Posted on 04/17/2012 3:16:58 PM PDT by ReformationFan
I'll admit that I like free air. Who doesn't? You pull into the gas station, find the compressor, inflate your tires to the recommended pressure (thus saving at least one polar bear), and drive off. What's not to like? People resent — I resent — having to insert quarters. "Why do I have to pay for air?"
But as a business guy, I suspect that an air compressor is a fairly expensive piece of equipment. Then there's the electricity to run it, maintenance, the salary of the guy who has to go out and unkink the hose every day. And of course, the highest corporate taxes in the world. All of those costs have to be recovered somehow by the gas station owner. So you can get all the free air you want; but if you'd like that air inside your tires, someone will have to pay to get it there. And that someone is either the person who receives the benefit, or someone who doesn't.
Cost shifting is like air: it's all around us, and it's invisible. Associate Justice Elaina Kagin didn't see it. Regarding Obamacare she said [Warning: do not drink liquids while reading this quote], "Why is a big gift from the Federal Government a matter of coercion? ... It's just a boatload of federal money for you to take and spend on poor people's healthcare. It doesn't sound coercive to me, I have to tell you." Right, Madame Justice, this is what you legal scholars call in Latin, dinero ex nihilo. It didn't come from anywhere. Nobody had that money taken from him so it could be loaded onto the giant Government Love Boat. It just fell out of the free air! No coercion here, I have to tell you.
(Excerpt) Read more at renewamerica.com ...
FYI to the writer-
Service stations cannot deny you air even if you don’t have any quarters. It’s a DOT requirement. Safety issue.
Showing my age, here -
Usedta be that when you pulled into a gas station, a young person would appear at your window, ask you how much gas you want, put that much gas into the tank, check your oil, water, and tire pressure (and top-off the air and water if needed at no additional charge..), and washed your windshield, take your money, make change, present you with your Green Stamps and/or a free dish or other premium, and smile and say “Thank you and have a nice day - drive safely!” as you drove off...
And the gas?? 25 cents per gallon.....
you may be an antique.
When I first saw this post, your thoughts were exactly the same ones I had. Except I do remember that we would also have gas wars when it would get down to $.19 a gallon. Another benefit was that these stations provided job opportunities for teens - something else that doesn’t exist any more.
I remember those days well ... I was that kid that gave your car the full service treatment. ;-)
Yep, I was one of those teens working the pumps.
I remember grumbling to my boss about one guy in particular who would come in every couple of days to have me do the routine - windshield, fluids, tire pressure - all without buying a single gallon of gas.
“Don’t worry about him” my boss would say, “When he needs tires, a new battery, or a tune-up he always comes to me.”
“Sometimes you gotta invest a dime if you want to make a dollar”
” I was that kid that gave your car the full service treatment. ;-) “
Who wasn’t?? ;)
I wonder why they don’t charge for the water to wash your windshield.
The quarters don’t pay for the AIR, they pay for the compression/pressure. When you put quarters in the vacuum cleaners at car washes, you’re not paying for air either, you’re paying for the vacuum/suction.
Well, that explains it. I always felt that if I had to pay for the air they ought to be paying me for the suction. It seems only fair.
Service stations cannot deny you air even if you don’t have any quarters. It’s a DOT requirement. Safety issue.”””
Depends on where you live. Here in Nevada, all the air outlets are ONLY coin operated. Cannot be bypassed at all.
Where I live, there are 3 different places within 6 miles (rural) and NONE of the units work. You don’t get your money back, either. They are not owned or operated or maintained by the service stations.....
I ended up buying myself a 125 PSI electric air compressor for this last Christmas. Since I have 26 total tires here on the ranch, it will probably keep me out of pressure problems.
With the vast amount the EPA and other “Air Quality” GovernMental EnvironMental bureaucrazies squander on trying to get from 97% pure air to 100% sterile air... Ain’t none of it free!!!
I was a gas station attendant in my youth. At a Texaco where I worked, the boss insisted that I automatically lift the hood on every car that came in. If the driver protested, don't stop until after a third protest. Check the oil, water, windshield water tank, etc. Wipe the windshield. Check the tires. We also had to wear crisp uniforms and hats. Those were the days when work was work, not just taking payment at a cash register (which I also had to do as well as handle the gas pump). Gas was $0.24 a gallon.
And now with all the frikken EPA rules and mileage thingies we have to pay $10 PER TIRE to change over to summer air - just did it last weekend. And then have to change back in the fall again when the cold temperatures hit!
Are you serious? What part of this once great nation are you having this absurdity imposed upon you???
Here fishy fishy fishy! 21twelve, you got one!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.