SAFEWAY TO ADD COINSTAR AT 66 UNITS

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Coinstar self-service coin-counting machines will be installed at an additional 66 supermarket locations in Safeway's Denver division.

, Coinstar machines will service over 500 stores under the Safeway banner, including Safeway, Dominick's, Pak N Save and Vons.

The self-service coin machines, introduced in 1992, have proven to be popular with both consumers and supermarket companies. Retailers receive 1% of the total cash value of coins counted by the machines in their stores, but, according to Coinstar spokeswoman Michelle Avila, that is not the primary benefit to retailers. "The machines attract customers to the supermarkets because it gives them a convenient place to bring their jars of coins." Avila explained that consumers typically under-estimate how much money the coins total. "They may expect about $30 but wind up pleasantly surprised when the machine prints a voucher for $45 or $50," she said.

Coinstar maintains that its research indicates customers spend about 80% of their coin cash-in vouchers on the spot. "Because they have unexpected extra money, customers buy flowers, magazines or other items they may not usually purchase at a supermarket," Avila said.

More than 5,000 stores of leading supermarket chains in 37 states now have Coinstar machines. This represents a 30% increase at retail.