Sunday, November 16 was “Double Exchange Day” at Price Chopper and Market 32. Lines formed in stores as customers waited to trade in their pennies for gift cards awarding them store credit worth double the value.
It was the grocery chain’s attempt to win back cents after the U.S. Mint stopped making pennies on November 12. The growing penny shortage threatens to complicate the check-out process for customers paying in cash at stores.
One customer, Carrie Luther, told NewsChannel 9 WSYR that she brought in 36 pounds of pennies, equivalent to around $65. She said she found the coins in jars and boxes around her house.
To qualify for the exchange deal, customers had to bring in at least 50 cents, translating to $1 in credit. The maximum trade was $100 worth of pennies for a $200 gift card. Even exact amounts, like $2.47, were doubled and returned.
The event took place at customer service desks between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in all 129 locations. The stores are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
“Cash transactions remain an important part of how we serve our customers, and for those who prefer to pay with cash, we want to make sure we can continue providing the same great checkout experience—right down to the penny,” Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper, said in a statement.
“The Double Exchange Day gives our customers an opportunity to partner with us in that effort while being rewarded for supporting us in managing our coin inventory responsibly as the nation prepares for the phaseout of pennies.”
Other stores and restaurants are coming up with their own methods for the chaos. McDonald’s has decided it will round up on cash payments, while others like Wendy’s and Kwik Trip are rounding down.
Giant Eagle ran an exchange promotion on November 1 under the same guidelines as Price Chopper’s. Its customers exchanged over 100 million pennies across 200 stores, translating to over $2 million in Giant Eagle gift cards, according to Bill Artman, Giant Eagle president and CEO.
“Today, our customers and Team Members came together to do something special,” Artman said in a statement. “This incredible experience will ensure we can provide exact change to customers for months to come.”
Ava Levinson
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