VALET PARKING SHOPS
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
It really makes no difference to the valet what kind of vehicle you have. They want to get your parking fee and then a tip.
Barry is absolutely correct. Where are you located?
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
They won't think twice about it. Many people valet park for the convenience of not having to find a parking spot themselves. Or, to avoid wasting time driving up or down ramps in a parking garage. Go for it!
I don't think the condition of the vehicle matters. The ones I have seen are usually in a downtown area where it's hard to find parking.
The only thing it means is they might not park your car up front where all the nicer vehicles are left to show off the clientele who shop there. (At least thats why I think they do that!) Go for it, valet shops usually pay a nice little fee! Save up to repair dings if that's something that bothers you. 
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do 
I never even thought of using valet parking for the convenience of not having to find a place to park! I just always assumed that people used valet parking when going to a specific venue, e.g. a concert or a restaurant. Thank you all so much for your suggestions!
Another aspect of valet parking might be if you have a passenger that is handicapped/elderly that can't walk far and you don't have a handicapped sticker or tag. You could drive your vehicle and let the passenger off at the entrance along with yourself and not have to worry about leaving your passenger alone while you park
The only valet shop I've seen pays $10 and doesn't list a reimbursement. Is that how these usually go?
I have a resort up the road that pays $25. I see others on ISS for $15.
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do
Most reimburse the entire parking amount up to 1 hour. A few (mostly for one MSC) reimburse for as long as you want to park but not overnight. All that I have ever seen also paid fees. Depending on location and client the fee for non-video ones tends to range from $5 to $30, and for video from about $30 to $60. The lowest fees tend o be for clients that really only care about politeness and the higher fees for similar locations tend to be for clients that really want to spot where and how the cash payments on site are handled. (Cash integrity shops.) I do 25 to 40 cash integrity parking shops per month, from Northern Virginia, DC and MD to occasional routes as far north as Manhattan. Catching where the money goes becomes addictive!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
You should definitely be reimbursed for parking and a $2 tip. While the car is parked, you can usually fit in another shop.
I love valet shops when they fit my route. The reports are simple. I get a fee plus reimbursement for the parking and the tip.
Go for it! I know from my past life as a travel agent, clothing and car have nothing to do with the amount of money a client has to spend.
Go for it! I know from my past life as a travel agent, clothing and car have nothing to do with the amount of money a client has to spend.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
Valet parking shops are one of my favorites! Up in West LA you can drive around for hours and hours looking for parking plus I have serious parallel parking issues.
If nothing else having a well-loved vehicle may reveal things about the valet parking that a new car would not. The shops I've done don't want your car parked on the ramp because it skews the retrieval time.
I have always been reimbursed the entire amount I paid to park. My max was $30.00.
I usually stay an hour and I NEVER ask for free parking, but if they ask why such a short visit I say something like my Tinder date must have checked me out and left, I got the wrong location of the hotel branch, my dad's flight was delayed and he couldn't reach me, the potential client didn't show, my sitter called and I need to get home and sometimes I'm not charged or they validate my parking without purchase. (I include this in my evaluation because employee compassion is valuable.)
The only thing I don't like is that the standard valet tip in Los Angeles is $5 and they only reimburse $2. I'm so uncomfortable handing them only $2, I eat the extra $3.
Have fun!!
If nothing else having a well-loved vehicle may reveal things about the valet parking that a new car would not. The shops I've done don't want your car parked on the ramp because it skews the retrieval time.
I have always been reimbursed the entire amount I paid to park. My max was $30.00.
I usually stay an hour and I NEVER ask for free parking, but if they ask why such a short visit I say something like my Tinder date must have checked me out and left, I got the wrong location of the hotel branch, my dad's flight was delayed and he couldn't reach me, the potential client didn't show, my sitter called and I need to get home and sometimes I'm not charged or they validate my parking without purchase. (I include this in my evaluation because employee compassion is valuable.)
The only thing I don't like is that the standard valet tip in Los Angeles is $5 and they only reimburse $2. I'm so uncomfortable handing them only $2, I eat the extra $3.
Have fun!!
Check your guidelines. Some shops don't allow you to use vehicles that have paint or damage issues.
Before I fixed up my bumpers and got valets with a glare, I said something along the lines of "As you can see, I'm terrible at parking" and that I want them to put up with the hassle instead.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2017 03:41PM by sweepingupshops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2017 03:41PM by sweepingupshops.
I have done several hundred valet shops for at least four major MSCs and about 15 clients, in the past 12 months and none of the guidelines said anything about existing damage issues. In fact, the clients that are concerned with liability loss prevention are eager to know how the attendants are adhering to the policies about doing a damage inspection in the presence of the customer and noting the damage on the claim check as pre-existing. So, there may be some out there somewhere with such restrictions, but I sure haven't found them.
The attendants don't give a rat's behind about what your car looks like. They want the tips.
The attendants don't give a rat's behind about what your car looks like. They want the tips.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I spent about a year with a car that had an undiagnosed issue that made it so it would not start again after a daytime stop. This occured several times a week. It always worked like a charm whenever I brought it to the service station. During that year every valet job I did I explained the issue and asked them to please just park it and not move it again or it might not start. My car was a "valet worthy" brand in many people's mind in that it was a Volvo but it was 14 years old. I never once got a funny look from a valet. They were always extremely understanding.
@walesmaven wrote:
So, there may be some out there somewhere with such restrictions, but I sure haven't found them.
This is true.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.