Who said air is free?

lovinituk

dickydonkin wrote: »

Totally missing the point!

No, not really - I just have an opinion that differs to yours! I couldn't give a monkeys if the garage charges 20p or 50p to use an air pump. I won't be boycotting it out of principle or anything else. Its 50p every couple of months for goodness sake - there are more important money issues to worry about than that!!!

pitkin2020

dickydonkin wrote: »

Missing the point completely.

I have never disputed that it will cost to supply and maintain the pump.

If we are going to tak about costs to a forecourt operation then let's include lighting, heating for the kiosk, detergents to clean the forecourt etc. etc.

Little extras (preferably free) might just entice someone who need s petrol AND needs their tyres inflated to go to a garage where air is free.

I know the days of free windscreen washers and assistants who would fill up your tank are gone - but instead of issuing stupid 'reward' points that require the fuel consumption of a supertanker to get sufficient points to buy a set of cheap wine glasses - a goodwill gesture to reward loyalty to a brand would not go amiss.

I suspect that the pumps are not actually owned or maintained by the proprietors - but by a third party who pays them commission, although I stand to be corrected on that.

Anyway - my rant is over but I wonder if garages actually charge such a fee in The States for example where the customer really is valued.

I think you are missing point TBH, lighting, heating for the kiosk, detergents to clean the forecourt are all necessary things to make the forecourt safe and clean whilst providing a decent working environment for staff.

As for the little extras 10 years + ago i'm sure someone would use a certain garage because they offered some extras, now though with pay at the pump and price of fuel being so high 99% of people are going to a certain petrol station for convenience and price. Not because the staff are nice and the air is free.

I prefer the BP garage personally (and the air/water is free) but their fuel is more expensive and its on the other side of town so its not convenient, and i'm not going to drive the other side of town wasting fuel to just save 20P. Plus their free air machine is usually out of order 4 days out 7.

Flyboy152

dickydonkin wrote: »

I have just been to my local Shell garage near Durham to blow up my tyre and they now charge 50p to use the air pump.

My opinion for what it's worth is that this is potentially a safety issue.

People running on a flat tyre may not have change to use the machine and drive on tyres in a dangerous condition or even be discouraged to use the pump.

Do these companies not extract enough out of the motorist? - sheer greed although I suspect it will be the supplier of the pumps that take most of the money and pay the garage some form of commission.

Are there any garages left where you can get free air?

There is the old adage that it would only be a matter of time before this government tax the air we breathe - it seems that Shell are sort of taxing their 'loyal customers' for the air in our tyres!!

You think that's bad, our local Tesco charge a pound for using their water. :eek:

skiddlydiddly

dickydonkin wrote: »

Missing the point completely.

I have never disputed that it will cost to supply and maintain the pump.

If we are going to tak about costs to a forecourt operation then let's include lighting, heating for the kiosk, detergents to clean the forecourt etc. etc.

Little extras (preferably free) might just entice someone who need s petrol AND needs their tyres inflated to go to a garage where air is free.

I know the days of free windscreen washers and assistants who would fill up your tank are gone - but instead of issuing stupid 'reward' points that require the fuel consumption of a supertanker to get sufficient points to buy a set of cheap wine glasses - a goodwill gesture to reward loyalty to a brand would not go amiss.

I suspect that the pumps are not actually owned or maintained by the proprietors - but by a third party who pays them commission, although I stand to be corrected on that.

Anyway - my rant is over but I wonder if garages actually charge such a fee in The States for example where the customer really is valued.

Thats exactly why I get mine from sainsburys, rather than tesco where you have to pay for air and both are within 500m of each other.
Oh and I just add 2-3 psi extra to cover the tyres being warm.

Hammyman

dickydonkin wrote: »

Do these companies not extract enough out of the motorist?

Because of course the compressor is free, the pressure gauge is free, replacing the airline when it gets broken/split is free as is the electricity required to run the compressor......

Hammyman

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Oh and I just add 2-3 psi extra to cover the tyres being warm.

So when they shrink as they cool the pressure increases even more?

skiddlydiddly

Hammyman wrote: »

So when they shrink as they cool the pressure increases even more?

The tyres might expand a bit but thats due to the air pressure rising inside due to heatig up.As the air inside cools, the tyre will shrink back again but the pressure will also drop to what I want it at.

I keep a pressure guage in the car and found adding 2-3 psi when warm works out about right when the tyres cool down.

Flyboy152

Hammyman wrote: »

Because of course the compressor is free, the pressure gauge is free, replacing the airline when it gets broken/split is free as is the electricity required to run the compressor......

The equipment is relatively cheap, certainly nowhere near the costs charged. It never seemed to bother garages before and certainly not some now, as some still manage to give it away for free.

Flyboy152

Hammyman wrote: »

So when they shrink as they cool the pressure increases even more?

Physics is not your forte, is it.

Woody._2

Hammyman wrote: »

So when they shrink as they cool the pressure increases even more?

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Physics is not your forte, is it.

Don't look like it.

How many millions of miles does he claim to have driven?