Holiday tipping

[Paul_Heery]

I just ran outside and greased the palms of the guys that collect our trash every week. They seemed surprised by the gesture. But, they were very grateful.

Should I also tip our postal carrier? Are they allowed to accept tips?

[bivenator]

Just discussed this with a coworker, we both agreed on tipping the trash collectors but not the post office. The trash guys take our refuse and the post office brings it. I thought of leaving a six pack with a note attached for the trash dudes.

[schamp]

Here in my area, convicts collect the trash and I bet aren't allowed to accept money. I do know they are not allowed to talk to anyone outside of the prison. I just gave my mailman a card with a twenty inside. He never complains about driving down my 1 mile driveway to drop off a package that won't fit in the mailbox.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by schamp

convicts collect the trash and I bet aren't allowed to accept money.

I think it's called protection money. I'd pay them.

[dafischer]

We just tipped the trash guys and our postal carrier yesterday. A case of Bud longnecks to the trash guys (for taking all our crap), and my wife's homemade salsa and pepper relish for our carrier. She takes good care of us (we have a lot of at the door pickups during tax season), and is a cool person as well.

[audiman08]

I'm not sure if you should tip federal employees, tipping to get better mail service seems a little odd to me...aren't our tax dollars for that? I guess I'm stingy. I'd like to tip the TSA to get through security faster though.

[dan88911]

Tipping is for delivering extraordinary service. Not for delivering the service they are paid to deliver.

[Oh Haha]

We gave our mail carrier a box of sweets. (She makes sure my Panorama and Excellence arrive safely.)

Most folks appreciate a thoughful gesture.

[schamp]

I think mailmen can accept up to 20.00.

[dafischer]

Originally Posted by audiman08

tipping to get better mail service seems a little odd to me

No, she gives us great service all year, the goodies are just a lttle "thank you" to acknowledge that.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by dan88911

Tipping is for delivering extraordinary service. Not for delivering the service they are paid to deliver.

+1,000

The only exception to this rule that I make is restaurants. I've worked in several when I was younger. It's a *****ty way to live. The jobs suck, the hours suck, the people suck and the managers suck. Your salary IS your tips - for putting up with all that suckage, so I'm not entirely heartless. I start with 15% as a baseline - for great service I've tipped 20%, 25% and even more. For really terrible service, I've been known to leave a dime or two (just so they know it was deliberate). But generally speaking, I agree with the above - tips are a reward for extraordinary service, not expected service.

[widgeon13]

We always give the postal service employees a Christmas present.