Tipping the Mailman Poll

[Ki Ki Marcus]

I was just wondering how many people actually tip their mailman?

How well do you know them?

How common do you find it to be in your area to tip mailmen?

How much do you tip, if you tip?

[Ki Ki Marcus]

So, I'll go first.

I've never tipped. Never thought to tip until I married a New York... Who's father delivered mail for 30 years.

I recognize my mailman. But just realized a few months ago that I have a new one. I've been wondering how long I had a new mail carrier before I noticed.

I live in Richmond, VA... and as far as all my friends, I've never heard of a one who tips.

Your turn!

[southhavenjen]

I was always put off by tipping the mailman because I had heard they couldn't accept cash, and didn't know what else to get him (what kind of gift card, etc.). I didn't want to bake something because if I were the mailman, I would feel uncomfortable eating random stuff baked by people I didn't know (safety issues). We have gotten to know our mailman in the last couple years - he always puts our packages in the side door where we will find them and where they are out of the weather, and writes us a note that he puts in with the mail that they are there. I know his name is Steve because he signs his notes. :) I am thinking of giving him a nominal amount of cash this year - under the amount they are allowed to accept. What is that amount is it $10 or $20? Maybe if I go with the lower amount I'll throw in a small box of chocolates or other treat.

[fuzzy]

Yeah I thought, as a federal employee, they were not allowed to accept monetary gifts -- or something like that...

Anyway, I do a lot of canning, so I leave a bag of canned goods for my mail person, along with a bottle of booze.

[southerner]

tipping the mail carrier thread (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=11325) already exists.

[keska]

I like seeing the poll. I've never tipped my mail carrier because I've always lived in a big apartment complex and I don't feel like he/she is doing anything special by delivering my mail. This year, I'm considering it because I've been doing a lot of book trading, so my mail carrier has had to bring me lots of bulky mail.

[BethIrish]

This is our second Christmas in our house. I didn't tip the mail carrier last year, and I probably won't this year. I really don't think she has done anything to deserve getting a tip....she regularly gives us the wrong mail, she regularly does not take outgoing mail out of the post box (even with the flag up), she will never come to the door if we have a certified letter or oversize package and if we don't shovel out the mailbox COMPLETELY - she won't leave the mail at all.

[boilermaker]

I have never tipped the mail carrier, have never heard of any of my friends or relatives tipping the mail carrier and to be honest, I'm curious why I would tip the mail carrier?

[Sophia]

I don't even know what my mail carrier looks like.

[Littlelamb11]

we always tip our mail carrier. we follow the USPS guidelines and give the maximum amount ($20) via gift card. although last year, he got $25 in a Lettuce Entertain You gift cert because we happened to have some lying around the house and it was easy. we always get a handwritten thank-you in return.

[lawyergirl25]

I'm curious why I would tip the mail carrier?
For the same reason you might tip anyone else. If you feel that over the course of the year you've received exceptional service worthy of a tip, then you can go ahead and give one during the holidays. If not, then you don't. I honestly don't think your carrier will care either way. They're getting paid already, so a tip is not expected, it's just a bonus.

I tip my carrier because he does little extras for me - goes around back to put my packages on the back porch where they can't be taken, makes sure I get my misaddressed mail, etc.

[TX Sweetheart]

I live in Richmond, VA... and as far as all my friends, I've never heard of a one who tips.

My mom lives in Richmond (it's where I grew up) and has had the same mailman for as long as I can remember... she knows him by name, he brings her dog treats (even though the dog absolutely hates him, and any other person in a uniform LOL) and she tips him every year.

In our previous apartment complex, we had the same mailman for most of the two years we lived there... it didn't dawn on us that maybe we should have tipped him, despite the fact that he hand-delivered packages to us (instead of taking them to the rental office) and to do so had to climb two flights of stairs...
In this apartment complex, it's hit-or-miss as to whether he delivers packages straight to us... but I think we may tip this year... dunno yet.

[Sha259]

As the child of to Postal Service Employees (one being a carrier for 10 years) I would never tip my mail carrier, no matter how good the service. They already get paid pretty well for the service they provide. Plus they are federal employees, I don't think they should be accepting tips.

[Jen&Dan]

I have no idea what our mail carrier even looks like.

[southhavenjen]

I have no idea what our mail carrier even looks like.

I probably couldn't pick my mail carrier out of a lineup either, but that doesn't mean he isn't worthy of a tip.

[Winter Biscuit]

I've never seen my mailman (or mailwoman - have no idea if it's a male or female). When we get Priority Mail packages, he/she leaves the packages on my doorstep WITH my mail right next to it. I appreciate him/her leaving the package on our doorstep because they don't always fit in our mailbox, but would strongly prefer that my mail be kept in my mailbox. I am not comfortable with my mail lying on the porch and we've actually had one item blow away - found it in the neighbor's yard :eek:

Additionally, he/she has run over our grass a few times with his/her truck (accidentally, I'm sure, but it still happened) and he is already paid a salary for his job. I've never tipped a mail delivery person, and don't plan to start. I might feel differently if I felt he/she did an exceptional job but I feel like they are already compensated and while I appreciate their service, I don't feel it warrants extra compensation. I don't know a single person who tips their mail delivery person; in fact, this is the first I've ever heard of the practice. The things you learn on Constant Chatter ;)

[Avalon]

I have never tipped the mail carrier. I will not be tipping my mail carrier this year ~ I don't even know what they look like. They deliver our mail ~ that's it. We don't send out packages. In fact, they don't even have to pick up our mail; DH sends our outgoing from his office.

I tip well for services that require tipping, such as tipping a server at a restuarant. I don't look at delivering mail as a tippable service. Perhaps because they are federal employees, but I know that's not the only reason I feel this way.

[BethIrish]

I think if my mail carrier actually went out of her way to make sure my packages were safe and dry....and if she would at the very least *beep* when I have a certified letter to see if I'm home...I'd tip her.

For anyone that gets certified letters at home...does your mail carrier come to the door or at least beep? Last time I got one - I walked out the door while she was at the mailbox. I walked down to the mailbox and actually surprised her...she was so intent on filling out the "go down to the PO and get your letter" thingy....

[wine_o_girlie]

I don't think I have ever even seen our mail carrier. No, we will not be tipping.

[boilermaker]

For the same reason you might tip anyone else. If you feel that over the course of the year you've received exceptional service worthy of a tip, then you can go ahead and give one during the holidays. If not, then you don't. I honestly don't think your carrier will care either way. They're getting paid already, so a tip is not expected, it's just a bonus.

I tip my carrier because he does little extras for me - goes around back to put my packages on the back porch where they can't be taken, makes sure I get my misaddressed mail, etc.

Ok, I guess that makes sense. My mail carrier doesn't do anything special, though she is nice and waves at me when I see her deliver the mail. Now if she got rid of all the junk mail rather than putting it in my mailbox, I would tip for that (I know she can't really do that...but I would like it if she did!).

Now you all have me thinking about something. In all my years getting mail I can really only think of a handful times that they went out of their way to help me out. But to me, that falls under random acts of kindness, which don't get tipped. And like Avalon, I'm normally a pretty big tipper.

[lawyergirl25]

For anyone that gets certified letters at home...does your mail carrier come to the door or at least beep? Last time I got one - I walked out the door while she was at the mailbox. I walked down to the mailbox and actually surprised her...she was so intent on filling out the "go down to the PO and get your letter" thingy....
That's just a lazy carrier. I don't know what they're required to do, but my carrier always comes around to our front door (our mailbox is out behind our garage) and rings the doorbell before leaving the slip.

[alliannie]

Ive never tipped our mailman. I didnt even know this existed. But we know our mailman very well. We live in the middle of no where and well you know everyone around here. We see him at ballgames, his kids grew up with my husband, etc. Im assuming its not common at all around here unless it would be cookies or some food but I dont think anyone ever considered it a tip just a nice gesture. :confused: :rolleyes:

[Sophia]

I walked down to the mailbox and actually surprised her...she was so intent on filling out the "go down to the PO and get your letter" thingy....

That sounds like my mail carrier. :p

Really, the only person I have ever known to "tip" a mail carrier was one of my maternal aunts. She was on chatting terms with her mail carrier and would put a cup of hot coffee in the mailbox when it was cold, or maybe some homemade cookies.

[kam]

Never did and aren't about to start now. Our tip this year is not putting nails on our lawn (she always drives up on it, despite the fact that we moved the mailbox practically out in the street). Falalalala!

[southhavenjen]

Not to derail the thread, but do you guys tip your garbage man? I never do...because they don't do anything special for me. Ours always leaves a "Christmas card" complete with their name and address - presumably so you can tip them. That kind of annoys me.

[shopaholic]

We have a new carrier every day. If we had a consistant one then yes, we would tip.

[BethIrish]

[QUOTE=SophiaDP]That sounds like my mail carrier. :p[QUOTE]

Oh, believe me, I could go on and on about this lady!!! The thing that makes me mad - she's obviously friends with our neighbor across the street. I've seen her get out of her truck and take packages/letters etc up to her door! And also take stuff up if her mailbox is snowed in!

Hmmm....maybe she tips :p Wonder if I threw a $10 gift card in the mailbox if I would get better service!?:rolleyes:

[BethIrish]

Not to derail the thread, but do you guys tip your garbage man? I never do...because they don't do anything special for me. Ours always leaves a "Christmas card" complete with their name and address - presumably so you can tip them. That kind of annoys me.

Hell no. My garbage can and recyclable thingy are always strewn about my lawn, my driveway and the street!!!

[Sophia]

Hmmm....maybe she tips :p Wonder if I threw a $10 gift card in the mailbox if I would get better service!?:rolleyes:

That's not tipping, that's bribing. :p

[BethIrish]

[QUOTE=BethIrish][QUOTE=SophiaDP]That sounds like my mail carrier. :p

That's not tipping, that's bribing. :p

And I am so not above that!!! If my packages would stay dry, and if she would actually take my mail.....I'd be one happy customer!

[Sophia]

Not to derail the thread, but do you guys tip your garbage man? I never do...because they don't do anything special for me. Ours always leaves a "Christmas card" complete with their name and address - presumably so you can tip them. That kind of annoys me.

Wow. He must be getting some tips from it, or why would he bother with so many cards?

Our garbage collectors don't even get out of the truck. The truck has an arm that lifts the garbage can and dumps it up top.

I've neevr heard of tipping a garbage collector.

[TX Sweetheart]

My mom used to tip the garbage people (dunno if she still does or not)... mainly from way back when my grandmother was alive (and she lived with us) and her nurse always got on the garabage people for leaving the cans in the street, so they started bringing the cans up to the back fence... even 15 years after my grandmother died, we were still getting the cans put back... so my mom always tipped them.

We don't tip our garbage people 'cuz we don't even know who they are! I mean, we live in an apartment complex with several dumpsters... and the trucks come at all hours of the day or night (literally... I think we had one come at 2am once!)...

[boilermaker]

I don't tip the garbage collectors either. They do a really crappy job picking up our trash and I don't think I can afford to pay them what it would take to improve that service.

To derail the thread even more, I started getting my dry cleaning picked up and dropped off a few months ago. I do think it is appropriate to tip him but I'm curious how much? I use the service every other week, so he picks up on Monday and brings it back on Thursday, twice per month. There is no charge, so I can't just do 20%. I was thinking $25. Anyone else do this?

[Littlelamb11]

Not to derail the thread, but do you guys tip your garbage man? I never do...because they don't do anything special for me. Ours always leaves a "Christmas card" complete with their name and address - presumably so you can tip them. That kind of annoys me.

our newspaper "couple" leaves a note like that as well and it's SO obnoxious. yeah, like i'm going to tip you if you ASK for it. i get the paper 3 days a week and i still have to walk to the end of my driveway to get it plus it's not always completely protected from the elements so it's not always in the best condition...

we haven't tipped the garbage and recycling guys mostly because i don't know where to put it. but their great. in our town, big garbage trucks are not allowed in the neighborhoods so they drive around in these cute little golf-carty type trucks and then bring the garbage to the "mother ship' waiting outside the neighborhood. they're always on time and do a good job.

I'd love to tip the landscapers but we live in a maintenance free community so we have different guys several days a week and i wouldn't know how to go about doing it, ya know?

[Littlelamb11]

oh, i also tip the drive up grocery loaders at our grocery store. we aren't allowed to tip them in general so i like to give them something at Christmas since they load up our cars at least once a week and are always so sweet. they work hard and are freezing their butts off out there in the winter. :)

[greenbunny]

Not to derail the thread, but do you guys tip your garbage man? I never do...because they don't do anything special for me. Ours always leaves a "Christmas card" complete with their name and address - presumably so you can tip them. That kind of annoys me.

They ran over our can and smashed it, refused to replace it, and often leave stuff in the can or blowing all over the street. If I leave them anything, it would be a bill, not a tip. :mad:

[Vishenka69]

I have never tipped the mail carrier, have never heard of any of my friends or relatives tipping the mail carrier and to be honest, I'm curious why I would tip the mail carrier?
ITA, but may be it's also due to the fact that I've always lived in big buildings and constantly had my mail messed up and never actually met most of my mail carriers.

[gayle]

I work my mail carrier to death as I order alot of fabric and notions online that he has to bring to my door for me to sign for. I don't tip cash, but I DO make him a goodie basket every year as a thank you for the extra work I put him through.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

BethIrish, so you've got one of those annoying as heck carriers too? I recently had a certified letter, she stuck a note in my box. Okay, I was home--and she knew it, as my car was sitting in the driveway (she told me this once, that if there's a car in my driveway, she'll come up and ring the bell). Next day, same thing. Fine. I go the next day to get the letter at the PO, and it's in her truck! How the heck am I to retrieve that?! Especially considering that the PO closes at 4, and many days she's still delivering mail that late. She ran into my mailbox, cracking the wooden post in 2 (heard something outside, and there she is backing up from my mailbox...), and when my father went to replace it the next day commented "so, putting up a new mailbox, eh?" She continually runs into the trash cans, using her truck as a battering ram if they're in her path she refuses to swerve, just whacks into them. She's cracked the wheel on mine, and run over the lid, bending and cracking it. I too am tempted to send her a bill, that trashcan wasn't cheap, and it's not the first trashcan she's damaged! I should leave a tip... stop running into stuff on purpose!

My recycling people and garbage men... same thing. They dump it all over the ground, and refuse to pick it up. They have broken mounds of glass, I've complained and they say they're sending someone out to clean it that day, but no one ever comes. I cleaned it up, wrote up a bill, and dropped it on the desk of the idiots at city hall. Amazingly, I haven't had a problem since :D

So yes, I am a complete Scrooge :)

[Kristeen]

Our mailman is mean, he yells at us for parking too close to the mailbox, and gives us everyone else's mail and vice versa at least once a month. We definitely won't tip him... Oh yeah, we also found out that he scans in all his delivery confirmation during lunch after some investigation when he failed to deliver some very expensive 3-day concert tickets. grrrrr

[hockeybrat]

I am not sure if I should tip or not. We don't have individual mail boxes in my neighborhood but centralized boxes (kind of like apartments). I know other people in my community have complained about their mail getting mixed up with others and it has been an ongoing problem.

Maybe I'll talk to other neighbors to see if they are doing that or not.

I cancelled our paper earlier this year or else I would have tipped them.

[Annette]

We have communal mailboxes and I've never even met the mail carrier, so I am not giving a tip.

[MurphysLaw]

Our mailman is wonderful. He is almost always smiling which is pleasant in itself. He always brings packages to the door for us, and always rings at least once to make sure we're home before leaving the pick-up slip. We've never tipped him before, but it's not a bad idea at all, IMHO.

**What about other delivery guys..FedEx/UPS/others??

[SingleWhiteFemale]

**What about other delivery guys..FedEx/UPS/others??I have before, but it was an "at the time" kind of thing, not a holiday tip. My old UPS guy would always take care with my packages and if my garage door was open, he'd walk inside and place my package at the door instead of the front door (we don't use the front door, and we've left packages out there for days without noticing they were there). My current guy has knocked over trashcans, speeds in residental areas, and throws packages instead of placing them. So, the current guy has no tip-worthy behavior so he won't be getting a tip.

[Chimichanga]

I always tip the mail carrier - even when I lived in apartments. My mom is a letter carrier and they are not supposed to accept cash. But, you'd be surprised what they get.

She's gotten booze, gift certificates to restaurants in town, boxes of candy, homemade goodies, ornaments, Christmas figurines and more.

Carriers go through a lot of grief. Even if they drive, they still have to brave the weather (and those trucks suck!) as well as everyone's dogs.

When we lived in apartments, I gave my carrier a tip. He earned it - there was so much turn over there he had to do a lot of forwarding and keeping things straight.

Our current mail lady is awesome. She did a great job with our forwarded mail. When I see her I always offer her something to drink (you'd be surprised by how often they get dehydrated). I'll be tipping her $10 and giving her some cookies. We're still pretty young and strapped for cash. I know some people who gave my mom $50-$100.

[Chimichanga]

Our mailman is mean, he yells at us for parking too close to the mailbox

Not to sound rude, but maybe you should start parking farther away from the mailbox. He just wants to do his job...

To respond to the "off topic" questions - I will be tipping our garbage guys as well as the recycle guys. They do a good job - and really, who wants to work around trash all day?

Besides, it's the holidays - the season for giving.

[MurphysLaw]

My current guy had knocked over trashcans, speeds in residental area, and throws packages instead of placing them. So, the gurrent guy has no tip-worthy behavior so he won't be getting a tip.

Damn, if you don't want to deliver packages get another job! That's awful.

Our delivery guy(usually UPS) is great too. He leaves stuff in our garage. We always offer him a snack or drink, but the only thing he'll take is water. And that was in the dead of summer when it looked like he would pass out from the heat! We're thinking about a gift card...maybe to Circuit City/BestBuy or HomeDepot/Lowes? Most men love electronics and home improvement right?

[dollface]

I give the mailman a Starbucks card every year even though we only receive 10% of our mail at home. We have a private mailbox elsewhere and since there are several workers there they usually get a box of cookies or a pizza gift certificate.

[southhavenjen]

My dad is a retired UPS driver and he would get cash tips from some people at Christmastime, and some homemade treats or boxes of candy from others. This was before gift cards came into being but I'm sure the UPS drivers receive them now. I know he appreciated the gesture of anything that was offered. I always offer the UPS guy a cold drink when they come in to where I work (we have lots of bottled water and pop) and they always seem so grateful for that, especially in the summer.

[Aimee]

**What about other delivery guys..FedEx/UPS/others??

If anything, I'd have to give them a bill for all the time I've wasted waiting for them, so I could sign for some small package, where they wouldn't let me just sign the back of the slip and authorize them to leave it.

Between 3 and 5 pm, my ass. More like 7:15 pm. If the guy is operating on PST, I'd really appreciate it if he'd let me know.

The only commercial delivery company that's ever done anything tip-worthy is DHL (formerly Airborne Express.)

[Katy]

I voted that I did it once. Last year was my first year (a $25 Starbucks card), but I plan to continue each year.

[PG-rated]

Before, I was too poor to tip, and honestly I never thought about it. Now that we could afford it, our mail service sucks. We constantly get our magazines late, and things get lost all the time - twice this year wedding invitations that we knew were coming never arrived. I would happily tip a mail carrier who actually managed to do a decent job.

[Brandles]

We used to have a really nice and friendly mailman. But he retired back in February. :( We used to give him a box of homemade cookies and a card at Christmas.

This year, we've got the one we used to have. He was always late and he'd mix up mail with the same number on another street (A CHECK!!!) Now, since our mail sometimes does not make it here by 4pm (I'm glad there are 2 banks that are open later to cash checks!) and since he put a big ole' footprint in the newly poured cement on the driveway, there's no way we're giving him anything.

[Heidi9771]

my BIL is a mailman, and he gets some serious goodies during the holidays! Anything from home made treats, to expensive bottles of wine/liquore and cash.

[DisneyGirl]

I definalty will not be giving my mail carrier a tip. He never takes the outgoing mail and he leaves me messages in my mail box about the neighbors blocking my mailbox. What am i suppose to do about this. I do not know of my neighbors being that I just moved in and he expects me to get these people to moves thier cars so he doesn't have to get out of his mail truck. I told him many times thoses are not my crs blocking th box and for him to figure it out. So, no tip for him sinc ehe drives me batty.

[karlatta]

I'm not tipping my mail carrier. She is mean!

We have communal mailboxes down the street from my house and right along the sidewalk. If I'm ever outside when she's delivering mail, and I am on the sidewalk where she can see me, she starts yelling at the top of her lungs that I need to "Get Back! Stay Back!" And tells me that it's a federal offense to approach her as she's delivering mail. Like my only purpose for ever being on he sidewalk is to disturb her. :rolleyes: She also strings up this yellow "Do Not Cross" tape around her and the mailboxes while she puts the mail in. I totally don't get it.

And she crams my mail in in such a way that it's next to impossible to get my mail out. It's terrible service.

[lawyergirl25]

We have communal mailboxes down the street from my house and right along the sidewalk. If I'm ever outside when she's delivering mail, and I am on the sidewalk where she can see me, she starts yelling at the top of her lungs that I need to "Get Back! Stay Back!" And tells me that it's a federal offense to approach her as she's delivering mail. Like my only purpose for ever being on he sidewalk is to disturb her. :rolleyes: She also strings up this yellow "Do Not Cross" tape around her and the mailboxes while she puts the mail in. I totally don't get it.
LMAO! What a psycho!

[nettreefrog]

The last time I checked, our mail-lady was an elderly Chinese woman who signed that she did not speak English when I complained that we were not getting our mail or when we did, it was half destroyed... She then proceeded to finish her lunch in our laundry/mail room.

[laurenc]

if our mailman would actually take the mail we leave for him to, you know, send, then maybe he would get a holiday tip!!! is it so much to ask that you do your job???

i do, however, donate to a general fund to get gift certificates for the security guards and janitorial crew in my office building...

[dana b]

i never have, but i will this year. we're friendly with our mail lady and the poor thing has to lug away tons of boxes when i sell stuff on ebay.

[KaliLily]

This is our second Christmas in our new home - we moved in Dec 10, 2004. I've never tipped my mail carrier before, but my mom always gave ours holiday treats when I was a kid.

I've thought about doing something for ours, but she never comes across as very friendly. I've tried being really nice, thanking her when she has to bring something up to the house, but she gives no response. It's like talking to a brick wall.

She's also been leaving mail in the wrong mail boxes on my street more frequently than I've experienced before. But, maybe she noticed that my nextdoor neighbor and I are new and wanted to help us meet our neighbors. :rolleyes:

ETA: I also keep getting my clothing store coupons late! :mad:

[udsweetpea]

Mine won't be getting one because he's a grumpy old man who never says "hi" back to me when I say "hi". And he never goes above and beyond. He's crammed my mail in so bad, my birthday and Christmas cards have been folded in 2. There's just no reason to give him a tip for doing just his job and nothing extraordinary.

Back when I was little in our neighborhood, the mail lady was extremely nice and always came to the door when we had a package. She got homemade, award-winning fudge every year :)

[LyLMyssChaos]

Our mail person is HORRIBLE. We get other people's mail, we don't get our mail, mail gets returned saying that our address doesn't exist, etc. I am not tipping my mail person, but if they gave better service, I would.

[udsweetpea]

I have the same mailman as I did 2 years ago, so he's not getting a tip this year. He's still stuffing my mail into my box and crumpling Christmas and birthday cards. I went in to the mailroom the day after my surgery, and he was in there so I couldn't go in. I knocked on the door and asked politely if I could drop off my outgoing mail. He looked at me like I had 2 heads and threw them in the box that was near my feet and asked me "how hard was that?" Actually, that would have been difficult for me because I can't move my abs! What a jerk!

[Ohana]

I haven't tipped in the past, but probably will this year. Our house is pretty far from the mailbox, plus it's a total PITA to drive down our driveway to drop off packages. All of the previous carriers we had just left the slip in our mailbox for us to go pick up packages, but our current carrier always leaves things at the house for us. It saves us a bunch of trips to the Post Office, and I know it's above and beyond his required duties.

[jmvan74]

Our mail carrier is awsome! She's always friendly, leaves packages by the door and just does a great job. I've never tipped before, but I was thinking a gift card to dunken donuts or something might be a good thing. I really wish I knew her name, though. :o

[amwilson615]

My mom was a mail carrier for many years. Before she started doing that, we had never heard of such a thing. As a matter of fact, her first Christmas as a mail carrier, she was shocked at the loads of gift cards, chocolates, candies, baked goods, and yes, cash, that she received. Ever since then, she, and I, have left something for the mail carrier every year. Usually, I leave some sort of food item--purchased or homemade and $5-$10.

None of my friends or other family members do it.

I don't even know my carrier's name, but I know she's female.

I also don't know if she does anything in particular that would necessitate a tip, but having been the daughter of a rural mail carrier, I know how grueling the job can be, so I do a little something to brighten the season.

[Sophia]

Well, this year I can report I now know what my mail carrier looks like. I saw him speed down my street and almost hit a cat today.

[MrsBeckyLP]

We just moved, and I still haven't figured out what time our mail gets here, so that means I've never seen the mail carrier. I don't plan on tipping.

Our previous mail carrier was friendly and waved, but I never tipped her either. The thought never crossed my mind.

Now, I was actually thinking recently about tipping the UPS guy. He's been here about seven times in the month and a half we've lived here (and once it was five heavy bar stools). He now knows to just leave the package at the door, no signing needed! He's great!

[imagirliegirl]

I'm going to get my mailman a book on the alphabet because I'm pretty sure he can't read. :p

[alienhost]

I used to tip our old mailman, he was great and I actually knew his name. Then he transferred to a different route and we had a bunch of "subs" over last Christmas so I didn't tip - it was someone different every few days. Mail service was pretty lousy then.

I finally met our new carrier over the summer, I asked him if he was the permanent carrier. But it seems he is out sick alot since we often get different people (I'm home during the day and often see the carrier when they leave the mail).

But my new pet peeve is that I often have important mail (bills/letters) shoved inside catalogs/junk mail - between the pages. I used to just throw catalogs away but know I have to go through them to make sure I don't throw away something imporant, which I may have done in the past.

Do you think I shoud tip since this is happening every couple of weeks?

If I do I usually get a $20 gc to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks.

[udsweetpea]

I always thought tips were for service workers who did not receive at least minimum wage or who did an excellent job. Who decided that mail carriers get tips? They make a good, livable wage, and not one mail carrier I have ever known has gone above and beyond. I can understand giving a tip if he/she does a really good job, but who made up this rule to tip your mail carrier?

[rene']

We used to tip when we lived in a house where we had our own mailbox next to the front door. He was really nice and we would also give him a cold can of pop in the summer. Now we live in a housing development with centralized mailboxes at the end of our cul-de-sac. So, we don't do it anymore.

[Chimichanga]

Mail carriers go through a lot to deliver your (general your) mail, whether it seems like they do or not. Those bags are heavy - some up to 70 pounds. They are outside regardless of the weather and often have other obstacles to overcome (animals, careless people who don't shovel or block their mailbox).

My mom's been a carrier ever since I was born (almost 30 years) and she's always gotten some sort of thank you present. Lots of candies/cookies or little nicknacks.

It's definitely not a rule. If you'd like to thank the person for doing a good job; you can. If you don't - that's fine too. There are plenty of people who don't tip my mom. and I'd like to think she goes above and beyond all the time - but I may be biased :)

[NotDesperate]

I wont be tipping mine. He doesn't take outgoing mail and he doesn't deliver packages. All I get are those "Sorry we missed you! cards, even when I am home.

Of course, maybe he is waiting for a tip before he starts actually working....

[camberne]

When I was little, we had one mail carrier who was wonderful. All the kids called him "Elvis". My mom knows what his real name was, he died two years ago. He was great, and my mom did what she could for him.

Our current mail carrier SUCKS. If I didn't know that my attorney had sent a large check via certified mail and knew that the other recipients had already received their checks, my mail would have been returned to the attorney because the carrier never attempted to deliver it... just put it in the box at the post office. I never got a notice in my box stating that it was there! I know that there was no notice left, because I was stalking the mailbox specifically looking for it. Finally, I went to the post office to find out if they could track the package and there it was sitting there. Jerk!

I wrote the Postmaster General and copied it to the Postmaster at our post office. No wonder people use UPS, FedEx, and DHL instead of the USPS!!

[jimmysgirl424]

I always thought tips were for service workers who did not receive at least minimum wage or who did an excellent job. Who decided that mail carriers get tips? They make a good, livable wage, and not one mail carrier I have ever known has gone above and beyond. I can understand giving a tip if he/she does a really good job, but who made up this rule to tip your mail carrier?

My DH is a mail carrier. Its certainly not a rule set in stone that you should tip your carrier, but its a nice thought. I'm not going to argue your statement about making a good, livable wage, but I will tell you that there have been several Christmases gone by that his tips made the difference in us being able to afford to actually buy gifts for our loved ones. And yes, DH does go above and beyond in his duties to his customers. And believe me when I tell you that his job is one of the most difficult ones imaginable as far as post office jobs go. At 36, both of his knees are almost shot and will need knee replacement probably before he's 40. Plus all of the stuff already posted by Chimichanga is 100% true. I'm not saying all of this for anyone to feel sorry for the carriers or feel obligated to tip them, but I did want to make sure that I represented for my DH and his fellow carriers. And yup, there are definitely some carriers out there that really stink, no doubt about that. They are the ones that give all the good carriers a bad name. :(

[Liz]

I have never tipped our mail carrier. Until these threads came up I hadn't ever thought of it before. I have lived in this apartment building for the past five years and I have never seen the mail carrier. The person leaves the mail for the front desk who then sorts the mail. I haven't ever tipped him/her and won't again this year.

[udsweetpea]

jimmysgirl I said I understand tipping someone who goes above and beyond. But I'm certainly not tipping my postman for crushing all of my mail and being a jerk, and I don't want to feel obligated to tip him.

BTW, I'm 26 and my knees are shot being from being a waitress. Should I have gotten more tips at Christmas?

[jimmysgirl424]

jimmysgirl
BTW, I'm 26 and my knees are shot being from being a waitress. Should I have gotten more tips at Christmas?

Nope, and thats not what I was attempting to point out. I specifically said that I wasn't posting that to try and make people feel sorry for their carrier. And I always tip more to everyone at Christmas, including waitresses. :)

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I've never thought about it before- probably because up until a couple years ago, I/we were moving every year or two.

I think I'll probably tip our mailman this year though... I've never seen the person, but they always get our mail to us the same time every day, in the box or in a safe place where it won't get rained on.

[cr8zyforaf]

Boy, I wish someone would tip me for doing my job. I also go above and beyond every day and some extra cash around the holiday sure would help.

No, I have never tipped the mailman and I don't plan on doing it. I was always under the impression that Federal employees could not accept gifts (I work at a Federal Agency).

I have never seen my mail carrier - we live on a main road with the mailbox on the street so they don't even have to get out of the car to deliver my mail. I also don't tip the garbage people...

[jimmysgirl424]

No, I have never tipped the mailman and I don't plan on doing it. I was always under the impression that Federal employees could not accept gifts (I work at a Federal Agency).

Technically, they don't fall under the Federal Agency jurisdiction. I'll have to get DH to explain that one to me. Carriers can accept gifts $25 and under.

[MLA]

Boy, I wish someone would tip me for doing my job. I also go above and beyond every day and some extra cash around the holiday sure would help.


Well, in all fairness, a lot of companies do give out bonuses at the end of the year -- and you get that just for doing your job. Of course, I work in the non-profit world, so that's never happened for me. ;)

I think I'll leave a tip this year. I really like my mail carrier. He's very friendly, and I've NEVER had to go to the post office to pick something up because he's too lazy to take it to my doorstep. I'm thinking a baked good and maybe $5.

[thedoorchick]

Boy, I wish someone would tip me for doing my job. I also go above and beyond every day and some extra cash around the holiday sure would help.
That has been my thought throughout this entire thread. And no, my company does not give Christmas bonuses.

[udsweetpea]

That has been my thought throughout this entire thread. And no, my company does not give Christmas bonuses.

My thoughts as well. I don't get a Christmas bonus either.

[KrissyCat7]

We will definetely tip our mail carrier this year (we just moved into a new house). Our mailbox is up next to our door, so he actually has to walk to our house....he isnt just driving up to the box.

[jimmysgirl424]

I don't get a Christmas bonus either. They were actually talking about that on the radio this morning, how the times of Christmas bonuses were far past. I used to work for a small property management company that gave us a month's salary as our bonus at Christmas. Now that was awesome!

[cr8zyforaf]

Technically, they don't fall under the Federal Agency jurisdiction. I'll have to get DH to explain that one to me. Carriers can accept gifts $25 and under.

Thank you, I did not know this.

Well, in all fairness, a lot of companies do give out bonuses at the end of the year -- and you get that just for doing your job.

I've worked for a lot of companies and have never gotten a bonus (in fact, I know in a few cases, the executives get bonuses but not the worker bees) - I have gotten a contribution to my 401k as an end of the year bonus but that was negotiated with my salary and package before I started and I don't look at it as an end of year bonus or tip, rather part of my compensation package that I negotiated before I accepted the job (plus it is a nice tax write off for the company).

I think if I went to my boss and told him I have gone above and beyond every day and would like a tip, he would look at me like I was nuts.

[greenbunny]

Based on the talk of mail carriers developing bad knees, I'm guessing I'm one of few here to have rural delivery. Our mail lady just has to drive slowly and lean six inches to her right once every four hundred yards.

[JennW]

I used to always tip the mailman. We moved a year ago and our mailman now sucks. All our mail gets lost, comes late, etc. So this year, for the first time, I won't be tipping.

[MLA]

I think if I went to my boss and told him I have gone above and beyond every day and would like a tip, he would look at me like I was nuts.

LOL! :D

[tenofcups]

Boy, I wish someone would tip me for doing my job. I also go above and beyond every day and some extra cash around the holiday sure would help.

My exact thoughts.

[thedoorchick]

Based on the talk of mail carriers developing bad knees, I'm guessing I'm one of few here to have rural delivery. Our mail lady just has to drive slowly and lean six inches to her right once every four hundred yards.

Well, we're in suburbia, but our mailmail (lady? see, I don't even know him/her) also drives.

[SiValleySteph]

I would consider tipping our mailman because he does come up to our door and leave the mail in our mail slot.

However, we found out from one of our investment accounts that they have been getting returned mail and they froze our accounts because of this (right when we wrote a big check for our property taxes, so now we aren't even sure if that went through!). The mail was being sent to our correct address, so we have no idea why it has been returned!?!? Now we are a bit suspicious of our mail delivery and aren't sure what else we are missing.

[hmbay]

hmm never thought about it really. Mine has her good and her bad days (she's left packages alongside the busy road I live on :rolleyes: and other times walked up our sucky steep driveway with heavy packages to hand deliver them--depends on her mood). However I was thinking of tipping my garbage guy this year as he's been pretty nice and "overlooked" a few overfull garbage cans he should have charged me for. I also agree with whoever suggested tipping the UPS and FedEx guy--they visit my house quite frequently this time of year and also have to deal with my sucky steep driveway.

[udsweetpea]

Just thought of another reason not to tip my mailman... he enjoyed my Netflix movies before I did!

[MLA]

Just thought of another reason not to tip my mailman... he enjoyed my Netflix movies before I did!

You're joking, right? That can't even be legal!

[udsweetpea]

You're joking, right? That can't even be legal!

My movies always came to me opened and taped up like someone had watched them. It might not have been my mailman, but it had to have been someone in the postal service.

[cr8zyforaf]

My movies always came to me opened and taped up like someone had watched them. It might not have been my mailman, but it had to have been someone in the postal service.

OMG.

[udsweetpea]

OMG.

I know right!

[jimmysgirl424]

My movies always came to me opened and taped up like someone had watched them. It might not have been my mailman, but it had to have been someone in the postal service.

:eek: That is crazy! And very much against post office regulations if it is, in fact, someone who works there. Mail tampering is a federal offense. WTF are some people thinking?

[akacharlotte]

How well do you know them? I don't know him/her at all. I've never met him/her or seen him/her.

How common do you find it to be in your area to tip mailmen? I don't know if anyone in our neighborhood tips. I don't think my family has ever tipped either but I can't say for sure. I know my mom was good friends with our postal worker growing up. I was friends with her daughter and even went on vacation with them one year. I don't remember mom ever tipping her per se but they were friends.

How much do you tip if you tip? n/a

[jajacobsen]

I have never done so, even though I have a "pleasant, hello there" relationship with our mail carrier(s) - we seem to have a few who rotate through our area, maybe covering vacation/sickness, etc.

But then I have never tipped the garbage collector either. I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that doing so was much more prevalent in the northern part of the US. I just have the impression that it is very much a NY/NJ/Boston kind of thing.

[hmbay]

jajacobsen--I grew up in a rural area so we burned our trash so I have no point of reference but DH's dad used to be a garbage collector and said he got a lot of gifts around the holidays so now that we have garbage collection we thought perhaps we should tip the person. We'er in the Minneapolis, Mn area so it's at least somewhat common here to tip the garbage person.

[jajacobsen]

Trash - The problem I would have with garbage is that Waste Management picks ours up and it's three different crews/collection days. Household waste for the landfill, recyclables, and green (yard) waste are all different vehicles/crews.

We used to use a smalll independent and I could almost see tipping them, but they did such a crap job that we stopped supporting the "little guy" and gave in and went with WM like most of our neighbors. The only thing that makes me feek better anout it is that WM is a leader in recycling and due to its size, achieves economies of scale which are necessary for recycling to pay off. Our former collector didn't even handle recycling at all (we had to take it ourselves to the recycling center).

We don't tip our paper person either. Again, I don't know anyone who does. Howver, in our defense, we have had sevreal missed deliveries and thrown in rosebush/mud puddle incidents despite having a seprate newspaper box.

[greenbunny]

My movies always came to me opened and taped up like someone had watched them. It might not have been my mailman, but it had to have been someone in the postal service.

I've never had this happen with DVDs, but some of my magazines are always late and obviously thumbed through, even ones that come shrink-wrapped. (No, not THAT kind of mag! I mean like Vogue and Reader's Digest.)


I will never tip our garbage men, they are awful. They broke our brand-new Rubbermaid can when we first moved in, and then broke the other one months later by running over it with the truck.

[udsweetpea]

I've never had this happen with DVDs, but some of my magazines are always late and obviously thumbed through, even ones that come shrink-wrapped. (No, not THAT kind of mag! I mean like Vogue and Reader's Digest.)


I had the same thing happen a few times with my magazines.

[jajacobsen]

How can someone read something that is plastic wrapped? Was the platic removed?

[tinkerbelljenny]

Based on the talk of mail carriers developing bad knees, I'm guessing I'm one of few here to have rural delivery. Our mail lady just has to drive slowly and lean six inches to her right once every four hundred yards

We have rural delivery too so I have no idea who brings us our mail. Matter of fact, I have to walk down the street to the main road to get the mail from the mailbox. We also don't tip for the trash either. They don't even get out of the truck and if your can is not in the exact spot or sideways, or very full, or you have extra trash next to your can they refuse to pick up your can. We have complained for many years about the service. It is the worst service I have ever had.

I think many people go above and beyond for their work and never get tips.

[hmbay]

jajacobsen--I can see that if you have different garbage collectors for different things. I haven't tipped ours yet in the 3 years we've been here but I'm thinking about it this year for them coming back to pick up a couple missed pickups (my fault--not theirs) and looking the other way about a few overflowing cans where they should have charged me extra.

[cocopop]

We tip ours because he puts a self-addressed envelope in our mailbox basically asking for one! :rolleyes:

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Y'know... I'm in a salaried job, but I occasionally get "tips," I just realized. I help our consultants put together sales proposals, and every once in a while I'll get flowers or a gift card or something for "going above and beyond." (It seems pretty arbitrary, because I try to do as much as I can with every proposal, of course.)

Where it does make a difference though... In those instances where I have a packed schedule and a consultant needs help and it isn't really part of my responsibilities- if they've been good to me in the past, I'm going to put in more effort helping them, than if they haven't. (I'm not talking about something like, staying 15 minutes past my normal quitting time- of course I'll do that. I mean spending a couple hours on a Saturday proof reading a document that has nothing to do with my workgroup, that kind of thing.)

So, on the one hand, I guess it could be considered bribery. But there's a point at which it could be considered maintaining a positive working relationship too, you know?

[firefly]

we have 1 regular mailman and 2 other random ones. by random I mean every other week they are new. I'd tip the regular one he's great, always stops by and says hi if he see's me or the kids, (even out in public, like the grocery store or mcdonalds) but I can never be sure which days he'll be on and I want HIM to have it not the randomoids.

[petdoc08]

No way am I tipping our mail carrier or garbage collectors.

Our mail carrier cannot be bothered to close our mailbox even in a torrential rain storm. I have also been receiving the previous homeowners health insurance statements for four years now (along with other misc. pieces of their mail). I have left notes for the carrier and called the post office and we still get them. I just keep marking them return to sender. We share a drive with our neighbors and often the carrier will just dump all of our mail into one of the two boxes, instead of turning around and putting my mail in my box.

The garbage collectors have a fully automated system. They drive up close to the curb, hit a button, and a giant arm swoops up our can and dumps it into the truck. If the lid is not completely shut, they won't even stop.

[jajacobsen]

Y'know... I'm in a salaried job, but I occasionally get "tips," I just realized. I help our consultants put together sales proposals, and every once in a while I'll get flowers or a gift card or something for "going above and beyond." (It seems pretty arbitrary, because I try to do as much as I can with every proposal, of course.)

Where it does make a difference though... In those instances where I have a packed schedule and a consultant needs help and it isn't really part of my responsibilities- if they've been good to me in the past, I'm going to put in more effort helping them, than if they haven't. (I'm not talking about something like, staying 15 minutes past my normal quitting time- of course I'll do that. I mean spending a couple hours on a Saturday proof reading a document that has nothing to do with my workgroup, that kind of thing.)

So, on the one hand, I guess it could be considered bribery. But there's a point at which it could be considered maintaining a positive working relationship too, you know?

I agree. I have no problem with the CONCEPT of tipping; I just don't think it is the norm here. I think it is the norm in certain areas where the jobs (mail/garbage, etc) are performed by state or federal employees who receive no Christmas bonus.

I think many of us get "tips" like you mentioned - the thank you lunch from the boss or a salesman, the flowers from a vendor, and many workplaces give Christmas gifts/gift cards/grocery store vouchers at the holidays. Civil service employees don't receive such and so if citizens want to give an extra thank you, why not?

I might bake something for my letter carrier and have it on hand and if I see her on the few days I have off before Christmas, run it out to her as she drops of my mail.

I will say I am much more likely to give an extra gift/tip to persons with whom I have contact. So garbage collectors and paper delivery person - no contact = no tip.

However, my critter sitter, a 13 year old who is extermely responsible and goes above and beyond (will get mail in if we are gone overnight, will vacuum up floor if cats track out lots of cat litter, will engage her entire family to search neighborhood for escaped dog), SHE gets a great Christmas present. My pets give her a 2008 annual pet calendar and DH and I give her $20. Worth every penny of it.

[PG-rated]

Just thought of another reason not to tip my mailman... he enjoyed my Netflix movies before I did!
This is one reason we never signed up for Netflix - we have zero confidence that we'd get regular, on-time delivery of our movies.

I haven't had as many complaints about our service lately, but then again I started paying all my bills online, so I never notice if/when a paper statement shows up anymore.

[Niobe]

Our mail carrier sucks and doesn't even try to deliver packages - and for some reason the post office that keeps our packages isn't the one near us, it's WAY far away. So no, he's not getting a tip. His tip was spent on bus fare all year going to retrieve the packages he wouldn't bring us. Though our Blockbuster DVDs always show up on time and intact, so maybe I shouldn't complain so much.

The UPS guy who brings us all our Amazon packages is great, however. He'll even come back later on in the day if we miss him and call early enough. I am thinking of making him cookies or something, since I don't know if he is supposed to accept tips.

[udsweetpea]

This is one reason we never signed up for Netflix - we have zero confidence that we'd get regular, on-time delivery of our movies.


[hijack] I canceled my Netflix subscription because I think they thought I was watching and returning them too quickly. My service got extremely slow, so I was only receiving 2 or 3 movies a month even though I watched and returned them immediately. [end hijack]

[udsweetpea]

Just asking a general postal service question-

I'm in an apartment complex, so all of the mailboxes are in the leasing office in one room. If someone gets a package, the mail carrier leaves it on the floor of the mail room. Now if I was a mail thief and wanted some ProActiv or Talbot's packages (today's packages on the floor), I could very easily take them off the floor. Isn't this somewhat illegal to leave someone's mail out in the open to be taken?

[December27JJB]

No. We've had 7 different mail carriers since we've lived here. I dont know whats going on but it seems like someone quit or got fired then there were substitutes. We've gone some days without mail because I guess there were no substitutes. I dont know who is the regular person. If I left out a tip, theres a good chance a carrier I've never seen before, will come by that day.

[Niobe]

I'm in an apartment complex, so all of the mailboxes are in the leasing office in one room. If someone gets a package, the mail carrier leaves it on the floor of the mail room. Now if I was a mail thief and wanted some ProActiv or Talbot's packages (today's packages on the floor), I could very easily take them off the floor. Isn't this somewhat illegal to leave someone's mail out in the open to be taken?

I've lived in apartments for most of the last decade and at every single complex the packages were left in the leasing/management office or (in the case that there wasn't one on site) a notice was left in my box. I'd be really angry if my postal carrier was just leaving my packages out in the open like that (I'd also be really tempted to call and say they were all stolen, even if they weren't). I don't know about legality, but it's pretty darn crappy and lazy. :rolleyes:

[udsweetpea]

I've lived in apartments for most of the last decade and at every single complex the packages were left in the leasing/management office or (in the case that there wasn't one on site) a notice was left in my box. I'd be really angry if my postal carrier was just leaving my packages out in the open like that (I'd also be really tempted to call and say they were all stolen, even if they weren't). I don't know about legality, but it's pretty darn crappy and lazy. :rolleyes:

I completely agree with you. I've always had to go to the leasing office to pick up my packages and sign off on them that I received them. If I were a thief, I would really be tempted to pick up all of the packages sitting in there now because I know they're all Christmas presents! Maybe I should contact the postal service.

[jimmysgirl424]

[hijack] I canceled my Netflix subscription because I think they thought I was watching and returning them too quickly. My service got extremely slow, so I was only receiving 2 or 3 movies a month even though I watched and returned them immediately. [end hijack]

There was a big thread on this very topic awhile back. I know there is actually a specific term for what they are doing, but it escapes me at the moment.

[greenbunny]

There was a big thread on this very topic awhile back. I know there is actually a specific term for what they are doing, but it escapes me at the moment.

Throttling.

[udsweetpea]

There was a big thread on this very topic awhile back. I know there is actually a specific term for what they are doing, but it escapes me at the moment.

Is Blockbuster doing this "throttling" as well?

[Niobe]

Is Blockbuster doing this "throttling" as well?

I've never experienced it. And Blockbuster also lets you take your online rentals to stores to trade for in-store rentals - and when they scan your online rental in, it triggers the next movie in your queue to be sent out. So you don't have to wait for them to receive your movie by mail, and you get a video from the store to watch while you wait for the next one. :)

[cosmic]

Yep, I tip my mailman. But only because he's awesome. He really does go above and beyond (wrapping our parcels when it rains, tucking things away when we're on vacation, bringing things to the door instead of smooshing them in the mailbox, etc.) We know him by name because I get and send a lot of packages out. We don't give a huge tip-- usually about 20 dollars. Some people also tip the trash guys, but I don't think they do such a great job...lol.