Quote:
Originally Posted by AzNMpower32
Not to go terribly off-topic, but I never understood why one can't park their own car. Like, why wouldn't you want to park your own car? Like, if it was back in the old days where someone took care of horses and carriage for you, then I understand that. But I mean, is it that hard to take an extra 3 minutes and find a space in a car park?
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There are situations where valet parking is preferable. For example there could be a district where parking is scarce. If the restaurant secures a parking enclosure that is dangerous to the general public - from an insurance liability perspective - they can still tuck customer's cars away and only have the liability to the valets who are aware of hazards.
Also, in a valet situation they can pack the car in a lot tighter than in a normal parking lot.
I will valet park when I know parking is otherwise hard to find... But I always take the precaution of emptying the car of any valuables, noting the mileage - when the valet accepts the car, and checking it and the general condition of the car by doing a walk around before I get in and drive away. There is always the possibility that I could miss something - but at least they know some customers are checking.
Another thing that is important is to make sure the car is clean and to have a good wax shine - no damage going in. In those cases valets are more likely to keep you car closer to the entrance to the facility to show it off (at least that has been my experience at casinos). Drive into a valet situation at any place with any kind of swank at all in a relatively dirty and/or beat hoopty and you can be sure you car is going to be as far from the front entrance as possible.
I would also suggest that it is more important to tip the guy who takes your car away than to tip the guy who brings it back.