$2.50 for pump air?

[Carmudgeon]

It's amazing that a c-store air station has tap and pay but my Walmart does not.

Walmart chooses to not accept NFC payments as part of its business strategy to drive customers to use the Walmart Pay service, which involves scanning a QR code that links to its app.

It is the last national retailer to hold out, since Lowes and Home Depot have changed their policies, and joined everyone else in the 21st Century.

Since the banks and credit card networks made the transition to tokenized security, forcing merchants to upgrade their pay terminals, the hardware has been fully capable of accepting NFC for quite some time, but they would have to make the software change.

"Give a man a shot of air and you feed him for a day, give him a compressor and you feed him for a lifetime."

If it's like a McDonald's franchise where you have to use a Taylor brand ice cream machine yet the repair costs are insane.

The government took care of that late last year, and the machines can now be serviced by other providers.

 

[Speedy3861]

The thing about the pumps that you have to pay for, is the time usually is just enough to check and adjust THREE tires, then you pay a second time for the fourth. Trick is to remove all 4 valve caps, quickly over-inflate all four tires, then adjust using your own gauge. I now own a Ryobi pump that uses a 4ah rechargeable battery, solves the problem.

 

[Shel_B]

Funny thing is that you can get nitrogen fill at COSTCO's outdoor self-service pump stations for FREE if you are a member. Just scan your membership card bar code to activate the pumps.

I get air at the local and nearby Costcos somewhat regularly and I've never seen such a thing. When the tire department opens, the pumps are turned on, and air is dispensed without need to scan a card. Where are you located? Which Costco do you use?

 

[Nukeman7]

I get air at the local and nearby Costcos somewhat regularly and I've never seen such a thing. When the tire department opens, the pumps are turned on, and air is dispensed without need to scan a card. Where are you located? Which Costco do you use?

I have used them across the COSTCO locations in Virginia (e.g., Norfolk, Richmond, NoVA,) and seen them in San Diego, Seattle and other areas. Here is what the current pumps look like and the membership card scanner has been removed from the newest pumps. They are either next to the Tire Centers or in a corner of the parking lot. Open hours are the same as the Tire Center.

 

[Shel_B]

Why...fearing an upsell? ...safety concerns?

I told Sweetie pretty much the same thing as the tire shop she went to had misrepresented what she needed and sold her an off-brand mismatched tire. Another time they claimed a tire couldn't be repaired and wanted to sell her a new one. She declined that offer.

There's shop in the area that I've been doing business with for more than fifty years. That's where Sweetie went whenever she had any concern about her tires. Absolutely trustworthy. They were able to save that unrepairable tire mentioned above.

 

[Shel_B]

I have used them across the COSTCO locations in Virginia (e.g., Norfolk, Richmond, NoVA,) and seen them in San Diego, Seattle and other areas. Here is what the current pumps look like and the membership card scanner has been removed from the newest pumps. They are either next to the Tire Centers or in a corner of the parking lot. Open hours are the same as the Tire Center.
View attachment 283149

That's what the pumps I use look like. Seems like thry're the same. The card scanning was never anything I dealt wth. Thanks for the info.

 

[Kira]

Absolutely trustworthy

Refreshing.
Last year about this time, my BIL sought 2 expensive tires. I sent him to "my guy".
He told BIL to drive through the Summer and return for a recheck.
This was an >$700 sale easily.