Free air for tires?

[taylyn]

Is there any place left to get free air for tires? There was one left at a gas station at Winston Churchill/QEW, but it's a quarter now :( Does anyone know of someplace in Oakville/Miss border area that still offers free air? I hate paying for air....

[jp06]

i think most gas stations have switched to charging something for air. I guess it covers the cost of electricity? It's reasonable to charge so that only "customers" are actually using their air pump. It's kind of like most chinese fastfoods in food courts, they charge for extra plates/utensils because you get people asking for that stuff all the time and didn't buy a thing from you.

[Batman.]

i think the cost of driving around to finding these places with free air will cost more than just paying the quarter

[3weddings]

So true Batman!!

It's a QUARTER for crying out loud!! How about the cost the service station incurred while buying you the machine that gets you the free air!

[trini shotta]

The Shell at Erin Mills/QEW was free last time I checked...

[win-star]

i think the cost of driving around to finding these places with free air will cost more than just paying the quarter

Just a note, some other places ranges from $0.25 to $0.50 or $1.00(i think highest i saw)

[sumrandomguy]

i believe Shell gas stations have free air (at least the ones near me anyway)

PetroCan used to be free...and it had a digital reader/display too

[Batman.]

http://zhelian.win.mofcom.gov.cn/www/8%5Czhelian%5Cimg%5C200749213028.jpg

[edgedamage]

Corner of Poyntz and yonge 401 & yonge area Shell station:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=43.759911~-79.41058&style=r&lvl=18&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

[rfdrfd]

Buy an electric air pump powered by your car's cigarette power port.

Sure, it takes a little longer, but hey, its free.

[thumper80]

I need to get out more , I have never been to a service station that charges for air .

Must be an Ontario thing .

[edgedamage]

I need to get out more , I have never been to a service station that charges for air .

Must be an Ontario thing .

No it's a Toronto thing, money grabbing pricks. EVERY PLACE!! I visited outside the city had free air even the big name stations. Damm slow leaks are a pain in the arse.

[ssainani]

No it's a Toronto thing, money grabbing pricks. EVERY PLACE!! I visited outside the city had free air even the big name stations. Damm slow leaks are a pain in the arse.

i'm happy to pay

infact i prefer to pay 50 cents and not wait for all the cheap pricks to fill up before me

[talyban]

Shell gas stations don't charge anything. So it is Esso for gas and shell for air :D

[N1Hawk]

Some petro cans have $1 for air machine but some of the air pumps at there stations say if u want free air contact sales person inside!

[nalababe]

My local Esso in Midtown does not charge...

[cliffclaven]

Buy an electric air pump powered by your car's cigarette power port.

Sure, it takes a little longer, but hey, its free.

Does not compute.

[CanadianMike]

Some petro cans have $1 for air machine but some of the air pumps at there stations say if u want free air contact sales person inside!
+1

this has been posted on here in past threads on this topic....apparently if you go in and ask the attendant they will often turn on the machine for you (YMMV).

[reset]

I need to get out more , I have never been to a service station that charges for air .

Must be an Ontario thing .

brutal eh? most places in the gta charge, but outside of the city is better, good to know shell doesnt $

[jp06]

brutal eh? most places in the gta charge, but outside of the city is better, good to know shell doesnt $

But how often does someone need air? So it's not even a big deal to pay that $0.25 - $1.00 for air (once a year). Like most have said, going that extra few km's to get free air already burned that same amount of money in gas.

[taylyn]

A quarter is a quarter and I am RFDer after all :) It's a principle thing, not saying I can't afford a quarter, I just do not see why they are charging at all anymore. One problem is the air doesn't stay on as long as you need to to - seems to shut off before you are finished. And I am certainly not going to manually pump air into my tires LOL The Canadian Tire charges $1! It seems like a money grab to me- air machines have been free for years, since I was a kid, I do not see the cost of electricity being so high on these machines gas stations have to charge people $1 for each use :) Off to Shell!

[reset]

But how often does someone need air? So it's not even a big deal to pay that $0.25 - $1.00 for air (once a year). Like most have said, going that extra few km's to get free air already burned that same amount of money in gas.


i'm not sure how many people are willing to pay a $1 for air,

as for being free when out of town i was just passing on my tip, wasnt suggesting driving out of town for free air lol (although it is a nice drive lol) - country vs city i guess -like the above post saying that had never see one that costs

if someone pays a $1 for air they probably dont have a mortgage

[Quiggie]

I have never seen a gas station that DOESN'T charge for air.

It costs them electricity to run that thing, why wouldn't they charge?

You can buy a manual pump for $10.

Canadian tire has an electric one that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter for $15: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoTools/AirPumpsCompressors/PRD~0095080P/Compact%2BCompressor.jsp

[Quiggie]

And I am certainly not going to manually pump air into my tires
Well la dee dah!

[taylyn]

I meant it in a "I don't have time to use a manual bike pump for my car tires" kind of way as opposed to a "I'm too good for a manual pump" kind of way :) I don't have a garage, so it would be awkward to it that way anyways. I didn't know they had cheap compressors like that for tires, so I didn't know it was an option. Electricity never seemed to be an issue for air at gas stations for the past 30 years, don't see why it needs to change now except for greed. Anyways will report tomorrow if I find a free one :)

[gman]

I have never seen a gas station that DOESN'T charge for air.


You are way too young then. No gas station charge for air until a few years ago.

[markom]

A quarter is a quarter and I am RFDer after all :) It's a principle thing, not saying I can't afford a quarter, I just do not see why they are charging at all anymore. One problem is the air doesn't stay on as long as you need to to - seems to shut off before you are finished. And I am certainly not going to manually pump air into my tires LOL The Canadian Tire charges $1! It seems like a money grab to me- air machines have been free for years, since I was a kid, I do not see the cost of electricity being so high on these machines gas stations have to charge people $1 for each use :) Off to Shell!

1. Get to gas station.
2. Wait until someone pays and inflates his tires.
3. Get your tires inflated while the machine is still working.

Yup, it can still be free.

[alias_neo]

The Loblaws pumps at Victoria Park and Gerrard have free air. I usually pump my bike tires there too.

[Kherani]

Ask inside and they'll turn it on for you.

[ShadowVlican]

bought my own electric air pump... haven't looked back

[cooolway]

The OP gives RFD a bad name. It's just 25¢. The one near my house that 25¢ but that went to charity but they have stopped that now, last time i checked, it was free.

[h2o-]

my local Shell near STC offers FREE air

[tabiish]

I always the use the one at the Shell Gas station right on Matheson and Hwy 10 (Hurontario Rd ). Last time i checked was about a week ago. You can take all your jolly time. Press it again to turn on when it goes off. oh sorry did i mention it's free.

[rfdrfd]

To all those who's saying the OP is too cheap, how about if gas stations started charging $0.50 for using their washrooms? I'm sure we can all afford 50 cents. For sure, it takes more effort to clean a washroom then have an operating electric air pump.

Its not about the price, its about the principle. Like someone pointed out.

[umop]

Ask inside and they'll turn it on for you.

So what's the point of putting up stickers displaying a price and slots for coins on the machines if it's still essentially free?

It's like they're saying, "If you can read the sign, it'll be free for you. But if you can't, or don't notice it, you'll have to pay."

[taylyn]

I don't believe I give RFD a bad name at all. I have no problem paying for most services, but this is a service provided for free for the past 30 years and I essentially perform the service - it's AIR. It's not like someone is pumping the air for me, or it is a product which needs to be manufactured or produced. I'd like to know why in the past few years gas stations have decided to charge $1 for 25 seconds of air. Is it because their electricity has gone up so significantly they need to offset the cost? Or is it because every car/bike at some point needs air and there are millions of cars and limited other options? I fail to see how anyone can say I am a) cheap or b) a bad RFDer. I don't want to pay for air at all :) Gas on the other hand I pay for.

[extracrunchie]

its like Canada charging you money for the air you breath hahaha

but its like that here in Regina, SK too, well just the petro canada are charging but shell isnt.......shell has better gas anyways

[Quiggie]

How often do you really need air anyways, my tires lose like 1 psi every 2 months.

It's a good idea to have a pimp in your trunk just in case you need to pump it up on the road when there's no gas station nearby.

[angiek]

How often do you really need air anyways, my tires lose like 1 psi every 2 months.

It's a good idea to have a pimp in your trunk just in case you need to pump it up on the road when there's no gas station nearby.

Ok I can't stop laughing at this one.
No idea why you would need a pimp, but okay you guys in Ontario can be alittle different. I have learnt that you rent hot water heaters and pay for air for your tires. And now have pimps in your trunks. :D

I will be visiting Ottawa in October, what else do I need to know so I can fit in with my kin folk?

[tapanpatel88]

I hate air pumps with retractable air pipes. The one near my house (Esso at Hwy-10/Eglinton) is very hard to pull and I almost scratched the front side fenders in an attempt to stretch the pipe all the way to the back tire.

[1jVu]

most places in jane and finch charges 1 dollar.
i found that dufferin and wilson and jane and sheppard doesnt charge.
i hate the principle of paying for air as well.

[CCCC3333]

I will be visiting Ottawa in October, what else do I need to know so I can fit in with my kin folk?
Milk in Ontario is sold in bags instead of jugs. :lol:

[angiek]

Milk in Ontario is sold in bags instead of jugs. :lol:

Perfect now I can bring all those jugs for the bags of milk to them and they have a use for them. Haven't seen bagged milk in years. Shame cause you could freeze the bags and have a stock pile. Freeze, defrost and shake. I do miss them.

[Batman.]

Ok I can't stop laughing at this one.
No idea why you would need a pimp, but okay you guys in Ontario can be alittle different.

Ontario streets are dangerous. We need pimps to protect us.

[BornRuff]

I don't believe I give RFD a bad name at all. I have no problem paying for most services, but this is a service provided for free for the past 30 years and I essentially perform the service - it's AIR. It's not like someone is pumping the air for me, or it is a product which needs to be manufactured or produced. I'd like to know why in the past few years gas stations have decided to charge $1 for 25 seconds of air. Is it because their electricity has gone up so significantly they need to offset the cost? Or is it because every car/bike at some point needs air and there are millions of cars and limited other options? I fail to see how anyone can say I am a) cheap or b) a bad RFDer. I don't want to pay for air at all :) Gas on the other hand I pay for.

If they wanted to make money off this they would charge more than 25 cents to $1.

I bet stores started to realize they were paying a significant amount of money to maintain and replace these machines over the years. Most cars hardly ever need to fill up air. That pocket change wouldn't go much farther than paying for the depreciation and upkeep of the machines.

[alpenrock]

Petro canada gas station in Markham and 401 front of the parking ticket office there you pay loonie for the air

[rfdrfd]

If they wanted to make money off this they would charge more than 25 cents to $1.

I bet stores started to realize they were paying a significant amount of money to maintain and replace these machines over the years. Most cars hardly ever need to fill up air. That pocket change wouldn't go much farther than paying for the depreciation and upkeep of the machines.

I'm sure it costs more to upkeep those machines or the electricity it uses than the 0.25 users pay each time. So your theory doesn't add up.

I think its more of "hey, here's something we aren't charging yet, lets" Just wait, in a few years, the cost of this will go up.

[KorruptioN]

i hate the principle of paying for air as well.

You're paying for the compressor and its operation, not the air.

That said, I think $1 is too much.

[nalababe]

Milk in Ontario is sold in bags instead of jugs. :lol:

Go to any Mac's and buy the jugs...cheaper as well.

[BornRuff]

I'm sure it costs more to upkeep those machines or the electricity it uses than the 0.25 users pay each time. So your theory doesn't add up.

I think its more of "hey, here's something we aren't charging yet, lets" Just wait, in a few years, the cost of this will go up.

Sure, but the price of everything else will go up too. It's called inflation.

Why doesn't my story ad up? If they realize they are paying money to keep up these machines, and not getting any revenue back from it, and they want to change that, any additional money they can get is a step in the right direction. Even if it only covers half the cost, it is still better than having none of the costs covered.

[shipill]

i think the cost of driving around to finding these places with free air will cost more than just paying the quarter

+1

[jackwest]

WTF have you ever used a floor pump in your life? they cost $10-25 (check canadian tire or mec), take about 10 seconds to fill up a tire

that is less time than it takes to make your first post?

[jackwest]

also you get higher pressures...

omg op this is total fail