RIPOFF air at garages...

Ebe_Scrooge

I'll second the footpump option - mine is years old, cost about 6 quid from Argos and still going strong. Keep it in the boot of the car so you've always got it for emergencies.

As to paying for air - I belong to a local diving club, and we've got our own compressor for filling our tanks. It costs a fair bit to maintain, on top of the hefty initial purchase price. I know garage compressors don't have the same need for filtration systems etc., but they still cost a fair bit to buy and maintain. So someone has to pay for this, somewhere along the line ....

Nilrem

antilles wrote: »

I don't see the problem here. OK air costs nothing, but the garage has to pay for the cost of the compressor, electricity to run it, servicing, repair costs etc. Why should they supply this service for free? Anyone who does it for free is just adding costs onto something else to pay for it.

Personally though I won't pay for it either so I bought a footpump.

That's about my thought on it.

The equipment costs money, and the money has to come from somewhere, either directly via a charger per use on it, or indirectly by adding the cost to something like the cost of the fuel.

Personally a couple of years back we bought a compressor for use in our garage (to run air tools on a DIY project we were doing), and we now use that for our tyres
It's quite nice to have a good air source at home as it means I can do our car, my sisters car, and my mothers electric scooter tyres quickly and easily

vikingaero

Most airpumps at garages are notoriously inaccurate that you would be better off using your own pumps. The air-lines with the gauge on the machine are better than those with the gauge on the line as these get thrown down and run over.

adecor

If you have to pay for the air why aren't these machines covered by Trading Standards & checked for accuracy just the same as scales are in places like the Post Office.

I also came accross a 50p machine (digital reading) about a year ago (that was Shell too) and have boycotted the garage ever since.

vikingaero

adecor wrote: »

If you have to pay for the air why aren't these machines covered by Trading Standards & checked for accuracy just the same as scales are in places like the Post Office.

I also came accross a 50p machine (digital reading) about a year ago (that was Shell too) and have boycotted the garage ever since.

Because that would mean even more cost if the machines have to be mega accurate and require testing and more maintenance. Instead of 20p it would be £1 to check your tyres.

Hintza

vikingaero wrote: »

Because that would mean even more cost if the machines have to be mega accurate and require testing and more maintenance. Instead of 20p it would be £1 to check your tyres.

A very interesting point though! Wonder where you stood legally if you charge for a service such as air, gauge is faulty, driver over inflates, tyre suffers blow out etc etc......?

Pssst

It takes a lot of pumping with a footpump or even an electric one to develop 49 psi...

vikingaero

Hintza wrote: »

A very interesting point though! Wonder where you stood legally if you charge for a service such as air, gauge is faulty, driver over inflates, tyre suffers blow out etc etc......?

Put it this way. If I owned a garage and faced this situation I would remove the air machine and put some overinflated twin barrel pumps for sale in the shop.:D

Rolandtheroadie

If I've ever made a purchase of fuel and asked what the air machine takes, they give me a token for free.

A blow out after filling from a non calibrated compressor/gauge? Could only prove if you were able to catch all the air that came out of the tyre when it blew. Is a blow out not normally caused more by a damaged tyre or tyre defect?

As far as a boycott is concerned, you'll need them before they need you.

anewman

It's called inflation mate.





But seriously, 50p?! I'd be expecting nitrogen and an accurate pressure gauge.