Pick 'n Save, Metro Market will stop giving coin change in manned checkout lanes due to national coin shortage

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Updated: 2:31 p.m. on July 14, 2020 

MILWAUKEE, WI (CBS 58) -- Pick 'n Save and Metro Market shoppers listen up, beginning tomorrow you will no longer receive coin change if you pay with cash.

This is in response to the national coin shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s temporary until the feds can get the supply back to normal, but that’s what we’re going to do starting tomorrow,” says Jim Hyland, VP of communication for Roundy’s.

Effective Wednesday, July 15, local Roundy’s stores, which include metro markets and Pick n’ Saves will not give coin change at manned checkouts.

Instead, shoppers can round up to the nearest dollar and donate it to the Roundy’s fund or have it placed on their perks card for a future purchase.

“There’s a national coin shortage,” explains Hyland. “Back in June, the federal reserve announced they were going to allocate coins to their depository banks.”

“With the partial close of the economy, the flow of coins has kind of stopped,” says John Rose of the Federal Reserve.

This includes a shortage of staff and coin deposits at the federal level.

We spoke to local shoppers about their thoughts.

“I can see that people would not like that because you expect yours going to get the money back that you paid for, but if they don’t have any coins, I guess it’s the best solution to have,” says Ana Lardinois, a Metro Market shopper.

“I can see someone being very upset financially if they need it. So I think it should be optional,” says Cathy Walker-Harris, a shopper at Metro Market.

“Some of our competitors are not giving out any change at all,” explains Hyland. “We still have that available on our self-checkout lanes.

So we’re doing the best we can to manage what we have.”

While Roundy’s says this is temporary, they’re not exactly sure how long this will go on for.

Some banks like North Shore are waiving non-customer coin counting fees to help local businesses in need of coins.

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Published: 8:32 p.m. on July 13, 2020 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc. announced changes Monday, July 13, in response to a national coin shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Wednesday, July 15, Pick 'n Save and Metro Market customers who use a manned checkout lane will be encouraged to use an alternative form of payment, such as credit or debit.

According to a news release, "if a customer chooses to pay with cash, the customer will be given the option to either 'Round Up' their change to support the company's Zero Hunger/Zero Waste Foundation, or they will be able to apply the remaining balance to their loyalty card."

Roundy's says any credit balances applied to a loyalty card can be used for future payment.

Coin change will still be available at self-checkout lanes, however customers are encouraged to use an alternative form of payment in these lanes as well.

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