Experts warn: Do not exchange money at Rewe, Edeka, and Kaufland stores.
Consumer authorities in Germany warn against using coin exchange machines in Rewe, Edeka, and Kaufland stores, as this service, despite its convenience, leads to significant financial losses due to high fees that many shoppers do not notice.
Coinstar machines have been introduced in these chains to help customers convert coins into shopping vouchers. The shopper pours the money into the machine, which counts the amount and issues a receipt that can be redeemed at the register inside the same store.
But this service imposes high fees. At Rewe, the fee is 9.9% of the deposited amount, plus 25 cents per transaction, while fees at other stores may range from 10% to 12%. For example, when depositing 50 euros, the customer ultimately receives only 44.80 euros after deductions.
Customers also face additional restrictions, as they do not receive cash directly, but rather a purchase voucher that is often valid only at the same branch. Shoppers can request to exchange the voucher for cash at the register, but they still lose the fees deducted by the machine. There is a minimum deposit of 28 cents, and any amount less than that is retained by the machine.
Consumer agencies point to better alternatives. Many banks and savings institutions exchange coins for free or for a low fee, and the German central bank (Bundesbank) also offers a free exchange service. Michaela Schwanenberg advises customers to avoid these unnecessary fees and rely on banking institutions.
Despite the increase in card payments in Germany, stores continue to expand the number of Coinstar machines. Kaufland has installed more than 400 machines, and there are currently about 2,500 machines across the country, mostly in Kaufland, Edeka, and Rewe branches.