‘Air’ today… Cool Group invests $7 million in ‘tamper-proof’ pump systems. In an effort to reduce rampant theft and damage of its air pumps, the Cool Group of companies is investing close to $7 million in the construction of what it says are more tamper resistant air hose systems across its network of Shell/Cool gas stations. According to Robert smith, Cool Group’s chief engineer, the company is currently rolling out steel graded rubber air hoses at its gas stations, replacing the customary nylon graded rubber hoses- which he says are much weaker in comparison and more vulnerable to theft. Smith disclosed to Sunday Finance that Cool Group was forced into executing the measure largely because unscrupulous persons have regularly been stealing the valves from the hoses over the years. “Thieves just cut the hose and take it off,” said Smith. “In that regard, at a slightly higher cost, we are replacing the type of hose we use.” He explained that the new hose “does not eliminate theft totally, but slows down the whole cutting off these hoses.”
The air pump systems are also being enclosed in metal barriers to curtail damages to the air hoses- a common problem for gas station owners.
“One of the biggest challenges we face as marketing companies is that users run over the pumps when they come over to use it because of where the tire inflators are located,” he said. “So we have found a very simple way of protecting the pumps.” So far, according to Smith 29 out of 80 gas stations in the group have employed the new measures, with a complete rollout expected in a year. Both measures combined are part of a strategy by Cool to boost the bottom lines of its dealers. The move is expected to save dealers hundreds of thousands of dollars each month in maintenance cost while at the same time lure consumer traffic towards its service stations’ offerings. In terms of cost management, Smith said that the move will hopefully help shed the huge cost burden which comes with maintenance expenses for the pumps. He noted that the cost of installation for pumps- after it is stolen- is around $180,000, while the cost to replace the air chuck- an integral part of an air hose- is $17,000. What is worse, he said, is that you could be replacing the latter about “three or four times per month.” “Maintaining these machines are not an easy task and most of the marketing companies will tell you that the monthly sort of overheads that we carry in terms of financing tyre inflators are really ridiculous,” said the engineer. This initiative by Cool will probably be welcomed by many Jamaican motorists who have become frustrated by the lack of functionable air hoses at gas stations over the years.
Once a staple service provided by local gas stations, air pumps appear to have been teetering the line of extinction in recent years. Only half of 20 gas stations visited by
this newspaper company in Kingston three years ago provided air pumps for their customers. Appallingly, in a similar survey done by Sunday Finance on Wednesday, only two of 20 gas stations provided the service. At one of the gas stations, a motorist, Richard Jacobs, who was in the midst of one of those familiar air pump expeditions experienced by many, openly expressed his frustration. “I have a slow leak, so I end up driving around the city like a mad man at least two times a week,” he said. “What a way standards have dropped in this country. Back in the days, every gas station had air.” However, in response to customer dissatisfaction at the lack of air pump service, many local gas dealers have sought to remind Jamaican motorists that they have been in fact the beneficiary of a novelty service for years because air pump services are not free in many parts of the world. For instance, in the US, it costs US$1 TO US$1.50, or up to J$130, to inflate a tyre. Smith agreed that free air has become accepted as a standard in Jamaica but he said that motorists need to be more conscious of the cost in maintaining air pump systems. “There is a lack of public awareness in Jamaica,” he argued. “We take for granted what it entails to ensure that these facilities are always available.” To reduce damages inflicted by motorists on air hoses, metal barriers are being installed around the air pumping system at Cool Group gas stations. So far, 29 out of 80 gas stations in the group have employed the new measures, with a complete rollout expected in a year.
One of the many broken air pumps across Jamaica. Motorists have become frustrated by the lack of functionable air hoses at gas stations over the years.