[JoMar]

Originally Posted by D&Lsunfun

It's their job. If the pay is too low, get another job or add another job.
Our postal person (contractor)
gives cards out wishing a merry Christmas (and reaching out for a tip).
Actually, the don't drive from house to house, the weather conditions are favorable.
They provide a service and receive payment for it.
Does anyone tip the starters at the courses for saying, pull up to the white line.
Or the ambassadors for offering water and sand. What about the meter readers that need to walk up to each house.
Do your own thing!

Now seriously, the starter and ambassadors do their jobs because they want to, gives them play money, great discounts on golf and pro shop stuff. Their families aren't dependent on the income. Some even do it because they have difficulty adjusting to retirement.

Meter readers do not provide a service.

I do agree with do your own thing but hold out hope that the "thing" for most is to reach out to those that provide service to us and, in the spirit of the Holidays, give a hand up. If we live here, we can afford a few bucks.

MO

[outlaw]

I hope all you judgmental givers are also just as generous with the store clerks, the fast food people and the "free" band members that are also toiling to make ends meet. And don't forget the people that plant all the beautiful flowers each quarter, risking their life along the streets. You tippers should really be ashamed of yourselves for not being more inclusive with your giving. In fact, you're acting elitist and superior thinking that these people need your help to live their life. And QUIT bragging about what and to who you give. It's rude.

[D&Lsunfun]

Tipping is a offering for a service provided. We have tipped the: painters, landscapers, delivering men, cable person for extra service. But these people provided a service and didn't send out a card, not only to wish the resident a merry Christmas but to provide their
address for a return card or gift. I am a gift giver, but prefer not to be intimated about giving. As for the wages, if postal station is such a low paying job, then find another job.
The newspaper delivery people deserve a tip for driving to each house 7 days a week in the wee hours of the morning, every day. No holidays off. They pay to operate their vehicles: fuel, tires and repairs. Their wages are pennies for each paper delivered.
Someone sliding mail in a slot in a controlled temperature room is in a different category.

[alanmcdonald]

Our mail person did an outstanding job this year holding and forwarding mail as we were transitioning from our old home to TV and were receiving mail at both locations.

She deserved a Christmas tip and got one.

[Bobstr]

If you might have failed to noticed, my contract mail carrier when they left their address card it also included a postal card stamp rate on it meaning they made an investment in sending you that information for a tip. Its illegal to have anything left in your box postage free.

[villagetinker]

Our postal person mailed a card, yes it had a stamp, and she has personally delivered packages to our house on several occasions, saving us a trip to the "post office", and yes she is getting a tip. She has always been very pleasant, and has provided assistance for a lost package, and IMHO has gone out of her way to make sure medications got to us in a timely manner.

[RickeyD]

To tip, or not to tip, that is the
question. Whether it's nobler or not I don't care.
If it feels good, do it. If not, then don't.

[goodtimesintv]

1. Nobody has even confirmed that the subcontractors are paid just "minimum wage".

2. Nobody has confirmed that an employee of a subcontractor just might be earning much less than the subcontractor (contract holder), because that employee is not paying for in his own:
- background checking,
- fingerprinting,
- bonding insurance,
- all other business insurance,
- vehicle, gas, tires, repairs,
- lawyer services for contract and other government red tape involved,
- workers' compensation premiums
- payroll check services and tax withholding and payment to state and federal revenue depts; and
- required medical insurance if the person works more than 30 hours per week.

3. Does anybody know what business "overhead costs" are, and how this affects what an employer can pay a non-skilled person to do a relatively simple job not in the sun, while still having enough to pay the bills and have some take-home pay???

4. If their pay is indeed minimum wage, I suggest they clean houses for the going rate of $20 per hour, on their own schedule. Most of us have our houses pretty clean on a daily basis and they don't have to deal with filth or hoarders if they choose not to.

5. I don't think anybody should be leaving a card "hinting" at a tip except the newspaper delivery people.

6. Are we supposed to tip the mechanics at the local mom and pop car mechanic shop when they put on our new tires that cost $700, or when they change our oil, because mom & pop have to pay less than a big dealership?

I'm sick of sanctimonious people judging others for not tipping everybody. I tip heavily as a former server and I'm going to tip my mail people.

Nobody here is qualified to judge the rest of us.

[Jima64]

Just love the tip mentality of reward for basically doing the job that is required for the pay. tip jars on store counters are the worst.

[Retiring]

“ 1 'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.
2 So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward.
3 But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing;
4 your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. “

Matthew 6:1-4

[spring_chicken]

Originally Posted by outlaw

I hope all you judgmental givers are also just as generous with the store clerks, the fast food people and the "free" band members that are also toiling to make ends meet. And don't forget the people that plant all the beautiful flowers each quarter, risking their life along the streets. You tippers should really be ashamed of yourselves for not being more inclusive with your giving. In fact, you're acting elitist and superior thinking that these people need your help to live their life. And QUIT bragging about what and to who you give. It's rude.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by Retiring

� 1 'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.
2 So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward.
3 But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing;
4 your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. �

Matthew 6:1-4

Thanks be to God.

[BogeyBoy]

Direct from the US Postal Service Website: (Emphasis added)

Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Exec*utive 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.

Obviously this policy is broken all the time.

Not all employees in our area are contract employees. Hopefully those who are did their due diligence before bidding. I would guess their contract has a clause very similar to the policy above - and in general terms I think the above policy applies.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by BogeyBoy

Direct from the US Postal Service Website: (Emphasis added)

Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Exec*utive 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.

Obviously this policy is broken all the time.

Not all employees in our area are contract employees. Hopefully those who are did their due diligence before bidding. I would guess their contract has a clause very similar to the policy above - and in general terms I think the above policy applies.

Excellent advice. We are all grown up. None of us need guidelines for our gifts. Well some MAY need them, but it isn't our place to give them. And who is anyone to say who needs what.


We have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much time on our hands.


Remember those pesky Pharisees.


And the elves too. They are watching.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by KittyKat

I agree, D&Lsunfun. I found it very pushy the first time I received this 'xmas card/hey, give me a tip.' I don't even know the person. At least up North you knew who your mail carrier was. And yes, I am a very good tipper with waitresses, my hair stylist, etc.

I know the guy who sorts my mail, know his name and he knows mine.
If you don't even know his name.........................that's your fault!