Valet tipping etiquette?

[AndrewDDS]

Now that I actually have a nice car, I find myself choosing to valet more often than before. What is the proper etiquette when tipping a valet? Usually I drop my car off and just give the valet my key, then tip when I pick my car up. If I tip when I drop my car off, is the valet more likely to take better care of my car? If I don't tip when I drop the car off, choosing instead to tip when I pick my car up, is that stiffing the first guy? Am I supposed to tip both times?

What does everyone else do?

[DiamondGCoupe]

I usually tip ~$3 when I get my car, kind of slows things down when you're getting out to bother with a tip then. I guess it makes sense to tip before they take your car..

[Dieseldoug22]

I think they pool there tips like waiters. So you tip one you tip all.

Side not... when you do valet, check you mileage. I took my car to the Ritz when I first bought it, and the mileage was 52 miles. When I got the car back it had been driven for 9 miles. I didn't realize it until I got home and wondered how I put so many miles on the car.

[G37Sam]

just park it by yourself n save yourself the headache...
had a scratch on my door once after i valeted (even though i tipped haha).. never again
especially that i have an aftermarket exhaust (like most of us here) it would be very tempting for them to give it a spin or even just rev the crap out of it (parking lot echos like mad). Dont trust any one with your G

[GiGGaplease]

Originally Posted by 3ammaksamer

just park it by yourself n save yourself the headache...
had a scratch on my door once after i valeted (even though i tipped haha).. never again
especially that i have an aftermarket exhaust (like most of us here) it would be very tempting for them to give it a spin or even just rev the crap out of it (parking lot echos like mad). Dont trust any one with your G

+1. no one is going to drive this car except my dad and i.

[ProblemChild]

Originally Posted by AndrewDDS

If I tip when I drop my car off, is the valet more likely to take better care of my car? If I don't tip when I drop the car off, choosing instead to tip when I pick my car up, is that stiffing the first guy? Am I supposed to tip both times?

What does everyone else do?

I used to valet, and no don't tip twice. We combine tips and split it. And no it doesn't matter how much you tip it matters on the Valet. Me and my friend used to treat cars with good care, and just test out the 0-60 in this alley way in the back of where we worked where no cars are (extra fun when ur high). No matter what a valet will always be curious to beat on someones car, thats just how it is. Unless you tell them that the car didn't reach the break in period yet and it needs to stay at low rpms. But most likely they wouldn't even listen to that.. best bet is to pray they dont damage the car other than that most valets are good drivers.

[G37Sam]

Originally Posted by GiGGaplease

+1. no one is going to drive this car except my dad and i.

haha even my dad dint drive it.. apparently the suspension is too stiff for him and its not his kind of car (good for me i guess )
the merc S500 spoiled him!

[Black Betty]

Since you have a nice car now, consider skipping valet parking as there us definitely lots of room for problems by letting them handle your car. If you must valet, let them know that your car is special to you. If you frequent a place that you will valet park regularly, tip huge the first time.
I pay valet to NOT park my car wherever they will allow it. I've valeted about 2 or 3 times and tipped them to let me park it myself about 10 times. Every valet has stalled it and then looked dumbfounded as to how to restart it. One came to ask me how to start it so he could bring it around.

I usually tip when I leave. $3 to $10. Always walk around and check for scratches, door dings, and bumper damage front and rear. Check for valuables missing and excessive mileage. Always do this immediately before you leave and raise hell if anything is wrong. Document it with the valet company's management and with the establishment you are patronizing's management.

Skip valet if at all possible.

[LAG37]

never valet ur car...

[G37Sam]

would you lend someone your girl? of course not.. so how on earth can you valet haha

[CarAddict]

Valet is a no no for me! If you are going to walk around the car everytime you take the car back from valet then you might as well park it yourself.

It's just too much stress letting someone else drive your car! lol

[poggagga]

Originally Posted by ProblemChild

I used to valet ... ... Me and my friend used to treat cars with good care, and just test out the 0-60 in this alley way in the back of where we worked where no cars are (extra fun when ur high). .... ... other than that most valets are good drivers.

RAHAHAHAHA-IGHT! Exactly why I, like Jay Leno, NEVER valet. These clowns will do things to your car that you may NEVER dream of. AND you're asking about how to best pay THEM to do that? Classic. (I'm just giving you a hard time).

Look, I'm not knocking you and I think you should be proud of your purchase, but you own an entry level sports car. Many of these guys do much worse to cars that are 4 times more expensive than yours. My advice, unless you're comfortable with the idea that anything - and I mean ANYTHING - can happen to your car when you're not looking (not saying it will, just that it CAN), then I would say no to valet. But you can still tip them ... to wash your windows, or keep an eye on your car ... or something.

[G37Sam]

put yourself in their shoes... if you were handed over say a porsche 911 turbo
to valet... would you just drive it straight to the parking lot? i wouldnt

[GiGGaplease]

Originally Posted by 3ammaksamer

put yourself in their shoes... if you were handed over say a porsche 911 turbo
to valet... would you just drive it straight to the parking lot? i wouldnt

i would go on the highway and floor it.

[TomG37]

I let them valet my G once, and only because there was honestly no other place to park and when I pulled in there was a F430, 911 turbo, aston martin DB9, viper, and a bunch of other cars that they could F with if they really wanted to. My friend was meeting me there and pulled up about 10 mins after with his Skyline, the valet asked him if he wanted to park it on his own, and they opened a spot by the door for him .

I gave the guy 5$.