Coat Check Nightmares

I don't think I've posted yet as to why you should not check your coat at a restaurant if you can help it. For the most part, it'll probably be ok, but I've heard and seen enough stuff that I won't check again if I don't have to:

• At some places, the coats aren't watched the whole time nor or always in secure locked places. I remember in one restaurant, there was no coat check person in the room, and the door was left unlocked. Anyone could've taken my coat!
• LOSING STUFF: Oh my gosh, I try to be as careful as possible to tie scarves to the hangers the coats are on, but stuff sometimes falls off the rack, and for the most part we find it. HOWEVER, last night was a nightmare as this woman "claims" we lost her brightly colored cashmere scarf. I and the other hostesses hauled ass and searched everywhere as our two managers were flipping out. I find it amazing out of all the stressful things that could happen on a busy night (computers go down, food runs out, customers throw shit fits at late reservations, stealing), that losing a personal item can make a manager go nuts. We could not find this lady's cashmere scarf, and she was obviously pissed. Our manager thinks she was lying since it was no where to be found and we looked all over. In addition, when she claimed it was "cashmere", our manager said she whispered to her friends and giggled. We could not find it anywhere! At the end, she told our manager she wanted his card because she was going to go to Saks to buy another scarf and send the bill to us.
• SWITCHING STUFF: I heard a story one time when a manager sent a staffer to NJ to attempt to return and obtain fur coats that were switched. Now that sux!
• STAFF TRY ON YOUR STUFF: I admit I oogle at the designer brand coats (Chanel, Lanvin, Genny, Dolce & Gabanna, Versace, Burberry), but trying them on....not yet. I heard there was a coat check room located down near the kitchen prep area, and the cooks would wear customer's fur coats while cutting meat. Ew!
• Ok, I admit, I snack on the coat room. My co-hostess though got some butter on a customer's coat...at least it was down/water resistant material

Though it makes me money when people coat check, I tell friends, don't check the coat.