Valet
02-10-2003, 06:09 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Valet
Aight, this past Friday, I took a girl out to eat at P.F. Chang's in SLC. I watched the valet climb into the car and spend 40 seconds trying to figure out reverse. (That should have been my first clue to get the keys back immediately!) I watched him slingshot around the corner. I walked out, around the building to where they parked the cars at. Of course, my car wasn't there... About 6 minutes later, the valet finally showed up. He went through the alleyway and back onto the street, where he decided to park the car at a 45* angle. He ran my Z - only 2 weeks old - into the curb... I walked up to him and thanked him for running my Z into the curb! I really appreciated it! His response was "Sorry, dude, I didn't realize your car was that low to the ground." I lost it...
Thank God there was no visible damage... On the lip of the front bumber, where the two screws connects it to the car, the paint was removed. The only way to know that anything is wrong is to lay down on your back and look up at it.
ANYWAY, I've read a couple posts on dented doors and stuff. Anyone with a bad run in with valets or any of the sort?
Livid... Absolutely livid! I am still trying to regroup...
Thank God there was no visible damage... On the lip of the front bumber, where the two screws connects it to the car, the paint was removed. The only way to know that anything is wrong is to lay down on your back and look up at it.
ANYWAY, I've read a couple posts on dented doors and stuff. Anyone with a bad run in with valets or any of the sort?
Livid... Absolutely livid! I am still trying to regroup...
02-11-2003, 05:24 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Detroit (GP), MI
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rule of thumb - Just say "no" to valet service. I've done it once, and it was at a five-star hotel where there wasn't any other easy, safe parking. No problems for me, but the entire staff came out and looked through it for about 5 minutes while I checked in. Really, you never quite know what they'll do - they've got your keys, and you don't.
02-11-2003, 06:26 AM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ouch... Every time I hear about some valet worker I remember when I took my Wrangler to a Hotel and a valet tried to park my Jeep. My wife and I where going to get away for the weekend (This was before I got my Z) because we have been so busy the last few months. We loaded everything up in the Jeep and went to a fancy Hotel. The drive was about two hours so by the time we got there we were pretty hungry. I pulled up to check-in and the bellhop met me at the door and ask if he could grab the luggage out of the back. I said sure. I went ahead to go check-in, the bellhop had all my luggage out by the time I reached the counter. Wow! I said to myself this is going to be a good experience for the both of us. I get my room key all is well I asked the check-in girl where is a good place to get a bite to eat. She said if you head down the main hall that their are three very good places to dine! Perfect, I said. I went back outside to move my Jeep and the valet offers to take my Jeep and park it near my room. I said sure why not, that way my wife and I can go and get a bite to eat.
Now just to give some back ground my Jeep has close to ten inches of lift wrapped with 37" tires. This is no light weight Jeep.
So my Jeep is still running and I handed some cash to the valet before he got in. I didn't think of anything so I left to go and eat. An hour or so passes we finish eating and go head up to our room. We open our door, our luggage is all there, the bed is turned down, mints on the pillows. Nice! Very Nice! This is the best place ever I feel like I'm in heaven. My wife asks where is the cell phone. I said in the Jeep I think. She said we should bring it in and charge it. So I go out to the parking lot, no jeep. I was like huh, ok... where did they hide it. I walked all over the parking lot couldn't find it. As I headed to the front desk I saw my Jeep and there were flashing lights. Kind of worried I walk out side and there in a crushed miata on a wrecker (the hood and fenders). Wtf is going on. I asked the hotel manager what happened and he said they had a small problem. Apparently the valet back my Jeep onto the Miata to get around the another vehicle. The manager said the valet didn't see the car behind him as it just pulled up. The lady was still in her car when the valet back up onto her car! No damage was done to my Jeep but I got my room for two nights free.
Now just to give some back ground my Jeep has close to ten inches of lift wrapped with 37" tires. This is no light weight Jeep.
So my Jeep is still running and I handed some cash to the valet before he got in. I didn't think of anything so I left to go and eat. An hour or so passes we finish eating and go head up to our room. We open our door, our luggage is all there, the bed is turned down, mints on the pillows. Nice! Very Nice! This is the best place ever I feel like I'm in heaven. My wife asks where is the cell phone. I said in the Jeep I think. She said we should bring it in and charge it. So I go out to the parking lot, no jeep. I was like huh, ok... where did they hide it. I walked all over the parking lot couldn't find it. As I headed to the front desk I saw my Jeep and there were flashing lights. Kind of worried I walk out side and there in a crushed miata on a wrecker (the hood and fenders). Wtf is going on. I asked the hotel manager what happened and he said they had a small problem. Apparently the valet back my Jeep onto the Miata to get around the another vehicle. The manager said the valet didn't see the car behind him as it just pulled up. The lady was still in her car when the valet back up onto her car! No damage was done to my Jeep but I got my room for two nights free.
Last edited by MY350isbtrthnurz; 02-11-2003 at 06:32 AM.
02-11-2003, 06:42 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To date I have had great valet service. Almost every time I have my car valeted it's put up front away from other cars. I had one valet put it in a handicapped spot
The only place I have had them drive away where I couldn't see it......PF Changs. I always give it a walk around though.
The only place I have had them drive away where I couldn't see it......PF Changs. I always give it a walk around though.
02-11-2003, 09:40 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
That's the ironic thing about it! They parked it out front of the restaurant - the only car to be parked out front! But, while pulling it up, they ran into the curb!
And, the thing about it was that I valeted at P.F. Chang's on numerous occasions with no problem! Of course, I wasn't driving the Z. But still... Irritating!
And, the thing about it was that I valeted at P.F. Chang's on numerous occasions with no problem! Of course, I wasn't driving the Z. But still... Irritating!
Trending Topics
02-11-2003, 07:56 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: boca raton fl.
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
valet
youv'e got to be asking for problems to let anybody drive or park your car for any reason except your wife or kids, theres really no reason to, just park it yourself and walk your lazy *** to the place your at. if thats a problem go somewhere else. nobody drives my vehicles,what are tou guys thinking.gonna order my z perf. no spoilers no mudguards 6 spdas soon as i decide on color red or silverstone. i'm getting a real sducation on this site thanks guys
02-11-2003, 08:14 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Even if it's your wife and kiddies behind the wheel, that's not a guarantee that you're car will be all right. LOL
<thinks back to when the neighbor's wife backed her husband's baby into the pretty rock and cement mailbox>
Granted, valet is for convenience. But, it's there so that I don't have to park my Z next to a Chevy Nova and "ask" for a door ding. Honestly, when was the last time you saw anything other than a high end car being valeted?
<thinks back to when the neighbor's wife backed her husband's baby into the pretty rock and cement mailbox>
Granted, valet is for convenience. But, it's there so that I don't have to park my Z next to a Chevy Nova and "ask" for a door ding. Honestly, when was the last time you saw anything other than a high end car being valeted?
02-11-2003, 08:58 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: boca raton fl.
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the problem is it's a person who dosen't give a **** about your car driving it.i can't beleive wer'e talkin about this,if you want to give a stranger the keys to your car good luck
02-11-2003, 09:12 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
You can encounter the EXACT same problems with your wife behind the wheel as you would with a stranger. Knowing the person behind the wheel doesn't give the car any more protection than a stranger being there.
This is my first and only bad valet experience. The result? Paint taken off the underside of my bumper. Compare that to endless door dings and scratches from public parking. You do the math. What has the better track record?
And in all honesty, nobody out there cares about your car. Only you do.
This is my first and only bad valet experience. The result? Paint taken off the underside of my bumper. Compare that to endless door dings and scratches from public parking. You do the math. What has the better track record?
And in all honesty, nobody out there cares about your car. Only you do.
02-12-2003, 02:31 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
"You're a fool."
This, coming from the guy that said "I can't believe we're talking about this." So, we can talk about vaginal carrots, but not 350Z valet stories...? Interesting...
The whole reason I told the situation with the valet is to hear other people's encounters with them. Those stories can be quite entertaining! And, we got a great story from MY350isbtrthnurz! But, I sure don't remember asking if you think strangers should drive your car or not...
Next time, though, if I need some serious imput on a subject, I will be sure to let you know... Sound good?
Oh, and MY350isbtrthnurz, ProjectGoose is right... GREAT story! And I thought mine was bad... LOL
This, coming from the guy that said "I can't believe we're talking about this." So, we can talk about vaginal carrots, but not 350Z valet stories...? Interesting...
The whole reason I told the situation with the valet is to hear other people's encounters with them. Those stories can be quite entertaining! And, we got a great story from MY350isbtrthnurz! But, I sure don't remember asking if you think strangers should drive your car or not...
Next time, though, if I need some serious imput on a subject, I will be sure to let you know... Sound good?
Oh, and MY350isbtrthnurz, ProjectGoose is right... GREAT story! And I thought mine was bad... LOL
02-12-2003, 02:39 PM
#15
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: BALTIMORE
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by The Rat's Z
Whenever contemplating valvet service, I remember the valvet service sequence in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. That ends that idea!
Whenever contemplating valvet service, I remember the valvet service sequence in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. That ends that idea!
02-12-2003, 03:58 PM
#17
Registered User
Never trust valet parking. They could abuse it like crazy. The car might look fine from the outside but internally is a different question. Its a high performance sports car. You figure what they might do..They dont give a rats *** about your car.
02-13-2003, 04:10 PM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only time I would valet my car is if I get to park the car in the front of the restaurant or within sight from the entrance. Still tip them but never hand them the keys.
02-13-2003, 06:32 PM
#19
The abuse given the sports car by a valet in Bueller was brutal; not likely to happen in real life. I just wouldn't want to hand the keys of a spiffy stick sports job to some guy whose parking & stick skills I don't know.
To jonsilv;
Please be careful how you refer to my posterior!!
To jonsilv;
Please be careful how you refer to my posterior!!
02-13-2003, 06:51 PM
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: LA County
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
haven't valeted her yet - have been in 3 "valet parking only" situations and asked nicely to park it myself. ferris bueller all the way.... will never valet her, at least not for a year or so....
but i brought her in for the first oil change today - it was heartsickening to see the guy pull away in her - kept on thinking, the car's been out for awhile so i KNOW they've worked on Z's before and mine's not a guinea pig, right??? and it's a Nissan dealer and there are plenty of Z's on the lot and if they wanted to joy ride in one, it wouldnt be mine right????
can't wait to pick her up
but i brought her in for the first oil change today - it was heartsickening to see the guy pull away in her - kept on thinking, the car's been out for awhile so i KNOW they've worked on Z's before and mine's not a guinea pig, right??? and it's a Nissan dealer and there are plenty of Z's on the lot and if they wanted to joy ride in one, it wouldnt be mine right????
can't wait to pick her up