[varyouga]

“Only if you can find a place that will take your word for it. Most places have automatic counters that won’t count or will toss out the out of state cans and bottles”

I’ve bought cans here in NY that say “MI - 10 cents”.

Are you saying I wouldn’t be able to get a refund in Michigan if I bought them in NY? How would they know?

[cripplecreek]

I’ve bought cans here in NY that say “MI - 10 cents”.

There is some reciprocity there. Just looking at a bottle and it says "ME-VT-CT-NY-MA-OR-IA-HI 5¢, MI 10¢". If you turn a Michigan bottle in at a NY store they give you a nickle and if you turn the same bottle in in a Michigan store they give you a dime. Again, the auto counters make the adjustments because the bar code tells the machine where the bottle is from.

[300winmag]

Are you saying I wouldn’t be able to get a refund in Michigan if I bought them in NY? How would they know?

The scanners can't know. All they do is scan for a valid UPC, and then check if that particular store handles that item. If yes, it's good to go. The state government admits that 1/3 of the containers returned are "illegals" from other, cheaper, states. To fight this rampant lawlessness, the state has made illegal can return a felony, to be used selectively against someone they can get an easy conviction against.

[Ken H]

Are you saying I wouldn’t be able to get a refund in Michigan if I bought them in NY? How would they know?

The ones from NY have 'Open Other End' written on the bottom.