sorry we only have new quarters

[booger]

Me: well, yeah
Dude: psycho quarter man
the scene: customer service

Dude: Can I get some old quarters? I only have new ones and the vending machine outside won't take them.
Me: I can look for you, but I think I only have new ones as well. Let me get my boss to open the drawer for me.
Dude: This is pathetic!
*boss trots over, I tell her I am looking for quarters, she opens drawer*
Me: *poking through tons of shiny new quarters* I'm sorry, all I have here are new ones, those are the only ones we've been getting lately *to coworkers* Do either of you have old quarters?
Coworkers: *shake heads no*
Dude: SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE! *stomps away*

...after dude leaves...
Me: Sorry, but we're too pathetic to help you.
Coworker: How dare we have only new quarters!
Me: Whatever, it's not like we're a bank
Maintenance guy: Come back here and I'll fight you! %^$@^ (note: maintenance man is sweet as can be, mentally handicapped, wouldn't fight anyone, and the crazy dude was long gone)
*Customer service workers clap and laugh because of awesome maintenance man*

[Jester]

It's bad customer service because not only won't you be a bank for a non-paying non-customer, but because you don't happen to have the particular years of quarters he desires? Considering they started issuing the state quarters in 1999, I think it's safe to say that this guy is being completely unreasonable on this second count as well.

Hope the vending machine gave him warm soda or cold coffee.

[Gurndigarn]

It's bad customer service because not only won't you be a bank for a non-paying non-customer, but because you don't happen to have the particular years of quarters he desires? Considering they started issuing the state quarters in 1999, I think it's safe to say that this guy is being completely unreasonable on this second count as well.

Hope the vending machine gave him warm soda or cold coffee.

Hey, at least he didn't stick his hand in the drawer to grab your old quarters.

[Dreamstalker]

Why wouldn't the vending machine take the new quarters? Only currency-related problem I've heard of (besides the ones created by SCs) is that some SCO kiosks won't take the new-new $10 bills.

[Kyree]

There's also the US 1 dollar coins But I haven't seen one of those in forever.

[Dreamstalker]

I have one of those someplace (the finish on them does not wear well). They were popular for about a month after release, IIRC (hey, maybe I should keep it as a "failed currency experiment").

[AFpheonix]

Huh? Was he trying to use canadian ones or perhaps some Susan B Anthony dollars? I'm with Dreamstalker: what does the vending machine care what vintage the quarter is?

[Kogarashi]

Why wouldn't the vending machine take the new quarters? Only currency-related problem I've heard of (besides the ones created by SCs) is that some SCO kiosks won't take the new-new $10 bills.

Our self-checkouts have only had problems with the really old series currency (the bills with the small portraits instead of the new series), and the occasional over-wrinkled bill. And coins in general, but only when the coin acceptor is throwing a fit for no good reason, and then it doesn't bother to discern between vintages or even denominations.

[karma_gypsy]

I've seen vending machines that wouldn't accept the new quarters, but I figure they would be all modified now to accept them . . . maybe he didn't even try . . .

[Becks]

There's also the US 1 dollar coins But I haven't seen one of those in forever.

Man, at the gas station I'd get them all the time. Tried giving them out as change. That didn't work. Eventually I just put them in my last drop envelope of my shift.

[XCashier]

I have one of those someplace (the finish on them does not wear well). They were popular for about a month after release, IIRC (hey, maybe I should keep it as a "failed currency experiment").

Dollar coins could work in the US, but the mint would have to stop issuing dollar bills to make the coins acceptable. I'm embarrassed to say, Americans are incredibly stubborn and reluctant to accept redone coins/currency.

Though it would help if they used a different metal, one that didn't go from pretty-shiny-brass color to ugly-dried-deli-mustard color within minutes.

[Dreamstalker]

Our self-checkouts have only had problems with the really old series currency (the bills with the small portraits instead of the new series), and the occasional over-wrinkled bill.

I know for a while after new bills were redesigned, the grocery store next to campus (a Smith's) had signs stating that the SCO units would not accept the new-style bills. Not sure why it wouldn't...

I've run into some vending machines that I swear would only take singles fresh from the mint

Dollar coins could work in the US, but the mint would have to stop issuing dollar bills to make the coins acceptable. I'm embarrassed to say, Americans are incredibly stubborn and reluctant to accept redone coins/currency.

Yeah, the way the mint should have done it was to remove one bill from circulation for each coin minted (if bills were gradually forced out of circulation it might have worked). Although, a roll of singles in your pocket (say $10 worth) is much lighter than the same amount in coins. Maybe that's why they didn't catch on.

The one I found was so dulled I had to hold it right under a lightbulb to tell what it was.

[Argabarga]

Pure silver quarters from the 60s' or eariler aren't accepted by vending machines because they fail a weight test, or an electronic signature test, or some test, as the machines are programed to assume all quarters are the zinc alloy kind. So unless you're trying to use a silver one, I know of no reason why it would reject.

personaly, I don't want a dollar coin for the weight reason first and foremost. Ten bucks in 1's is practicaly nothing, ten of those larger-than-a-quarter coins get heavy.

[friendofjimmyk]

There's also the US 1 dollar coins But I haven't seen one of those in forever.

The vending machine at the call center provides you change if you put a $5 bill in for a $1 purchase - the change - $1 US coins

[MadMike]

The vending machine at the call center provides you change if you put a $5 bill in for a $1 purchase - the change - $1 US coins

Yeah, I found out the hard way that the stamp machine at the post office did the same thing. I think I put a $20 in, so I got quite a bit of coins in return. The feeling of that much weight in my pocket drove me up a wall, and I spent them as quickly as I could.