I don’t often do this, but when I am feeling really ripped off, this is the place to squawk about it.

As I was driving downtown to a doctor’s appointment with Mom today my tire pressure light came on. Now, that’s not entirely unusual; I think this is the third time it’s happened since I bought the car. I’ve used a tire gauge to determine which tire was losing air, pumped it back up, and gone on my way with no further problems. I figured “Fine. On our way back I’ll hit a gas station and pump some air.”

Uh-huh. We got out of the doc’s office and I headed for the above gas station at 520 Ward Avenue in Honolulu. At one point it was called The French Wrench, for reasons I’ve never known. I don’t know if the same owner still operates it.

There were about six cars blocking the air and water dispensing unit and hoses, but that didn’t matter, because on the unit was a sign saying “Air and Water Out of Order.” “Crap,” I thought, and then looked for somebody who worked there to see if I could find the next nearest station with an air pump. The owner/operator said “Ours is broke, but for five bucks we’ll pump some from the air hoses in the mechanics’ bay.”

Five Bucks!

Well, needing air and with Mom in the car, I bit my tongue and paid for it. But I’m wondering if that dispenser was really out of order or if it was a ploy to overcharge the customers suckers. I know damned well I’m never going to spend another dime there.