It's random. I haven't had much luck lately either but then one time I'll hit the motherlode. The problem with Coinstar as opposed to say a bank's coin machine is that they don't have their coin return slot covered, so anyone can see the coins there, and I think a lot of times kids notice them because it's at kid eye level. I often see kids playing around the Coin Star machine. I'm frankly surprised I ever find anything.