Curbside Kvetching

The Valettes, a mostly female valet parking operation based in Redondo Beach, have been parking cars since 1978. “Quite honestly,” owner Maureen Sullivan says, “women are better drivers. We don’t speed. We don’t race. We don’t take them on joy rides. And it looks nice having ladies out there.”

For the front-line Valettes, though, the job can have its downsides:

Puncture wounds: The Valettes hand fresh roses to departing guests, and spend their down time removing thorns from the stems. “You should see my hands,” says Liane Dearman, a four-year veteran. “Actually, I hate roses.”

Sports car sexists: “Some of the guys will be like, ‘Do you know how to drive stick?’ or ‘Are you sure you can handle this car?’ ” says Jeanette Karnes, a six-year employee.

Brand royalty: “One woman came in a Bentley,” Dearman recalls, “and I said ‘Rolls’ for the ticket, and she said, ‘It’s a Bentley.’ I wanted to say, ‘Same maker, lady.’ They’re so picky. A Rolls is a Rolls.”

Bells and whistles: “Some cars are trickier because of kill switches and things like that,” Karnes says. “[The drivers] don’t tell you these things.”

Curbside comedians: “They ask the name of the company,” Karnes says. When she says Valettes, they say, “So you guys sing, too?”