How much do I tip for valet parking at a hospital?
January 18, 2016 10:26 AM   Subscribe

Basically what it says on the tin. What I can find on Google is all about how much to tip for FREE valet parking at a hospital in the US. But the hospital we're going to has paid valet parking, not free. How much do we tip?

For the past month and for at least three to five months in the future, I'm going to be carting an ill family member to the hospital quite often for surgery and treatments. For some of these trips she is going to feel like crap, and I have some mobility challenges of my own. The parking structure is just far enough away from the hospital to make walking very unpleasant on bad pain days. Then once we get in the hospital, there's approximately another half mile of walking to get to the place we need to be. The hospital does have valet parking, but this is NOT free. It costs anywhere from ten to twenty dollars to use it, depending on the hospital.

We're already dealing with medical bills, meds, and the general costs of feeling unwell, and we're frankly reluctant to add a lot of tipping into the mix. On the other hand, we both believe very strongly that people in the service industry are generally underpaid in America and that tipping is good karma as well as basic good citizenship. If we were using valet parking to get into a restaurant or some form of entertainment, of course we would tip.

What's the right call in this situation? Do hospitals step up and offer better pay to their valets in order to take that burden of patients who have to be there and are likely to be feeling terrible when they arrive? Or are all valets paid essentially the same whether they're working for a restaurant or a hospital? Does the situation change if it's not a hospital, but a doctor's office where you pay for valet parking?

If valets are all paid generally the same rate in a given city, tipping still seems like the right thing to do. We want to do the right thing. Help us figure out what (and how much!) that is?
posted by kythuen to Society & Culture (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I usually tip around 2-5 bucks.
posted by xingcat at 10:44 AM on January 18, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yes I tip about $2.00; but there were a few days when I did not have cash or change to tip.
I did say something and the valets didn't even blink an eye.
And every so often I was sure to tip larger.
It was a long haul for sure and the valets were kind and patient.
Tip what you can and don't worry if you can't.
posted by calgirl at 11:10 AM on January 18, 2016 [3 favorites]


Can't you just drop her off at the door, then go park in the structure? Then go fetch the car and meet her at the door when she's ready to leave?

I'm tipping $5 these days, over and above parking charges. I live in Atlanta.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:47 AM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]


Huh. Guess I'm a much less generous valet tipper. $1 is fine by me. (I should add that I am the main Friend Caretaker for a very sick friend, and have been to the hospital and doc appts with her about a million times over the last 2.5 years, many of which necessitated valet parking for exactly the reasons you mention.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:17 PM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: I can't actually make the walk from the structure myself every time, or even most times, so dropping her off is not going to be a reliable option.

Letting her go to the visits on her own is not an option either. /end threadsit.
posted by kythuen at 12:23 PM on January 18, 2016


I tip $2 ($1 to cover the parking and $1 for bringing back the car ), but I don't think most people tip hospital valets because they almost always seem surprised, but also very appreciative. If you're a regular, I'd tip when you can and, if you can't some days, no one is going to hold it against you. Also, save those receipts (and note the tip amount as well)! Medical parking is tax deductible, and it sounds like your family member will more than hit the percentage necessary to make it worth itemizing her medical deductions. Good luck to you both!
posted by katemcd at 1:20 PM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]


I tip $5 to a valet. I am in the NYC suburbs and have a big ass truck. I think $2-3 is reasonable. I also think in a hospital situation with enormous medical bills, with physical issues and associated logistics and with repeated need for valet, I would not feel obligated to tip every time. I would be more inclined to ask the hospital to waive the valet fee and then tip the runner/driver a $5.
posted by AugustWest at 2:15 PM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: When I was pregnant with my last one, I did the valet at Emory midtown in Atlanta. The cost was $7 and I tipped 2-3 bucks so I figure $10 a trip. It was worth it to me. Also, I was high risk and going all the time. I always said hello, got to know them, The valets got to know me and would bring my car out as soon as they saw me, even if there was a line. Several times during my pregnancy, I took them a dozen doughnuts.... Didn't cost me much and they were thrilled. I seriously got VIP treatment. All this to say, use the valet, tip what you can but since you will be a regular, bringing some doughnuts or a similar treat will really go a long way. Just a thought... Little things go a long way.
posted by pearlybob at 9:14 PM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


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