If you still have MBTA tokens lying around, use them THIS WEEK

[ron_newman]

or else keep them forever as souvenirs. They are worth $1.25 at any MBTA farebox or Charlie machine -- but only through Saturday, June 30.

(The T has not sold tokens since December 6, 2006.)

Comments

[frotz.livejournal.com]

I'm both amused and irritated that I can still use my 5+-year-old tokens, but if I want to recover use of the balance on my expired CharlieCard I need to go downtown during business hours. (Thanks for posting this! I've been meaning to deal with some straggler tokens; I wasn't sure they would even still work.)

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Thanks for the heads up. I've still got a stash tht I've gradually been using to fill my Charlie card on occasion. Must use them up!

[ron_newman]

Hopefully you don't have hundreds. I think there's a limit to how much stored value you can put on a Charlie Card, but I don't know what it is.

[avjudge]

The CharlieCard limit is $100

[ron_newman]

Thanks. Wonder if that's going up along with the fares?

[frotz.livejournal.com]

Tell the machine you want to add $0.05. Insert token. Get $1.20 change. Repeat as needed!

[frugaljoe.livejournal.com]

I'd actually like to buy a few as souvenirs if anyone has 4 or so to sell.

[artguychris.livejournal.com]

I'd also like to buy up to 10 as souveniers (to make into cufflinks) if they're in reasonably good shape. Any takers? I'll pick up.

[ron_newman]

The Charlie machines at Davis didn't accept my tokens (I have no idea why), and anyway I'd rather sell them to someone like you who will make something useful or interesting out of them. I'll sell you two of mine (I'm keeping the third as a souvenir). Let me know when and where to meet up.

[clauclauclaudia]

Actually, they already don't work, despite vending machine dialogues and the MBTA website claiming otherwise. T employee at Harvard Square last night researched it for me and said the only place to redeem them currently is 10 Park Plaza in Chinatown (treasury department on the 8th floor).

[ron_newman]

You should be able to redeem them at the Downtown Crossing pass sales office (in the corridor off the northbound Orange Line platform, next to the former Filene's Basement entrance).

Reporters from both Metro and the Globe have contacted me about this screw-up today, so you may see some news articles in the next couple of days. I feel embarassed to have broadcast wrong information to LJ and beyond, even though the mistake is not my fault.

Now that Universal Hub has reported that the MBTA wants to sell its stash of 3.4 million tokens to a scrap dealer to be melted down, I no longer want to feed my remaining tokens into a Charlie machine! I'd rather see someone make earrings or cufflinks or necklaces or other useful and wearable objects from them.

[reeborg.livejournal.com]

I'd also be willing to buy tokens if anyone's looking to get rid of theirs. I only want two, though.

[ron_newman]

I'll sell you two of mine (I'm keeping the third), since artguychris never replied to me when I offered to sell them to him. Send me e-mail or private message to arrange a meet-up.