Beware of "US Parking" valet services !!

not the worst though.... worst I've found in south beach is at the Standard Hotel. My friends M3 came back with 50 extra miles on it and no one would give him an explanation.

Worst was I saw two valet's racing to the garage. One valet got up on the curb in order to pass the other.

Delano and shore club are sh*t as well. Gansevoort and setai are the best..

 

Solution:

Don't Valet!
You car is safer parked in Liberty City on the street corner over night than giving it to some pimpled kid in a uniform.

 

+1 I pay the fee happily and park it myself.

 

+ 1
I have been to blue martini with the ferrari and the same thing happend to me. BUT like a fool I gave him the $20 vs. the $10 only because I did not want to deal with the - ok cheapo, I wonder how your car will drive with a nice scratch on the side or a nail in your tire.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
? what is valet parking
? how does it work
? is there a cost to let someone drive your car that you don't know
? your wife does not even drive the car and you give it to a 18 - 24 year old stranger
? what is the worst thing that can happen to the valet person - "YOUR FIRED" - so what; big deal
? if you give your keys to a valet person, you have way to much trust than most of the people I know

 

I never never never never allow someone to park my car....the story at the Delano for me was hilarious because they park the cars in this incredibly tight garage...if you go in there, the benleys, rolls, lambo's, etc are JAMMED TOGETHER in tight spots with about 6 inches between cement and door...I parked my own car up there took a cab and slept easy...Just my opinion...in tampa valets are much easier, give em a 20 and they let you park where ever you want...when i take my F car to miami, i follow the aforementioned protocol

 

any horror stories of valet parkers going on joy rides?

 

OK, well explain to me again WHY some places need to have a valet?

I don't even let them park my Acura TL. I keep a gun in there anyway, so I don't want any jackass rifling through my things.

-1 on the valet ridiculousness.

RMX

 

One night I took my truck to downtown Denver for dinner and had the valet park it. Came out about an hour or so later and they couldn't find it. WTF? They only use two lots, where did it go? I was mellow about it and they put me in a limo back to my house in Boulder. I got the truck the next morning and it was fine. Note to self, no Ferrari's for them.

Also a couple of near misses with people loading my cars for shipment. Unless it's Exotic, Intercity or one of custom trailer high end guys, I check and double check how they load and how they tie the car down.

 

Typically, at least in South Beach, you are looking at $20-$40 to put your car right out in front.

However, for that price, most times you get to hang onto the keys, which means no one will touch it or drive it.

The Shore Club is the same thing, $40 to make sure that your car stays exactly where you park it, and doesn't move. The only time it would move is if there was a fire and the valets needed to move the cars out of the front area.

Now, as far as the Blue Martini in Brickell Village Miami - YES, those guys rip people off. If you want to park your car out front on Friday or Saturday they usually ask $60 BUCKS! That is retarded. Surprise they told you only $30 lol.

I always laugh at them and drive half way around the block to other valet and they'll accept $20-$30. Or you can park in the lot at Perricone's (corner 1/2 block back) for like $15 but beware the monster speed hump at the entrance.

Same nonsense at say Prime 112 on South Beach. $40 to park right out front. However drive 100 ft across the street to the Nikki Beach lot and it's like $10 or $20 at most.

 

thats what I hate about Sobe the ONLY parking near where you want to be IS valet.
if not you MUST pay to park in a garage and walk a mile.
stupid...

 

I've got one I always think about..............
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I am still shocked to this day that anyone would let me drive in those days. Be very very afraid to valet because you also make more money the quicker you get back in line to deliver the next car.

 

+1!

I wouldn't let those idiots park an old Yugo, let alone anything you care about.

 

Are you kidding me?? I don't valet. EVER.

But, pay whatever they ask to park up front or wherever you want. The last thing you need is the guy who is supposed to be watching out for your car to have ill feelings towards you. That extra $20 buys peace of mind.

 

For those thinking "it is not THAT bad" but are too afraid to post here....read the back of your valet stub just for fun. If after that you hand your car and key to any Valet whatever they charge, even when free, you are seriously brain dead.

 

Yeah that's kinda thing. At $60 I cry foul, but around $30 or so it's worth it, depending.

On the one hand you can say they're overcharging for parking up front, but are THEY the ones demanding the owner park the car right in front? Or is it the owner making the request/demand?

Of course it's always the owner. So if you're asking for something 'special' beyond simply handing the valet the keys, paying the posted fee, and walking off - of course there's going to be some premium or upcharge.

Also, at busy spots, there's only so many spaces in front of the venue available for parking such cars. Once they're taken up, that's it. And also once all those spaces are hogged up it makes it more difficult to control traffic in front of the venue since there's no place for normal cars to 'pull into' while awaiting the normal valet service, and the valet has to start servicing the cars in the street.

If you want to see a great example of this cluster-f*** pop by Prime 112 on a busy Friday or Saturday night like around 10 or 11pm. So if the valet are upcharging to meet the special requests of exotic car drivers, and I hold the keys, and keep an eye on my car, I have no problem. It's just at what point does that upcharge become 'excessive' is the question.

They take cues from each other too. I used to be able to park valet in front of THE Hotel at Collins/8th for $25 to leave it right out front. Then one day they started wanting $40 because that's what the other buttholes at other places like Prime 112/Shore Club/etc were charging. It's just a game.

 

I used to valet cars down in naples/ fort myers area 2004-2006. I've never heard of any such craziness happening. Sure, you get on the throttle a bit from time to time, but nothing crazy. You have to remember that most valets dont bother with the seat belt, they arent going to go racing about most times. Then again, i think that kids now have no respect for others property. the kind of money we where getting, 80-100 ~4hours all under the table, was not worth losing the job. hearing a story like this just pisses me off.