A media storage bin has a guide member mounted via a hinge adjacent to a wall of an enclosure and a second free end. The guide member directs inserted media items downward and pivots around an axis of the hinge. A base plate is mounted below the guide member in the enclosure and is arranged to hold a stack of inserted media items on a top surface thereof. A motor is coupled to move the base plate up and down within the enclosure. A controller is coupled to control movement of the motor and is configured to provide signals to the motor to move the base plate to a predetermined home position adjacent to the guide member upon startup and move the base plate upward to compress any deformed inserted media items on the base plate until an input feedback signal reaches a predetermined level.