Tyre inflation inflation!

Car_54

Supersonos said:

Four replies that totally ignore the OP’s question.  Classic MSE forums.

I suspect you missed a sign on the machine saying £2 if paying by card? 

Isn't that illegal these days?

Supersonos

Car_54 said:

Supersonos said:

Four replies that totally ignore the OP’s question.  Classic MSE forums.

I suspect you missed a sign on the machine saying £2 if paying by card? 

Isn't that illegal these days?

Good point, I think you're correct.  In that case, definitely complain as they're overcharging.

AdrianC

For all we know, it may now be £2 for cash, too. Or the £2 card purchase may provide air for a longer period.

[Deleted User]

Local ASDA went up from 20p to 50p plus they added the card payment option. No idea what the card takes but they added the card option to the jet wash at the same time and that is minimum £2 card or £1 cash.

I've had my own digital pump since last autumn now. Best investment ever. 

Richard53

photome said:

Those garage pumps are notorious for giving the wrong pressures. Buy a digital pressure gauge and a pump to do the job at home , will be cheaper in the long run ,and means you are more likely to check your tyre pressure more frequently

Also, if you check at home, you can make sure that you are checking the pressures when the tyres are cold, which is what most manufacturers specify. Even a short run to a service station will warm the tyres up enough to affect the reading.

Protip: if you only have a couple of psi to put in, a bicycle track pump (the kind that rests on the floor and you use both hands) is much quicker than an electric pump, by the time you have found it, untangled the cable, plugged it in, etc.

user1977

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Just go to Sainsbury’s where the air is free (or at least, it was the last time I went).

They've started charging at my local one - only 30p though.

Norman_Castle

Supersonos said:

photome said:

Supersonos said:

Four replies that totally ignore the OP’s question.  Classic MSE forums.

I suspect you missed a sign on the machine saying £2 if paying by card?  If it was me and as the garage is local, I would complain because, as you say, that’s a lot of free pounds. Might be a genuine error but they won’t know unless someone tells them.

It’s very MSE to suggest a pump rather than pay £2 a week? To check tyre pressure 

I don’t see what the complaint is? Unless it didn’t display a charge before the card was presented ,which is highly unlikely given that all card readers I have seen will display the amount before the card is tapped

I agree about the pump but it wasn't what the OP was asking.

"Should I be that person and complain? About £1..." was the question.  Maybe he has a pump but he'd lent it to someone.  Maybe he has a phobia of small pumps.  Maybe his dad invented the petrol station so he likes to support his local one.  Who knows?  

But he didn't ask for people's opinon on his choice of tyre pumper-upper.  He asked if he should complain about being over-charged.

Maybe the question should have been asked on the consumer rights board.

Clive_Woody

photome said:

Those garage pumps are notorious for giving the wrong pressures. Buy a digital pressure gauge and a pump to do the job at home , will be cheaper in the long run ,and means you are more likely to check your tyre pressure more frequently

How often do you get your personal pressure gauge calibrated to ensure accuracy?

BOWFER

Clive_Woody said:

photome said:

Those garage pumps are notorious for giving the wrong pressures. Buy a digital pressure gauge and a pump to do the job at home , will be cheaper in the long run ,and means you are more likely to check your tyre pressure more frequently

How often do you get your personal pressure gauge calibrated to ensure accuracy?

Never.
But they do seem to stay very accurate over even long periods of time, the accuracy confirmed by the on-board pressure readings in our cars.
How often do garages get their ones done?

Biggus_Dickus

photome said:

Those garage pumps are notorious for giving the wrong pressures. Buy a digital pressure gauge and a pump to do the job at home , will be cheaper in the long run ,and means you are more likely to check your tyre pressure more frequently

I use one similar to this:

It’s not digital of course but it’s as accurate today as when I bought it donkeys year ago,...and no worry about any batteries being flat or corroded when you come to use it.

I have an ageing dual cylinder footpump that still inflates perfectly but the pressure gauge is hopelessly inaccurate and always was from day one.

If I have tyres replaced I always double-check that the tyre pressure the garage has put in matches the pressure on my own gauge;....it always does,.. in addition, these days, my own gauge always matches exactly my car’s TPMS indicated pressures. A 3-way cross-check is good enough for me.

I haven’t used garage forecourt or supermarket pumper-uppers very often but I don’t specifically remember any problems with the pressure accuracy;...that’s assuming my method of accuracy verification is to be trusted.