Anybody else here decline valet parking?

[NetWareHead]

In my 20s, I didnt care but now that Im in my 30s I get a gut wrenching feeling handing over my keys to a wide eyed 20-something valet. In all fairness I shold mention that I take very good care of my car, am the original first owner and even maintain all records for past service in a file. I'm pretty selective of who I let drive it and am always on top of my maintenance.

I dont drive a fancy car but I've witnessed valets grind my gears and stall my car attempting (manual transmission) to move the car to its parking place. A buddy of mine who drives a BMW gave the valet his vehicle ticket and the kid came back with a toyota! This week, I had a ton of xmas presents in my car from shopping and declined valet service for that reason too. Between the stories of valets taking cars out for joyrides, damaging/scratching the vehicles, I just feel alot better parking it myself even if I have to walk. And I get to save a tip too.

Yes I know it makes me look cheap but the older I get, the less and less I begin to care about stuff like that anymore... Anybody else?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I drive a classic car, so I don't like other people touching it. Nobody else is getting behind the wheel of my 1997 Geo Metro but me dammit!!

That, and I generally hate places that have valet parking and will avoid them whenever possible.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't go places with valet parking. If I did, I doubt I'd use it. My vehicles usually have special operating instructions, and I can't on someone that grew up having everything done for him to do it right.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

There are some downtown hotels where you pretty much have no choice. Their actual parking structure could be blocks away, and only they have access to it. It's also worth the price to phone the front desk and have the car waiting when we go down. Besides, even if I were to save a couple of dollars by fetching the car myself, I would still have to come back to the lobby. The Mrz. ain't walking in heels for any distance. Same goes for Vegas where your car, it seems could be 1/2 mile hike away. Besides, your out for fine dining, on vacation, or on a business trip, man up. It's one of the only reasons I carry cash when I travel.
However, I do remember one time at a SMALL Palm Springs restaurant where I did decline. The lot only had about 25 spaces, and the 2 available were within a few feet:\

 

[Fenixgoon]

yes. my car is a manual. the one time i did valet, the guy ground the shit out of my clutch. everyone within like a 5 block radius looked my way and felt bad.

 

[Markbnj]

I don't need any help parking my nine year-old Toyota that has more scratches on it than paint.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

yes. my car is a manual. the one time i did valet, the guy ground the shit out of my clutch. everyone within like a 5 block radius looked my way and felt bad.

I had 2 autos, and a stick. It was with the stick that I taught both the kids to drive in a empty stadium parking lot.

 

[Ns1]

As a former valet I can confirm a shocking number of valets either don't know how to drive stick or learn on the job.

AMA

 

[IronWing]

I detest valet parking. To me, it is a scam to extort money out of guests. I stayed at a hotel in Santa Fe that had valet only parking. The lot was right next to the hotel, nothing tricky, just a plain old lot, except for the gate that the valets had the thwacker for. "$15/day will be automatically added to your bill for valet parking. Don't forget to tip."

 

[SNJ]

As a former valet I can confirm a shocking number of valets either don't know how to drive stick or learn on the job.

AMA

how many times did you plant drugs in a customer's car and then tipped the cops?

 

[Ns1]

how many times did you plant drugs in a customer's car and then tipped the cops?

if by "planting drugs" you mean "take all the drugs I could find", then the answer is no comment.

I would highly suggest against leaving drugs in your vehicle, and any notion that a valet company is a drug free workplace is laughable at best.

 

[SNJ]

if by "planting drugs" you mean "take all the drugs I could find", then the answer is no comment.

I would highly suggest against leaving drugs in your vehicle, and any notion that a valet company is a drug free workplace is laughable at best.

I was making a GTA:SA reference... :sneaky:

okay, serious question; did you guys go through the car's glove box/boot before parking it? whats the most interesting or unusual thing you've discovered inside a vehicle?

 

[Ns1]

^^

No. I was not a sketchy valet which is not to say that there are not sketchy valets. Never found anything more interesting than joints, and the occasional disgusting hoarder vehicle.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Let Nathan's nail salon parking valets park your car.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

how many times did you plant drugs in a customer's car and then tipped the cops?

What's the upside to planting drugs in a customers car? Sure, they get busted, but you're out a bag of perfectly good dope. There's no doubt that valets have drugs, but they're using them (probably while on duty), not planting them.

 

[Ns1]

What's the upside to planting drugs in a customers car? Sure, they get busted, but you're out a bag of perfectly good dope. There's no doubt that valets have drugs, but they're using them (probably while on duty), not planting them.

All of this.

 

[Imp]

What's the upside to planting drugs in a customers car? Sure, they get busted, but you're out a bag of perfectly good dope. There's no doubt that valets have drugs, but they're using them (probably while on duty), not planting them.

Seriously, waste of damn good money.

 

[DrDoug]

No, I wouldn't let anyone else drive our 'going out' car. The instructions alone would scare them...

"This key unlocks the steering and this key switches the electrical system on. Once the electrical system is on, retard the timing control 10 degrees, switch the fuel pump to "AUTO", turn the electrical system key to the "CRANK" position, hit the gas pedal twice and then turn on the "IGNITION" switch to start. Once the engine starts adjust the timing control to advance the timing 10 degrees."

"To use the vertical gate shifter..."

I'll just park it myself.

 

[nsafreak]

No, I wouldn't let anyone else drive our 'going out' car. The instructions alone would scare them...

"This key unlocks the steering and this key switches the electrical system on. Once the electrical system is on, retard the timing control 10 degrees, switch the fuel pump to "AUTO", turn the electrical system key to the "CRANK" position, hit the gas pedal twice and then turn on the "IGNITION" switch to start. Once the engine starts adjust the timing control to advance the timing 10 degrees."

"To use the vertical gate shifter..."

I'll just park it myself.

Just what the heck is your going out car? A Ford Model A?!

 

[TwiceOver]

Yes. Usually my limo just drops me off so I have no real need for the valet.

 

[DrDoug]

Just what the heck is your going out car? A Ford Model A?!

A Mustang with a very nice 351W and custom electrical system. :biggrin:

 

[Ns1]

No, I wouldn't let anyone else drive our 'going out' car. The instructions alone would scare them...

"This key unlocks the steering and this key switches the electrical system on. Once the electrical system is on, retard the timing control 10 degrees, switch the fuel pump to "AUTO", turn the electrical system key to the "CRANK" position, hit the gas pedal twice and then turn on the "IGNITION" switch to start. Once the engine starts adjust the timing control to advance the timing 10 degrees."

"To use the vertical gate shifter..."

I'll just park it myself.

"Sure boss. No problem."

::starts car and goes::

 

[DrDoug]

"Sure boss. No problem."

::starts car and goes::

Famous last words...lol! I've let friends try to figure out how to start it and not one has done it yet. It takes me about 5-7 seconds to start the car so while it's a process it's a quick one.

 

[Ns1]

Famous last words...lol! I've let friends try to figure out how to start it and not one has done it yet. It takes me about 5-7 seconds to start the car so while it's a process it's a quick one.

Here's the next phrase:

"This car won't start call the tow truck"

So yeah, I agree, don't valet your car. Lol

 

[AdamK47]

Both my cars have manual transmissions. One with quite a bit of horsepower. Parking a car and walking to the entrance is not that difficult either. Decline!