The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

Limo Master

Location: San Diego

Registered: May 02, 2008

Posted

Ok, I vented my anger on cabbies and now it's time to vent on the idiot valet guys(and girls). How many of you have a problem with valet thinking they are in charge of the white zones in front of the busy clubs and restaurants?

The bike cops in downtown san diego are like parking nazi's and will swarm on you if you double park or stay in a white zone too long(I've actually had the guy tell me he was timing me before I could even open the door for my client). So it is pretty important for limo's to load and unload safely and legally in a white or yellow zone. I find it has been a growing trend for the valet to wave us away(hand signal, verbal, or physically block us) from using "their valet parking". The biggest offenders(in san diego) would be George's Top of the Cove in La Jolla, Marriott Courtyard downtown on 6th, and all the valet spots on 5th in the gaslamp. I used to try and be nice, but they don't even want to give me my 3 minutes. Please tell me it's not just me.

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

Limo Master

Location: San Diego

Registered: May 02, 2008

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Frugality:
Just as bad here in Chicago, majority of downtown rest./bar/club valet service's are run by just 2 companies!!! Political, yes indeed. Can it be proven, probably not. The valet parker's are like volture's, taking metered public spaces, using one person as a look out for an empty space, forcing the public to park at an expensive public garage. And having the police to back them up whenever they call or wave for them.
One thing I have learned is if it is a public roadway and your livery vehicle has flasher's on with people EITHER exiting or entering limo, that is considered by most local law's as EXPEDITING. There IS a difference from expediting and IDLING. It is LEGAL for a limousine to expedite passenger's on any public roadway. But in most area's, it is NOT legal for any limo/bus/truck to idle on a public roadway. (just make sure your flasher's are on and someone is physically entering/exiting limo.
If you really want to piss them off, after last person get's out and is inside establishment, pop open hood, say "sorry amigo, car overheated, have to let sit for about 15min." If negative response, say "I know, you guy's push the limo while I steer!!!" Make sure to have a camera phone taking picture's, post here!!!

I pulled the locked transmission trick at a Jack in the Box before. There was no line and I backed in the exit to the window to order for my clients(late night drive through only). The cashier told me to go the proper way. I told him the limo wouldn't make the turn. He tells me too bad and to move. Meanwhile a line starts to form. I tell him the transmission was locked in park and to call a tow truck for me. I smiled as I told him I could probably fix it while he took my clients order. His manager agreed with my solution. I told him I wasn't eating so not to spit in the food.

Oh, along with all the front end work they found a leak in my power steering. That's why my arms are so big.

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

Ignored post by Geoff Levine posted

Mr.Frugality

Limo Protege

Location: Chicagoland Suburbs

Registered: May 19, 2008

Posts: 133

Posted

Just as bad here in Chicago, majority of downtown rest./bar/club valet service's are run by just 2 companies!!! Political, yes indeed. Can it be proven, probably not. The valet parker's are like volture's, taking metered public spaces, using one person as a look out for an empty space, forcing the public to park at an expensive public garage. And having the police to back them up whenever they call or wave for them.
One thing I have learned is if it is a public roadway and your livery vehicle has flasher's on with people EITHER exiting or entering limo, that is considered by most local law's as EXPEDITING. There IS a difference from expediting and IDLING. It is LEGAL for a limousine to expedite passenger's on any public roadway. But in most area's, it is NOT legal for any limo/bus/truck to idle on a public roadway. (just make sure your flasher's are on and someone is physically entering/exiting limo.
If you really want to piss them off, after last person get's out and is inside establishment, pop open hood, say "sorry amigo, car overheated, have to let sit for about 15min." If negative response, say "I know, you guy's push the limo while I steer!!!" Make sure to have a camera phone taking picture's, post here!!!

A true leader seeks the leader in others

Ignored post by Mr.Frugality posted

gunny

Limo God

Location: Spring Hill Florida

Registered: August 17, 2004

Posts: 2742

Posted

Maybe New Yorkers are just a wee bit smarter & recognize when a limo pulls up & unloads bodies, those bodies equate to dollars that are going to be spent in the establishment. As long as I parked where I was supposed to, never even got harassed by the Brownies. Those who pushed their buttons rightfully got farked with.

I never have a problem reminding idiots in Tampa or Orlando that others & myself not based in these cities are the ones who bring folks in to patronize their businesses. It sure as hell isn't the metro based operators doing it.

"Suing Tampa Limo Regulator In Federal Court For The Right To Use Fuel Efficient Vehicles & Violations Of Federal & State Preemptions. What Has Your National Or Local Assoc. Done For You Lately? " Visit www.thefita.com

Ignored post by gunny posted

Cliff Robinson

"Provider of World Class Service and Luxury"

Location: Portland, Oregon

Registered: May 05, 2006

Posts: 208

Posted

I was at the River Place Plaza Hotel 2 years ago. I had 3 Limousines and a town car at the Portland (Jeld-Wen) Golf Classic event along with a Host of other companies who had been booked for the event to take care of the players and families.

A smart ass Meter Maid (male) strutted up in front of the hotel where we were all waiting for our daily fares at 5am and began to write out tickets to all the Limo Drivers...$75 a shot. I asked him what the hell he was doing ticketing the drivers and cars he stated His Job.... I reminded him this was a city event and that the usual and customary thing was to over look these once a year big events that brought so much Money to the community. He gave me a thousand yard stare and kept on writing.

Portland has sense Lost this Prestigous Golf Classic which went to south Oregon,they are not exactly a Friendly town for events and such and have Lost millions over their stupidity and treatment of Visiting VIP clients to the Rose City. It is a Pitty they cant seem to get it right....

Ignored post by Cliff Robinson posted

Limo Master

Location: San Diego

Registered: May 02, 2008

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Dean Schuler:
The catagory of people you are speaking of has tormented limousine drivers for decades. A friend of mine caught up with two of the meter maids in the French Quarter at night and nailed them with water balloons full of red paint. When the meter maids torment construction workers who are working on a highrise by ticketing their cars, barrows of waste are said to fall on the meter maids as a response. My personal favorite was the time a metermaid was witnessed ticketing cars at the Federal Building. She was quickly subdued and handcuffed and hauled inside the building. Every limo driver on the block broke out in applause.
quote:
Originally posted by Geoff Levine:
quote:
Originally posted by Limo Scene:
Oh this subject is sooooo timely. Last Saturday, I went to Lawry's in Beverly Hills. I don't ride in the back of limos very often but it was my birthday. We took the two hour drive to Lawry's while drinking a 12 pack on the way. Needless to say....I had to pee.

We pull in front of Lawry's to find the entire curb taken up by a charter bus so my chauffeur pulls in the driveway to the front door where a valet attendant blocks his path. The chauffeur lays on the horn solid and lunges the car forward at the same time. The valet nearly attacks Greg as he gets out of the car to get my door. He yells at Greg that he cannot unload here. I said, "sure he can, we're unloading now" and ran inside. I HAD to take care of business.

When I finished, I came back out and approached the attendant. I apologized for our error and politely told him of our trip from Bakersfield and showed him my Lawry's VIP card.

He explained to me that his company RENTS the parking lot from Lawry's and they must hustle to make money above and beyond their rent and a limo hinders his ability to work by taking up the space of three cars in the driveway. I pointed out we were only in HIS driveway for a total of 2 minutes.

He just didn't get it.

At home in Bakersfield, I own the only valet service in Bakersfield so when my valet attendants see a limo arrive at an event, they get the doors! It doesn't matter what limo company is arriving - they are expediting to the front of the line and we get the doors of the limo.

Valet attendants and private parking lot security guards seem to hate chauffeurs!

I think it is a jealousy thing.............

Nicole, good luck on winning some cash.

Luff, your valet guys sound like a class act. Most of the guys here just don't get it. If they are nice to us and let us do our jobs uninterupted, we'll be out of there way that much faster.

I'd love to start venting on the wannabe real cops that get a woody giving tickets to limos, but out of respect to the real cops out there I won't. And don't even get me started on the meter maids.

Dean, I love it. Especially the "barrows of waste(my visual is of Gorrillas throwing crap).

Here in San Diego they have a lot more power. My old boss was upset and in a hurry when a meter maid started to write him a ticket one day. He let her have it verbally and proceeded to leave. She was slow writing his plate # down so she stood in front of his bumper. He honked and screamed at her to move but she wouldn't. He pulled slowly forward, bumping her(less than 1 mph) while honking until she was sick of getting bumped. The police came to the office within 10 minutes and waited for him to turn himself in for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. He went to jail over night and the charges were dropped or he was put on probation with a hefty fine. My lesson learned was not to mess with them. But I love the paint balloon idea.

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

Ignored post by Geoff Levine posted

Dean Schuler

SINCE 1976

Location: Metairie, Louisiana 70055

Registered: August 31, 2000

Posts: 3744

Posted

The catagory of people you are speaking of has tormented limousine drivers for decades. A friend of mine caught up with two of the meter maids in the French Quarter at night and nailed them with water balloons full of red paint. When the meter maids torment construction workers who are working on a highrise by ticketing their cars, barrows of waste are said to fall on the meter maids as a response. My personal favorite was the time a metermaid was witnessed ticketing cars at the Federal Building. She was quickly subdued and handcuffed and hauled inside the building. Every limo driver on the block broke out in applause.

quote:
Originally posted by Geoff Levine:
quote:
Originally posted by Limo Scene:
Oh this subject is sooooo timely. Last Saturday, I went to Lawry's in Beverly Hills. I don't ride in the back of limos very often but it was my birthday. We took the two hour drive to Lawry's while drinking a 12 pack on the way. Needless to say....I had to pee.

We pull in front of Lawry's to find the entire curb taken up by a charter bus so my chauffeur pulls in the driveway to the front door where a valet attendant blocks his path. The chauffeur lays on the horn solid and lunges the car forward at the same time. The valet nearly attacks Greg as he gets out of the car to get my door. He yells at Greg that he cannot unload here. I said, "sure he can, we're unloading now" and ran inside. I HAD to take care of business.

When I finished, I came back out and approached the attendant. I apologized for our error and politely told him of our trip from Bakersfield and showed him my Lawry's VIP card.

He explained to me that his company RENTS the parking lot from Lawry's and they must hustle to make money above and beyond their rent and a limo hinders his ability to work by taking up the space of three cars in the driveway. I pointed out we were only in HIS driveway for a total of 2 minutes.

He just didn't get it.

At home in Bakersfield, I own the only valet service in Bakersfield so when my valet attendants see a limo arrive at an event, they get the doors! It doesn't matter what limo company is arriving - they are expediting to the front of the line and we get the doors of the limo.

Valet attendants and private parking lot security guards seem to hate chauffeurs!

I think it is a jealousy thing.............

Nicole, good luck on winning some cash.

Luff, your valet guys sound like a class act. Most of the guys here just don't get it. If they are nice to us and let us do our jobs uninterupted, we'll be out of there way that much faster.

I'd love to start venting on the wannabe real cops that get a woody giving tickets to limos, but out of respect to the real cops out there I won't. And don't even get me started on the meter maids.

Dean Schuler

Ignored post by Dean Schuler posted

Limo Master

Location: San Diego

Registered: May 02, 2008

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Limo Scene:
Oh this subject is sooooo timely. Last Saturday, I went to Lawry's in Beverly Hills. I don't ride in the back of limos very often but it was my birthday. We took the two hour drive to Lawry's while drinking a 12 pack on the way. Needless to say....I had to pee.

We pull in front of Lawry's to find the entire curb taken up by a charter bus so my chauffeur pulls in the driveway to the front door where a valet attendant blocks his path. The chauffeur lays on the horn solid and lunges the car forward at the same time. The valet nearly attacks Greg as he gets out of the car to get my door. He yells at Greg that he cannot unload here. I said, "sure he can, we're unloading now" and ran inside. I HAD to take care of business.

When I finished, I came back out and approached the attendant. I apologized for our error and politely told him of our trip from Bakersfield and showed him my Lawry's VIP card.

He explained to me that his company RENTS the parking lot from Lawry's and they must hustle to make money above and beyond their rent and a limo hinders his ability to work by taking up the space of three cars in the driveway. I pointed out we were only in HIS driveway for a total of 2 minutes.

He just didn't get it.

At home in Bakersfield, I own the only valet service in Bakersfield so when my valet attendants see a limo arrive at an event, they get the doors! It doesn't matter what limo company is arriving - they are expediting to the front of the line and we get the doors of the limo.

Valet attendants and private parking lot security guards seem to hate chauffeurs!

I think it is a jealousy thing.............

Nicole, good luck on winning some cash.

Luff, your valet guys sound like a class act. Most of the guys here just don't get it. If they are nice to us and let us do our jobs uninterupted, we'll be out of there way that much faster.

I'd love to start venting on the wannabe real cops that get a woody giving tickets to limos, but out of respect to the real cops out there I won't. And don't even get me started on the meter maids.

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

Ignored post by Geoff Levine posted

Limo Scene

GRAND MASTER LUFF / Part Time Bartender

Location: Bakersfield, CA 93307

Registered: April 28, 2001

Posts: 1688

Posted

Oh this subject is sooooo timely. Last Saturday, I went to Lawry's in Beverly Hills. I don't ride in the back of limos very often but it was my birthday. We took the two hour drive to Lawry's while drinking a 12 pack on the way. Needless to say....I had to pee.

We pull in front of Lawry's to find the entire curb taken up by a charter bus so my chauffeur pulls in the driveway to the front door where a valet attendant blocks his path. The chauffeur lays on the horn solid and lunges the car forward at the same time. The valet nearly attacks Greg as he gets out of the car to get my door. He yells at Greg that he cannot unload here. I said, "sure he can, we're unloading now" and ran inside. I HAD to take care of business.

When I finished, I came back out and approached the attendant. I apologized for our error and politely told him of our trip from Bakersfield and showed him my Lawry's VIP card.

He explained to me that his company RENTS the parking lot from Lawry's and they must hustle to make money above and beyond their rent and a limo hinders his ability to work by taking up the space of three cars in the driveway. I pointed out we were only in HIS driveway for a total of 2 minutes.

He just didn't get it.

At home in Bakersfield, I own the only valet service in Bakersfield so when my valet attendants see a limo arrive at an event, they get the doors! It doesn't matter what limo company is arriving - they are expediting to the front of the line and we get the doors of the limo.

Valet attendants and private parking lot security guards seem to hate chauffeurs!

I think it is a jealousy thing.............

Ignored post by Limo Scene posted

LimoNewbie

Limo Protege

Location: Hanover, PA

Registered: May 25, 2007

Posts: 150

Posted

Lol, Funniest Home Videos, that's a good one! Be careful to omit/blur the faces that can be identified if they don't want to be on camera. Also, anyone in the video who's face can be seen needs to sign off/give their permission. I sent in a video years ago when my husband flew down a waterslide into some bushes at the end, he totally disappeared from sight, he almost looked like superman, his arms were straight ahead in front, it was hilarious!! (Still waiting to see that one on there.)

Nicole Paris
An Occasion To Remember, Inc.

Ignored post by LimoNewbie posted

Limo Master

Location: San Diego

Registered: May 02, 2008

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by LimoNewbie:
Yeah, here,probs with valet... If they think you will truly run them over, they'll move. I had one who tried stepping right in front, I swerved around him, missing him by about 6 inches (just enough for the mirror to clear his body), and swerved back in, he moved and I let my clients out. They are paying for door to door service, I have yet to not get one there. I won't park and just sit in front, I'll pull around the block or so, until they call, and I then instruct them to be ready to go as soon as I pull up, this prevents them (valet guys) from arguing with me, police harrassments, etc.

Nicole, here in Cali, they frown upon playing chicken with a pedestrian. What I do when they block me is roll the window down to talk to them, when they walk close to the window, roll it back up as you pull forward. They hate it. They usually ask how long you're gonna be and I tell them the longer they they distract me, the longer I'll be unloading. I used to be nice, but now I usually give them the Jerry Springer hand(talk to the hand) while I open the door for my clients.

I've had one valet (Marriott Courtyard) tell me it was the hotels private valet curb and that I couldn't even stop for 3 minutes. I asked him if he was dumb enough to believe that or dumb enough to think that I would fall for it. He seemed offended, so I really believe he thought the Marriott owned the curb parking.

I thought about getting a couple more SUV limo's to come park there for 3 minutes at a time while we circle the block picking up and dropping off the same people for an hour. It might win me $10,000 on the funniest video show.

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

Ignored post by Geoff Levine posted

LimoNewbie

Limo Protege

Location: Hanover, PA

Registered: May 25, 2007

Posts: 150

Posted

Yeah, here,probs with valet... If they think you will truly run them over, they'll move. I had one who tried stepping right in front, I swerved around him, missing him by about 6 inches (just enough for the mirror to clear his body), and swerved back in, he moved and I let my clients out. They are paying for door to door service, I have yet to not get one there. I won't park and just sit in front, I'll pull around the block or so, until they call, and I then instruct them to be ready to go as soon as I pull up, this prevents them (valet guys) from arguing with me, police harrassments, etc.

Nicole Paris
An Occasion To Remember, Inc.

Ignored post by LimoNewbie posted