Here we have someone who tried using one of the new "on-demand" valet services. In this case, something went quite wrong with the delivery of service by Luxe Valet, and a rival on-demand valet service, "Zirx," swooped in to recover the fumble.
It's classless not to tip a valet worker. But it's even more classless to humiliate a customer, especially a high profile customer. I would consider this a fire-able offense, but the blame probably lies with management for not properly teaching the level of discretion that this job requires.
But generally, this is how it is. You're not dealing with professionals when you valet park a car. You're usually dealing with kids. And if you happen to be high profile and mistreat tipped employees, it's going to leak out.
Yep, it happens. Theft is one of the more common complaints when it comes to valet parking services. They will steal anything, even a pack of gum. I have seen many complaints on Twitter about valets stealing phone chargers.
The lesson is... don't leave anything of value in the car when using valet parking services. You cannot rely on them to safeguard your property.
They might be honest, though they can easily forget to make sure all the doors are locked and windows up. Even if the car is secure, it doesn't stop somebody from breaking a window to plunder your car. (Windows get broken even for the spare change in a cupholder.)
The valet business is deeply flawed. Valets in 19 states can be paid as little as $2.19 an hour. In Oklahoma they can even get away with paying $2 an hour. It's all wrong.
The tip should be built into the price of parking, and there should be no tipping. The job should pay a steady live-able wage where there are hourly wage guarantees and a piece of the action with every car moved. This would cultivate career professional valet workers. Instead, the workforce is low paid and turnover is high. High turnover results in a constantly mediocre workforce, which leads to on-going problems (damage, lost keys, theft, poor service).
And people who don't tip contribute to the mediocrity of this workforce. (A lot of people don't tip.)