Convenience is outweighing cost as ASU Valet sees use of its service by students and visitors on the Tempe campus.
American Valet partnered with the University to provide valet service at Lemon Street and Forest Avenue as well as 10th Street and Myrtle Avenue. The service began in August.
Exploratory freshman Taylor Klassen said she commutes to school from north Scottsdale and leaves her car with the valet service for three to four hours every day.
Klassen said she thinks the prices are steep, especially for students.
The valet service runs Monday through Friday, and prices range from $5 to leave a car for an hour, to $20 to leave for four or more hours.
“I know a lot of people that wouldn’t use (the service) because of the price,” she said.
Klassen said she knows that it would probably be cheaper to pay a meter or get a parking pass, but the service is convenient.
“Sometimes the lot is full (and) sometimes you just don’t have time to drive around and look for a spot,” she said. “It’s quick … if you’re late for class.”
American Valet southwest division manager Aaron Saomines said the company was unsure if it would have a lot of business on campus.
“It was really hard to determine or expect anything, but we were optimistic about it,” he said.
Saomines said ASU determines prices, and there is no discount for frequent users of the valet service.
He said he was unsure of the exact numbers, but American Valet has been profiting from running its service at ASU.
Greg Allen, who works at the valet stand on Lemon Street near the Student Services Building, said he sees students, faculty and guests of the University using the service.
“It should be for everyone,” he said.
Allen said it is nice to get people closer to where they need to go on campus.
He said it is good for people who come to campus and don’t want to deal with parking traffic because they need to get in and out.
Allen said cars dropped off at the valet stand are parked in the ASU Gammage lot.
Students with an ASU parking pass still must pay for the valet service if they want to use it.
Reach the reporter at hblawren@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @hannah_lawr
