Coinstar Turns Loose Change Into Literature
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Front-of-store solution provider Coinstar, Inc. has added Borders Books & Music and Waldenbooks stores to its selection of gift cards in its Coin to Card program.
Launched earlier this year, the program allows consumers to convert loose change into gift cards from national retailers and pay no coin counting fee at thousands of Coinstar Centers across the United States.
The Coin to Card program is available at more than 4,500 Coinstar Centers located in supermarkets and drug stores. To use this feature, consumers choose their desired gift card or eCertificate and then deposit their loose, unsorted change, or bills into the kiosk. Once the change is counted, Coinstar converts the full value of their deposit to a gift card or eCertificate. Approximately 2,000 Coinstar Centers will offer Borders and Waldenbooks gift cards by the end of 2005.
"Based on consumer research, we knew that book retailers would be among the most popular categories for our Coin to Card program," said Gretchen Marks, v.p. of marketing at Coinstar, Inc. "This new offering, combined with the estimated $99 in loose change per U.S. household, should create a strong motivation for people to convert their change at the Coinstar Center."
Gift cards purchased through Coinstar Centers may be used at any of the more than 1,200 Borders, Waldenbooks, Borders Express, and Borders Outlet stores nationwide. They may also be used online at Borders and Waldenbooks Web sites.
"Our gift cards are extremely popular, especially during the holidays when customers are looking for a particularly thoughtful gift," said Borders' group director of sales service support Charlie Moore. "This program gives customers another convenient way to purchase our gift cards."
Borders and Waldenbooks gift cards are currently being added to Coinstar Centers and will be in approximately 20 U.S. regions by the end of the year, including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and others.
Other national retailers offering gift cards and eCertificates at Coinstar Centers include Starbucks Coffee Company, Hollywood Video, Pier 1 Imports, Linens 'n Things and Amazon.com.
Launched earlier this year, the program allows consumers to convert loose change into gift cards from national retailers and pay no coin counting fee at thousands of Coinstar Centers across the United States.
The Coin to Card program is available at more than 4,500 Coinstar Centers located in supermarkets and drug stores. To use this feature, consumers choose their desired gift card or eCertificate and then deposit their loose, unsorted change, or bills into the kiosk. Once the change is counted, Coinstar converts the full value of their deposit to a gift card or eCertificate. Approximately 2,000 Coinstar Centers will offer Borders and Waldenbooks gift cards by the end of 2005.
"Based on consumer research, we knew that book retailers would be among the most popular categories for our Coin to Card program," said Gretchen Marks, v.p. of marketing at Coinstar, Inc. "This new offering, combined with the estimated $99 in loose change per U.S. household, should create a strong motivation for people to convert their change at the Coinstar Center."
Gift cards purchased through Coinstar Centers may be used at any of the more than 1,200 Borders, Waldenbooks, Borders Express, and Borders Outlet stores nationwide. They may also be used online at Borders and Waldenbooks Web sites.
"Our gift cards are extremely popular, especially during the holidays when customers are looking for a particularly thoughtful gift," said Borders' group director of sales service support Charlie Moore. "This program gives customers another convenient way to purchase our gift cards."
Borders and Waldenbooks gift cards are currently being added to Coinstar Centers and will be in approximately 20 U.S. regions by the end of the year, including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and others.
Other national retailers offering gift cards and eCertificates at Coinstar Centers include Starbucks Coffee Company, Hollywood Video, Pier 1 Imports, Linens 'n Things and Amazon.com.