. I can bring 4 $500 coinlok bags into one branch(they don't even take bags, they run thru their counter and rebag in $100 increments). I treat them with respect, bring them coffee thursdays (dump day) 8am sharp and tell them stories of being in the "coin business". I make most of the stories up but it keeps them entertained. You get a lot further with sugar than salt, been there done that. Piss off the banks and you will not have a hobby to enjoy anymore.

 

[323GTX]

Mental note to self - don't road trip to Columbus to CRH...

 

[Bad Wolf]

The "shock and awe" approach seems to work better.

Thanks for the mental picture

 

[twiasp]

I use Pavlov's classical conditioning for dumping coins. Everytime I bring in coinlock bags to dump coins I bring cookies for them also. On the weeks I dump coins in other locations but still pick up from them, they are all like, HEY no cookies?!?!? I say OH I bring those on days that I cash in my coins. They respond with well bring more coins back here then not elsewhere, we want our cookies !! Literally they now are conditioned to want me to bring coins back to them lol.

2 dozen cookies at Sam's club = 6.50, chump change to keep my banks happy, especially since I have no fees at all for anything, and they counter credit all my funds instead of waiting.