WebProNews

Did you know that American's have an estimated $10.5 billion in coins just camping out in their couch cushions with remote controls, potato chip crums, lint, and missing socks? Amazon.com does and has put in its two cents with Coinstar Inc.

Amazon.com announced yesterday a special arrangement with Coinstar, the quick-change money launderers you see at the supermarket, to give customers an option of Amazon.com vouchers instead of cash. If the vouchers are chosen, Coinstar will waive the 8.9% service fee.

Amazon adds its vouchers to Starbucks, Hollywood Video, and Pier 1, all of whom have made arrangements with Coinstar.

Erin Bradley remains uncertain about the proposition.

"Most of the individuals I see regularly patronizing Coinstar machines look like they're trying to scrounge together enough cash to buy a fifth of Mad Dog, not save up for a cashmere turtleneck from Lands End."

I don't know, Erin, Mad Dog's too expensive. Think Boone's Farm.

Less certain is Seth Jayson at Motely Fool.

"[I]t's easier to imagine people coming up with $10-$20 in coffee money than a couple hundred bucks for a wicker armchair or a digital camera."

But as a colleague mentioned earlier, there are other deals with Coinstar that could prove lucrative-maybe vouchers to the local "Gentleman's Club" would bode well. Just think about ittruckers and construction workers lugging huge buckets of change into Kroger.

Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.