HEB Helps Again

I am always looking out for ways that HEB is trying to help me save money. HEB is the local grocery chain in Texas that is working to save Texans money. My first real job, way back in 1974, was working as a bag boy in HEB store number 2 in Alamo Heights. I sacked groceries (back when we used paper sacks) and carried them out to the cars for customers. I worked my way up to late night stocker. We would come in at 8 or 9 pm, break down the pallets of groceries, attach a price sticker (that was a long time ago, before barcodes and scanners) to each box or can, and distribute the groceries to the shelves. We would finish up before 4 am, and then head to Mie Tierra for dinner/breakfast. I would then head for school; I was a senior in high school, and I am convinced that that experience was what helped me get my Undergraduate Degree. Taught me what I didn't want to do for the rest of my life. But I digress.

Fast forward to today. I am currently located in Austin, but I do my banking with United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Federal Savings Bank in San Antonio. I don't have a local, Austin Bank. I have a small box full of loose change that I wanted to recover. HEB happens to have a Coinstar machine that is advertised to help. I know that some of the Security Service Credit Unions have change machines in their locations, but I don't have an account with SSCU. So I took my box of change to my local HEB for "help".

It turns out the Coinstar machine at HEB has three options:

1. Cash Voucher - With a fee of ONLY 10.9 cents per dollar of change tendered,
2. Gift Card - You can exchange your change for a gift card, useable at such locations as Applebee's, Home Depot, etc. but NOT HEB,
3. Donate your change to charity

So, HEB will "help" you exchange your loose change. But if you want to buy groceries with your loose change, it will cost you 10.9%. Thanks for the help, HEB.