[cordenny]

I was curious to see how many people give to the mail carrier. Do you give money or a small gift?

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by cordenny

I was curious to see how many people give to the mail carrier. Do you give money or a small gift?

Money. The last thing the mail carrier needs is 300 or 400 little gifts.

[N44125]

$$$$

[jibuck]

USPS mail carriers are federal employees and as a result are prohibited from accepting any cash or cash equivalent items such as a gift card from any customer. Homemade treats, however, would be an acceptable gift.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jibuck

USPS mail carriers are federal employees and as a result are prohibited from accepting any cash or cash equivalent items such as a gift card from any customer. Homemade treats, however, would be an acceptable gift.

True, but most of our mail carriers are not direct USPS employees, they are contract agents. I wonder if the rules are different????

[mokey]

I have some trouble with it as they are in that nice cooled and heated building slipping your mail in a slot. On the other hand the trash men are out in rain, heat and cold and no one gives them a thought.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

True, but most of our mail carriers are not direct USPS employees, they are contract agents. I wonder if the rules are different????

from the USPS website:

Contract Delivery Service is one of the three delivery types. Mail delivery service is provided by either city carriers, rural carriers, or contract carriers. Contract Delivery Service carriers are not USPS employees but are independent contractors who provide service on specific routes.
The service provided by Contract Delivery Service is equal to that provided by either one of the other delivery types. Contract suppliers not only deliver all classes and types of mail to their customers’ mailboxes six days per week, but they can also sell stamps and accept Special Services Mail such as Certified Mail, Registered Mail, and Insured Mail, and sell Postal Money Orders. Customers can also take advantage of Carrier Pickup on Contract Delivery Service routes.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by mokey

I have some trouble with it as they are in that nice cooled and heated building slipping your mail in a slot. On the other hand the trash men are out in rain, heat and cold and no one gives them a thought.

I tip them as well, both regular trash and recycle pick up. Merry Christmas!. And to anyone offended by that reference and who prefer "Happy Holidays", all I can say is MERRY CHRISTMAS

[ColdNoMore]

$20 for the contract mail people, $20 for Daily Sun delivery, $20 for recycle crew and $40 for the refuse crew.

[pbkmaine]

How do you leave money for the recycle and refuse people?

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

$20 for the contract mail people, $20 for Daily Sun delivery, $20 for recycle crew and $40 for the refuse crew.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I just give $50 to each of them. IMHO, $1/week is still too little for the service they provide, but fixed incomes suck.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by pbkmaine

How do you leave money for the recycle and refuse people?

Some people just wait for them to come. I tape an envelope to the bag in a very obvious way. If someone is so low as to steal a Christmas gift, they may need it more than the refuse collectors

[Cedwards38]

We gave ours gift cards to Panera.

[Gpsma]

Call me Scrooge but I never have tipped mail employees or sanitation workers. Unless these workers are going out of their way for me I believe they dont deserve a tip. I have in the past tipped UPS workers who have had to make an exceptional number of deliveries or pickups.

Do you tip police or fireman? They are providing us as valuable a service as sanitiona and postal employees.?

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Some people just wait for them to come. I tape an envelope to the bag in a very obvious way. If someone is so low as to steal a Christmas gift, they may need it more than the refuse collectors

I used to do that, but now just wait and give it to them personally.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Maybe I'm crazy, but I just give $50 to each of them. IMHO, $1/week is still too little for the service they provide, but fixed incomes suck.

You make a good point, that I should increase my tips to those locally.

I do consider myself lucky, that a fixed income is not an issue.

Which is why I automatically have $50 a month going to the following charities/organizations.

- Children Aids Society
- MAP International
- American Humanist Association
- Southern Poverty Law Center.

In my mind, it is but a small price to pay for helping the underdogs...and those less fortunate.

I use (and donate to) Charity Navigator...

Charity Navigator - Your Guide To Intelligent Giving | Home

...to review those I'm thinking of giving to.

Which is why I quit donating to the Wounded Warrior Project, as I wasn't too thrilled to learn how much overhead they have...and how little actually gets to those who need it.

On those rare occasions I go to a casino, I'm also the guy in the minority who tips restroom attendants and those cleaning nasty ashtrays and old drink glasses from around the slot machines.

Just the look on their faces, tells me that it is not something that happens very often. Which if you think about it, is pretty darned weird.

If a person can afford to gamble, surely they can afford to drop a dollar bill here and there...for those with really crappy jobs.