$2.50 for pump air?

[SC Maintenance]

The other day a TPMS came on, so stopped at a small Exxon I frequent. One tire was down 6lbs, so I went to put air in. $2.50!

Now I completely understand the price elasticity if you really need air its a vertical line. However this used to be part of a service stations "service"

I on the other hand decided I did not need air and drove home. I passed both a Lowes and a Discount Tire that give free air if I really needed it.

I actually thought about going in and asking them for change for my $100 to so I could get some air - reference the other thread.

I wonder if it actually works? You would think it would be cheaper to just give air away than connect this to POS to take a cc?

Modern times.

 

[RooflessVW]

Plenty of places with free air

 

[walterjay]

Inflation............both ways.

 

[jcy]

who knows how much it costs to maintain a machine like that fully exposed to the weather

 

[uc50ic4more]

Maybe it was organic air?

 

[SC Maintenance]

who knows how much it costs to maintain a machine like that fully exposed to the weather

Yes, your right. Probably doesn;t work.

 

[Leo99]

I carry two tire inflators in my trunk. Think they were about $30 each. One uses a Ryobi battery and the other plugs in the cigarette lighter outlet. They get the job done.

 

[dishdude]

New car dealers get people to pay $399 for nitrogen in their new car tires. This sounds like a deal, it's mostly nitrogen anyway!

 

[LostInTransit]

This is why I've installed a Viair system in the van, but it needs to be updated as the gauge doesn't give an actuate reading anymore. Plus it helps when you don't use bogus valve stem caps that release air over time or that the metal valve stems aren't tight enough in the wheels..

 

[Nukeman7]

New car dealers get people to pay $399 for nitrogen in their new car tires. This sounds like a deal, it's mostly nitrogen anyway!

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.

 

[SC Maintenance]

New car dealers get people to pay $399 for nitrogen in their new car tires. This sounds like a deal, it's mostly nitrogen anyway!

I told the last car dealer I would pay only 22% of the $399 for nitrogen. No one got it.

 

[Nukeman7]

The other day a TPMS came on, so stopped at a small Exxon I frequent. One tire was down 6lbs, so I went to put air in. $2.50!
...
Modern times.

I blame it on the tariffs. The vehicles listed in your signature are all imports!!!

 

[SC Maintenance]

I blame it on the tariffs. The vehicles listed in your signature are all imports!!!

Too funny.

I will comment for the record that both my Nissan's were made in Tennessee with over 80% US content.

The Toyota admittedly has J vin.

 

[cptbarkey]

Dewalt Inflator was $80 recently.

 

[Kira]

Years ago my brother, upon seeing a coin op air station, said "I think free air should be required".
Taking the opposite side (as our dad would), I said, "The owner can say 'This is the USA and I'll run my gas station any way I like' ".

Practically thinking, I can see small stations doing this as slobs who won't fix a leaky tire -like jerks who'll jump start a battery for weeks before replacing it- will migrate to the station and clog up the traffic flow.

Also, I bet there's a correlation between pay air setups and less-than-stellar neighborhoods.....at least in the US.

A larger station with a pay air setup likely wouldn't see any of my business.

 

[97prizm]

who knows how much it costs to maintain a machine like that fully exposed to the weather

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. I've seen a dollar for air but yeah It wasn't too far back that air was free everywhere.

 

[Dave Hess]

I have an air pump in each of my vehicles.

They are very cheap on Amazon.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Years ago my brother, upon seeing a coin op air station, said "I think free air should be required".
Taking the opposite side (as our dad would), I said, "The owner can say 'This is the USA and I'll run my gas station any way I like' ".

Practically thinking, I can see small stations doing this as slobs who won't fix a leaky tire -like jerks who'll jump start a battery for weeks before replacing it- will migrate to the station and clog up the traffic flow.

Also, I bet there's a correlation between pay air setups and less-than-stellar neighborhoods.....at least in the US.

A larger station with a pay air setup likely wouldn't see any of my business.

I agree, station can charge what they want. I can choose to continue to buy gas there or not also.

Its an area that has been in transition for a long time. There are still some sketchy neighborhoods not far away, but there is also a publix and several upscale restaurants across the street and million $ homes along the river very close. Its on my way home from the city. I wouldn't hesitate to live there. 20 years ago maybe not?

 

[GSCJR]

Plenty of places with free air

 

[PF52]

I have an air pump in each of my vehicles.

They are very cheap on Amazon.

That's what I do too. Functioning air hoses (free or otherwise) have gotten super rare around here.