Who was the wise person who advised, "Hold your tongue"? Oh, of course, my mother of beloved memory.

Recognizing differences of opinons, I previously wrote the following:

<i>I just googled &quot;tip valet&quot; and found opinions as varied as those here.

Some stated the practice I use: Tip only when you pick up your car. The suggested amount ranged from $1-$3--more if you park an expensive car at a ***** hotel.

Others sites (mostly sponsored by the hospitality industry) advised tipping both when dropping off and picking up a car and suggested $2-$5 each time.</i>

I've always thought of tipping as a way to acknowledge someone for doing something you don't want to do. You don't want to lug plates of food around, so you tip the waiter for doing so. You don't want to walk a long way to get your car, so you tip the attendant to do it for you. You don't want to make the bed, so you tip the housekeeper to do it for you.

In that respect, I wouldn't be against tipping both the person parking the car and the one bringing it to you. That way I know both people who are doing me the service are getting my appreciation in return. And I would tip higher in bad weather, etc.

&quot;I've always thought of tipping as a way to acknowledge someone for doing something you don't want to do.&quot;

We would much prefer parking our own car. We stand a greater chance of it coming back to us without any damage.

Of couse we always tips, but one time, after bringing back a damaged rental car, we felt it was inappropriate to tip the valet. Yes, he was still expecting the tip.

Seetheworld, I'm with you but be prepared for off-the-wall responses from people who will claim you are cheap or otherwise defective for acting in a rational way. HTTY

Was seetheworld's post supposed to some how be compared to the idea of
just tipping enough that they won't complain or the suggestion that tips are only given to see what you get back from them? Sorry, I don't get the comparison.

Who in the world would accuse someone of being cheap because they didn't tip a valet who brings back a car they damaged?

Well, that would assume the returning valet was the one who damaged it, as opposed to the parking valet.

I abhor valet parking, unless the facility offers no parking of its own, and there's only on-street parking. And even then...

Of course, it's a matter of personal preference, but where the hotel is forcing you to use valet parking, I'd feel a lot less charitable, so there's little reason to believe that I'd tip them once I brought my car to them.

Don't bring me in to the middle of this pi$$ing contest.

Gee, I don't care which valet caused the damage. The message should be clear, that if you damage a car don't expect to receive a tip.

:-) STW!

I don't think it's appropriate to tip until I get the car back undamaged. I once parked in a parking lot where the valet must have driven my car over a concrete barrier, because I could hear that my muffler was damaged as the car was being driven back to me. Why would a leave a tip to anyone. Some company takes my property and damages it. It's going to cost me money to fix it. Why am I supposed to reward anyone associated with that company?

I didn't see another answer, so I apologize if I missed one. Someone asked how the cleaning person coming into a hotel room wouldn't get the tip. I think the point was that if you only stay one night, you are tipping the person who is cleaning up after you, not the person who cleaned up prior to your arrival to make you comfortable. I think it is a fair assumption though, that in the end that all balances out for the staff.

Lest you all think I was advocating the tipping of the guy who returned the damaged car, I forgot my :)

Of course, you wouldn't tip that guy. But I could see how he could he was still entitled to a tip (&quot;But, I didn't damage it!&quot;).

milford 88,

And likewise when tipping only the valet who returns a car.

What about the waitress who announces she is going &quot;off shift&quot; and you haven't finished dining. Do you tip her or the person who replaces her?

HTTY

or the valet parker who parked your car but is now going home and brings you your keys inside the restaurant. do you tip him?

htty, the waitperson going off shift must settle up the tab in order to check out therefore, yes, I always tip that waitperson.

Since I'm usually not finished, I start another tab with the new waitperson and yes, I tip them also.

I take it you've never worked for tips?

I want a job waiting on your table and parking your car.

Since it has been asked, I have never worked for tips. When I was young, I applied for a job at an upscale restaurant and was asked, &quot;Can you bone a fish?&quot; I didn't qualify.

However, I eat out 20-30 times a month and the staff at restaurants I frequent are always happy to see me and to serve me. I would like to think it's because I'm such a great person, but I suspect it is because I tip appropriately.

I generally tip the person that brings my car back to me.....$1 to $3. If you are staying for an extended time, tip EVERY time they bring your car.....they remember you and it's amazing how fast your car gets to you. haha

htty, I didn't mean the question as a slam and hope it didn't come across offensively.

No offense taken.