Guys tell me if I did anything wrong. I really got worked up over this. So I go to this restaurant as I pull in they have complimentary valet. I take advantage of it. Get out tip the guy $2. Parks it up front like two spots from his stand. I come out walk over to him he hands me my key. I'm like oh okay I had another tip in hand but decided against giving it to him since I got my own car. As I'm leaving I roll down the windows and drive by him he gets down and says next time park your own f*cking car. I was blown away. I couldn't believe it. Did I do anything that would have pissed him off? I ended up getting out and talking to the manager. He said he would comp our meal next time coming back but I have no interest in doing so now.

 

Even though he gave you the key, he absolutely expected a tip. He was doing you a favor by keeping the car up front and effectively keeping an eye on it while you ate. Also, he likely knew you didn't want him to pull it up (i.e. drive it again), so he thought he was being respectful. $5 would have avoided all this.

 

All the valet cars were parked up front. A Mazda was on one side of me.

 

I agree. What restaurant was it? B Tops?

 

maybe it all started with the 2 dollar tip...

 

Wasn't even the same guy. No it was a place in north palm

 

Mentioning the $2. What is proper etiquette for complimentary valet? Mind you this place wasn't a 5 star restaurant or any type of fine dining.

 

I do an initial $5 ($10 at a 5star) and another $5 when departing. If they are kind enough to get the door for my wife maybe more. Haven't done this In a while since my new clutch makes this very difficult for them to park.

You don't own a cheap Mazda so they may expect a little more, same as you may by how they take care of it while you are enjoying your dinner.

 

I paid for college working as a valet at a nice steakhouse while in school. Front spots were $10 at a minimum, usually $20. That was 20 years ago. $2 is an insult... Funny thing is, the biggest tippers were usually driving the biggest piles of junk. Maybe they tipped well because they didn't spend it on their car payment. It was always amusing to have a guy bring in a Ferrari and then wonder why it was parked in the back while the minivan was out front.

 

I agree 100%. Especially pulling up in a Turbo Porsche.

 

Agree, bad form! $2..............

 

I know it depends on location, but $20 for a front spot is pretty standard in Southern California and Vegas (where I have my cars most often). Sometimes, I don't have cash on me, so I tell the driver I'll get him on my way out. I think of it as cheap insurance.

 

You should have tipped him but the way the valet handled it was so wrong - he should have been fired on the spot. I worked as a valet in college as well and I made good money but every now and then you would get stiffed. It just goes with the territory. That guy was obviously in the wrong line of work.

 

$2 bucks, I would have given it back to you.

 

I wasn't expecting to go to a burger bar and get valet. On top of which I was planning on tipping him more after.