[chenry]

Is this a thing? Maybe it is and I’m just old? Maybe it’s yet another SoCal thing (if so watch out VIP valet is coming to a city by you…ha)

Visited my Son yesterday at College in San Diego (about a 90 min drive for me South). He needed some clothes and we were planning on lunch as well. I picked him up and we headed for the local mall, lunch was going to be at the Cheesecake factory (at the mall) and given I’m nursing an injured ankle I decided to valet the car. And this is where we get to the situation that prompted my question:

Valet: Welcome sir, name and number please, we will send you a link that allows you to pay and tip on line and also contact us 5mins ahead of time to ensure your vehicle is waiting
Me: Cool thank you here is my info
Valet: Would you like to VIP valet
Me: Uh what is VIP valet
Valet: Well our normal rate is $10 however if you would like us to leave your car here in front on display it’s $20
Me: Oh okay no thank you – but to confirm if I use the app my car will be waiting for me when I get back
Valet: Yes Sir
Me: Thank you

Sooooo…..in my youth it was if the teenage valet kid deemed your car “cool enough” it sat out front – now we pay? This really makes me want to take my beater car there and pay for VIP and let it sit out in all its’ ugly glory all day “in front”

**edit** now that I think about it maybe the $10 is so the kid doesn't drive your car more than 20 feet and you can walk with your keys hmmm

[Ickdeep]

Umm that's kinda weird. I sometimes drive the M5 to Bellevue that has valet parking. If there is room, they park the M5 near the entrance. But if we take the other cars, they just move the car into the parking garage. I've always thought they just picked "nicer" cars in the front.

[Soterios]

Been a thing forever. Not everyone advertises that though. Sometimes it's a "slip the valet an extra $5/$10/$20 to keep it up front" deal. It just depends on how much space the place your parking at has.

Hell, even malls do it. When I lived in Phoenix the Chandler Mall valet's would park your car up front if you tipped them up front or had a cool car.

[..Rush..]

Yep!

Over at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, tip the guy a Jackson, and he'll park that white Ferrari convertible Portofino right up front for all the mall rats to see

At least, that's the car I saw there over the weekend lol

Originally Posted by Soterios

Been a thing forever. Not everyone advertises that though. Sometimes it's a "slip the valet an extra $5/$10/$20 to keep it up front" deal. It just depends on how much space the place your parking at has.

Hell, even malls do it. When I lived in Phoenix the Chandler Mall valet's would park your car up front if you tipped them up front or had a cool car.

[Run Silent]

I'm so confused.

There is valet at the mall now? Man, I am so behind the times and I am only 42.

[Gamb1t]

Capitalizing on human insecurities.
Smart.

[NickyC]

Eh, we're all dirt and essentially meaningless in the grand scheme of things. If somebody wants to pop an extra Hamilton to feel shallowly important for a few seconds as people oogle them and their car for a few extra seconds who am I to judge.

[Soterios]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Capitalizing on human insecurities.
Smart.

Originally Posted by NickyC

Eh, we're all dirt and essentially meaningless in the grand scheme of things. If somebody wants to pop an extra Hamilton to feel shallowly important for a few seconds as people oogle them and their car for a few extra seconds who am I to judge.

Damn why all the valet hate?

Having your car up front does a couple things for you :

The car is in a larger space and is generally safer from damage/theft.
The car is closer so when it's time to leave your car is right there ready to go.
Your car is taken better car of by staff because you've paid extra.

You don't need to want to feed your ego to have someone keep a closer eye on your car. That's just a side bonus.

[roastbeef]

i usually don't valet if it costs money, but at a few places where its complimentary, i enjoy taking my smart car. i always tell the valet to "please be careful with it." the confused look is always fun.

[FC4]

LOL you actually admitted to going to Cheesecake Factory?

[Rmtt]

LOL....A co-worker and mine were out in Cali for some business years ago. The company had us meet up with them at a very nice place in Newport Beach for dinner as they flew us out, paid for everything....even ended up taking us one night to the Staples Center to watch a Lakers/Rockets Playoff game from "Box Seats" when Shaq still played if that tells you how long ago it was.

We had to Valet park our "economy rental car". Guy acted like he didn't even want to be seen in it.

We had a good laugh out of that one!

[cmyx6go]

I only valet when absolutely necessary. I hate giving anyone my keys. If I do have to valet, I will give them a $10 or $20 depending upon where I am. I'm not looking for the status of the car on display up front. I either get to keep my keys or have them be careful so no dings or curb rash.

[DocL]

I used to valet in HS and college. The people who gave us a five or ten when they pulled up assured that their car didn't get beat on. If the car was a manual it got used to teach a newbie how to drive shift. I doubt we'd do half the things if the cars had gps and apps where their location could be watched. Made a trip to get pizza in a 928 once.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Run Silent

I'm so confused.

There is valet at the mall now? Man, I am so behind the times and I am only 42.

Man I'm even more behind times and I'm 21. Who the hell valet their car in 2019 unless you have a Rolls Royce or something

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by FC4

LOL you actually admitted to going to Cheesecake Factory?

What's wrong with that. When I visited the states early this year you already know I went there and bought 2 slices. It's so fucking good.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Man I'm even more behind times and I'm 21. Who the hell valet their car in 2019 unless you have a Rolls Royce or something

Plenty of nicer restaurants in areas with limited parking offer valets. Usually complimentary, just make sure to tip the valet when they hustle your car back.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Plenty of nicer restaurants in areas with limited parking offer valets. Usually complimentary, just make sure to tip the valet when they hustle your car back.

Guess it's not a Canadian thing. Only place I see valet is the casino and rarely at certain hotels. Downtown Ottawa haven't seen any valet at restaurants.

And this damn tipping society is gonna make me go mad

[TXSTYLE]

This has been a "thing" here in my area for at least the last 5+ years.

It's a pure $$$ grab no doubt. But if you're driving a "certain car", you will be placed VIP anyway.

I am generally okay with valet and use it often. The thing that has become annoying is that EVERYWHERE you go except for say, Grocery Shopping, is using it. In other words, if you don't feel like walking in close proximity from your car to your destination, you are SOL.

[Soterios]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Man I'm even more behind times and I'm 21. Who the hell valet their car in 2019 unless you have a Rolls Royce or something

It's just a convenience thing. If I'm going to a nice restaurant for dinner that I'm going to spend $150+ on, another $5 for the convenience of pulling up to the front door and having my car be back at the front door when I'm finished is nice.

I don't valet all the time, but if I get somewhere and the parking situation looks annoying, I'll pay a few bucks to not deal with it.

I'm kind of shocked that a forum of BMW drivers are this averse about the idea.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by DocL

I used to valet in HS and college. The people who gave us a five or ten when they pulled up assured that their car didn't get beat on. If the car was a manual it got used to teach a newbie how to drive shift. I doubt we'd do half the things if the cars had gps and apps where their location could be watched. Made a trip to get pizza in a 928 once.

This is why I don't valet my cars at all.

You have to pay some unspecified sum of money to not have them "beat on" your car and this is on top of the fee already paid for parking.

I am not interested in paying someone to treat my car like a rental car to abuse...

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

This is why I don't valet my cars at all.

You have to pay some unspecified sum of money to not have them "beat on" your car and this is on top of the fee already paid for parking.

I am not interested in paying someone to treat my car like a rental car to abuse...

+1 I avoid valet at all costs. If I can't park my own car, I don't go to that place.

[Wolf 335]

I always thought that if you drive a bmw you shouldn't valet...you know because they might take it for a drift or something.