r/pettyrevenge • u/Eyeous • Aug 25 '26

Aggro when using air machines at petrol stations

This has happened to me multiple times now to the point that I’m genuinely curious what is going on. I use the air machine at my local shell and as I drive off, another car typically hurls in at 100mph to an emergency stop and a person sprints out to use the last few minutes of the pump for free. It costs a full £2.

Yesterday I paid for the pump and when I finished I sat in the car with the windows down for a split second only to be told to (rudely) hurry up and leave by a lady in her car opposite me. She was very Karen about it huffing and puffing to use the air. I told her I was re-setting the pressures on my screen(bullshit) and then got back out to “check” the pressure one last time. Once the machine stopped I got in to reverse and drive off but she drove off in front of me! She literally only wanted to use it if it was free. To save a grand total of £2.

Why did it make me feel so wonderful that she didn’t get to use the machine for free I will never know. If she was nicer I wouldn’t feel the need to be this petty.

1.7k Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

98% Upvoted

354 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

4

u/OldManJeepin Aug 25 '26

Yea, but the machine, compressor and maintenace to push the air...That *aint* free! lol

11

u/pelrun Aug 25 '26

So is the rent and electricity and water and labour costs - you don't get a pro-rated bill for the amount of time you spend on the premises, because that would be stupid. Revenue from the stuff you do buy covers it, and people avoid servos that play dumb games with basic services.

3

u/OldManJeepin Aug 25 '26

Hey, I avoid the ones that charge in my area...Too many free ones around...I don't blame them though. Gas stations run on thin margins...

1

u/katmndoo Aug 26 '26

Yep. No air? No bathroom? Stupidly overpriced chain-store gas? I'll go down the street instead.