Paying for air at gas stations - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Gravitykillr · 08-31-2006, 02:04 AM

Quote:

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.

The only pay toilets i ran into in sweden where the outdoor ones almost all the restaraunts were still free, and the comdiments were just as free as they were in Canada.

Oil Stain · 08-31-2006, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravitykillr

The only pay toilets i ran into in sweden where the outdoor ones almost all the restaraunts were still free, and the comdiments were just as free as they were in Canada.

Oh... I didn't go to any Scandanavian countries. I guess that's what a 70% income tax rate does for you.

Hemi-Cuda · 08-31-2006, 03:38 AM

i've yet to find any air stations that pay. mind you i've only used ones at Husky, Petrocan, and Shell, but if that's the case it shouldn't be too hard to find one that doesn't require a fee

Agamemnon · 08-31-2006, 07:26 AM

Whats next? Paying to cross the street?

shane_c · 08-31-2006, 07:46 AM

The problem I had was that last winter my tire was low and so I drove around to about 5+ different stations and every one I went to did not have a house attached to their air pumps. So I was forced to go to Canadian Tire and buy a portable compressor to keep in my trunk.

Bleeding Red · 08-31-2006, 08:18 AM

The money may be inconsequential, and yes, the machines cost money.....but offering free use of the compressor might mean that that customer will come back and make a purchase. So, I guess a good question would be does absorbing the cost on a free to use air compressor lead to customer loyalty and to repeat business.

I bet gas retailers took a huge hit with the installation of pay-at-the-pump technology. I never go inside to pay at the service counter anymore.

Ironhorse · 08-31-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Be happy you don't live in Europe. They make you pay to use public restrooms in most places.

Yeah, but at least they come with an attendant and the restrooms are actually clean.

burn_baby_burn · 08-31-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I bet gas retailers took a huge hit with the installation of pay-at-the-pump technology. I never go inside to pay at the service counter anymore.

I wondered that myself this summer. I never go inside to pay.

ken0042 · 08-31-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

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.

I guess the thing that bugs be is companies trying to nickle and dime us to death. Currently at most gas stations the way it works is I pay for gas, and air, squeegees, washrooms, oil funnel, garbage cans are worked into the price. Do we really want to start seeing a seperate line item on a bill for each and every one of these? Combine that with the fact that in the last 5 years the price of gas has almost doubled; and now they want even more money.

Yes, it has been pointed out that profits are extremely low for gas stations and its the oil companies that make all the money. But if the station is run by somebody like TangayFan's was who only finds a way to make 3¢ on a bag of chips, then they really shouldn't be in business because the bags of chips that 7-11 sells for $1- you can buy a box of 24 of them for $13 at Superstore.

jamesteterenko · 08-31-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I bet gas retailers took a huge hit with the installation of pay-at-the-pump technology. I never go inside to pay at the service counter anymore.

I buy gas at a station that gives a free lotto ticket with a fill. So, I go inside to pay to get that.

It's my retirement plan.

James.

Agamemnon · 08-31-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesteterenko

I buy gas at a station that gives a free lotto ticket with a fill. So, I go inside to pay to get that.

It's my retirement plan.

James.

That happened to me too... I thought it was kind of wierd. Free stuff is cool... free gambling? What's next, a free pack of smokes when I buy a 12-pack?

VANFLAMESFAN · 08-31-2006, 10:58 AM

It;s a ****ing quarter.......who cares man

Agamemnon · 08-31-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

It;s a ****ing quarter.......who cares man

Ok... gimme all your quarters.

What if it cost a quarter to cross the street? Quarter to use the elevator? Quarter to stand at the bus stop? Sounds kind of stupid to me.

People gripe on the internet about things they're ****ed about. You're not ****ed? Congrats.

Reaper · 08-31-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

But if the station is run by somebody like TangayFan's was who only finds a way to make 3¢ on a bag of chips, then they really shouldn't be in business because the bags of chips that 7-11 sells for $1- you can buy a box of 24 of them for $13 at Superstore.

You can buy 24 50 gram bags of Frito Lay potato chips for $13 at Superstore? That's odd as usually the multi pack containers are comprised of 28 gram to 32 gram bags. Hell, I don't buy potato chips (I got tired of being a fatass) but for that price I wouldn't be able to afford not to buy them and re-sell them!

pepper24 · 08-31-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Esso is local? They are the biggest oil company in the world.

I was referring that it's the local gas station in my neighborhood.

Reggie Dunlop · 08-31-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

What if it cost a quarter to cross the street? Quarter to use the elevator? Quarter to stand at the bus stop? Sounds kind of stupid to me.

If you are being provided a service (i.e. being safely escorted across the street or having a bellhop push an elevator button for you), then yes.

Agamemnon · 08-31-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

If you are being provided a service (i.e. being safely escorted across the street or having a bellhop push an elevator button for you), then yes.

The light tells you when its safe to walk and when its not safe, isn't that a service? The bus shelter you're waiting in keeps you dry, service? Lots of things provide services... the elevator I used to get to my floor at work today was a 'service'... should I pay a quarter to use it?

Reggie Dunlop · 08-31-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

The light tells you when its safe to walk and when its not safe, isn't that a service? The bus shelter you're waiting in keeps you dry, service?

Heard of taxes?
Notice how authorities tend to shoo away people not using the bus service from using the bus shelter (granted, that's another issue).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Lots of things provide services... the elevator I used to get to my floor at work today was a 'service'... should I pay a quarter to use it?

And your employer pays rent/taxes on the facility.

Someone foots the bill for these things. In a roundabout way it's always you and me my friend.

Torture · 08-31-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

But if the station is run by somebody like TangayFan's was who only finds a way to make 3¢ on a bag of chips, then they really shouldn't be in business because the bags of chips that 7-11 sells for $1- you can buy a box of 24 of them for $13 at Superstore.

Yeah, but the amount of money they make off each item depends on their contract with the corporation. The gas station itself may be making 3 cents, but the corporation is certainly making money off of that sale too.

Also, Superstore buys a lot more chips than your local gas bar, therefore they get a better price, and therefore they can sell their chips for less.

Quote:

I bet gas retailers took a huge hit with the installation of pay-at-the-pump technology. I never go inside to pay at the service counter anymore.

Most people are too dumb to figure out how to work pay at the pump. Most of the people you have to get on the intercom and tell em how to do it or else they'll just end up coming inside. At the gas station I worked at (Cdn Tire) most of the sales were inside sales. Sure there were a few outside sales but it was pretty inconsequential compared to the number of people that came inside each day.

Shazam · 08-31-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

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.

You didn't answer the question. Is the 25 cents enough to pay for maintenance?

Ideally, you're supposed to check your tire pressure every week. That's $13/year, assuming that you can adjust your tires in the time alloted with the quarter.

Yeah, someone does pay for the "upkeep". In the past, that upkeep was subsidized by other sources of income such as food sales and gas sales. Now I doubt that those things have become less profitable for the gas stations, so just what the hell is the purpose of this nominal fee?

I'm just going to speculate here, but I really, really doubt that the air pumps are going to be in any better condition as a result of this charge. It seems that for half the winter those things are broken.

And I'm sick of the boo-hoo crying from gas stations. If you're not comfortable with the amount of money your gas station makes, sell the damn thing and do something else that's more profitable. Mind you, since things like salaries are a pre-tax expense for the franchisee, and I assume you're going to squeeze out as much money as you can from the operation before profits, I'm not sure that just breaking even is a bad thing.