air fills

[grumpie]

I just had a case of sticker shock, Whats the going price on a air fill, with and with out a air card?

[mattd]

Well, if you bought the air card at smith, it would have been about $200 for 2 fills  > > >

Aquaventure is about $9 for air or nitrox.  I think Scubacenter has the best deal going if you dive a lot.  I hear you can gat an unlimited card for a decent price.

I'm having a bit of sticker shock myself here.  An air fill is about $10 and they way $16-20 to fill my HP100 with 32%.

[grumpie]

im sorry about smith diving. they were a very good shop. I have not had to buy air in many years so i was realy suprised at the cost.

[adventure40]

  Our air fills are $5.00.  We also have a fill card that gives you 10 fills for $40.00.  If you tank needs either a visual or hydro, we can help also.

Adventure Sports Scuba & Travel
(952)949-0909

[BigC]

SeaYa in Shakopee is $6 for a fill. If your in the area, stop in and see Scott.

[Kirk]

After the demise of Minneapolis’ Scuba Dive and Travel, I too was hit with sticker shock on fill prices.  I eventually just got my own air compressor.  Though I’m not sure if it will ever pay for itself; thus far I like it a lot.  I like filling me tanks to:
· When I want.
· What I want, and
· What pressure I want.
Though I think the woman in the apartment next me thinks I run my vacuum cleaner way to often. - Kirk

[Seal]

We should be glad that we paying less than 12 dollars for a cylinder of air.  Back in the sixties we were paying any wheres from $1.00 to $1.50 for an air fill and those were only 72 cu. ft. cylinders at 2250 psi.  Today's cylinders are higher pressures and contain more volume of air.  If we take into consideration inflation cost we would be paying over $12.00 for a fill. The price of compressors,filters and electric have not stayed the same as it was in the sixties.  Scuba shops do not make money on selling air.  It is one of the things they must have to stay in business.  You are not paying for the air you are paying for the service of putting it in your cylinders

[Deltaforce]

Hmmm...better check your math.  I don't think inflation has gone up 1200% since the 60's. 

I also remember getting my AL80 filled in 1980 for $2 -- and that was at 3000 psi.  And the extra 8 CF of air doesn't really factor into the cost at all.

I think the question is why there is such a variation from shop to shop -- I have seen anywhere from $4 to $9.

Since it is not a money maker anyway, lower the price for your air.  I'll come into your shop more often and isn't that what retailers want?

[arcFlash]

That's a matter of accuracy.
What cost $1.50 in 1960 would cost $10.75  in 2009. If it cost $1.64 it would be $12 now. So 14 cents!

What cost $1.50 in 1980 would cost $3.85  in 2009.

Inflation rates for 2010 are obviously not available.

[Deltaforce]

A $1 air fill in 1960 would cost you $7.37 today, not "over $12".  The inflation rate between 1960 and 2010 (current) is 637.1%, not 1200%.

Think you missed the point though...if any dive shop owner believes that $12 is a fair price for an air fill, then they should charge that.  I'm actually agreeing with Seal on one point -- the dive shop does not make money on air fills.  The have that capability to fill tanks to support their classes, rentals, etc. where they have an opportunity for profit.

Here's an idea -- if I buy a tank from a store, I would like a "free air" card for the life of the tank.  That store would have a customer walking in almost every week during the diving season and -- oh while I'm here -- I might as well pick up that new mask I was thinking about and my wet suit sure could be upgraded...........