Atlantic City Valet Disaster ...

Saintlysins

New member
Some people go to Atlantic City to gamble and win … but most people go to Atlantic City and lose more than just their money, they lose BIG TIME!!! Here’s one way to lose without taking a dime out of your pocket …

I drove down to Atlantic City Saturday while it was raining out. When I first pulled into the Water Club at The Borgata, I was treated like a king. The three Valet Guys were drooling over my new Porsche Turbo Cab (as visions of Ferris Buellers Day Off flashed through my mind, except with them using my sled), so I asked to park it myself. Very obliging, they told me I could park ‘front and center’ against the wall with an AMG SL63 and a Gallardo Spyder where it would be safe and under watch until I returned. I was so relieved I gave a nice tip. Next day, on the way home I stopped for a Starbucks on the Parkway (as we know there’s NO good coffee in A/C) and on the way back to the sled I see something very disturbing … it looks as if the car’s been scuffed all over with a Brillo Pad! As I get closer, it gets worse!!! The whole car is lightly scratched! Hood, fenders, quarters, doors, wing, etc!!!

I screamed at the top of my lungs … WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU_K ! ! !

I must have looked like a freak, it probably looked like I was doing an old Indian Rain Dance as I waved my hands in the air and proceeded to bend, twist, jump, fall to my knees, get back up like a loon and back down again, circling the scuffed sled while sun revealed every little scratch! I don’t remember throwing the coffee (didn’t need caffeine anymore – I was amped up!!) but it seems that’s what got the Security Guy to come over. He wanted me to pick up the empty cup and lid about 10 yards away.

I must have stood there for 10 minutes going round and round the car like a merry-go-round. I realized the car was cleaner than it should be since I drove down in the rain.

Got back in the sled and went back to the Valet.

I took the wrong approach at first … I went in with a fury. They stared at me in disbelief, almost arrogance as nobody would admit to touching the car – this made me more furious, my blood was boiling. Soon security was all around. Realizing this may not end well for me, I sat and asked for Senior Parking Management. Explaining my distress, and showing them what was done – they explained the cars aren’t touched or washed at all and this is how my car must have come in. While trying to explain I’m one of the nuttiest detail freaks on the East Coast and I keep my paint in mirror-like condition, I see cameras. Everywhere! I plead to run the tapes from last night. To my surprise they’re more than willing to do so – to prove their staff would never do such a thing!

Now that you’re this far … put on your seat-belts!!!

Several hours after I pulled in, one of the valet guys goes over to the White SL63 with a spray bottle and rag and starts wiping down the car. Then goes to my sled and wipes it down also. I almost wish I hadn’t seen it. With every herky-jerky back-and-forth wipe I could almost die. Two cars, one tiny rag! We went downstairs and found the guy. At first he thought he was going to get a Gold-Star for doing it. He was proud to have done it, touting his skills with Glass Plus and a rag. Then a strange thing took over me … I could see the poor old guy sincerely thought he had done something nice – yet hadn’t a clue as to the effect it had on the paint. He explained he just wanted to clean the cars as he appreciated a clean car. Besides, he felt obligated to do it as I gave him a nice tip and it was his way of saying ‘thanks’.

Yeah, I could have choked the living daylights out of him, instead, took him over to my sled and showed him what he had done. He had never looked “into-the-paint� before, only the surface. The security guys and the head of valet services took this in and agreed the damage was enough to compensate me.

They’ve given me $1000.00 for damages and 4 overnights. Although that covers my time, energy and efforts, I just can’t believe I have to re-detail my car. Those of you who know me, know I’m very anal about how pristine the paint must be. I just spent the last 3 weeks getting it absolutely perfectly protected for the upcoming winter months. This is really going to suck doing it twice!!!

Here’s just a few pictures of the damages …

BorgataDisasterHghlted1.jpg


BorgataDisasterHghlted2.jpg


BorgataDisasterHghlted4.jpg
 
Wow, they did a number on it. Sorry to hear! One would think that not allowing them to drive the car would be good enough. Guess not. Good luck getting it back to perfection!
 
Luckily they had a camera near your car. If they didn't, you'd be out $1000 AND had to re-detail it. So luckily you got some compensation.
 
Well, I know the compensation barely makes up for the time, effort and grief, but at least you got it. You're very lucky in that regard. I'll look forward to seeing it when you're done detailing it again!
 
Sorry to hear about your luck. Sweet ride. At least you got some compensation and maybe they will think about doing this in the future.
 
I've done a few Black 997TT's in the past and can tell you the paint is incredibly soft.



You're lucky it was protected or else the damage would've been MUCH worse!



Glad to hear you got something out of them..
 
I honestly have much respect for how you handled the situation AFTER viewing the video.



Most would have continued on a rampage instead of looking into the situation and understanding that not everyone has the same understanding of detailing as you, or those on this forum, and if the valet guy or company didn't say it: THANK YOU for using this time to educate someone who thought they were doing good on the consequences of using subpar cleaning methods.
 
Alas, I've picked up a virus, and I'm sick as a dog. As I sit here, I start thinking the money wasn't enough. I do 3 to 4 applications of P21s with 4 to 5 days between applications ... which means the car stays indoors, unused during these cure periods. The weather is changing and soon it'll be inside for good, but the next three weeks is also about the best time to enjoy the car before the snow/salts come. UUUUUGH! Should have asked for more money!!! I guess it could have been worse. I wish I could get on the car today, but between the virus I've got and the weather here in Jersey being crappy, I'll have to wait for tomorrow. Hopefully the Nyquil will help the cause tonight, as tomorrow's looking good and I'd love to start on it then.

We'll see.
 
Saintlysins said:
Alas, I've picked up a virus, and I'm sick as a dog. As I sit here, I start thinking the money wasn't enough. I do 3 to 4 applications of P21s with 4 to 5 days between applications ... which means the car stays indoors, unused during these cure periods. The weather is changing and soon it'll be inside for good, but the next three weeks is also about the best time to enjoy the car before the snow/salts come. UUUUUGH! Should have asked for more money!!! I guess it could have been worse. I wish I could get on the car today, but between the virus I've got and the weather here in Jersey being crappy, I'll have to wait for tomorrow. Hopefully the Nyquil will help the cause tonight, as tomorrow's looking good and I'd love to start on it then.

We'll see.



Where in North Jersey are you? I'm in Central Jersey just outside of Princeton and aside from a bit of drizzling this morning it's actually been a fairly nice day. Overcast, but it's been like 70 degrees which is outrageously warm. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Eric1285 said:
Where in North Jersey are you? I'm in Central Jersey just outside of Princeton and aside from a bit of drizzling this morning it's actually been a fairly nice day. Overcast, but it's been like 70 degrees which is outrageously warm. Hope you feel better soon.



The rain is on it's way...With that front passing through, the temperature will be back into the upper 40's tomorrow.
 
slicknickis3 said:
The rain is on it's way...With that front passing through, the temperature will be back into the upper 40's tomorrow.



Yeah, I checked the weather radar and it looks like the rain just missed my area. Lucky me I guess...I got to take the car outside and do the windows and interior.
 
I'm in Madison (between Morristown and Short Hills). It was a beautiful day temperature wise, but the misty, heavy, dank ground fog hung around here till about 1:30/2:00 this afternoon.

As "SLICKNICKIS3" mentioned in earlier post, the paint is extreeeemly soft. I don't like doing multi step processes in humid weather anyway, and the softer the paint the more effort it takes when it's that humid. The dryer the better.

Sunday's weather should be a good - but I had so many yard chores scheduled. Uuuuugh ... Just typing this out makes me wish I got more out of them!

Maybe I'll just drive the wheels off the thing in this condition and detail it slowly over the winter storage. "What will people say???"
 
Saintlysins said:
.......- but I had so many yard chores scheduled. Uuuuugh ..........Maybe I'll just drive the wheels off the thing in this condition and detail it slowly over the winter storage. "What will people say???"
Really a bummer what happened, but congrats on cooling down and educating the poor guy who thought he was doing you a favor instead of choking him.



Personally I'd throw a good glaze and a coat of wax on it and drive it during this time when you want to enjoy it and also have yard chores piling up. Detailing it slowly during the winter sounds like a plan to me.
 
Well, I commend you for keeping your head when confronting the actual guy that did this. Unfortunately, Autopians are the minority when it comes to car care. I am glad you realized that the gentleman thought he was doing you a favor, and didn't blast him too badly.
 
that sucks but luckily you can fix it in a hour or so. That would piss me off too, but i'd be a happy camper again after I polished it.
 
Thank you all for complimenting me on keeping my cool with the guy. It has more to do with his innocence than anything else. He was also a bit older than the rest of the 'young-kids' on the team and his humble delivery of his 'thoughtful' tallents certainly disarmed me. If he was some 'punk-***-kid' with an attitude like I owed him something :grrr ... let's face it ... :bat I'd be in jail.

As for the last post from "David703" ... I only WISH I could get this done in only an "hour or so" ... alas I am just toooooo anal :buffing: and will be well over 6 hours from start to finish. :grinno::buffing::grinno:
 
I also like the way you handled the situation after you found out. I would have done the same too.



The valet guy should make expertvillage videos and post his process to youtube :lol
 
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