Holiday tipping?

Question

Why should people who do not get tips be tipped during the Holiday? And if you do tip them should it not be for excellent service during the year? I have read on here about tipping the mail carrier but the service from my mail carrier is not very good border line terrible. Im not tipping the mail carrier!

Answer 1

You tip who you personally feel a connection with throughout the entire year. You should never feel obligated to tip anyone, just because it is the holiday season. You tip because you WANT to.



If your mail service isn't great-then don't tip! In fact, you should probably complain to the Post Master about the service.



Fortunately, my husband is a mail carrier and he's really good at what he does. He makes it his point to get to know his customers year round and small talk really does go a long way. Plus he has been on his route for some time now and he has gotten to know people. His customers like him, and sometimes give little gifts throughout the year. He usually receives nice tips at the holidays. But it is never expected at all.

Answer 2

Mail carriers have a much heavier load during the Christmas season (due to all Christmas cards and gifts being mailed) so I really understand a Christmas tip for them. We used to leave a box of chocolates or homemade cookies or fudge for our carrier (wrapped in a Christmas tin or something). Our current neighborhood has one of those centrally located mail things and I don't know how to leave anything for the carrier there. Even though I would like to. Setting it on the ground for any passerby to take (or for ants to get into) just seems like a poor idea.

As far as the newspaper, I don't know how to go about doing that. The "tip" card is delivered with the subscription bill in the summer and in the year and a half we have been here we have gone through 3 or 4 delivery people... each time we will not get the paper at all for several days... or our morning paper will not be delivered until 3:00 pm by a manager "covering" the route. I refuse to tip for irregular poor delivery service... and I also refuse to "tip" before I know if the service warrants it.

I have often wondered about how to tip the trash & recycle people. They come very early sometimes... and if I leave something "stuck" to the can or bin, will they notice it?? There are usually 2 guys per truck...I think,... does the "tip" need to be in denominations that they can easily divide it up? Will the guy up front know there is a tip if the guy in back doesn't mention it?? Do the SAME guys work together all the time?

As far as hair people and babysitters, if I happen to use one or have a hair appt in December, then I will tip an extra 5% for the hair (I usually tip 20% anyway) and give the sitter something extra also. One year we gave her gift coupons for the local movie theater ($20 worth). This year she is old enough that she has her own car, so we will probably give her an Extra $20 or so this week when she sits for us (her "usual" rate is around $20-$25). We put the Christmas tip inside a card and give it to her separately from her "pay".



That's about it for us. We used to also tip our pest control guy he came every 6 weeks or so... gave him some homemade fudge and cookies. He was a divorcee with a young son and I think he appreciated having homemade goodies.

Answer 3

Typically, tipping is used to "award" excellent service from someone in the service industry. And you actually CAN'T tip your mail carrier with money; US Federal Law says tipping any government employee is a form of bribery, but they are allowed to receive non-monetary gifts of $20 or less value. For example, in my house, we give our mail carrier a large box of See's or Godiva chocolates and a Thank You card, since we cannot give him money. He's been our mail carrier for years and has always done a great job. Our garbage collectors also gets the same thing. I feel that, as someone who performs a public service, they're often underappreciated. Quite frankly, without people like mail carriers and garbage collectors, our lives would suck (can you imagine having your garbage littering the streets because there is no one to pick it up?).



Overall, you should only tip or give a small holiday gift if you feel the person deserves it. If your mail carrier always ruins your mail or is very unreliable with its delivery, or your garbage collector leaves a huge mess everywhere or doesn't always pick up on time, then a tip shouldn't be given.

Answer 4

I AM a letter carrier of 7yrs.. I appreciate the 10-20 most of my customers leave me during the holiday season. I GREATLY appreciate the occasionally 50 or 100 some leave. Sorting and Delivering mail is a much more mentally and psychically taxing job than most people think. Postal carriers must first sort the mail, most routes serve about 500 homes. Imagine what the magazines, letters, and packages for 500 homes during the holidays looks like and weighs. Daily mail delivered to your home is a service you think little about, until you get the wrong mail, or mis-delivered mail.

Answer 5

It is not a tip. It is known as a gift.







I give a gift to my mailperson, ups guy, garbage men, and landscaping crew (I own a condo), and this year I'll add the new (3 hours one day a week) house keeper my wife hired. It is not a requirement nor an expectation, it is done because I have Christmas cheer and want them to know that I appreciate thier effort.



Yes it is their job and they recieve their paycheck in exchange for their effort, but nontheless I appreciate them and CHOSE to recognize them during the Christmas season.



For those who either feel this is unnecessary or just can't afford it, that is a perfectly legitimate decision on their part. If you feel the service is poor by all means don't give a gift. Whenever a gift is given because someone feels obligated but, really didn't want to,... it totally defeats the spirit of gift giving.



However, if you can afford it, I highly reccomend it, cause it makes me feel good and it makes them feel appreciated and it is a win-win situation. Often customers who do give a gift, start to or continue to recieve good/better service (though this is never my intention or motivation it is a beneficial side effect).



I give out Mcdonald's or Starbuck's gift cards, or ocassionally good old cash , in a Christmas card that reminds folks that Jesus is the whole point of this holiday, and that they have my respect and gratitude for their service.



As I am not all that well off and have a very large extended family to buy for, I give these folks mentioned $10 for Christmas. They always seem quite thankful for the thought. All I can say is that a little gratitude goes a long way and Cristmas is a great time to express it with a small gift that says I appreciate you.



But that's just my opinion.

Answer 6

Remember to tip your newspaper carrier, if they do a good job, especially if they dont just throw the paper on your front porch. I delivered newspapers from 7-12 grade and you would be surprised how picky some people are with the placement of their paper. I was up at 5:30 every morning (earlier if it was bad weather) and with the help of a parent delivered about 150 newspapers. When I first started I only earned 10 cents a paper, I think it ended up at 12.5 cents this summer. Basically, the tips during the holidays is what made it worth doing. Walking around town for 90 minutes at negative degree weather, 10 cents was not enough!!

Answer 7

During the holidays I tip better for services I get. If I don't have a hair appointment, I don't go out of my way to drop off a cash gift. I do leave a cash tip for the garbage man, because he's here on a regular basis. I give him enough to buy lunch. As for the UPS or Fed Ex guys, I don't have a regular driver, but if I'm expecting something, I will leave out a basket of baked goods. We have a PO Box, but I know there are rules about how big of a tip Postal Employees can accept, so if I did have a carrier, I'd leave a basket of baked goods.



You should definately tip your daycare provider or regular babysitter! A gift is nice, but cash is very appreciated.

Answer 8

Mail carriers really appreciate being tipped at Christmas. Between $5.00 - $25.00. The job is very difficult. We are constantly dodging toys and hoses and newspapers that are left under the snow and when you fall with 20lbs of mail in your arms it hurts! We deliver 6 days a week. Whether the temperature is 0 or 100. If you receive wet mail it is because it is a down pour or we fell in your yard or on your icy steps or driveway. In the summer when it is 85 it feels like 100 to us. We are beat at the end of the day. Please do not chain your dog up in the front yard or to the mail box. Carriers do go way out of their way for you whether you know it or not. Delivering illegible mail, working around buckled sidewalks and tree roots. One day in our shoes would really make you realize how hard this job is. Now do it every day for 30 years. Show your appreciation and we will show it back 10 fold.

Answer 9

Tip only those you feel you should. We give our mail carrier a gift/tip but he's been delivering to my parents house since I was so 20 years of service deserves a little something. Am I going to yip my hair dresser no I see him at most 2 times a year and it costs me $75 each time. But the lady who does my grandmas hair every 4 weeks will get double her normal tip. Just think if you did the service for someone else wouldn't you feel special to get a little something at Christmas.

Answer 10

maybe your mail carrier is terrible bc he's not getting a tip! my father in law is a mail carrier and he sort of relys on his holiday tips.. most of them are anywehre from $50 up to $300.

also, my bf picks up garbage. he says the people who leave tips around the holidays or bottles of water/soda throughout the year get treated better than those who don't leave anything.. the garbage men will take almost anything they leave out there if the homeowner treats them good.

Answer 11

I think u should tip people whom help u. If you aren't cooking and go out to eat u should tip. If your going to the Dunkin donuts down the street cause u don't want to brew some coffee they should be tipped. If your going out to have fun with your friends on the weekend, remember the bartender is helping you out with your amount of fun so help him out too. I would never think to tip my mail man. But if i am getting something delivered whether it is food or a package i give them a tip to. I will always give someone that delivers my furniture at least a hundred dollars cause they will set it up and they do all the labor work. Just don't be cheap remember they're all working whether there making good money or not there working if u appreciate them show them.it wont hurt u.

Answer 12

I wouldnt tip anyone such as the mail carrier who already recieves an exuberant paycheck, and is free of meaningful reprimand when they deliver your mail to the wrong address. it takes a lot of complaints to get a mailman fired from his position, and a letter here and there misplaced every so often is simply viewed as a natural thing that just seems to occur due to the overwhelming volume of mail. nice.



i seldom tip at all, unless i feel that the person has truly provided me with undivided dedicated service that merits high caliber.



for the most part, upper middle-class restaurants such as Chili's, Applebee's, Red Lobster, etc., these restuarants bring in such a considerable profit margin that if the restaurant chain wasnt so greedy with their profits and corporate insistance that a Chili's needs to be within every 5 square miles of every major metropolitan area,.then they would naturally consider raising the base salary of the waiter (or waitress) to a level that they can live comfortably off of, instead of burdening the customer into compensating the margin of the low wages,.in addition to the already overpriced menu items.



anyways,.thats my two cents on it all.

Answer 13

In my career field, where I deal with customers on a daily basis, I do not recieve regular tips, however, there is that few people who do see the excellence in my work, and throw out a pretty decent tip. I am in the construction industry, and deal more with customers in my field, than most other fields. I believe that tipping should be reserved for a job well done, and not for the certain time of year. Asmuch as tips help out for someone like myself, a single father of three children,, I do not see any reason for extra tipping during the holidays.

Answer 14

Ugh, I detest this question. Honestly, I tip the wait staff all year because they get paid horribly and they deserve it.



My mailman, who trails my mail up an down the street, has a pension and a good job. A better job than mine. Why would I tip him for doing his job and doing it poorly? Even if he was a great mailman, I would not tip him. This is his job. He gets paid more than me.



The garbage men? I have never met them, I don't know them. I can barely afford to pay my bills and buy a few very small presents for my neices and nephews. Once again, he is doing his job and being paid for it.



And the person who said to tip 10 to 20 dollars? That seems excessive. Do you know how much money that is? Twenty dollars is just under half my grocery budget for the month. That seems excessive.



People seem to except people to pay them to do the job well that they already get paid to do.



Hairdressing is more of an artform, I do understand tipping them. Wait Staff depends on tip to eat so, of course, we should tip. Actually, I think we should pay them more instead.



But I really can understand the concept of being tipped to do my job or tipping others to do theirs. Money is tight. All I can give them, if I ever see them, is a cheery Happy Holidays and I do hope they have one.

Answer 15

I don't tip the mail person -- I've never even seen him/her nor do I even know if it's the same person. As for other services, like my hairdresser, I may give her a higher tip amount for December, but I don't give her the amount that's worth one appointment (which is what I read on another post about this subject). She makes more per hour than I do and I've referred other people to her, so why is it not her obligation to do something for me as well? We're all in the service business in one form or another, whether we earn regular paychecks, tips or commissions. My company and my clients aren't obligated to offer me a bonus for doing my job, so I don't think it should be the same thing when it comes things that we get personally. Any extra tips or gifts should be a choice, just as if you were deciding to give something to your friends, neighbors or co-workers.

Answer 16

I don't understand the whole holiday tipping idea. Who really has the extra money to tip all of these people anyway? I have a hard enough time staying within my budget to purchase gifts for my family and pay my heating bill. Why should I tip the mailman or garbage collector? Is it right to consider me rude for those thoughts? Where did the idea of holiday tipping come from anyway???

Answer 17

I just heard about tipping the mailman a few years ago. I was told that you should never leave money --- someone told me they "aren't supposed to accept cash gifts" --- so I used to leave my mailman (who, by the way was a nice guy, and good at his job) a homemade treat and card. He would reciprocate with a card. Now the mailman we have now.............well.....he does his job, but is not very friendly. Just the same, I will leave him a little something, just because it's Christmas. Generally, I would say that someone you don't see more than 3 times a year - you could skip the tip. Otherwise, a little something would be a nice gesture.

Answer 18

I worked for many years as an attorney for the Postal Service, and can assure you that the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2635) do NOT permit federal employees - including postal employees at all levels - to accept CASH in any amount, or any other "gift" with a market value of more than $20. However, my office waged a mostly-losing campaign for years at getting the media (and our own employees) to recognize these gift prohibitions. The reason for the prohibition against gift-giving of anything with a value of over $20 is that government employees are already paid to do their jobs -- in the case of letter carriers, that is to provide excellent service in delivering the mail.



If you are pleased with your carrier's service, feel free to leave a holiday tin of cookies, or a gift card with a value of $20 or less, or an ornament, or anything else (except for alcohol - never permitted) valued at $20 or less. Better yet, send a letter to your postmaster (the address is Postmaster, your city's name, your 5-digit ZIP code with the 4-digit add-on of 9998), and let the postmaster know how much you appreciate your carrier's service. Yes, you need a stamp, even to send a letter to the postmaster :)



By the way, carriers who are caught accepting monetary gifts from customers can be disciplined for violating the Standards of Conduct , and/or charged with illegally supplementing their federal salary. So, you are NOT doing your carrier any favors by leaving money (cash, check, gift cheque) for him or her. Any carrier (or any OTHER postal employee) who solicits customers or vendors for money, at the holidays or at ANY time, especially if the solicitation implies that you will receive better service or special treatment if you provide money, is going WAY over the line.



Postal carriers are the only federal employees who have daily contact with almost every American. They definitely deserve to be recognized for the service they provide, especially if it is consistently excellent. But do them a favor and make sure that if you are compelled to give them gifts, the gifts won't get them in trouble. You can call the USPS Ethics Helpline at 202-268-6346 if you have more questions.



Happy Holidays, and thanks to letter carriers everywhere for all they do year-round to deliver for you!!

Answer 19

Hopefully this has been said,

Instead of tipping the people who are doing considerably well (i.e postal workers, personal trainers, kids working at starbucks, hair stylists etc.)

Save 50$ and put together a care package for the not so fortunate (i.e children without parents, military members who're risking their lives and sacrificing their freedom to protect ours, maybe a terminally ill patient) I think this would be the most richeous thing you could possibly do during the holidays.

- USN Seabee SR Russell

Answer 20

Like you, I do not ever see my mail person. I do see my "coffe guy" almost daily and last year I bought him two large gift wrapped steaks from a local butcher shop as a Christmas gift.



He was surprised and very appreciative.

Answer 21

you tip those that gave you exemplary service all year.... like the paper boy, i will give him a $20 tip...... the mail guy gets nada... he always drops my mail in the puddle. the guy that pumps my gas, a $10 spot....the car wash guy, a $10 spot.....

Answer 22

well im a garbage man and just to let you know we take much better care of the ones who tip well take their can back or make sure its standing up or if you forget to put it out well probably make sure we get it . to all who tip the trash man thank you .

Answer 23

To show appreciation... to get better service... to acknowledge that they are personally serving you.



Obviously... if you don't want to tip, then don't tip!

Answer 24

Hahahahhahaaaaa, Thanks for posting this record, simply acquired in from paintings, and my custard tart's long gone, so has my chocolate ice cream and me bar of entire nut chocolate, the grasping wench of mine has ate the lot after studying this. You owe me now mums!!!!!!!