Some people go to Atlantic City to gamble and win … but most people go to Atlantic City and lose more than just their money, they lose BIG TIME!!! Here’s one way to lose without taking a dime out of your pocket …
I drove down to Atlantic City Saturday while it was raining out. When I first pulled into the Water Club at The Borgata, I was treated like a king. The three Valet Guys were drooling over my new Porsche Turbo Cab (as visions of Ferris Buellers Day Off flashed through my mind, except with them using my sled), so I asked to park it myself. Very obliging, they told me I could park ‘front and center’ against the wall with an AMG SL63 and a Gallardo Spyder where it would be safe and under watch until I returned. I was so relieved I gave a nice tip. Next day, on the way home I stopped for a Starbucks on the Parkway (as we know there’s NO good coffee in A/C) and on the way back to the sled I see something very disturbing … it looks as if the car’s been scuffed all over with a Brillo Pad! As I get closer, it gets worse!!! The whole car is lightly scratched! Hood, fenders, quarters, doors, wing, etc!!!
I screamed at the top of my lungs … WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU_K ! ! !
I must have looked like a freak, it probably looked like I was doing an old Indian Rain Dance as I waved my hands in the air and proceeded to bend, twist, jump, fall to my knees, get back up like a loon and back down again, circling the scuffed sled while sun revealed every little scratch! I don’t remember throwing the coffee (didn’t need caffeine anymore – I was amped up!!) but it seems that’s what got the Security Guy to come over. He wanted me to pick up the empty cup and lid about 10 yards away.
I must have stood there for 10 minutes going round and round the car like a merry-go-round. I realized the car was cleaner than it should be since I drove down in the rain.
Got back in the sled and went back to the Valet.
I took the wrong approach at first … I went in with a fury. They stared at me in disbelief, almost arrogance as nobody would admit to touching the car – this made me more furious, my blood was boiling. Soon security was all around. Realizing this may not end well for me, I sat and asked for Senior Parking Management. Explaining my distress, and showing them what was done – they explained the cars aren’t touched or washed at all and this is how my car must have come in. While trying to explain I’m one of the nuttiest detail freaks on the East Coast and I keep my paint in mirror-like condition, I see cameras. Everywhere! I plead to run the tapes from last night. To my surprise they’re more than willing to do so – to prove their staff would never do such a thing!
Now that you’re this far … put on your seat-belts!!!
Several hours after I pulled in, one of the valet guys goes over to the White SL63 with a spray bottle and rag and starts wiping down the car. Then goes to my sled and wipes it down also. I almost wish I hadn’t seen it. With every herky-jerky back-and-forth wipe I could almost die. Two cars, one tiny rag! We went downstairs and found the guy. At first he thought he was going to get a Gold-Star for doing it. He was proud to have done it, touting his skills with Glass Plus and a rag. Then a strange thing took over me … I could see the poor old guy sincerely thought he had done something nice – yet hadn’t a clue as to the effect it had on the paint. He explained he just wanted to clean the cars as he appreciated a clean car. Besides, he felt obligated to do it as I gave him a nice tip and it was his way of saying ‘thanks’.
Yeah, I could have choked the living daylights out of him, instead, took him over to my sled and showed him what he had done. He had never looked “into-the-paint” before, only the surface. The security guys and the head of valet services took this in and agreed the damage was enough to compensate me.
They’ve given me $1000.00 for damages and 4 overnights. Although that covers my time, energy and efforts, I just can’t believe I have to re-detail my car. Those of you who know me, know I’m very **** about how pristine the paint must be. I just spent the last 3 weeks getting it absolutely perfectly protected for the upcoming winter months. This is really going to suck doing it twice!!!
Here’s just a few pictures of the damages …

 

What a terrible story - I am sorry.

 

Sorry to hear your story, but there is a brighter side...

Of all the things that could happen at a valet, this was probably the most fixable.

If you're experienced, it's about a weekend's worth of work with Menzerna and a buffer. If not, its a professional detail and the problem is fixed.

 

Send it off for a detailing...will look like new. Sounds like the guy's heart was in the right place at least.

 

I would have been in jail that night !

Gee-Bee

 

After hearing the guy was trying to do a good deed and they compensated you extremely well, it really seems like nothing but a big inconvenience. The scuffs are not through the clear coat and likely nothing more than a good detail can buff out to be never seen again. I surely wouldn't want it happening to my car but at least it can be easily repaired.

 

Sorry about the problem. It was ingenious to notice the cameras and review the video.

 

black is an easy color to pick up such surface scuffs. Sorry for your misfortune, but there are alot worse things in life - something to keep in perspective.

 

I'm on my 4th black Porsche and I think you can get those slight scratches detailed out . I see nothing in the photos which goes through the entire clear coat . In fact it's nearly impossible to keep a black P car swirl free .

The absolute worst case scenaro might require a wet sand process but I don't even think yours is that bad .

And NEVER, EVER ...valet the car anywhere . I bought a Honda Si for valet parking .

 

I may be more caught up in it than most people. I'm a bit more **** about the visual condition of the car than most. A partner in a detail shop with standards that have landed 2 cars at Amelia Island Concours and one in Monterey, you can imagine the time, energy and effort that goes into making the paint on this sled literally glow.
For those who think this is no big deal, we do a 4 stage polishing process and use a wax routine that takes 3 weeks to finish. We literally get the paint to look 'wet' without a spiderweb or swirl to be found (with respect to "Yrralis1" it's not easy to do). It's my fault the pictures didn't capture how bad the car really looks.
For the others that commiserate this with me ... As for almost killing the guy, I guess I'd be in jail if he was some punk-***-kid with an attitude like I owed him something. But this guy was a little older and it was obvious he really thought he had done me a favor and his demeanor was so respectful I realized immediately his actions represented his positive intent. When he saw what he had done he was so sorrowful I just had to let it go with him and hold the Borgata responsible.
I'll have it re-finished again by spring ... for now I think I'll run the wheels off the thing until the first snow/salt and then start the refinishing over the winter.
Thanks all - and stay away from hotel valet guys

 

Sorry to hear about your ordeal.. That's why I NEVER use valet, no matter how nice the place is... period..

 

How unfortunate. I can truly sympathize because I would be the same way. It can be fixed but it should have never happened in the first place. Off the subject, I notice you are using a suction cup mount for your radar/laser detector. I almost did the same thing until I read in the Escort manual that the suction cups can mar the windshield anti-laceration membrane that Porsche puts on the inside surface. Have you noticed any marks on your windshield?

 

Thanks for the heads-up "2008911tt" but that doesn't make any sense. What about how many times the inspection stickers, polo-stickers, police badges, track stickers, yacht club badges, etc, etc that all get glued on, suction-cupped, scraped off with razor-blades, over and over year after year. That's got to do a lot more damage than two light-weight suction cups.
But to be sure I checked the Escort site, and they only reference Porsche 944's. I had a 968 at one time, and never had a problem there.
Not to change the thread, but as soon as I find a way to raise the rear-view mirror, at that time I'll hard-mount the V1 up in the top of the windscreen.
Thank you for the concern.

 

Thanks for sharing the story. I'm shocked the casino allowed you to review the tapes, but that's great -- mystery solved. I was expecting you to tell us that some jealous ahole deliberately scuffed up your paint, but it's a relief that the damage was done by someone with good intentions. It's a total drag that you have to detail the car again, but at least the casino did the right thing without aggravating you further.

 

SaintlySins - I purchased an Escort 9500i laser/radar detector. In the Owner's manual (which I rarely read) it clearly states that the suction cups can permanently mar the anti-laceration coating on the inside of some Porsche windshields. I called my Porsche dealer and they said that my 2008 997 TT did have the anti-laceration coating on the inside of the windshield. I haven't pursued verification of the dealer's statement. I then spent some time trying to find an acceptable way to mount the detector. I ended up with a weighted beanbag mount that sits on the dash next to the Chrono. It is not pretty but it works. I was afraid to stick the suction cups on the windshield and later find out that there were permanent suction cup marks. I don't know if the suction cup mount would have marred the windshield or not but I chose not to take the chance. I even considered the $1600 Escort 9500ci that requires permanent mounting. One thing for certain is that I don't intend to own a high performance vehicle and stay within posted speed limits at all times. I was just curious if the suction cups marked your windshield.