uh.... gas stationed have been charging for air for as long as I can remember. This isn't some new fandangled method to suck your wallet dry. Granted, everywhere I've seen has been charging $0.25-0.50.. but you're just going to have to live with it

 

Is a cup of coffee at Starbuck's worth more than the same cup of coffee at your neighborhood mom and pop coffee shop???

I'm still wondering what everyone considers a reasonable percentage for a profit.

 

there really is not one.

capitalist markets always support the axiom of: whatever the consuming entity is willing to spend.

most retailer sellers of goods realize a profit of 8-20% but certain items carry much much more inherent profit. The highest profit margins I have seen in my experience has been fountain soda....jeez louise, 3-4 cents to fill a large cup or glass at a restraunt.....

service is a bit more tricky. In service it is a mixture of the value of the providers time, specialization of that service and market demand

 

Some of the air machines have a button on the bottom or the back that you can just push to turn it on. It's an unmarked "plunger" that looks like it would be for returning change.

 

It takes electricity and they often need repair. If I owned a gas station I'd charge also.

 

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...roduct_id=3992

Pay for air only once and you never have to whine about the service station again.

If you don't like paying for something, don't buy it. There is absolutely NOTHING in this life that you have to have that cannot be substitued with something else. You do not need Starsucks coffee, you do not need a new I-phone, and you do not need to buy air at a service station.

 

They've been charging air way before this oil crisis.

 

in chicago it's the price you mentioned, but if you fill up there you can get air for free (have to go inside to let em know). i'm always to lazy to walk inside so i just pay.

 

The oil companies AREN'T charging for air. The gas station owners are. Two very different entities.

 

Do you have a problem with big numbers? What matters is their profit margin. Exxon has a profit margin of about 8.5%. Microsoft has a profit margin of about 27%. Why do you complain about Exxon, but not about Microsoft?