$2.50 for pump air?

[FowVay]

It's just the way we've driven our society. Back in my era, gas stations sold tires, used compressed air to operate their vehicle lifts, used air tools to work on vehicles, and had a general need for a compressed air structure. Hanging a big red meter on the outside of the garage door with a knob that you could dial in your pressure was such a minor expense that it wasn't even a consideration. It was in support of those who supported them.

Fast forward to the 21st century and nobody can turn a profit, everyone is college educated but nobody can read, gas stations are nothing more than grocery stores and the ability to provide compressed air for free is no longer a viable option. In fact, those machines aren't actually air pumps but rather water spigots masquerading as air dispensers.

To the OP, you did yourself a favor by not pumping that mess into your tires.

 

[walterjay]

I pump my own air at home. I have had some problems in the past with air machines.

 

[Rmay635703]

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

Why I’m sad the old fashioned air hose through the brick wall is so rare, they work year round and tend to inflate a lot faster.

The one time I paid for air the **** thing didn’t work.

 

[Dave Hess]

Unfortunately some people vandalize the free air hose.

I don’t blame them for charging for air.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Unfortunately some people vandalize the free air hose.

I don’t blame them for charging for air.

Lowes down the street has a free air hose - near the contractor door. Also discount tire will check your air for free - for obvious reasons. I would say thats a weak argument. Putting it in the back of the lot likely makes it more susceptible to vandals if anything.

I do have my own 12V compressor. Its in my off-road bucket. I could carry it if I wished I guess.

 

[Chris142]

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

And people constantly running over the hose and the end with the guage.

 

[Dave Hess]

Lowes down the street has a free air hose - near the contractor door. Also discount tire will check your air for free - for obvious reasons. I would say thats a weak argument. Putting it in the back of the lot likely makes it more susceptible to vandals if anything.

I do have my own 12V compressor. Its in my off-road bucket. I could carry it if I wished I guess.

I taught both my daughters how to use the air pump I bought them.

Unless the tire gets damaged they know how to add air.

I told them to avoid tire shops unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Kira]

I told them to avoid tire shops unless absolutely necessary.

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

 

[ecotourist]

I have an air compressor at home. Had to buy a few connectors to add air to the Tesla tires.

The local "free" air hose wouldn't connect properly and I had to go to a tire shop for air. I don't like to bother people asking for free services.

 

[Drifter]

That is pricey. I keep a inexpensive pump in the trunk of all my family vehicles. I have used Firestone and Discount tire. They wanted me to wait in line (at the free air spot not the counter) at a Discount tire once. I went to Firestone a block away instead

 

[Dave Hess]

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

Upsell and no need to bother if they have a pump.

 

[chainblu]

Coming out of Atlanta a year or so ago, I felt the dreaded 'separated belt' tire shake. I nursed it to a familiar exit and pulled into the nearest gas station and put the spare on... which was half inflated. (That's on me) There was an air machine similar to the one in the OP which I used to fill up the spare.

Yeah, free would have been better, but I was just glad it was there.

 

[Speedy3861]

How many drivers today know how to check Tire pressure, know how to use a gauge, actually have one or know if it's accurate? Currently, the method used by most to change at flat tire is usually " call AAA", especially with so many hybrids that don't have a spare. Probably very few that can actually use the repair kit and pump that is supplied. Watching the YouTube channel "Just Rolled In" gives you a picture of what's driving next to you at 70mph. Scary

 

[spackard]

Last winter I got a rapid deflation, pulled off fwy at next exit and came into 24 hr station with 8 lbs. I saw that high-priced air and went for a tire change instead. It was 5:30am, winter dark, but the station was at least well lit.
WRT $2.50 air, $diety help that machine if it doesn’t work after taking my money. One way or another I’m getting $2.50 outta that machine.
If it was free and broken, well fair enough.
I didn’t have any change for the machine anyway.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I haven't touched one of these since I rode with a co-worker to air up the low tires on her car and it removed air from the right front. Last resort only, as they can make a bad situation worse.

 

[andrew_j]

Unfortunately some people vandalize the free air hose.

I don’t blame them for charging for air.

That is what I notice at local car wash / gas station. People ruin it free ones.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

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.


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

 

[Frankrank]

Most Costco's have free nitrogen and you don't have to be a member to fill up.

 

[k1xv]

Unless I am really short on cargo room, I carry a 12v Milwaukee air compressor. Attach it to the tire, turn it on, see what pressure you have, set it to the desired pressure, hit the start button. It inflates the tire to the set pressure, and turns itself off.

 

[researcher]

This reminds me the very last time I ever tried to use any of the public air pumps (free or $$$).. I tested the free pump (at a tire store) and all it did was spray water out of the hose! ouch! imagine inflating THAT into your tire?! That's when I got a portable inflator, first one was from Lowe's, plugged in dc or ac.. Now I use an awesome Ryobi inflator! no more water issues or $$$