Advertisement

Kroger: Coin Shortage Means No Change at Stores

Kroger: Coin Shortage Means No Change at Stores
Advertisement
By West Kentucky Star Staff/The Associated Press
Jul. 14, 2020 | CINCINNATI
By West Kentucky Star Staff/The Associated Press Jul. 14, 2020 | 10:55 PM | CINCINNATI
Kroger stores announced Tuesday they will not provide change for purchases due to a nationwide shortage of coins.

The chain responded to a complaint on Twitter about the policy by explaining that the US Federal Reserve is experiencing a shortage of coins due to the slowed economy. Kroger says they are providing other options, which include:

+ Allowing the customer to change their method of payment to a debit or credit card

+ Loading change onto a customer's loyalty card for future use

+ Providing change at a check lane that has coins

+ Allowing the customer round up their amount and donate the change to the Kroger Company Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation

The social media post did not indicate if this policy was permanent or temporary.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell told a US House committee in June that shutdowns caused by the pandemic had slowed the circulation of coins, which the Fed's 12 regional banks are in charge of supplying to commercial banks.

“With the partial closure of the economy, the flow of funds through the economy has stopped,” Powell said. “We are working with the Mint and the Reserve Banks and as the economy re-opens we are starting to see money move around again.”


Here is the complete response from Kroger to a customer, which was in four separate Tweets:

"Thank you for reaching out. We remain committed to providing our customers with an uplifting shopping experience and the freedom and flexibility to choose their payment method during this unprecedented time. The Federal Reserve is experiencing a significant coin shortage across the U.S., resulting from fewer coins being exchanged and spent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many retailers and businesses, we are adjusting to the temporary shortage in several ways. Customers can switch their payment type (e.g., use debit or credit vs. cash), and through our upgraded technology, we can now load coin change to their loyalty card for use during the next shopping trip, provide coin change at a lane with coins available or round up their order to support The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a public charity committed to creating communities free of hunger and waste. Thank you."
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement


Latest National & World
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest National & World

Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT