Tip the mailman ?

[yorktown]

I was reading a "tipping" thread on another forum.

Some people say they give the mailman a tip at CHRISTMAS time.

Some said at CHRISTMAS time they give the garbage collector a tip, babysitter, butcher, etc...

Does anyone else do this ?

 

[StevenD]

Mailman - No, I have 2-3 different mailpeople every week. By law, they cannot accept a gift over $20.
Housekeeper - Yes, one weeks pay
Dog Groomer - Yes, cost of an average session
Trash - No, Ive never even seen them
UPS / Fedex - Yes, we have a lot of deliveries and pickups and its almost always the same drivers. $25 gift card to each (Not allowed to accept cash.)
Landscaper - Yes, had the same one for years, I never have to ask him to do anything, he just take care of it. $50

 

[Rey]

the most i've done is tip the garbage collectors. when i've seen the mail man i always give them something to drink since its usually so hot out.

 

[Mr Tony]

I tip the mailman. We have the same one except for Saturdays and he doesnt get anything because he cant figure out that 1280 & 1282 are two different numbers so he mixes mine and my neighbors mail in the same mailbox.

The weekday mailman gets a cold one in the summer and days like today when it was -10 out it was a thing of hot chocolate Most of his route is in the truck but he's still bundled up because that window is open most of the time

 

[Van]

Mailman generally gets a card, garbage men a card and a hot drink and a thank you ( keeps us from finding any can drops on the ground and extra stuff picked up ), fedex/ups card because my wife tends to order allot and they know us by face and name.

 

[Van]

Forgot to add the daughters bus driver got a gift bag as did her four teachers ( yes four teachers for a kindergarden class ).

 

[SamCdbs]

Mailman - Highly unionized government job with good pay, gov benefits, retirement, etc. No tip.

Paperboy - Poor adult person treated as an "independent contractor" by the newspaper corportaion meaning they have to pay their own expenses, and get no benefits at all (contrast how newspapers treat these de facto employees with their proclaimed opinions on current issues). $25.

 

[starman345]

We tip the paperboy, he's a good kid, always on time and smiling..I figure that needs to be rewarded.

 

[navychop]

That, and you're one of a declining number of people that still actually get a newspaper.

 

[yorktown]

I only get the SUNDAY newspaper.

 

[navychop]

With the Washington Post, you buy the Sunday edition and get the rest of the week free. We're REALLY close to dropping the subscription.

Anyway, the thread title just makes me think of cow tipping......

 

[digiblur]

I never see these guys to tip them in the first place, nor do I ever carry cash. I'd have to chase the garbage guy down the road. He pulls up, arm grabs the can, and put its back down...he hardly stops rolling sometimes. I never see the mailman since he/she comes when I'm at work. UPS/Fedex come at night sometimes, but they are usually back in the truck heading down the road before I make it to the door.

 

[bhelms]

I left $10 in an envelope in my mailbox this year with a brief msg. written on it as a tip. I have no clue who actually got it, however. I have tipped the mail(wo)man a couple of times at the holidays, but I really don't know why anymore. I frequently have to do his/her sorting. About once a week I have to return an item to the box that was misdirected. I have rural delivery. Our mailman is a private contractor, driving his/her own vehicle. I don't know how they're paid but certainly not as union employees with benefits. So I guess I still feel they are "tip eligible", even if perhaps a bit less "tip worthy".

I don't tip other "utility" persons. The garbage co. driver is also the company owner and gets quite a lot from me already in return for the little bit I have hauled away.

Don't even get me started about the UPS/FedEX drivers! UPS recently left a package with a very expensive item it in dangling from my mailbox in plain site in spite of the "Hold for Pick-up" order I had placed at the main dispatch terminal. And just last week the FedEX guy got his 1-wheel drive van stuck in my driveway in snow and ice. I don't completely blame him, but it took ME almost 2 hours and a bunch of wear-and-tear on my 4WD truck - not to mention 2 close to tragic falls - to get him unstuck and the lazy SOB never ONCE got out of his van to help...! (He'd still be stuck there today as far as I'm concerned given his complete lack of effort except he was completely blocking my right of way...!)

 

[bhelms]

...Anyway, the thread title just makes me think of cow tipping......

I never thought about tipping a cow, but maybe if the milk was always the very best chocolate and delivered on demand I might reconsider...

 

[yorktown]

And just last week the FedEX guy got his 1-wheel drive van stuck in my driveway in snow and ice. I don't completely blame him, but it took ME almost 2 hours and a bunch of wear-and-tear on my 4WD truck - not to mention 2 close to tragic falls - to get him unstuck and the lazy SOB never ONCE got out of his van to help...! (He'd still be stuck there today as far as I'm concerned given his complete lack of effort except he was completely blocking my right of way...!)

If he didn't get out of the van to help I'd have gone back inside the house within the first 5 minutes and let him get his own damn help. He's have had to call a towtruck, or dug himself out or something like that.

 

[EdZackery]

I don't tip the trash or mail carrier because I can't tell them apart! Trash carrier says he raises rate cause of weight, and mail carrier keeps adding more weight in the mailbox.

 

[yorktown]

I tried to tip the mail(wo)man once and she slapped on the face and said - I don't do THAT anymore !!

 

[Bobby]

Yeah, OK...........

 

[bhelms]

If he didn't get out of the van to help I'd have gone back inside the house within the first 5 minutes and let him get his own damn help. He's have had to call a towtruck, or dug himself out or something like that.

It was a judgment call on my part. I had to get to work sometime that day and he was blocking my egress. And I had witnessed his best attempt to that point - he had almost completely worn down the left rear tire spinning on the ice. I wonder who gets to pay for that ?!? (Answer: we customers!)

I didn't want to take the chance he'd be stuck for hours, which per personal experience was highly likely. Live and learn...!

 

[yorktown]

he had almost completely worn down the left rear tire spinning on the ice. I wonder who gets to pay for that ?!? (Answer: we customers!)

How do "we customers!" pay for a new tire for a FEDEX van?