Valet Parking in NYC (Issues with ICON)

[ryunited]

I live in NJ and drive into NYC frequently and always park valet given how hard it is to find R1 size spots (I see some of you do it and marvel though!)

My usual chain of preference has been ICON because I find their lots tended to be bigger and their drivers were generally familiar with Rivians (I have to teach valets at other places how to open and start the car often). I've parked tons and tons of times at their lots around the city without incident.

However, I was told today that ICON has issued a new policy that they won't park Rivians due to liability and cost of body work. I went to two different ICONs today and got the same story and what's worse for turned away at an I-Park that seemed to have adopted the same policy.

Have you folks noticed this? Anyone had success with other chains? I've used SP and MPG in past without issue and I'm worried they might adopt the same policy...

I worry this could spiral into an issue for Rivian if it catches on among the major parking chains in the city....

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[Great Gatsby]

That's stupid. So will they not valet Lambos or G-wagons? Seems like an odd reason given how many expensive cars are out there who would also want to use valet for convenience.

I live in the south, but have had no issues with valets down here and I usually just give them the key card. Hopefully not a sign of more widespread problems with valets and EVs.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Maybe they should hire valets that don't inflict body damage on customer's vehicles

 

[SolartoEV]

I would like to think they said

" We aren't liable for any damage to your vehicle, but we beat the shit out of them and occasionally one belongs to a good lawyer and we don't want to have to fight it"

 

[Nixapatfan]

I don't blame them, this is a Rivian cost to repair problem. They chose cheaper to build over serviceability. With Rivian a ding on the rear quarter panel totals the truck due to that 1 piece sheet metal for the entire side necessitating a full tear down to replace.

I'm guessing these lots got burned a couple times, similar to the signs at carwashes that refuse certain cars due to parts breaking on them.

 

[KBabione]

Have you folks noticed this? Anyone had success with other chains? I've used SP and MPG in past without issue and I'm worried they might adopt the same policy...

I worry this could spiral into an issue for Rivian if it catches on among the major parking chains in the city....

I was thinking of posting something similar. We're in PA but are in NYC quite often and the last two times we were turned away from the garage where we had prepaid via SpotHero - EVEN THOUGH WE SPECIFIED IT WAS AN R1S. SpotHero immediately credited our account, but it left us scrambling to find another garage that would take us. Last Thursday our prebooked garage turned us away saying that the car was too expensive (I was looking at a parked RR Defender as he said it). Three other garages nearby wouldn't take us either so we ended up spending $94 ($64 + $30 for oversize) to ensure we weren't late for the concert we were attending.

I'm with you - I'm hoping it's not an issue that other garages start following. I'm looking forward to the R2 and really hope that the NYC garages don't try pulling the same garbage with it. We may just have to start taking the Subaru instead unless we're parking in a garage we know takes the Rivian.

 

[Rividiculous]

I have not heard of this before. The right answer is for the garages to take care of cars. They charge enough that they could do this.

What to do? As an NYC resident, I plan to contact my city council member and other representatives to point out that ICON's policy hurts EV adoption and increases noise and air pollution in the city. And it hurts an American EV company (one not run by a megalomaniacal drug abuser). I hope others will do the same.

It looks like ICON is owned by the Broe Group and Hudson Valley Parking Trust. I think it would be worth reaching out to both entities to say, "WTF, people?" It would be especially helpful if anyone in this community knows any of these people (or went to the same school, etc.).

We can complain on this forum all we want. (And I'm all for that. That's what this forum is for and I love to vent here.) If we take it to the next level, though, with some outreach to show we notice this and that it is horrible for public policy reasons, we might be able to get ICON to reverse course. No reason not to be friendly with outreach.

From a little bit of investigation, It looks like HVPT is somebody's attempt to roll up a lot of parking operations and squeeze all the money out of it they can. Broe looks like a PE player financing it.

So, maybe start with these people:
https://broe.com/company-leadership/

If we are persistent and Broe starts to hear from Rivian owners and from city and state representative, I wager they will find a way to park Rivians. ICON could actually turn this into a win if they embrace the Rivian community.

Are others interested in taking some action here?

 

[ryunited]

I was thinking of posting something similar. We're in PA but are in NYC quite often and the last two times we were turned away from the garage where we had prepaid via SpotHero - EVEN THOUGH WE SPECIFIED IT WAS AN R1S. SpotHero immediately credited our account, but it left us scrambling to find another garage that would take us. Last Thursday our prebooked garage turned us away saying that the car was too expensive (I was looking at a parked RR Defender as he said it). Three other garages nearby wouldn't take us either so we ended up spending $94 ($64 + $30 for oversize) to ensure we weren't late for the concert we were attending.

I'm with you - I'm hoping it's not an issue that other garages start following. I'm looking forward to the R2 and really hope that the NYC garages don't try pulling the same garbage with it. We may just have to start taking the Subaru instead unless we're parking in a garage we know takes the Rivian.

Do you recall where you ended up having luck? I always pay for oversize anyway.

 

[KBabione]

Do you recall where you ended up having luck? I always pay for oversize anyway.

Yes - the oversize upcharge is really a given with the R1S. I can't complain about that - I do get frustrated when they try to ding me the oversize charge on my Highlander and they've even tried it with my Outback.

Here are a couple of garages where we haven't had issues:

• Champion Parking @ 83rd & CPW (this was where we ended up for the concert mentioned above)
• City Parking on 56th between 8th & 9th (we always prepay here - it's right next to an apartment to which we have access)
• Central Parking on 33rd between Lex & Park (Near NYU Langone)
• City Parking on 1st Ave between 30th & 33rd (Across from Tisch Hospital)

We've also, historically, been able to park in a number of garages in the theater district, but I can't remember specifics. In addition to paying the oversize fee, I often hand the attendant taking Rosey a $20 and ask them to keep her near the front.

We have a keyfob and we only use it when we need to valet the Rivian. The other thing I do is to cancel the automatic kneeling whenever I'm pulling into a garage because the last thing I want it to do is to change height when it's under a lift! You just never know...

 

[ryunited]

Solid experience at Edison Park fast on 44th and 8th.

 

[KBabione]

Solid experience at Edison Park fast on 44th and 8th.

Good to know - Thanks. After theater we usually head to my in-laws (in Westchester) up the west side so that's a great location for us.

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