How much are you going to tip your mailman?

[BrookR1]

Just curious since he's delivered many many boxes to my place over the past year and has only goofed on one occasion. I understand they aren't allowed to receive cash, so what should I do?

Also, how do you tip the garbage men? Ours come along around 5:30 am, and there's no way I'm getting up that early to chase them down and give them a tip.

Any thoughts?

 

[ras120]

I don't tip well-paid (maybe over-paid?) government and city employees.

But, if you are so inclined, maybe a gift card?

 

[mikemorton]

I'm going to give my guy £20.

It seems a lot, but he is out in all weathers delivering a LOT of parcels to my door.

I hardly ever go into a shop these days, as nearly all my purchases are online.

The people on one of the UK forums I frequent have got nothing but bad words to say about our postal service (in the UK), but I think they do a great job.

The last time anything got lost or damaged in the post was six or seven years ago.

You wouldn't get up for 5.30am?

Well just get your wife to do it for you.

 

[smalltank]

my mail carier decides when she wants he day or 2 off...my tip to her..lemme know ahead of time when im NOT gonnaa get my mail....

 

[maxman]

At most I'll give a mug of hot chocolate and some cookies.
Everyone likes that.

Mind you, our mail carrier is like a ninja. You never see her even if you are watching.
She's a tricky one to get a hold of.

 

[Dalejr]

Don't have one; but the ladys at the post office earn double what I make per hour so...

 

[dpmtherrien]

I don't have one either, as we live on a dirt road and the post office will not go up any dirt road in my town. All others, UPS, FedEx, etc. drive it all year long, but not the beloved great snail. Sooo, since I have to get my mail at the post office, I guess its no tip involved here.

 

[Argonaut]

A lovely young woman invited her middle-age mailman into the house to receive his Christmas gift. After handing him $10, she took him to the bedroom and "had relations" with him. Afterwards she fed him a nice home made breakfast. The mailman, who was still in a state of bewilderment, asked the young lady what he did to deserve all the attention. She said, "I'm not sure, it was my husbands idea." Your husband!" replied the mailman. "Yes" she answered, "when I asked him what we should give you for a Christmas gift, he said "Screw him, give him 10 bucks.", but breakfast was my idea!"

 

[Tim_McD]

My "Newman" is another one who takes days off in the middle of the week and then doubles up the following day. He also has a habit of throwing the outbound mail into the bushes (found my Netflix discs there) and randomly pepper sprays the dog next door.

I dont think that a gift of any kind is in order for "Newman", but I will be tipping out the UPS guy. He is as pleasant as they come, he gives the dog next door biscuits and always wraps the deliveries in plastic when the weather is bad. A couple of scratch tickets in a card.

 

[reboot]

When she remembers to close the mailbox on rainy days, then I may consider it.

 

[KodiakAttack]

My best friend is a mail carrier and he has experienced a few instances of generosity from us normal folks.
Cash is a no-no but he has definitely been given cookies, sodas, sandwiches, gift cards, etc. I remember one time when it was very cold out and raining slightly, one of the people on his route ran out to the mailbox and gave him a hot chocolate. It's the little things.

 

[jmsodpc]

i usually give a $20 giftcard to somewhere.
same as i give the garbagemen.

 

[ras120]

My "Newman" is another one who takes days off in the middle of the week and then doubles up the following day.

Mail carriers have a set day off (Sunday) and a rotating day off that changes weekly. They start with Saturday/Sunday, then the following week is Sunday/Monday, then Sunday/Tuesday, etc.

So, the day off in the middle of the week is just your carrier's scheduled day off, but he does not "double up" the next day. There is a substitute that delivers on the carrier's rotating off day. This is the result of a 5-day work week meshing with a 6-day delivery week.

 

[Arcadies]

I don't tip well-paid (maybe over-paid?) government and city employees.

But, if you are so inclined, maybe a gift card?

Ditto.

Not to mention countless times they threw packages several feet up onto my deck instead of walking up a few steps, sometimes with such force they slide across and bang into the door or in one case slid off the other end of the deck, or the times they were too lazy to get out of the vehicle and stuck a "sorry we missed you" leaflet in the mailbox and taking packages back to the PO even though was at home. Nope...NO TIP FOR YOU!

 

[OldSaw]

Tip?

I tip my barber and thank him. My mail carrier gets paid from money that is stolen from my wages and makes more than enough, the only tip he needs is to be reminded to watch out for the ice on the steps.

 

[the beav]

We usually give our mail lady a box of homemade cookies, which she likes. A few months ago, I gave her an Avon mail truck and she went crazy over that--really loved it.

 

[rushchairman]

one million dollars

 

[nlpotts]

Tip?

I tip my barber and thank him. My mail carrier gets paid from money that is stolen from my wages and makes more than enough, the only tip he needs is to be reminded to watch out for the ice on the steps.

Let's see, for starters, your carrier has nothing to do with the money you say is 'stolen'. Also, the USPS receives no federal funding from taxes, I'm assuming taxes are what you're referring to as stolen. They operate solely on the revenue generated from the sales of stamps and other products/services. And up until recently, they operated with a 'profit' that was taken by the same people that have 'stolen' from your wages, instead of being allowed to roll over into the budget as with any other business. On top of that they are currently required to prepay retiree health benefits 75 years in advance. Something no other public or private business is required, or willing, to do.

Now as far as some of the carriers, some are just worthless, and some are awesome. The same is same can be said about so many groups, from politicians to the members here on B&B.

I don't have one either, as we live on a dirt road and the post office will not go up any dirt road in my town. All others, UPS, FedEx, etc. drive it all year long, but not the beloved great snail. Sooo, since I have to get my mail at the post office, I guess its no tip involved here.

There is something else being left out of this. I have lived on several dirt/gravel roads and I was more likely to get hit by the carrier driving like a bat out of hades. The fact you live on a dirt road is no excuse. There are delivery to some routes by boat, and even one route is done on a mule. So the dirt road is not the issue. If they are saying it is, you should push the issue. They are supposed to deliver.

As far as the original question, you are not allowed to give them money, but (and I might be wrong on this) I think they can receive gift cards. They can accept snacks, but not complete meals. Things with low intrinsic value, like pens (maybe a cross spire). Who knows, a razor or shave gear might not be a bad idea.

 

[njpaddy]

I used to give my old mailman $25 (cash). Great guy, good service. Since he retired the service has gone downhill and I stopped tipping. It seems to be a different person every time I see him/her and delivery times are all over the place. 20 years ago at another residence I actually filed a written complaint against my post office with my Congressman. That got their attention and my problem of mixed-up mail got straightened out.

 

[OldSaw]

Let's see, for starters, your carrier has nothing to do with the money you say is 'stolen'. Also, the USPS receives no federal funding from taxes, I'm assuming taxes are what you're referring to as stolen. They operate solely on the revenue generated from the sales of stamps and other products/services. And up until recently, they operated with a 'profit' that was taken by the same people that have 'stolen' from your wages, instead of being allowed to roll over into the budget as with any other business. On top of that they are currently required to prepay retiree health benefits 75 years in advance. Something no other public or private business is required, or willing, to do.

Are you a postal employee?

Anyway, I was just kidding about the stolen tax money funding the post office (I know all about stamps AND the competition), but he still doesn't get a tip from me.