Shadowman "Think Twice before Handing Your keys to?"

[Shadowman]

I know that this topic has been discussed at length before however it has been awhile and sadly today I was presented with a gal that needs tending to as the direct result of “Valet Parking”

In this particular case the damage is comparatively speaking; minor and the facility that had their valet tend to her has assumed the responsibility and yet this should never have happened and even more so could have been much worse.

The story goes like this;

Their gal was driven to this particular hotel where they were met by a valet that made it clear that there was no self parking at this facility as such the gal’s owner reluctantly allowed the valet to park her under his/their supervision and then as is typical the valet stated that the keys needed to remain with them just in case of an emergency assuring the owner that barring an emergency that she would not be touched.

When they went to leave the hotel they noticed that their gal had been moved; upset about this and yet at that moment in time let it slide however during a inspection a few hours later damage was found which was confirmed to be as the result of the gal being backed into ? during the unauthorized moving of her.

IMO the moral of the story remains as has been forever; park your own gal and take your keys with you.

Takes care

Shadowman

 

[ChipBeck]

Life moves pretty fast.......

.......and if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you just might miss it.

Gentlemen,

The valet parking scene of the Ferrari California Spider in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" comes to mind. If I can't self park in a fairly protected space, I don't stop. A fine reminder Bill.

Chip

 

[Jason's Auto Spa]

I have had to fix a lot of damage caused by Valet attendants... I remember one that scuffed the heck out of the front end of an SL65 AMG by hitting a parking cone and he kept on driving. Could have been worse (Could have been a pole! :biggrin) :cheers

 

[Gulf GT]

A few years back a valet at a famous 5 Star hotel here (that I frequent quite often) crashed a Ferrari 355 into a palm tree. I personally pull up, hand the valet some money, and ask him where he wants me to put it so he can keep an eye on it. All my local haunts know me well and the routine. I tip them generously. If I go somewhere and hear the nonsense about they have to park it or keep the keys, I simply politely say that I am going to take my business somewhere else, and every time they have stopped me and let me do what I want. I don't act like a snob; I am always polite. I treat valets with respect, and they tend to respect me and my cars back with respect. They want my car in front of their place of business, and they will want yours too, and your business. We are the clients that every business wants to have and especially park our cars in front of. Over time, the local valets have become very good friends.

 

[JCSB]

Whenever we go out to eat I inform the valet that we will need a special spot and I am willing to leave a nice tip for moving the cones. :thumbsup

John

 

[jaxgt]

Agree with the above, I have always found a non-snooty attitude and $10-$20 has allowed me to park and keep the keys.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Agree with the above, I have always found a non-snooty attitude and $10-$20 has allowed me to park and keep the keys.

A non-snooty attitude will darn near ALWAYS getcha further with anybody, anywhere, anytime, regarding anyTHING. :wink :cheers "Do onto others..." as they say.:biggrin

I believe employing that policy is the reason wifey & I were able to get our reservations for a specific room at the Wynn (which one is not suppose to be able do!) for our upcoming jaunt down there. 'Probably a combo of THAT and the fact we stay there so often...but, still...

 

[Luke Warmwater]

Snooty or not it will be a cold day in hell before anyone other than me and a select few, places their behind in the drivers seat of my car with the keys in the ignition. Not a chance! I'll eat drive through McD's before a valet drives my car

 

[S592R]

NEVER valet. Did that job a few times. Never, never, never, valet. :lol:lol:lol:lol

 

[roketman]

When arriving at the entrance road to the steak house dinner at the rally.A BMW roadster cut in front of me .He was FLYING! .I was driving Camillos car.I thought what a ahole to be going that fast!As we pulled up, we saw it was a valet !! I was really quite shocked ! I dont think much of valet's! They beat on your car and than ask for a tip !!

 

[Empty Pockets]

When arriving at the entrance road to the steak house dinner at the rally.A BMW roadster cut in front of me .He was FLYING! .I was driving Camillos car.I thought what a ahole to be going that fast!As we pulled up, we saw it was a valet !! I was really quite shocked ! I dont think much of valet's! They beat on your car and than ask for a tip !!

'Forget who is was right now, but, someone here on The 'Forum attended a ball game (in Texas I think) and left the stadium to go across the street for a bit of lunch (drinks?) just in time to see/hear his valet parked GT screaming up said street!

But, valets arn't the only ones who'll mess with a person's car. 'Friend of mine was shocked to see his street machine being driven down the road with two BODY SHOP employees aboard. 'Guess they musta been "test driving" the new paint? :frown

Another guy I know saw his wife's Caddy pull up to the restaurant where he always has lunch & naturally 'figgered' it was HER coming to join him. (Her car had been left at the dealership that morning for some minor cosmetic thing, and he thought the dealership musta called & told her it was ready.) Imagine HIS surpirse when two dealership service dept employees got outta the car & came in for lunch! Long story short, this fellow had his OWN spare keys to his wife's car on his key ring, so he went out and "stole" his wife's car on the spot, took it home, 'took a cab back to the restaurant, 'retrieved his own car, and went back to work & waited for the phone to ring! If I remember correctly, heads r-o-l-l-e-d!

Anyway, 'point is, there are DARN FEW people whom you can trust with your wheels...

 

[steved57]

'Forget who is was right now, but, someone here on The 'Forum attended a ball game (in Texas I think) and left the stadium to go across the street for a bit of lunch (drinks?) just in time to see/hear his valet parked GT screaming up said street!

But, valets arn't the only ones who'll mess with a person's car. 'Friend of mine was shocked to see his street machine being driven down the road with two BODY SHOP employees aboard. 'Guess they musta been "test driving" the new paint? :frown

Another guy I know saw his wife's Caddy pull up to the restaurant where he always has lunch & naturally 'figgered' it was HER coming to join him. (Her car had been left at the dealership that morning for some minor cosmetic thing, and he thought the dealership musta called & told her it was ready.) Imagine HIS surpirse when two dealership service dept employees got outta the car & came in for lunch! Long story short, this fellow had his OWN spare keys to his wife's car on his key ring, so he went out and "stole" his wife's car on the spot, took it home, 'took a cab back to the restaurant, 'retrieved his own car, and went back to work & waited for the phone to ring! If I remember correctly, heads r-o-l-l-e-d!

Anyway, 'point is, there are DARN FEW people whom you can trust with your wheels...

That's a classic !! I love this story !!

 

[BlackICE]

I am sure the owners on this forum are smart enough to never let a young male stranger with high levels of testosterone, who is just a few years out of high school and that earns but a minimum wage ever drive their cars.

Do you ever wonder why you see very few female valets? That is because the fringe benefits are less attractive to the average female.

 

[Chris A.]

Great story EP
Ive been meaning to get a spare set of dummy keys made. I will get the valet guys to let me park it, often out front, but then they'll tell me I still need to leave the keys. Dummy keys will let me eat or sleep in peace.

 

[RALPHIE]

If I'm ever in that situation (God forbid), I will hand them my "Access" Key - will open the doors but won't start the car.

 

[Chris A.]

Damn Ralphie! Thats perfect. I don't have one of those.

 

[dbackg]

i too have an access key.

however. what would be the point for the valet to only be able to open the door?

just self park it and give the valet a bogus key ... or set the key fob alarm and give them the access key ... priceless. can you imagine the panic when the valet wouldn't be able to shut the alarm off!

again, don't give the GT keys to NOBODY!

 

[soroush]

I used to be a valet, in my other life:biggrin, all I have to say is just say no to valet period. no good can come of it, cough up an extra 10 buck and save yourself the headache and heartache of haveing any issues to deal with.trust me its worth it and if they claim the only way to park at the facility is to valet, then ask for the property manager(hotel manager, resturant manager) you will quickly realize that their attitude will change.

 

[BlackICE]

I used to be a valet, in my other life:biggrin

It shows, you still drive like one! :lol

 

[Empty Pockets]

... and if they claim the only way to park at the facility is to valet, then ask for the property manager(hotel manager, resturant manager) you will quickly realize that their attitude will change.

...the valet's attitude pbly won't change if in fact what he told you really IS the establishment's policy, but, mgmt will undoubtedly be able to add 2+2 on the spot when called over and 'will likely authorize an instantaneous deviation from said policy under those circumstances! :biggrin


But, regardless, I hafta completely agree with dbackg regarding to handing over the keys...at least in a valet situation. After all, how does one really KNOW the guy one's handing the keys over to actually IS a valet? Think about it...:willy (THAT scam has been worked more than once!)