Originally Posted By LuLu My mail carrier left, in the mailbox, a scrap of paper printed on the home computer with a mini candy cane attached. It would've been kinda cute if it didn't seem like a reminder to give a gift or tip. Sadly, the neighbors here seem to agree that we have the worst postal service ever in this neighborhood, and I have no intention of gifting this carrier. I just wondered if others had experienced this type of holiday greeting or what you think of it. I've gotten similar from the paper deliverer, but it was printed by the LA Times and seemed more "official." (Plus, the paper carrier actually does a good job, and I have tipped in the past.) I wonder what the PO thinks of this, too!
Originally Posted By tink2680 My Postal Carrier doesn't even have to come to my door. He just has to fill the mailbox house and he always puts the mail in the wrong boxes, we always have to swap mail. When I was a kid the carrier walked to the front door of every house to deliver the mail, through snow and rain everyday. I would tip/gift that guy, that's actual work.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I've never had that happen before. I wouldn't be too thrilled. We've been really lucky with our postal carriers. My favorite one used to write a long thank you note in a card to thank us for the edible gift. Very sweet. He was funny too. I see him sometimes delivering mail on other streets near-by. Right now we've got a really nice lady delivering our mail. She and I joke around about how crazy my dog goes when she drives by the house.
Originally Posted By bloona my mail carrier (postman) is a flirt on legs...lol...loved my croaky voice, said he was disappointed when it went back to normal after almost 6 weeks. He wont be getting a gift....lol.
Originally Posted By bloona my mail carrier (postman) is a flirt on legs...lol...loved my croaky voice, said he was disappointed when it went back to normal after almost 6 weeks. He wont be getting a gift....lol.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 We tip our mail carrier, we've had the same man for 12 years. He gets tamales. He was very sweet and left a sympathy card when he figured out Simba and my Grandma had passed.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Hmm, that would make me think twice, too. We have a woman who is SO accommodating. We live out on a rural route and she bends over backwards to do what she can to help out. So, we always tip her.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Our mail carrier is a mess. We have been here for a year and a half and still get regular mail for past residents. We have asked repeatedly for specific names to NOT be delivered. One day, he delivered every house on the block one number off. (So all the neighbors had to go next door to get their mail!) He also doesn't ever push the mail all the way through the slot, even when it is raining. Tip? What do you think? (Oh, we did get a very pointed holiday notice from the Sparkletts delivery man.)
Originally Posted By LuLu Ok, my mail carrier musta trained with tink's and Dug's! I get mail for residents who haven't lived here for over 9 years, and I'm not sure how long before that they passed away! LOL! But the worst is getting mail for 1333 Calle "something else" that may or may not be nearby. I had been putting this mail back in the box with a large note "Delivered to Wrong Address." After living here 3 years and never getting any mail redelivered to *me* with such notes on them, I try to redeliver this stuff myself.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Our (now retired) letter carrier never would accept a tip. He said that because we saved our newspapers for him he was already grateful. (He recycles them for the grandkid's college fund) He was awesome!
Originally Posted By onlyme I give our mailman-a different one everyday-a tip each and every day that I don't call and complain when the mail gets here at 9:00 pm. I think that's sufficient.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy My instinct is to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and think maybe he was just doing it to be nice. Then again, I'm getting ready to anonymously leave Christmas music CDs in some people's mailboxes, so I like to think recipients of such gifts will enjoy that, lol (I won't leave info for tips though ;-) ).
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I remember reading about a big hullabaloo a few years ago about a US Mail carrier somewhere who people petitioned against because he left holiday greeting cards in each mailbox on his route. The thing was that he didn't apply any postage and apparently the recipients felt he was basically stealing from his employer by delivering the parcel for free. I remember thinking to myself, "gee someone tried to do something nice and people get their feathers ruffled." If my carrier left me a note and a candy cane in my mail would not complain. I dont think I'd tip them money though, maybe a holiday treat of some sort. I actually like my regular carrier, we're new to this address and she was the first mail carrier who ever introduced themselves to me, she explained how she'll leave mail that doesn't fit in slot, where to leave outgoing, and she welcomed me to the neighborhood. Both at this house and our previous home, we rarely see the same carrier everyday. For that reason, I dont feel like I should tip all 5 or 6 carriers. besides like others have said, we get lots and lots and lots of mail to the previous residents here even though we've brought it to their attention. It's actually scary, I know for a fact that the previous owners forwarded their new address, I called our realtor about this very problem and the sellers came here to pick up boxes of mail, we were both shocked at how much slipped past the post office. The scary part is that many of them were checks and some sensitive financial statements that identity thieves would probably have a field day with if it got in their hands.
Originally Posted By Kira my dad is a postal carrier and every year he recieves tips from most of his customers on his route. he has a 9 mile walking route each day in a retirement community and can name all of his customers and tries to get to know them personally and always wishes them a good day when he see's them. for a few years those tips helped my dad be able to provide for us at christmas when the going got rough =) the candy cane was probably just a nice gesture, as I know that this is something my dad would do for his customers out of the kindness of his heart. but then again not everyone is like that. If you feel you don't want to tip in monetary value but would like to leave something I'm sure candies or some home made baked cookies (which are usually made by EVERYONE in abundance at this time of year) would go just as appreciated =) remember everyone is human (even those crazy postal workers) and the smallest of gestures is always appreciated!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Over the holidays, I like to tip my paper guy [even though I've never even seen him], and also the UPS guy who is a really cool dude. The paper deliverer got a $20.00 bill inside a card from us [I figure a paper route must be brutal] and I'm going to give the UPS guy some of my homemade Chocolate Chip cookies next time we see him. I don't really know the postman -- I've seen him occasionally -- but he does an okay job -- if he left a candy cane and an address, I'd send him a tip for the holidays. I don't consider myself to be a bleeding hart, but I am grateful that I don't have that kind of a job.
Originally Posted By avromark in the US in new subdivisions do they still deliver to the door, or just in older subdivisions? My parents have had the same mail lady since they've moved to their current home. My "Superbox" is located to the side of my home (I'm pretty much corner property), I have had neighbours mail put in my box. I can't say I've met my UPS or FedEx men yet, they leave my parcels at my side gate as per instructions.
Originally Posted By tink2680 >>in the US in new subdivisions do they still deliver to the door, or just in older subdivisions?<< I live in a new subdivision and we have a mailbox house, so the door to door is out now. I can't say they do this in all new subdivisions but all the ones I have been too do it. You have to move to the much older neighborhoods to get that kind of good delivery service.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I wasn't aware of the mailbox house until we moved into an actual house. Growing up in SoCal, we always had our own mailbox. However, I've always been a apt dweller -- until last year. It's much more common than I thought. And you still get sub-par service -- go figure!
