Usually, the waiters/waitresses are attending to you multiple times in the evening. They get you drinks, take you order, deliver each course, supply more drinks etc. They spend significantly more time on you than the valet does. I usually give 20% for wait staff - more if they do a great job.

I usually tip valets ~$5 depending on where, what, how long etc.

So, what do you guys consider a reasonable tip?

 

I tip valet all the time, especially when I'm in Vegas. Typically it's $5 for when I drop the car off and $5 when I pick it up for the first few days. When I'm on my last days of being somewhere in Vegas I tip $20 every time (drop off and pick up); which comes in handy as my car is always up front and I get many of the special VIP passes/etc to events.

Knowing Valet drivers who know promoters/etc is a very handy thing and having a valet driver remember you is even more valuable. $0.02.

 

I'm not sure why we charge at Valley Fair (yes, thats the company I work for). I'll pass the message along to my coworkers that you apologize for the condition of your car (although I'm sure it wasn't the worst we've had).

$1 for some reason seems kind of insulting, but its still a tip, so thats good
$2 is nice
$3-$5 is average and we are happy with
above $5 we are very happy with

At the mall we run packages to your car, at events if you forget anything we'll gladly grab it from your car for you or bring the car up if you prefer. We also put up with the drunks at weddings and chit chat with the smokers

 

Sounds reasonable. I have huge sympathy for special event staff precisely for the reasons you mention. I also tip taxi drivers really well if we are 'socially challenged' :-)

 

I didn't notice anyone else ask/clarify, so I will ask the OP - when you say "Subaru drivers" are you referring to those of us with WRX/STi/RS/etc, or drivers of other completely stock Subies that aren't modded or treated like a part of the family? It's hard to know, but if I had to have my car parked by someone else, and he/she mentioned they owned a Subie themselves, I'd be much more at ease, and the tip would instantly double.

As far as valet parking in general, though... if I showed up somewhere in my WRX and was not prepared to be met with mandatory valet parking, I'd simply skip the place & find somewhere else to eat/shop (unless it happened to be a formal event, in which case it's highly unlikely I'd be arriving in the Subie). I have a hard enough time letting my wife drive my car, much less a stranger (no offense, Matt). As far as tipping, however, I am a big believer in tipping more than is required or expected for outstanding service. It's not so much the actual dollar amount that I tip, but the message I hope to convey to someone waiting on me that I appreciate their professionalism and enthusiasm for making sure my experience is positive at whatever the establishment.

 

Wow that is pretty lazy american don't you think? I mean it's one thing when a place forces you to use valet parking, but if you can just park your own car but get someone else to do it everyday and not pay? I hope this isn't the case? otherwise you must be really fat.

 

i tipped $2 the other day at benihana. it's kinda weird that they have valet service. i don't like tipping them so much because i have no choice but to use the valet service (they won't let you park your car in their lot). he didn't move my seat, or he moved it back after he moved it, so that was cool.

at a high end restaurant/hotel, i think i'd maybe tip more

 

Tips are a direct reflection of the service I receive. Make me wait to give you the keys, tip meter starts winding downward. Hustle to get my car, tip meter goes upward. If you treat me like the Stratosphere (Las Vegas) valets (and staff overall) treated me, don't even expect a "thank you" from me.

In restaurants, the tip provided directly reflects the way my drink glass was managed. If I have an empty glass and have to call the waitress over, or worse yet, go find the waitress or re-fill it myself, I've left a single penny for a tip. If I can't keep my glass empty, especially if the restaurant is busy, I've tipped as high as 50% of the pre-tax check for service like that.

 

http://jalopnik.com/5427772/youtube-...el-guests-cars

Not saying that that's what many valets do, I'm sure the higher end companies are more professional. But it only takes one dumbass to ruin a reputation.

 

My friend just linked me that video..made me think of this thread.