I went to lunch at Red Robin in the mall today, and half the mall parking lot was cordoned off for valet parking. At. The. Mall. Malls don't need valet parking. Valet parking doesn't create additional parking area unless they stack park the cars, which wasn't happening. In actuality, the vast majority of spots reserved for valet parking were vacant, while hundreds of cars meandered around the lot searching for any other opening.
I hate restaurants with mandatory valet parking, especially when the valet parks your car 20 feet away and then expects you to pay him actual money in exchange for the privilege of having him take his sweet freaking time fetching your car back for you. Screw that. I never ever tip valets unless the valet parking is optional and I choose it myself. Yeah, it's not their fault I hate valet parking, but I don't tip the cop who pulls me over, either.
IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD QUALITY SERVICE BEING PROVIDED TO THE CONSUMER. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE MAJORITY OF VALET PARKING SERVICES ARE IN FACT COMPLIMENTARY, WHICH IN CASE YOUR DUMB ASS DIDN'T KNOW MEANS FREE. SO IF YOUR CHEAP ASS CAN'T SPARE A BUCK OR TWO THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST ASK THE VALET IF YOU CAN PARK YOURSELF IN THEIR LOT. BELIEVE ME THEY DON'T WANT YOUR FREAKIN DOLLAR ANYWAYS. SO NEXT TIME WHEN YOU SEE A VALET PARKER, REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG AND IN COLLEGE AND WORKED HARD TO SURVIVE. IT'S NOT EASY TO EARN A BUCK, BUT IT'S DEFENETLY BETTER THAN DEALING WITH IDIOTS LIKE YOU, OR MAYBE EVERYTHING WAS JUST HANDED OVER TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER. BELIEVE ME THOSE GUYS DON'T WANT YOU SHITTY MONEY ANYWAYS!
I think the real problem with valet is not the money but the retarded drivers that are employed. I'll pay them whatever just as long as I can park MY car. My truck got wrecked because of an idiot valet driver. Any restaurant that has mandatory valet pisses me off, complimentary or not. I'll either pay them so i can park, or just park somewhere else. And as Michael says, why should i pay someone to park my car 20 feet away. Valet is supposed to be a convenience where parking is scarce and not in the vicinity. It sounds like Barbosa was one of those idiot valet drivers, or not. But either way, mandatory valet is a ridiculous concept and should be left for people that 1)are handicapped, 2)don't care what happens to their vehicle and it's contents, or 3) rich snobs that think walking more than 20 feet from car to restaurant is beneath them.
Valet sucks deez!
You guys and ladies that criticize valet obviously can't afford to go out and should do everyone a favor and stay off the roads. Or try McDonalds, there's no valet there!
If your car is parked twenty feet from the door, you should appreciate how close your car is. Not only do you not have to wait several minutes for a valet to find your car but while you are inside dining or whatever it is you're doing inside, your car is being watched by the valet (aka security). The valet appreciate your tips. Either way, whether you tip or not, they will remember. Actually, it's not common practice for your car to be parked up close unless your tip at least $5, $10 or $20. If you drive a Honda and regularly tip $20, you'll be parked close. If you drive a Bentley and tip $1, your Bentley will be in the back of the lot. It's give and take, you know.