When the hell did this start happening? The Air-Serv company says it’s been in business since 1981, but today’s the first day I’ve run into their machines at a gas station. Actually, I ran into two gas stations which have them. I drove across the street from the second one in order to get free air.
I don’t care how you dress it up with “a portion of your purchase goes to charity,” air shouldn’t have a cost attached to it unless you live in a geodesic dome on a terraformed planet with an unbreathable atmosphere.
Yeah, the closest and most convenient gas station to my house has one of these; charges a buck for about enough air to fill up 3 tires. I recently learned that the weird little gas station up a side street still has free air pumps, will go there next time AND take my gasoline business with me!
Really? You’re only now noticing this? Here in the LA area, pay-for-air machines have been around since I was in college or so, back in the early/mid-80’s. Much grumbling at first, followed by a belated recognition that everyone is entitled to rent if they’re creating value (if you think that isn’t the case, take out the Schrader valve in your tire and blow hard!), followed by the purchase of something like this. $40 and you never have to fish for a quarter again.
These things are new to my neighborhood, Rob. Or at least relatively new. They’ve had coin-operated vacuum cleaners for years, but it’s only recently that these machines have appeared.
Dude, this has been the only way to get your tires aired up on the East Coast for over a decade. I hate them. Karen’s right – enough air for $1.00 to top off 3 tires.
Heh. Hawai’i is always, always late on trends.
We bought a mini-compressor for like $40 and keeps all our tires filled properly, allows me to use an airbrush and powers the paint gun. So worth it!
About half of the stations I encounter have these machines. I tend to go to the stations that do not have them. But, then I have to go to my auto dealership (I have a car that has nitrogen-filled tires). My favorite station is right down the street from my place of employment. The only reason why I do not go there all of the time is that I cannot pay at the pump. But that may not be a bad thing…
I go to the tire shop or the oil change place and ask them to do it. Never been a problem, and then they remember me the next time I buy tires.
It pains me to admit it ;-), but I actually see Rob’s point on this one.