tokens from arcades vs byoac tokens

[abzman2000]

my plan for my mame cab is to have a bucket of tokens and tweak my mechs to accept them vs quarters.  I was looking at the byoac tokens, but I noticed something... the price per token went from 3.7 tokens per dollar for 100 tokens, to 4.4 tokens per dollar for 500 tokens.  neither of witch are terribly different than the 4 tokens per dollar at the local arcade (especially when you count shipping on 500 metal tokens).  I looked around and found that I had a staggering 61 tokens left from trips to arcades that ended early (mainly american fun center and zap zone).  this got me thinking, how do you guys feel about me using the tokens I have in my arcade machine, or even going out to even it out to around 100.  I understand their business plan being that it is assumed the tokens are a closed system, meaning you buy tokens and eventually they get them all (a few get lost of course) back, but if we can have these small lots of coins commissioned at 4.4 tokens to the dollar, surely these chains can get better deals, and even if that is the cost of their tokens they are still making a profit as I payed them for the tokens at 4 per dollar (no shipping).  right now I just see it as them making less profit, but not none. 

[Havok]

You bought them - it's up to you to either redeem them or keep them. I have a bunch of Chuck E Cheese tokens that I don't plan on ever giving back - including one I just got that was from 1982!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=80777.0

The cost for them to make more is pennies due to the volume, and they always do a new batch each year anyways...

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you're not picky about what's on them, you can pick up .984 tokens on ebay for about $0.07 each.

[BrentRadio]

I would think that a large arcade chain would be buying thousands of tokens at once. I'm sure the cost is far below .25 cents for them.