mdre55amg

How many of you use valet parking services? If you do, how many of you pay "extra" to have them keep your car parked out front? I usually do so some kid isn't out joy-riding and putting miles on my E. I also want to make sure the car is parked in a safe place. Am I crazy?

bobgodd

To make sure nobody is joy riding around in my E, I park it myself

itsmeek

They usually park mine out front either way- but I do tip them about 30% extra usually.

nye500

Usually I tip well!! I try and get a spot up front, plus my keys back... That way when I'm done, I can just leave right away, plus I know NO joy riding has taken place...

cte430

I try not to valet if I can help it but if i have to i'll throw the guy $20 and pray LOL.

I'm not concerned about someone out putting miles on the car as it's pretty easy to note the mileage when you drop it off (can also leave a little "sticky" inside so THEY know you know). If someone wanted to go thrash the car, I would be pissed but i'm pretty sure they won't drive it any harder than I have. I just don't want a scratch or dent on the car.

Had an overnight meeting last week at the Mohegan Sun casino in CT last week and decided to take my car, as it's a pretty nice drive. I pulled up to the valet and handed the guy a $20. I said "look, I know you're going to do whatever you want, but I would really appreciate it if you can keep it in a spot where it won't get any dings or dents". They guy said he would be sure to put it in a great spot. "his driveway", i'm saying to myself.

I come out the next morning to leave and I was very pleased to see that the car NEVER moved - he left it right in front of the casino front door.

Yacht Master

Self park in the valet up front, tip obscenely well, keep the key.

BenzoBoi

In the cases I HAVE to valet, I'll ask to park it myself and tip "well". If they say no, I'll tell them to leave it up front and tip "well" also.

transferred

I don't care where they park any of my cars and I only tip a few dollars over the min charge...it's just a car people...

-Rob

shardul

iTrader: (1)

i have had bad experience with valet. so if i can avoid it i do

Yacht Master

So true, they are only cars. For many of us it could be a security issue, many drivers today have arms in their vehicles and possibly a briefcase that contains identity information, corporate information, cash, checks, credit cards, that we just don't want to lug around. (no guns in bars in Florida) I for one feel much better having my car in a high foot traffic area, locked, with the key in my pocket. It is only a little bit about the car.

DFW01E55

It's just money Rob!
Flip the guy $10 and keep your car pristine.
-Mike

AMGfan

I treat the valet's well to keep it up front:

1. Highly visible and under a lot of light (security)
2. Door ding avoidance
3. Away from sprinklers and morning dew
4. No waiting...grab keys and go

Usually word gets around with the other valet guys who tips well and who doesn't...they seem to work harder for me if they know I tip well.

J

str8ridin

My co-worker valet parked cars in a garage and at an MB Dealer when he was younger. He told me that EVERY time any of the guys had unsupervised access to a car, they would "exercise" it and compare stories.

I wouldn't want one of these punks hitting a pothole and blowing out one of my delicate air suspensions or doing a burnout with some new tires.

So, as a rule of thumb, I just drop the wife off up front and go park the car myself. Always.

AMGfan

Parking garages are a different story...I was mainly talking about hotel and restaurant valets. I wouldn't give my keys to any garage valet. Heck, I tend not to drive any of my MB's to a mall garage or any venue with a lot of people (i.e. concerts)...that's what my daily driver is for...

mdre55amg

True, it's just a car BUT I would like for mine to stay in pristine condition with NO door dings, scratches, etc. I had a bad experience with the valet at a hotel lounge when I had my CLK430. I just happened to go outside when the valet was pulling my car around. I watched in horror as he made a turn from a driveway, caught the edge of the curb and ruined my new right rear Lowenhart wheel. It took them over two months to pay me the $1,300 to replace the wheel. That's exactly what I want to avoid when I must leave my car with the valet. I guess if you feel it's just a car then you don't care about curb rash and dents and dings on the car. I, along with many other forum members, like to keep my cars in pristine condition (except for the Taurus which is beat to **** and used for driving around the state and in winter weather). If I go somewhere questionable, I take a vehicle other than the E. But when I'm going somewhere nice, I like to take my nice car.

E55AMGGG04

I have to disagree. My 1995 mazda I use for work is just a car. My E55 is not just a car to me. I give a minimum $20 to get a parking spot up front everytime.

anachronist

unfortunately, the "only a car" theory works for me...it wasnt so, until some jerk (driving a black X5) dented my rear bumpers outside home depot and a month later another jerk did a lot of damage to my rear passenger door (in a toys r us car parking)..broke my heart so bad that i decided that i have to adobt the "only a car principle"...now a scratch here n there doesnt bother me...i take good care of my cls, but at the end of the day i cant cry and lose my sleep over every little ding it gets

MJ50

+1

Blacksport350

I don't have any cars that I will entrust to a valet. When I head into an area where I know I can't park myself, I drive a truck that I for hauling my race trailer around.

prodigymb

i always park in the front spot -tip 20$
i valet parked cars back in the day and if people took care of us we never beat on their cars.

Vic55

Money helps IMHO but at the end of it all, its not their car and they know their employer has insurance. Owning the car and parking it are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of caring. Add in some custom 7k wheels and you've got to be careful, really careful.

If Im forced to valet then the 20 spot gives me some piece of mind but there is never a guarantee.

amg guy

iTrader: (1)

ditto, on my 2000 e430 sport with 18" Monoblocks, I came out from a hotel in the morning and drove off without checking, later that day my friend says what happened to your wheels and lower rocker panel, It had been whacked against a bright red curb front wheel rocker panels and rear wheel. When I took it back to them they said too bad, you didn't check before leaving therefore it is not our problem. My bad.

F*CK VALETS. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

AZIPOD

I think it's a great idea to tip the valet in hopes that they will take care of your car. That's great.

But the valet lot isn't the only lot that your car will likely see. What do you do when you're at the supermarket? shopping mall? street?

You may want to save your money. The valet lot is only a small piece of the problem.

Marcus Frost

I will tell you all this - from a somewhat "insider" perspective, the horror stories you hear - the joyrides, abuse, etc it's almost all true. Valet employees are mostly totally worthless and don't care about you or your car. I avoid valet like the plague. Even the best places will sometimes screw up, it's just an unfortunate reality. *NO* valet company is perfect. Valets steal from the companies they work for like it's no one business, and trust me they have even less respect for the people who's cars they park. Now I know this is a gross exaggeration, cause there are plenty of good valet guys out there, but the truth is the good ones are the minority. Most are indifferent.

Here in Chicago, the city has been cracking down on cars being left in valet loading zones so even if you think you can just park your car and leave it, the city wants valet'd cars to be put in lots. Not at meters, and not in loading zones. Basically, find a parking lot, park your car yourself, and walk. It's good exercise.

-m

Vic55

Funny you mention Chicago, because after I saw Ferris Buellers Day Off I never trusted valets again and I dont think I was driving yet.