car valet coin vanishing

BMurr

Just got my car valeted yesterday. Great job done by a well recommended place in Cork. Only thing is that the coins which I knew had fallen down side of drivers seat have disappeared, probably a few euros worth, I expected them to be placed in the tray next to handbrake. When I asked if they had found any coins i was told no but that maybe they had been sucked up by the vacuum cleaner. Lesson learned that next time I need to clear out all coins and valuables that may be down side of seats etc, I guess if it was a watch or ring it would have got sucked up that vacuum cleaner too. Anyone else have this experience? Any one have coins etc handed back to them by the valet.

dr.fuzzenstein

You could do that as a test from now on, leave a few coins under the seat and see if they're still there.;)
The vacuum sucking them up sounds plausible enough, though.
But I'd say any money found under the seat is fair game and might be considered a tip, I'm sure they make a bit on the side like that.
If you want your money to be safe, keep it in your wallet, keeping it under the seat is impractical.:cool:

Atlantic Dawn

If you knew they were there why didn't you take them out before getting it valleted? To expect the person cleaning your car to find your lost belongings and itemise them in a neat pile for you is a bit much.

Alanstrainor

+1 if you knew they were there then why didn't you take them yourself?

Anyway, it's a couple of quid, they did a good job, can't see much of a problem.

Ideo

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

If you knew they were there why didn't you take them out before getting it valleted? To expect the person cleaning your car to find your lost belongings and itemise them in a neat pile for you is a bit much.

'Itemise them in a neat pile' - who on earth asked for them to be itemised in a neat pile? Its bloody stealing!!! And you can be sure that when the hoover is being emptied that it's religiously checked for coins!! You should Name and shame if your missing stuff!

UpTheSlashers

Coins are considered a tip, which is fair enough. Notes however, or valuables such as watches or jewelerry should be given to you

djimi

I have always said to anyone who is valeting my car that any coins they find are theirs.

I have also sucked several quids worth of shrapnel into my hoover over the years when cleaning my car so it is entirely possible that they got sucked up by the hoover.

Ideo

UpTheSlashers wrote: »

Coins are considered a tip, which is fair enough. Notes however, or valuables such as watches or jewelerry should be given to you

Who considers them a tip? I don't! Can't get over this tbh. You pay somebody to clean your car and any coins they come across in the process is theirs to keep? Are you forgetting that your actually paying them in the frat place?

djimi

UpTheSlashers

Ideo wrote: »

Who considers them a tip? I don't! Can't get over this tbh. You pay somebody to clean your car and any coins they come across in the process is theirs to keep? Are you forgetting that your actually paying them in the frat place?

In that case you could probably tell them you want the coins back. Thatll end well. If you really want the coins back take them out yourself. You wouldnt drop a coat into the dry cleaners knowing that theres a fiver in one of the pockets if you wanted it back with the coat.

tossy

As a test next time the car is to be done leave something valuable under the seat like a small child or your house under the seat and see if they return it

dr.fuzzenstein

Ideo wrote: »

Who considers them a tip? I don't! Can't get over this tbh. You pay somebody to clean your car and any coins they come across in the process is theirs to keep? Are you forgetting that your actually paying them in the frat place?

What? Would you leave money on the pavement and get upset if it's gone?
I'm with the theory that notes aren't a tip but coins are fair game.
As I said before, keep your change in your wallet if you want to keep it.
Otherwise, if you loose it, it's your own bloody fault.

kildare.17hmr

Ya wanna see the jars of coins our car valeter has in the shead:eek: calls it his christmas bonus

thebullkf

CHRISSAKES!!!

clean your own car.

simples.

Anan1

Some people think this is ok, others don't. The OP doesn't, but apparently the valet company does. Simplest solution is for the OP not to use them again.

Topdeck

Never got my car valeted.Just did it myself but if i did i would remove anything i didnt want going missing.

-Corkie-

Finders keepers. Loosers weepers op...:)

I bought a jeep in a repo auction in the U.k a few years back. I got a local fella to clean it. He found 500 pound in a envelope stuffed between the centre console and the carpet...:):).

I split it between us....

dr.fuzzenstein

-Corkie- wrote: »

Finders keepers. Loosers weepers op...:)

I bought a jeep in a repo auction in the U.k a few years back. I got a local fella to clean it. He found 500 pound in a envelope stuffed between the centre console and the carpet...:):).

I split it between us....

Wow, Id almost say that you and your valeter are too good for this world!
Many's the guy who would have kept the money and even more who would have thanked him for finding it and not given him a red cent.
People like you make this world a better place, which especially in the recession is turning more and more nasty and the attitude increasingly seems to be "Gimme my money, now fcuk off!"
Top of the class, that man!

BMurr

I know I could have retrieved the coins before dropping car off, they were right down side of seat and its a bit of a fiddle to get anything out of there. It won't break the bank but it does leave me thinking that I need to check through the car myself if I ever again get a valet done just in case theres more valuable stuff there. I have a woman who cleans the house once a week, she leaves the coins she finds on bedside cabinet. If I thought she was pocketing my hard earned and easily lost dosh I'd not be using her again. If I went to visit a friends house and found a few euro on the floor I'd give it to them and not just stick it in my pocket-same principle should apply to valet dry cleaner or whatever.

Scambuster

Sounds like something Larry David would get riled up about. And of course he is always in the right imo.

irisheddie85

Ive often got my younger family members to clean my car by saying they can keep what they find as payment. I don't want all those copper coins that are unusually sticky for no particular reason

dr.fuzzenstein

BMurr wrote: »

I know I could have retrieved the coins before dropping car off, they were right down side of seat and its a bit of a fiddle to get anything out of there. It won't break the bank but it does leave me thinking that I need to check through the car myself if I ever again get a valet done just in case theres more valuable stuff there. I have a woman who cleans the house once a week, she leaves the coins she finds on bedside cabinet. If I thought she was pocketing my hard earned and easily lost dosh I'd not be using her again. If I went to visit a friends house and found a few euro on the floor I'd give it to them and not just stick it in my pocket-same principle should apply to valet dry cleaner or whatever.

Sounds more like they got sucked into the hoover. I'd suspect that before I'd suspect they took it.

DancingPriest

This made me think of a time many moons ago....
I was a young teenager working (reluctantly) valeting cars in the family garage.

One day I was presented with a trade in to get ready for the yard. I washed it, did all the outside and moved onto the inside.

There was Saint Anthony's coin (I think) hanging from the rear view mirror, normally it would have went in the bin with the rest of the rubbish almost as a point of principle for a rebellious teenager:o

For some reason I just ripped it off and tossed it on a shelf and forgot about it.
a few days later my Da and the ex-owner showed up round back, Da knew well that the trinket was long gone, I cleaned the car after all!

The auld lad who owned car meekly asked if I'd come across such and such, "I know I took my mothers coin out before I traded it in, but I just can't for the life of me find it"

The face on my Da when I sauntered over to the shelf and dug out the coin was priceless!
Just not as priceless as the face on the old man who had got his coin back.
The man was in his 60's so I don't know how old that coin was.

FYI; I was a little long haired Marilyn Manson militant atheist sumabitch back then!:pac::pac::pac:

drBill

Ideo wrote: »

'Itemise them in a neat pile' - who on earth asked for them to be itemised in a neat pile? Its bloody stealing!!! And you can be sure that when the hoover is being emptied that it's religiously checked for coins!! You should Name and shame if your missing stuff!

If the coins are so precious then you either retrieve them yourself first, or ask the cleaner to kindly stop and empty the hoover bag between doing each car, and retrieve your valuables from it - bearing in mind it would mean them dismanting and emptying the hoover about 20 times a day instead of, say, twice. Should the service also include separating your coins from the accompanying fluff/pebbles/crisps/sweets/nuts/resistors/washers/etc or would you be happier if they stuck to the letter of the law and presented you with everything they hoovered up?

Or here's a thought: save the valuable coins AND 50+ euro by simply hoovering the car yourself.

Max_Damage

To be honest, when I worked as a valeter back in 2005/2006, I used to take the coins I found down the sides of the seats. Paid for my lunch most times!

Pkiernan

A pal in the US had $100 (5 $20's) nicked by the valet crew.

He approached the manager, who said that he believed him, but he couldn't prove which one of his workers took it (these are the washes where 15 Mexicans will swarm the car cleaning it efficiently and thoroughly).

The manager gave him $400 worth of credit at the Valet place.

Mr. Presentable

-Corkie- wrote: »

Finders keepers. Loosers weepers op...:)

I bought a jeep in a repo auction in the U.k a few years back. I got a local fella to clean it. He found 500 pound in a envelope stuffed between the centre console and the carpet...:):).

I split it between us....

I bet he got 750 and you got 250............

ottostreet

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I bet he got 750 and you got 250............

of 500?

Nope...wait, i get it now!

no1beemerfan

I valet cars and anything I find I usually put it in something and leave it in the boot and mention it to them when they collect the car. You'd be surprised how much you can find especially under the back seats!

diarmuid05

Is it just me? but anyone who can afford to have their car valeted in this economic climate probably shouldn't be worried by a few coins...

Anan1

Unless one is blind, one doesn't vacuum up coins by accident.

gofaster_s13

Anan1 wrote: »

Unless one is blind, one doesn't vacuum up coins by accident.

If one can't fit one's hand into the gap between the seat and the centre console or the gap between the seat and the sill then one would use one's long skinny attachment for one's hoover nozzle to hoover up anything in that space.

Anan1

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

If one can't fit one's hand into the gap between the seat and the centre console or the gap between the seat and the sill then one would use one's long skinny attachment for one's hoover nozzle to hoover up anything in that space.

That's doing it on purpose. In any case, it's generally possible to put your hand under the back of the front seat and get things out of there that way.

Zubeneschamali

Anan1 wrote: »

In any case, it's generally possible to put your hand under the back of the front seat and get things out of there that way.

Yes, but if your intention is to clean the car rather than pick up pennies, you're probably just going to use the vacuum cleaner.

listermint

Wait, You have a Women who cleans your house and your have your car Valeted regularly and your giving out about some dropped coins.


COME ON MAN!


It is folks like you that wouldnt even give me a 50p tip for spending half an hour in the cold in my youth tying down a Patio set to the top of their Range Rover in a Woodies Car Park..

Nice one !! :rolleyes:

star.chaser

djimi wrote: »

I have always said to anyone who is valeting my car that any coins they find are theirs.

I like that. Kind of ensures they'll do a thorough job

barryfitz

Hi BMurr. Not sure whether you are Male or Female but consider this..
You sit into your comfy sofa on a Monday evening and immediately some coins fall out of your pocket, you hear them as they fall through the cushions and hit the floor and you say to yourself, "I'll get them later" You watch The Apprentice followed by the after show. By the time the program ends you are nackered and head off to the cot, forgetting all about the coins. Wednesday evening on the train home you remember the coins, run through the front door and start rummaging around under the sofa, alas, the coins are gone. You ask your wife/husband have they seen them? He/She replies.. "I didnt see them but I did vacuum the sitting room lastnight" Would we then expect to see a thread in PI or a similar forum accusing your partner of being a thief?? just a thought..:cool:

Mr. Presentable

Anan1 wrote: »

Unless one is blind, one doesn't vacuum up coins by accident.

You mean deaf, surely?

Anan1

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Yes, but if your intention is to clean the car rather than pick up pennies, you're probably just going to use the vacuum cleaner.

When I vacuum a car (admittedly not that often!) i'll pick up coins - doubly so if it's someone else's car.

BMurr

A few answers to some of the posts.

I have never used a valet, the car was bought in an auction and had earth ingrained into the cloth seats so it needed washing rather than just a plain old vacuum, same story for the door cards. Seeing as my last car was almost 15 years old I thought I'd treat myself with this one and have a fresh start with it being deep cleaned. I did go to the trouble of removing back seat to see if any dosh under there and nothing found and the coins were the only thing I knew of that was left. I guess if I wanted to I could have retrieved them but I was curious as to wether I was justified in going to the trouble of removing seats etc to clean vakluable out myself. apparantly my cynicism was justified with the few coins by dtrivers seat going missing. I paid 90 euro for this deep clean valet which wa reccomended by others. I was also told that they give you the car back dry whereas others often return it wet after the wet shampoo on seats-I later realised that a big dose of the fuel had gone awol so I presume they dry it by leaving it running with the heaters on fullblast- not very clever. Anyway I will not be wasting my time with those gobs#ites again. It was a rare day for me to get someone else to do something to my car, I pretty much try to do everything myself and i think that's pretty much how it's going to stay fo the sake of my pocket and the car.