COINSTAR TRADES PENNYS FOR MERCHANDISE.(marketing strategy, offering gift cards)(Brief Article)

Coinstar Inc., the coin-counting kiosk operator, is offering gift cards from Starbucks Corp., Hollywood Video and Pier 1 Imports at select stores in 18 metro areas. Consumers who trade in their coins for a gift card are not charged any coin-counting fee, typically 8.9 cents per dollar counted when change is turned in for cash. Consumers can select a new gift card or reload an existing card at Coinstar's green kiosk. Participating merchants include the $40 billion Albertson's Inc. chain of grocery and drug stores, along with supermarket chains Giant Eagle, Cub Foods and others. The gift card program is available in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and other cities. "We'd like to …