i valeted for 2 years and now own my own company in fl. the trick to keeping everyone happy and making sure your car is treated like a gem, is PRE TIPPING. just smile to the guy, give him some cash-5-10bucks and your set. no worries, everyone is happy, no crazy awd launches or any horror storries. some people are irresponsible when taking other peoples cars. PLUS the big bonus is that if something happens to your car, the valet company is responsible. thats piece of mind.

 

but if you don't mind me asking is there good money in valet? If so what can of numbers are your employees making? Thinking about this as a side job

 

Lets see...I worked for Express Parking which is...Neiman Marcus, so consider that crowd... I would make around 450-500 on friday and sat. working 12 hours a day. The most i ever made was 450 in one day. and the average was around 200-300 on a good night...when more people work, your lucky to make 200 in a night. friday night was the night to be there, and with the fewer runners, the better you will make. During Xmas time, the boss makes a killing...tons of cash just taking it home in there pocket...you can make over 10,000 a week valeting during xmas (if u own the business)

 

Do you give the boss a cut of your tips or something?

 

no, the boss does not get a dollar of my money, but included is the 4 or 5 dollars an hour he pays me

 

My wheels currently on my Mcoupe, are a prime example why NOT to use valet...All 4 of my wheels are scraped... My dad owned the 2000 Mcoupe, we just kept wheels and put on mine...He always used valet...and look what happened... All 4 wheels are scraped around the lip lol...

Im not saying all valet people are bad or anyhting, but...Mistakes happen, he never did notice the scrapes until after like 4 weeks then forgot where he took it but... O well. Aftermarket BBS wheels they are.

 

I always pay a little extra to valet my car.

 

I live near Atlantic City so I throw the valet a 20 and he leaves it right up front.

 

"See what a finski can do to a person's attitude?" says Ferris. "He's going to treat it like a beautiful woman."

http://www.wavlist.com/movies/117/fbdo-english.wav





http://new.wavlist.com/movies/117/fbdo-doagain.wav

 

I live in Chicago and I think of that all the time, however I frequently valet my Evo. It's great to get my head swelled once in a while when the valet leaves the car out front. I've had my car left out front at Gibson's while I ate. Another time it was parked on Rush Street in line with a Porsche and a Ferrari across from Tavern on Rush. The guys at the Doubletree leave it out front when I eat at Mrs. Park's Tavern. The valets at Kinzie Street Chophouse leave it out front with the flashers going. I've had my car a year and a half and I still get treated better than some guy in a vette or a GTO.

The only bad experience I had was when I had lunch at Smith & Wollensky. That valet got mud all over my pedals and my car was delivered wet from him driving through a puddle. They gave me my money back and I used it to get the interior cleaned.

I almost always self park and pay the valet when I am in a hotel. I keep my keys because I don't want them doing a Ferris Bueller when I am asleep.

It's best to just size up the valet when you arrive. If the guys look sketchy then just drop off your date and go and find a parking space someplace.

The worst thing I observed was when I self parked in a lot used by valets. Somebody used a valet for his 60's Caddy. It was all pimped out with huge wheels and a killer stereo. There were six valets standing around the car. Doors open, trunk popped, the stereo was cranked and they were all checking it out. I smiled and thanked God I decided to self park that day.

 

Around here, you often have no choice but to allow your car to be valet parked at certain resturaunts and clubs. But in this neighborhood, the lots are usually filled with at least 3 or 4 911 turbos, Lambos, and Ferraris. So my car isn't all that high on the Valet Wetdream Joyride list.

Regardless of this (or because of the $5 before and after that I give), the Evo almost always gets put up front.

 

I valet parked my 1961 Austin Mini once....

The starter button is separate from the ingnition key (which only turns on the ignition juice). There is a choke that must be modulated manually to get the car to start. Reverse gear is accessed by pulling up on the shifter stalk and slotting towards 4th gear. And on top of all that, the car is right hand drive.

Lets just say that I had to retrieve the car myself at the end of the night. huhu

 

no, no way, no how, no chance in hell. I actually got into an arguement with a Valet who was some 17 year old punk kid i could see just wanted to drive my car. He was foaming at the mouth when i pulled up, checking out all the stuff in my car, and was like "i'll take your keys...ah...sir" with a huge grin on his face....

i was like no thanks, i'll park it...he then preceded to argue with me... and i was like dude, you're not parking my fu_king car and if you want, you can cost your restaurant the $200 i am about to spend on dinner cause i'm about to go somewhere else.

needless to say i parked my car and the lovely lady i was i with for the night had a very funny comment while we pulled into the parking spot

"That kid really really wanted to drive your car"

 

Had a valet do major damage to my celica (probably just trying to get the car parked quickly). Many neighborhoods in NYC if you want to park you have to pull into a lot where they'll valet it.
You can get the spot or two in front, but if those are full, it's either give them the keys or go home
I take the motorcycle if I don't have to dress up and am not drinking (and it's not snowing) to avoid the valets and to save $30.

 

I had valet my car twice. Both times there was a small parking lot, I watched the guy park my car before I left. I would not valet if the dude has to drive far to park the car, because you never know what they would do to your car if it's out of your sight.