parking attendant

parking manager

lot attendant

shuttle driver

cashier

Ace-Parking-Management

{THIS REVIEW APPLIES MOSTLY TO MUIR WOODS}

I worked in the Muir Woods location for about 9 months. I started at the beginning of a very busy season (Summer) and left during the second busiest time (Winter/Holiday Season). You are more of a traffic director/customer service person than a parking director. It was a tourist hot-spot, and our job was to inform customers of the reservation system, as well as provide information about the park itself. This meant that a lot of people would be turned away, and it was your job to do so in a professional and efficient manner to make sure potential customers left happy and somewhat quickly. The busy days would consist of you repeating yourself very often, and sometimes having to communicate to people who don't understand English. There are a couple of different parking lots to manage, each with their own mini-systems and differences. Some lots are more focused on efficiently parking the cars, while others are more focused on efficiently communicating with customers and keeping traffic moving. The key is to remain calm and collected, even when in some very stressful situations.

Example Situation:
You've got tons of traffic coming and going. There are buses that need to be prioritized, as well as pedestrians who need to be looked out for. You've got somebody trying to sneak in while you're trying to talk to a separate customer explaining it for the second time, since they weren't listening the first time (usually out of shock/disbelief). Another car behind them is honking like a madman. It is easy to get stressed out if you allow it. Keep calm and manage the situation to the best of your ability. You will go home at the end of the day mentally drained, but also mentally tougher.

A lot of people aren't happy about this system, and you will receive the flak for it, even though you are just the messenger. This job taught me a lot about patience and empathy, as well as being able to deflect negativity, as a lot of people would personally attack you out of frustration (understandable). You will get a lot of people who attempt to bribe you or coerce you into letting them in ("I'm a veteran"/"We just came all the way from [insert faraway place]"/women pretending to flirt/sob stories [had people pretend to cry only to switch it off when they realized I wasn't buying what they were selling]). When they don't get their way, sometimes they will try to push your buttons instead, whether it's speeding off with a middle finger in your face and cussing you out, or even downright ignoring you and attempting to park anyways. Misery Loves Company.

This job is a test of your patience and integrity, and though there were some difficult and long days, it was well worth it in my opinion. My manager and supervisor were both very good examples of how to do the job, as well as manage the team. The people I worked with were a solid bunch of individuals.

I was a valet attendant there for about 6 months. It can be a adequate job and you'll get plenty of exercise too depending on your location. You could be with a couple of people working an expensive restaurant, and chances are you can walk out with 75 to over $100 in tips more often than naught. Or you could get a location like a hospital where you're not trained to help a 350lbs patient fresh out of surgery into their vehicle and a mistake on your part could lead to disciplinary action and make 1/3 the tips. Which sounds more appealing? 

They don't do direct deposit come pay day but I've learned it's because of "other" reasons, not that they aren't up to the times. Know your economics, learn the real truth.. Some customers will complain about their cash only system as they slowly transition to more debit/credit card payments but with old school cash you are able to make more in tips vs someone whose paying inside on their phone where, from what I've seen they are more prone to stiff you if they don't see you when they are paying..I had one Persian couple yell at me because they didn't read the cash only sign when they pulled and they only had debit cards, the same day I had a female customer with her infant and one of the sports strollers realize she didn't have cash, went back inside with her child, came back 10 min later with the cash I just comped her for her effort and honesty.


They will love you if you pick up shifts, and frown on you if you drop them. They are pretty good though about filling shifts if you do need to drop, and if you don't get enough hours when you first start the opportunity will always be there to pick up more essentially you can make your own schedule almost..

In terms of ability to move up in the company its rather hard to do you have to stay with Ace a long time to see any form of promotion. I've also heard of co-workers finding ways of earning "contracts" for the company, and they get little if any compensation for earning the company thousands of dollars..

You will get to drive every car almost known to man, you won't need to test drive anything at the dealer after working a couple months here, not to mention the luxury vehicles..

Also, you will feel the class divide working valet especially if you aren't white. You will have to deal with secret shoppers, people will try to bait you leaving cash or other expensive personal items in plain view in their car and once in a while people who will blame you for previous dents found on their vehicle. It happened with a co-worker once, of course we had the photo ready in hand of the condition of the car when we got and the customer realized he was in wrong and drove off. Ace has a good system in place so you can protect yourself. Finally its also real hard though to get full time here. You would have had to been with Ace over a year for any consideration.

I did enjoy this job, and looked forward to working But I'll be honest with everyone you MUST not be sensitive. People you ticket hurt your morale badly in this field. Thus you must come with a strong mind. You're also helping to tow vehicles in parking violation, & people will not be thrilled, If you can't take the heat from it this isn't for you. You're always at risk, but have police support. you'll have to deal with everything mostly alone and personally, I liked the challenge.

productivity is a must. but what matters is that you're looking for violations and trying, Not just sitting, doing nothing. Vehicles are tracked, They'll know if you're slacking and will be called out on it. It was ok because I wouldn't want to work with others who will ruin a team structure and productivity. They’ll send you to wash/clean the vehicles each week

Management in the beginning they were the best, I've worked with. They're very blunt and they don't BS you. I did like that structure. everything must be tidy, clean, organized and you must show up on time. If you hate being in a structured, organized, clean then this isn't for you. People who constantly call out or are late, & underproductive. will not last here. But that's what having a great team consists of. You will mostly work alone. I do like that. Things changed later on and it felt as if I was obligated to cover or just being nit picked at every little thing I did, even if I tried to do 120% getting a bunch of citations, being at work early and follow protocols to the T it seems they always wanted to find “Something wrong”. You have to be strong willed to endure everything here.

If someone quits or gets fired you’re going to be asked to cover those shifts even if that’s not something you planned including overnight shifts. I covered over 8 people who left in a period of 6 months.

Also, It’s not full time which might not benefit most, 10-20hrs max and the most day positions are taken.

I recommend this job for someone who wants to supplement or just come in and have something to do. But have a mindset to be super productive, clean, on time and serious about what the job entails. Be mentally strong and can take all the challenges ahead. If you’re looking for a longtime gig I recommend in house CITY parking or code enforcement or a Full time contract. There is no security here as it’s “at will” and they can just decide to part ways for ANY reason. Or if they lose their contract then everyone would have no work and that’s pretty risky here as decisions are changing day by day by city ordinances.

Most employees were enjoyable to work with and generally capable. That part of the experience was genuinely positive.

My experience with management and role expectations was not aligned with what was communicated during hiring, which is why I’m leaving a lower rating.

During interviews, it was clearly stated that training would take place at a distant location, but that this would not be a long-term assignment. Multiple potential work locations were discussed, and the one that would not be viable was explicitly communicated early on. The training timeline was described as flexible, with an estimate of several months.

After training began, it became clear that there was already an internal plan and deadline to place someone permanently at the distant location, despite prior discussions indicating otherwise. Training expectations shifted accordingly to meet a timeline that had not been disclosed.

Attendance concerns were raised due to commute variability caused by heavy traffic and construction. Management was aware of this variability. When asking how others managed the commute, a senior team member suggested using toll lanes in a way that would avoid payment in order to arrive on time. This was not something I was willing to do.

Shortly afterward, my employment was terminated.

Summary for prospective applicants:
	•	Coworkers are generally solid and make the work environment more pleasant.
	•	Role location and training timelines may not match what is presented during interviews.
	•	Operational expectations may place employees in uncomfortable ethical positions.

Takeaway: Ask direct questions and get clear, documented commitments regarding role location and timelines before accepting an offer.

Save yourself, just don't work here! Management discriminated and retaliated against me. They took advantage of my loyalty and hard work. They only care about money and impressing the Irvine Company and will stab employees in the back to do so. They use employees for government benefits during the pandemic, but do nothing for employees themselves except kick them to the curb. They claim to be a great company and will sell you on a job, just to take advantage of you. I bent over backwards for this company and it was all for nothing. I reporting to HR about issues with management and HR forwarded my complaints to the very managers I was having issues with. Watch out for Hal! He is a 2 faced backstabbing butt kissing manager. HR is a absolute joke. Managers broke down my locker and blatantly stole from me because of a report to HR. Nothing about this company is to benefit the employee in any way possible. The people I have met at surrounding buildings have really been beneficial to me by helping to launch my own successful business, teaching me to successfully invest money, and develop real estate. Working for Ace Parking Management has been a true nightmare and a waste of many years. They really do try to sell a dream and make it seem like working for Ace would be at least a nice experience. The stupid young immature girls in the office have no business working there and are not to be trusted. Actually, you can't trust any of the employees. Management tells certain employees certain things to specifically alter attitudes towards other employees. Gossip is big here! Just can't share anything personal with anyone because they're either getting offended or trying to use it against you. 
 This is a horrible work environment, with horrible management. 

- ACE Parking took over the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach, CA from PPS as I was planning to move to Denver, CO. 

- I was hired on to help with the transfer of operations and train new associates, as well as filling a role as shift supervisor.

- The same manager transferred from PPS to ACE Parking upon their takeover. I had the privilege of working with this manager for many years and he is one of my greatest mentors. The upper management was a refreshing change from PPS and seemed very clean and organized.

- I shared a remarkable relationship with the co-workers that transferred over from PPS. I had been working with most of them for years, saw them almost every day, and we created an environment that I wouldn't label as "work" at all. The new associates who were hired on, through ACE, during the takeover were a pleasant mix to the operation and we all grew close in the short time we worked together before I moved away.

- The funniest thing is, the hardest part of the job was leaving. Sure there were times we found ourselves in stressful situations... and who doesn't want to go to work sometimes on a hot summer day when you're working across the street from the beach. But those stressful times, we lived for, and it's what kept us going. Besides, we were always able to smile and laugh about the hard times... after all, we were at the beach.

-The most enjoyable part of the job was... everything. Being next to the beach, working with awesome individuals, and staying on our toes with the challenge of delivering excellent customer service and seeing to our guests needs.

- Overall, I wish I had more time there. We may get complacent every now and then, finding excuses and shortcuts around certain things. But we never now just how much we take things for granted, until it's gone.

A typical day at work starts around 2:00 PM and goes until 10:30 PM, but there are several other shifts depending on where they place you.

Upon clocking in I would greet all of my co-workers and we will talk about the day prior, and what to expect for the current shift. We might also ask each other how our weekend was, etc. One thing about working for a large corporation is that there is a culture, and a community to share life events with.

2 o'clock is generally a slow hour, but the pace can pick up at any moment. So you have to be ready! Most people arrive at the hotel from the hours of 3 PM until 6 PM. From 6 PM till about 8:30 PM is go-time. That's when everybody is getting ready to go out for the night, head off to dinner, and go explore the beautiful Gaslamp of San Diego.

Depending on what my role is for the day, I might be running to fetch cars, issuing tickets, or performing the captain roll by scanning in and scanning out tickets, counting money, and greeting guests with general questions and answers.

Most of the management seems to be skilled in their profession, diverse in culture, and bring several positive attributes to the team.

Co-workers range anywhere from young and up incoming professionals in their early 20s, to men and women in their late 40s and even 50s. All from diverse backgrounds and different walks of life.

There is nothing really hard about this job. Fortunately, there are only a few responsibilities for a valet. Your main objective is to issue a ticket, park a car, and greet guests with superior customer service. This comes easy to me.

I think that the most enjoyable part about this position is the freedom within the company. An example would be: the ability of the management to give you requested time off, and flexibility with your schedule.

The only thing I enjoyed was being alone and not have someone constantly directing me, The vehicles are tracked and you’ll be called out if you’re just sitting there. But a typical day is constant interaction with citizens, Most angry nobody wants citations &  No one likes their cars towed which you will have to do here. Also on the weekend shifts you must wash the company cars and clean, dry  them thoroughly at the car wash. You’ll be asked to cover constantly if anyone is fired or quits even if it’s not on your plans or availability, You’ll be obligated to do so. There is no compassion, hard to be heard here, I was in belief management was good and believed in me but as time went by no matter what you did to make them happy they eventually turn on you and can get rid of you for ANY reason. Which they have done with someone who was always on time, never called out and exceptional worker. They bring their personal stress to the workplace and take it out on the employees. Also You can’t complain,  you can’t ask for help you if a citizen is unruly because apparently management doesn’t want anyone to bother PD even if they’ve offered us to call them if we need assistance, Simply retaliatory.  Sporadic and bipolar management.   They’ll take your hours away and give them to someone else. It’s just not fun anymore and I am ready to move to a CITY setting where people will treat you like a person not a number. There’s no job security here and management seems to be on a high horse seeing the huge turnover rate in the last 6 months which kind of speaks for itself. 

As a "manager," you will be expected to work ALL of your "days off." If you do not answer all phone calls and emails on your "days off," it will be addressed. Be prepared to be micromanaged, as they have this down to a science, and you will not win. You will be told what to do by corporate "executives" in San Diego who have most likely never been to your location, ever. If you address your concerns with your "manager", you will receive a written warning disguised as something else. Area Managers and Regional Directors are so afraid of corporate "executives" that they will burn you at the first chance they get. Be prepared to work hard, long hours, and get nothing. This company will burn you the first chance they get. 

Human Resources, AKA Member Services is so afraid to terminate employees who perform poorly (even those who steal), they will tell you that you cannot terminate because they are afraid of a lawsuit. If you are a "manager," don't bother holding your employees accountable, just let them do as they please. 

Ace Parking should have their mission statement be, "We see the client, not the employees"...as an employee or manager, they couldn't care less about you.

HH, CK, BG, MW, JB are the initials to avoid...

Also, stay away from any location related to Irvine Company...They are so afraid of losing any Irvine Company location, they will do anything to keep it...just know, as an employee, Irvine Company will always be more important than you....

The position was advertised as full-time, but during the interview I was told it was actually part-time. I accepted the role because I needed the hours, but this was disappointing from the start. Management was unprofessional and often disorganized. The supervisor frequently complained about minor issues such as the condition of the vehicle and made repeated comments about body odor, telling employees to put on deodorant. Multiple coworkers reported being spoken to the same way, which felt inappropriate and uncomfortable.

Scheduling and timekeeping were also problematic. The supervisor would take the clock-in phone home, causing employees to be unable to clock in on time if he arrived late or did not show up. Personal matters were regularly brought into the workplace, which created an unprofessional environment. Support from police officers, who we were told we could ask for assistance, was minimal.

Employees were often blamed or complained about by the public simply for doing their jobs, with little backing from management. The constant criticism and lack of professionalism ultimately led me to resign.

Advice to supervisor Be transparent about job hours, improve professionalism, and create a more respectful and organized work environment.


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Parking attendant 163 salaries reported	$18.11 per hour
Parking manager 23 salaries reported	$27.74 per hour
Lot attendant 29 salaries reported	$18.39 per hour
Shuttle driver 56 salaries reported	$24.58 per hour
Cashier 18 salaries reported	$17.62 per hour

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