I will never valet again
I will never valet again I took a date to dinner last week for her birthday to a nice restaurant. I handed the valet my keys and bit my lip, wanted to say be carful with my car and so on but didn't want to sound like a richard. Anyway this was Wednesday night. I do not hardly drive the car and it is (was) in absolutely MINT condition, not a scratch on the car and the paint was in 100% perfect condition. What pisses me off is that I take extra caution where I park my car and have spent countless hours washing and polishing the car to keep it perfect just to let some A hole pull in too far and smack the nose into a cement wall leaving a nice 7" scratch smudge on the nose of my car. I tried to rub it out with Z5, made it look a bit better but it is definitely noticable. I need to call the place today, what's the best line I need to take in presenting this to the owner? I think I'm basically going to tell him his valet damaged my car and I expect them to pay for it. Also, what will be done at the body shop to fix this, do they need to reclear the nose of my car? Good thing I didn't notice this as I was picking up the car, I have such a bad temper, I would have most likely embarrased myself in front of my date and most likely beat up the valet guy...
unfortunatly there is no way of proving this. You didn't say anything at the time, so they will most likely just tell you that there is nothing they can do about it, as there is no proof that the Valet driver damaged your car. That's why you should always drop your lady off at the door, and park the car yourself! Sorry to hear about your mishap.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: buffalo,ny
Agreed, no witnesses and now a few days have passed by.If I am the owner of the restaurant I wouldn't give you anything unless the valet admits to the accident, or you can match your paint to their cement.Ifeel for you and hope I'm wrong,but the burden of proof is on you.Good luck. 
Teching In
Joined: May 2005
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From: clifton nj
i own a valet company in northern nj /new york and i usually i say i am not responsible for the damage unless it is brought to my attention the day of or during the parking of the car, i do know that accidents happens but it sucks when something like that happens i mean if you make a stink to the owner of the company and or establishment they sometimes pay for half of the expense but you didnt hear that from me !!! it all depends if it is a private company like mine or they work for the establishment. and i hope its not my company lol
Teching In
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11
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From: clifton nj
i just read your in pittsburg so it aint mine, and just to let everyone know if you want your car taken care of throw like 5 bucks up front and 99 percent of the time it will up front and well taken care of, just to let you all know that is what i do.
well it sounds like you need to go back and eat at the same place and let them park the car again. and when they bring it back to you ask them what the hell happened to the front of it. 
Originally Posted by stryker14
well it sounds like you need to go back and eat at the same place and let them park the car again. and when they bring it back to you ask them what the hell happened to the front of it.
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Well I was referred to this place by a friend who knows the owner. Haven't heard back from my friend so I'm not sure how much influence he has in this matter. I know it's been a few days since I've been there and I know it looks shady that I'm just calling on this now but the car has sat in my garage since that night and just noticed it yesterday. I'm waiting to hear back from them, we will see what happens. I was quoted $550 to fix the damage, I'm not feeling too confident I'll get anything based on the fact I didn't point it out then.
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Originally Posted by onyx_rock
That sucks, where did you go to eat. I will be sure to avoid letting them park my car. I usually get it valeted at a couple places on Mt Washington when we eat up there.
The only other mark on my car was from the last time I valeted my car, some A hole threw a cig on it and put a nice burn mark in my spoiler. Luckily my car is NBM so you really can't see it. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson but it was a Wed night and the place was kinda dead. Didn't think it would be too much of a problem for someone to park my car.
Originally Posted by Tommy's dad
Agreed, no witnesses and now a few days have passed by.If I am the owner of the restaurant I wouldn't give you anything unless the valet admits to the accident, or you can match your paint to their cement.Ifeel for you and hope I'm wrong,but the burden of proof is on you.Good luck.
Coming from a 4 year valet at a MGM/Mirage casino. Here is what we do. When I was a Valet we got this all the time..Sometimes we do it, sometimes we dont...our risk management team makes the decision to cover it or not. But...once they leave property even if we did it, Risk management will not cover it all. SO, my point is: because you left to property, you can not prove that they did it because they have no idea that you arent there just to get your car fixed from a accident you had..even though you are probably the most honest person they have dealt with. I hope everything works out for you.. 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Los Angeles, CA
if you want your car taken care of throw like 5 bucks up front and 99 percent of the time it will up front and well taken care of, just to let you all know that is what i do.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 399
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From: Dallas, TX
Originally Posted by APeteSS
Shouldn't have to pay extra to keep the valet clowns from wrecking your paint.
Originally Posted by 02transhawk
Welcome to the world...planet earth revolves around $$$, take care of them they will take care of you. Sad, but true. Neverthe less, I am sure it was a mistake...our cars are kinda long and you really can't see the nose or front. **** happens, and I am sorry to hear about your car.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
Likes: 30
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. As others have mentioned, it's going to be hard to prove that it happened at the restaurant since you left the property before bringing it to their attention. I'm the same as you, I probably wouldn't have noticed it until a few days later myself.
It doesn't help your rates much, but you could always turn it into your insurance.
It doesn't help your rates much, but you could always turn it into your insurance.
This is why I don't valet my car EVER. Someone tried to tell me "We park mercedes, porsche, etc." I answered "I don't have the money like they do to fix your screwups" and left. Parked 4 blocks away. I can walk a little.
