Never. Valets are for people that:

1) Are lazy and can't park their own car or refuse to walk to/from a parking lot/garage facility.

2) Showoffs. Valet parking was created for people that have the need to display their material posessions and constantly remaind others about their wealth.

Thank you very much. I park my own car and take a nice walk.

 

Unfortunately, here in LA, with restricted neighborhood parking, etc., valet is the only option.

 

If you drive.

 

Um...this is LA. Everyone drives.

 

my friend works as a valet, and he LOVES my mini. you should use him

 

When Jay Leno was asked if he used valet parking, he replied, "Why would anyone want to do that?"

Jim

 

There are a number of restaurants and bars in Phoenix/Scottsdale where valet is the only option.

1) I'm not lazy.
2) Its only a Mini.

 

Exactly!!!!!

How about convenience....I don't mind handing my keys over....I have enough insurance to cover any problems, and if someone damages my car, I can get another.

IT IS only a mini....now if it were a Corniche or Maybach.....I would have my personal valet keep it running for me while I dined or shopped, and page him (or her) as soon as I am ready to go!

 

ok from this thread it seems as most people don't like valets BUT they are willing to pay the valet to NOT park their car. SOOOoooooooo if I stand infront of say Krystal, or Burger King and put a sign for valet parking will you pay me???? if so let me know where your located and I'll be right there!

If i park my car I pay myself or the parking lot fee
if valet parks it I tip them!
if I am at hospital and need to go in quickly I will give it to the valet no problem...

-Josh

 

Some people value their property and time more then others is all. I'd rather go out of my way to avoid valet parking and any potential problems resulting from it then have to deal with the issues and time it would take to handle it after the fact, no matter what kind of car I have. Finding an alternative to it is less hassle then dealing with a damaged car or stolen items in my book.

I suppose if I had money to waste and didnt care about losing it over other people's acts I might behave differently.. but that's hard to imagine, I'd just take a limo or cab instead.

 

I never let a valet park my car. They can do burnouts in someone else's. When you get to the wedding just park the car yourself.

 

I remember back in high school in the late '80s driving my '65 Mustang into NYC and parking it at a garage (one where they park the car for you) while attending a concert. This was only a few years after Ferris Bueller came out and the only thing I could think about during the concert was two guys flying up the west side highway doing about 100mph.

No harm came to the car fortunately. Despite that, I've never been all that crazy about using valet parking. I will admit to using it a few times with my BMWs, but most of the time if the option exists I'll usually park the car myself.

I guess to each his own.

Dave
'06 BRG/W MCS

 

That's a little narrow of a view-point.

Valet is a perfect alternative to having you and your date trudge through mud, slush, puddles, gravel, snow, rain etc. Especially if she (or you) are dressed up in delicate shoes, long dress. Think Chicago weather!

How bout some suburban streets where there is limited parking? I have seen parties where there were 60, 70, 80 or more cars! This can create a big mess when guests are left to park their own cars. (Not everyone is willing to take the last spot and worry about leaving enough room for emergency vehicles or the next car.)

Some hosts like to hire valet service to park and to look over the cars during the event. They provide this service for their guests.

You don't have to be lazy to use the service where it is offered. Nor are you considered to be a "show-off" when you use it at a place where it is offered.

If you are worried about your car that much, I recommend you slip the valet guy/gal a $10 or $20 and ask him to keep it right in front of the door of the event!

 

As a Mini owner and a valet of 5 years, this is what I've learned.

1. I have parked everything from Lamborghinis to Gremlins, and I have never done or seen any of my coworkers do the "Ferris Bueller thing".

2. Every valet lot I have ever worked at or been a customer at takes full responsiblity for any damage done to the car as long as a claim form is filled out before the car leaves the lot. If your car is damaged never never never leave the lot before you fill out a claim form. This also protects the valet since I have witnessed customers trying to blame previous damage on us and getting us to pay for it. After all it's the valet that has to pay the insurance deductible NOT the valet company or the restaurant.

3. Valet parking is a necessary service in some cases. The restaurant I work at is very big, but has a small parking lot, and since it's in a residential area, the neighborhood association restricts parking for our patrons. Basically it is up to us to fit all the cars in and make sure that every body gets in. If everybody were to park themselves on any given night the lot would be full by 7:00 pm. We have to get creative, but we are always very careful.

4. There are certainly some sketchy dudes in my profession, but this is not always the case. Most are responsible, trust worthy people trying to make a buck. All you have to do is use your head. If a place looks seedy ask if you can park your own car and throw him $5. More often than not he will be glad to show you where to park yourself.

 

I was at a 50th birthday party last night and used the valet. Give them a decent tip and they have always taken care of my car. Last night I drove up to the valet and three guys run out to park MINI. They flipped for it. I picked it up after in the same condition as I left it.
PS The Ferris Buller movie is one of my favourites. What a car!!!

 

Ok, I know that the majority of valets are good hard working people who are honest. That is all well and good. What about the 20 year old kid who didnt graduate high school and works for the local resort (true story...). Somebody who is on vacation in Yosemite pulls up in his brand new S4. All of the valets want to drive the car, but the 20 year old has senority and get to pick it up. As soon as the owner is inside, the kid precedes to do a massive burnout followed by a nice run up to 80 in the parking lot. Im not quite sure any of us would want our cars treated that way...

 

...would I take a car to a valet.

Example #1) ...many years ago, an ex-boyfriend had his 325i BMW parked in valet once. When the attendant came back and said that the car wouldn't start and they were trying to push start it, I thought the ex's head was about to explode when he said, "YOU DON'T PUSH START A BMW!!!" Later, and with a lawyer getting involved, he made them pay for the alternator that they ruined. I'm not entirely mechanically inclined, but there's a reason you don't push start certain cars.

Example #2) ... recently, and the reason that made me decide to never have anyone touch my own mini (as if #1 wasn't reason enough, I decided to give a local valet a try and was too STOOPID to remember what had happened in #1), when the attendant came back and told me he couldn't find reverse. I switched out the old shifter **** with a MOMO and it does not give directions on where the gears are anymore.

That has been reason enough

 

Cut the kid some slack! OBviously he/she was new on the job and unfamiliar with BMW shift patterns.

I hope most people realize that their car is routinely driven by porters, mechanics, service managers etc when they are having it serviced at the dealer or tire place or mechanic or car detail place.

Shouldn't be an issue. If you are cheap (or thrifty), FINE!!! Admit it, be proud and don't use the service.

 

Actually, I have witnessed BMW/MINI service people rash wheels before, and a tire place scrape the front bumper of a car on a driveway (not to mention that I have had them ruin wheels before) and it is a problem. I have also had the service dept put some nice dings, scratchs, etc in my car. That is why I am so careful about where I take the car and how it is handled and do walk arounds before and after. You can't do a walk around with a valet. It is all about the potential damage that can be done to the car, how it is treated, etc - absolutely nothing to do with cost at all.

Also, someone mentioned valet parking for private parties and people on their own not leaving room for emergencies. My experiece regarding that has been just the opposite - regular people parking seem to observe hydrants, red zones, etc, for the most part whereas when I see party parking by valets in the city and suburbs they have the cars stacked everywhere, often blocking the above, double parked, etc. If I had an event to go to and was dressed up I'd probably opt for the taxi, or drop the lady at the front and the guy (who is not in heels - well I hope so anyway :smile parks the car.

 

You want to talk about horror stories? Imagine what I have seen from with in the business. Examples time:

A new valet not knowing how to engage reverse in a BMW Z8 plows in to the back of a Merc E55 AMG.

Two valets in a mustang are doing donuts on the top level of an iced over parking deck. They end up totaling the mustang and a 350Z and an explorer. They are later caught on a security camera.

It goes both ways too. One of my coworkers got his knees crushed between two cars when one of the occupants forgot to put her car in park.

I also read in Road & Track a few years ago about a valet who wraped a Ferrari F355 F1 around a palm tree in L.A. He walked (maybe ran?) away from the wreck. Police determined that he was doing upwards of 100 mph.

In other words, all of your fears are well founded, but I'm going to keep parking cars until I finish school.