Paying for air at gas stations

[pepper24]

Sorry, I didn't notice a thread on this so hopefully this isn't a fata.

I went to Esso a few days ago and they now charge money for putting air into your tires. I was enraged that with controversy over high prices at the pumps and record profits they would be doing this.

I usually only get gas at Esso since it's local but I think this could be the final straw. Does anyone know if this is common or just Esso?

What are your thoughts?

[Resolute 14]

The record profits are going to the oil companies, not the people that run the actual stations.

[Flames in 07]

generally those retailers don't make much on gas, they live on ancillary sales like milk, carwashes and the air machines.

[Reggie Dunlop]

It's a service, isn't it?

Welcome to Capitalism.

Complimentary air with a fill-up would be a bonus.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

The record profits are going to the oil companies, not the people that run the actual stations.

True, Imperial Oil/Exxon Mobil are making the record profits and not the folks that run the station. Just bugged that something that is free to breathe etc. is now a fee.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

generally those retailers don't make much on gas, they live on ancillary sales like milk, carwashes and the air machines.

Lotto and Tobacco are the money makers.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by pepper24

True, Imperial Oil/Exxon Mobil are making the record profits and not the folks that run the station. Just bugged that something that is free to breathe etc. is now a fee.

Air is free to breathe, but you might have to blow really hard to fill up your tire without other equipment.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by pepper24

Lotto and Tobacco are the money makers.

there is next to zero margin in lotto and tobacco, they do those things in hopes that you'll buy a coffee with it.

As for paying for something that is free, that's impossible, if it was free you would use that instead right? You don't need air, you need a mechanism to pressurize it. And the gas station paid for a instrument to pressurize the air for you and they want a return.

[Ironhorse]

Next thing you know, they'll start charging for the squeegees next.

[V]

I'm just surprised it took someone this long to realize they should be charging for this equipment.

[Shazam]

If you're filling your human powered bicycle tires, they will let you use the machine for free.

Looks like they didn't actually think this thing through.

[Reggie Dunlop]

THEM
Charging for goods and services >>> Giving away things for free.

YOU
Small fee to inflate tires >>> cost to replace wrecked tires.

[Flames0910]

I worked at a gas bar over the summer (i'm a university student). We didn't charge for air but just to clear a few things up

-we made 3 cents on a bag of hostess chips
-3% or something on lotto sales (i was surprised by how low it was)
-we had the cheapest smokes in town (10 bucks), weren't making much profit on em, but people bought gum and stuff
-25 cents on a car wash (and if people complained about it not coming clean we gave em a rewash, byebye profits)
-the air hose was stolen twice in a two week period, the hose was $20 or so to replace
-squeegee's were stolen regularly as well
-stations aren't making anymore than they used to on the ridiculous gas prices, yet we had to put up with people bitching to us how we were making so much money on it
-i'm pretty sure the owner didn't make any money at all on gas (although the corporation probably did)
-regular payouts for the canadian tire name

as others have said, the money is in the gum, coffee, etc...I'm not surprised some stations have started charging for air. What I am surprised about is the amount of complaining...I saw a news story and they interviewed somebody and she said the price was like 25 cents for 5 minutes or something? ITS A QUARTER! Air is free, but air compressors aren't

[Reggie Dunlop]

We're talking POCKET change here. A quarter? Fifty cents?

Christ, the typical streetcorner squeegee kid demands more (and that's providing a service you didn't even consent to in the first place).

Not many things are free anymore.

[Shazam]

So is 25 cents actually enough to pay for maintenance for those things?

Can I start invoicing gas companies for using their slow pumps? My time costs money too.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Shazam

So is 25 cents actually enough to pay for maintenance for those things?

Can I start invoicing gas companies for using their slow pumps? My time costs money too.

C'mon...

Betcha there's more coins stuck under your sofa cushions right now than you'll spend on tire inflating this year.

If you're that hard up for a quarter, maybe you should considering checking coin slots on vending machines that you pass by.

[transplant99]

Its been common practice in this part of the world ever since I first arrived. I was taken aback as well the first time i saw it, but as has been mentioned, compressors cost money. It actually makes sense..

[Torture]

If you're that hard up for a quarter, maybe you should considering checking coin slots on vending machines that you pass by.

Careful! There might be a needle in there!

Anyways, I worked at a gas station over the summer and it's kind of ridiculous the small amount of money that's made on everything that's sold. Most of the money goes to the corporation and not to the owner of the store. We had free air but wow....people would get mad whenever the hose was ripped off. (It's obviously my fault, I went out there and pulled the hose off so that they couldn't use it! /sarcasm)

[Oil Stain]

Be happy you don't live in Europe. They make you pay to use public restrooms in most places. Ketchup at McDonalds and the like is also not free.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Be happy you don't live in Europe. They make you pay to use public restrooms in most places. Ketchup at McDonalds and the like is also not free.

yeah all the tourist places did it when I went to italy. the leaning tower was especially expensive!