How much to tip a servant | personal financing

In general, people do not like to pay for parking.

That’s according to Ben Akbari, CEO of Quality Parking Service Inc. It is based in Woodland Hills, California.

Some people also don’t like tipping drivers who park their cars.

Perhaps this is because there is confusion about how much to tip and when to tip. Customers may not usually have cash on hand. Whatever the reason, there are some misconceptions about the etiquette of parking facilities.

Gary Lewis, Vice President of Operations at Park Inc. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Micah Meyer of Beaumont Etiquette based in New York City, their biggest insights into why, when and how much valet tipping should be:

Server works hard. Not only do they have the responsibility to move vehicles safely, but they also need to operate quickly and efficiently – even in bad weather, such as wind, rain, heat and snow.

Akbari, whose work used to take him to Chicago regularly, remembers seeing the line of valet parking in the winter wearing full-face masks covered in ice.

“Getting to know your parking valet/valet by tipping is not just a general compliment, but especially if the service meets or exceeds expectations,” Lewis explains. “Ultimately, you trust one of your most valuable material possessions—including what is in them—in the hands and care of a potential stranger. Gratuities are a way of appreciating those looking after or caring for you.”

It’s also good to remember that most attendees are paid hourly. Tips help round their home pay.

“Tips are a very important part of a valet worker’s income,” Akbari says. “One of the main reasons they work with valet operators is to go home at the end of the night with cash in their pockets.”

According to Meyer, customers should tip classes anywhere in the $2 to $5 range each time they pick up their vehicle.

For exceptional service, customers should consider paying more. For example, Akbary recommends a tip of $10.

When you think about how much to tip for parking, Meyer also recommends thinking about location.

“In terms of tip amount, consider the institution,” she says. “Is it a casual beach suite you’re staying in or a five-star luxury hotel? You should lean higher or lower to reflect this level of establishment.”

Do you have to tip for parking at every kind of place?

Valet parking services operate in all types of venues – from hotels and restaurants to healthcare and event venues – and etiquette varies based on location.

For example, if you picked up your car in the emergency room, your valet might not expect or accept the tip. The same goes for special occasions, such as weddings. In this case, the hosts may inform the server themselves – and ask their guests not to tip for this reason. Akbari says it really depends on the host of the event.

For hotels and restaurants, tipping is fair game – even if valet parking is offered as a free service.

“If the service is good or great, let the parking operator know you appreciate their efforts by tipping accordingly,” Lewis says.

“You don’t need to tip the trunk when you get out of your car,” Meyer says. “Think of it like placing an order for a drink at the bar. You won’t get tip when you place the order, only when you receive your drink.”

In other words, instruct your valet when picking up your car.

At the end of the day, tipping the server is a way to say “thank you.”

“It’s a sign of gratitude for good service to tip your servant,” says Meyer. “If you take your car out a few times and tip it every time you pick up your car, that also ensures that your car will be greatly taken care of.”