Someone you should always remember to tip this time of year. He knows as much about you and what you do, as your clergy and your family members. :>)
I hate to be a wet blanket, but they're not supposed to accept tips, and can get in hot water for doing so: "All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period." If you give a gift card, make sure it can't be exchanged for cash. Also, your regular carrier may be using their seniority to take time off before Christmas.
This is an interesting category to tip. I actually never heard anyone offer tips to mail carriers, but I can respect that, but I don't expect they could accept a tip for the reason messydesk cited.
I would...if I lived Stateside. You know even a simple card could really go a long way to let someone know you appreciate what they're doing.
I have a great carrier. I give her a 1 lb. box of Fannie May Mint Melt a ways for Christmas. If you've never had them, you're missing out...IMO.
You are correct but at this time of year it is accept as okay for customers to show their gratitude regardless of the policy.
At least in my area they happily accept boxes of my favourite candy as a TIP - to insure proper service. I like my post office.
Seems like everybody gets a bonus or a tip for Christmas except for me. lol I have heard of mail carriers getting tips. Even some large ones depending on how much extra effort they put in for people on the route. It's a nice gesture but I've never done it. I won't be getting a tip or a bonus for doing my job all year.
...guess you folks don't have a lot of these in the US? Canada Post was installing to try to end door-to-door delivery (hence why UPS, Fedex, Purolator, DHL are really popular). Packages will only be delivered door-to-door in these locations when the package is too big or requires signature
I'm not implying anything at you Vess1, but I have seen some government employees where the work effort put forth, would definitely make their paycheck qualify as a bonus every month.
These are in fact used in the US and have been around for perhaps 15-20 years or so? Most New Housing developments have these. Rural areas have had them for a very long time. BUT, we still know the carrier (Tina) AND we know when she tales her days off since on those days, the mail is usually screwed up. As for tipping your carrier? That's a personal choice but folks need to remember that there are soooo many more folks that actually insure that your mail gets sorted and delivered who do not participate in the actual delivery. Should they be left out?
Tips need to go....period....the U.S. is the only country to do this and it goes back to the prohibition. If tips are based on service then my mail carrier gets squat....they are terrible in my neighborhood with lost/misdelivered packages, riding up on my lawn, etc. I can be home waiting for a package and they don't even know or ring the doorbell, they will leave an orange card and not deliver the package.
Our mail carrier, whom we know by name, is friendly, diligent, and has made numerous trips to our door, and, unlike UPS and FedEx, won't just leave it at the door where it can be taken by someone trolling the neighborhood. We tip him by sending a check to him at his home. Against policy, sure. But our checks, not more than $20, have always been cashed . Steve
