What is likely is that someone acquired the tokens legally (i.e., bought them), sold them to someone for far less than they paid for them, then that person sold them to me.

I saw nothing on the website or in the CEC location stating that the tokens used in the store must be purchased in the store. If the store changes its policy, then I won’t use them there.

But what purpose would that serve? Having tokens to spend gets me in CEC, where I have the opportunity to buy food (at very high markup).

Plus, the tokens aren’t free to the franchise owner. Every token I bring in from the outside is one he doesn’t have to buy.

Unless told otherwise, I will not agree that using genuine CEC tokens at CEC is stealing.

Buying quantity tokens on eBay to use in the store is STEALING. It doesn’t matter if they were originally CEC tokens or otherwise. You are basically stealing tokens from one store to use at another. Buying tokens that way is putting money into the pockets of an employee or vendor that stole from one of the stores.

You are taking value from the store you are visiting without compensating them.

And the stores aren’t all company owned, so there is a fair chance you are cheating a small business owner out of their margin.

Taking something from person A, without compensating person A, is stealing. It means nothing to them that you paid person B something.

If you collect CEC tokens, check out ebay – people do sell CEC tokes and you can find some really early ones there. However, with the price of the winning bid and shipping, don’t think you are getting a deal unless you are collecting (the email coupons equal or beat the price you would find on ebay – without the hassle!)

Also, CEC gives rewards for report cards… 3 tokens for an A, 2 for a B, 1 for a C. They also send out a coupon on your birthday for 10-15 tokens as a birthday gift (no purchase necessary).

With just one adult and one kid, we would use the coupon for $19.95, get a large pizza and 40-50 tokens. Dinner (pizza and soft drinks) and entertainment for $20.

And their pizza isn’t bad. It is better than frozen and can be seasoned with the pepper flakes and grated parmesan. It definitely is not gourmet, but the target audience is children.

We like Chuck E Cheese and go there about 4-5 times a year. It is a nice family outing – especially on a rainy day. Kids can play in tunnels, do games, get sketched, have cards with their pictures printed on them… and there is a range of activities to suit ages from munchkin to adult.

Buying and using generic tokens (tokens that do not have CEC and the mouse printed on them) is theft.

Anyway, a couple inside tips. First, use the coupons! They bring the prices down to normal. Second, great idea with the money limits. Third, the birthday party stuff is accurate. Cake is fine, just don’t bring your own food and drinks. Chuck is happy to visit, too!

The biggie, though, is this. If your kiddo really wants whatever prize for tickets, just buy it. CEC works on a system of 1 ticket=1 cent (or at least, they used to), so ask the cost of paying the difference. That 500 ticket item is only $5 in real money. Now you don’t have to worry about your skee ball score!

The smart parents I saw would work both systems. Here’s $5 for tokens, and when you’re done, you can have anything under 500 tickets. Ten bucks spent for entertainment, and everyone’s happy!