[EZ_TUR90]

The building I work at has complementary valet parking for residents. I though that was pretty cool at first, I was always paranoid about them taking my sunglasses or stupid shit like that. After about a month of getting settled in I got into this huge fight with the valet manager. He called the cops and claimed I threatened to kill him. This isn’t the first case where my clients or I have had problems with valet. Lately my business partner has been noticing things missing from his car; he can’t find his ipod, cell phone chargers are missing, and mysteriously he had a three inch puncture on his front tire. Now every time I sit in my car to go home I feel like someone had messed with my car. I mean it’s ok if they adjust the seat and mirrors, but I have this feeling there f’n with my car! I tried getting my car parked in the lot next to the building but I have to pay ten bucks every time I go in and out. It could get costly on my schedule. I can’t park on the street because there is one hour limit. I really want to find out if they are really messing with my car, but so far the only thing I can think of is setting up a camera. Any suggestions?

[amgthis]

Don't go back to that prick! Get to work early, park somewhere else, and walk. Don't deal with that shat anymore!

[Mk23]

I think a camera is your best bet, just make sure it has no audio. I believe you can't record people (in audio) if you are not in the conversation with them.

[GAaaAR]

If you must give the car to them, then theres relaly not much i can think of. I guess the only way is to make sure u dont leave anything in your car other than in the glove compartment and than lock it. Also take notice of your mileage to make sure they dont drive it? What else is there?

[OverDrive]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I think a camera is your best bet, just make sure it has no audio. I believe you can't record people (in audio) if you are not in the conversation with them.

wow...you learn something new every day

[snipersix]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I think a camera is your best bet, just make sure it has no audio. I believe you can't record people (in audio) if you are not in the conversation with them.

maybe something like this: http://www.spytechs.com/spy_cameras/car_camera.htm

[PNF]

i dont know about the e90 glove compartment.. but e92.. i cant even really even fit 2 sunglasses cases (especially those big ones from Versace or Dior)

sad to hear man... I'd just not drive to work or drive another car.. or park'n ride lot?

[EZ_TUR90]

I could always store my stuff in the trunk, but why do I have to deal with that. I didnt know you couldnt record audio, but I will be looking into purchasing a camera hopefully find something inconspicuous.

[bsamoul]

Hopefully you don't have a 6MT, or your clutch would probably be all gone.

[Deda]

wow,strange things happpend!

[GhOsT_E90]

Ok so you work at a place that has valet parking and your worried about 10bucks for parking some place else and peace of mind that you dont have to worry about a valet stealing your shit or messing with your car.

[mbmbm&w]

If you are dealing with the valet manager, you're in the wrong place. Find the building manager or the leasing agency and take your complaints direct. With the economy in the tank, they're not going to risk losing tenants over stupid stuff like this. Set traps (discreet clear tape across glovebox door or console cover), take pictures, and keep a log of what's going on - your experiences and names and dates of clients and co-workers experiences. They may not listen to one whiner, but they have to pay attention to a detailed list of occurances. Build a case and nail the b'tards.

[wangxy83]

I was in L.A traveling, they took my GPS charger which really pissed me off, Because without my GPS, I couldn't get to anywhere. The valet parking manager did not want to do anything and keep giving me the "not responsible for the items in the car" shit. So I talked to the hotel manager and try to get the hotel manager to deal with them, since it was my last day in that hotel I couldn't wait until they solve it, but I just hoped that the hotel manager will give them a tough time so same thing will not happen to other guests!

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

The building I work at has complementary valet parking for residents. I though that was pretty cool at first, I was always paranoid about them taking my sunglasses or stupid shit like that. After about a month of getting settled in I got into this huge fight with the valet manager. He called the cops and claimed I threatened to kill him. This isn’t the first case where my clients or I have had problems with valet. Lately my business partner has been noticing things missing from his car; he can’t find his ipod, cell phone chargers are missing, and mysteriously he had a three inch puncture on his front tire. Now every time I sit in my car to go home I feel like someone had messed with my car. I mean it’s ok if they adjust the seat and mirrors, but I have this feeling there f’n with my car! I tried getting my car parked in the lot next to the building but I have to pay ten bucks every time I go in and out. It could get costly on my schedule. I can’t park on the street because there is one hour limit. I really want to find out if they are really messing with my car, but so far the only thing I can think of is setting up a camera. Any suggestions?

can you just PARK IT YOURSELF?!

[Kev]

Sorry to hear about your experience. What transpired between you and the valet manager that led to the huge fight and him alleging that you threatened to kill him? I would recommend starting a list on your computer with pictures taken of all the damages and items missing, then report to the management of the building, as well as the management of the valet company (by pass all the monkeys in the building, they are utterly useless when you want to get things done). Also, start a log of the mileage of your car each time you park there to track unusual mileages on your car.

In this "great" city of Boston, a lot of the places are valet only. As paranoid as I am, I would just avoid going to those places entirely. I would self-park and walk multiple blocks to get to my destination then to deal with these monkeys.

[Couch]

"Complimentary" tells me you have a choice. If you HAVE to, I'd be discussing with the building management. As well as my employer.

I hate being forced to valet. I'm capable and can park my own shit. I don't care if I have a 1979 Pinto or a Lambo, no one will park my ride except me or someone I know.

[martyp]

... the day I let some $10/hour jerk park my car will be a cold one in hell.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

I though that was pretty cool at first,

Why? Valet parking has two purposes
1.) to impress the easily impressed (that part worked)
2.) to squeeze more cars into fewer parking spots

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

I mean it’s ok if they adjust the seat and mirrors,

Not really. Seat perhaps but to move a car a few feet into a spot even that is a lot of adjusting.

[slipperman]

where do you work and park in downtown?

[Bimmer335i]

why would you let someone else drive your baby!? if i can help it, no one drives my car..one time the valet scraped the underneath of the car, specifically the front bumper...and i was pissed!!!!! so no more valet...

[triple35]

Originally Posted by martyp

... the day I let some $10/hour jerk park my car will be a cold one in hell.

While I dont blame most of you for feeling this way about valets... some of these statements are just plain ignorant. I worked as a valet in college and most of my co-workers were car enthusiasts just like me, who treated peoples cars with respect as they do their own.
(And since when does the amount of money someone makes per hour determine your respect for someone elses property??)

Have you asked the mgr if you can self park?? I'm sure they can make exceptions....they will tell you that they cant allow you due to insurance...which is true actually( if they allow non-valet employees to park their own cars in the same lot as the valet they have no control over accidents )- but they will make an exception.

At the end of the day most valets arent going to risk their job ( which can be very lucrative) to steal someones phone charger or ipod.

[martyp]

Originally Posted by triple35

While I dont blame most of you for feeling this way about valets... some of these statements are just plain ignorant. I worked as a valet in college and most of my co-workers were car enthusiasts just like me, who treated peoples cars with respect as they do their own.

I'm sure you were a great valet but the problem is, you don't know the person who is parking your car. You can't interview and get to know your valet before you let him get behind the wheel unfortunately.