Valet tipping etiquette

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I call bullshit.

Service sucks everywhere, tipping is expected in the states and in Canada, there's no fuckign way you can leave a bar or restaurant without tipping and not be just about lynched.

Europeans just don't give a fuck in general as they don't work anywhere near as hard as in the US, Canada or Australia (for better or worse).

I don't think it has to do with working hard. I think it's that Europeans do not have the same sense of entitlement that seems to make restaurant patrons in the US act like royalty when they sit down at Red Lobster. At the same time, I've never run into an outright rude or lazy server in Europe in my life, and I've spent a few months there.

[Alfisti]

I have run into a ton of "can't be damned" euro servers because, well, they can't be damned. It's a different society with a far more socialist approach. It's like they are doing you a favour.

[Red Bread]

Pretty sure @alfisti is my alter ego. I've found that German, French and even some Brits are much harder professional workers than Americans. They knock out their work in 35-38 hours instead of trying to look busy for 60-70 hours like many American professionals.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I have run into a ton of "can't be damned" euro servers because, well, they can't be damned. It's a different society with a far more socialist approach. It's like they are doing you a favour.

It's literally the exact thing you claimed you wanted. They're paid a good wage and they have little to no incentive to give a f about your dining experience.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I don't think it has to do with working hard. I think it's that Europeans do not have the same sense of entitlement that seems to make restaurant patrons in the US act like royalty when they sit down at Red Lobster. At the same time, I've never run into an outright rude or lazy server in Europe in my life, and I've spent a few months there.

I've spent a LOT of time in Europe. It varies quite a bit country to country but in general there's just a different expected pace of things. Later dinners, more of an evening outing, culturally they just expect everything to take a lot longer and be more leisurely. Which some find annoying if it's not what you're used to or expecting. It's not bad it's just different.

[kprocivic]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

How does one make $20 in a fancy restaurant? I mean, I have some ideas but...

It's part of the casino.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I've spent a LOT of time in Europe. It varies quite a bit country to country but in general there's just a different expected pace of things. Later dinners, more of an evening outing, culturally they just expect everything to take a lot longer and be more leisurely. Which some find annoying if it's not what you're used to or expecting. It's not bad it's just different.

I've noticed that too. They are in NO rush to bring the cheque!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

If you want a general rule of thumb broken down by type of lot I'd say:

Parking lot where you drive into lot and valet just moves the cars around and parks them $5-10

Parking garage where you enter and valet uses one of the spaces off to the side for your car but not actually put it up with everyone else $10

Anything where car storage is offsite and you're requesting "VIP" spot in front of hotel or restaurant where they normally drive the cars someplace totally different for storage $20.

That aside use your discretion for out of the ordinary situations.

I was a valet out of college. This is the most accurate guide and what I use.

In Hollywood and Downtown LA, however, there might not even be VIP parking where you can park it yourself... or there are already Ferraris, Bentlys, or McLarens taking those spots. That's when you accept the fact that your car is just a car and suck it up. TIP UP FRONT to the valet parking your car. Remember, parking your car is the most thankless job for a valet. Most people tip on the way out, not the way in. Subconsciously, the valet has less incentive to use kid gloves on your car when they are parking... unless you have already tipped them. $5 is the standard across the board for tipping on the way in IMHO.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Originally Posted by paliknight

Presentation is a factor, not the factor. But car buying is not a job interview. I don't feel the need to impress at a car dealership, unlike a job interview. People buy exotic cars in jeans and polos but can't buy fords in the same clothing?

shit the day i took delivery of my m3. I just woke up from a belligerent night of drinking. Went in gym shorts and my under tee from the night before. smelling like liq and pussy. Just trying to keep up the BMW reputation haha.

[Blackland]

$5 if they park it in the garage, $10 if they park it out front. If we have to wait a long time $3.