[tomwed]

I could name many lessons I learned.

But one lesson I learned is how other people live. I would collect on Friday night and Saturday morning. If it was cold out, people would invite me in. I could smell their houses and apartments. See if they were the neat and tidy type. Until I was a paperboy, I didn't think anyone put on their pajamas until it was time to go to bed. I also thought the first thing people did in the morning was get dressed. I was wrong about that too.

I never met any papergirls, so no offense meant.

ps I delivered the Jersey Journal.

[B767drvr]

When in doubt, wrap that rascal!



(i.e., put the paper in a plastic bag if rain threatens)

[Bruiser1]

As a .paperboy, it was an enriching opportunity.

It taught me responsibility ,dependability and persistence.

In addition to delivering the papers - you had to collect for them.

If someone didn't pay -that was your profit!

But sometimes there was an unexpected surprise. One lady that didn't always have the payment surprised me at Christmas with a box of Hershey's chocolate bars with payment! My first tip!

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

When in doubt, wrap that rascal!



(i.e., put the paper in a plastic bag if rain threatens)

I remember some of us using rubber bands to make throwing easier but I don't remember plastic bags. I think in the rain or if it looked like it might rain we had to put the paper behind the storm door or in the mailbox.

[rubicon]

It taught the value of money independence, the necessity for doing a good for my self pride. It taught me how to deal with different kinds of people. It showed me what my father taught me about life not being fair. I had my share of customers who flew the coop without notice leaving me with their bill. It taught me that I needed an education so that I could have some say in how I intended to live. My family struggled in those days and there were many a time when I handed over my collections to my mother so we could eat. I can still feel her embrace.

[DougB]

I learned not to throw the whole bag of papers you don't want to deliver into the canal because you have baseball practice and don't want to be late. They FLOAT !!!!!!

[Walter123]

Tips were a lot better when I got the paper close to the front door. I learned the importance of customer service. Something that seems to be forgotten for the most part these days.

[TheVillageChicken]

I learned that a small steady income from the local paper was a better deal than trying to sell Grit door-to-door.

[Indydealmaker]

I learned to hate 4:00 a.m.

[graciegirl]

I asked Sweetie and he said "Punctuality".

[MikeV]

I learned when you are selling papers on a NYC corner at night and a van pulls up and points a gun at you just give them the money and just keep selling papers.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

My father was a paperboy and he learned to be terrified with dogs. They would often chase him and he lived in fear of their barking and attacks. With a dog lover for a daughter who frequently had a pack of 5 or 6 enormous dogs in her house you can imagine it wasn't easy for him to put his lifelong fears aside and visit me. Ahh, the things we do because we love our children.

[billethkid]

I learned that people with dogs either did not really know their dogs:

After being bitten more times than I can count I always, ALWAYS heard one or the other of these comments from the owner:

>that's the first time he/she has ever done that or

>he/she has never bitten anybody before

99.999999% of the time.

[casita37]

Some of you former paperboys might enjoy reading South of Broad by Pat Conroy. A lot of things contributed to the main character's life, and being a paperboy was a big part of it.

[Buffalo Jim]

Too many lessons to mention but all were very good life lessons which I carried with me my entire life .
I lived in a very small town in a very remote area of Northern , NY along the Canadian Border . I delivered an afternoon paper which came out 6 days a week .
My " profit " was 10 cents per week per customer . I began at age 11 and kept the route until age 17 when I passed it on to my 11 year old brother who at 17 passed it on to our youngest brother who had just turned age 11 . All in the Route was in our family for nearly 20 years .
I learned salesmanship as I grew my customer base from 27 to 45 homes .
I learned " product line extension " by purchasing various products such as Flower and Vegetable seeds and other times through Boys Life Magazine and selling them to my customers .
I learned that other families had their issues as well . Meaning , illness , loss of employment and even death .
I learned that doing a good job led to there opportunities as several of my customers offered me jobs such as lawn-mowing , snow removal and errands . Eventually I was earning more money from the " chores " than I was from the paper route .
Also as I walked my route I learned to compose my school essays and book reports in my head such that when I finished and arrived home all I had to do was put pen to paper to complete those assignments .
Some how I managed to play sports , participate in other school and Church activities and manage my paper route responsibilities . Clearly invaluable life lessons .