Gifting your Newspaper carrier

[Vivig]

Hello,

I am interested to know what you would tip for your newspaper carrier that delivers the Saturday edition only. I am thinking of giving either a $5.00 or $10.00 Tim Horton's Gift Certificate..BTW he left us a Christmas Card stating that Tips are optional.

Am I being too cheap?

Thank You,
Vivian

 

[iluvwesties]

Hi,

I just paid my Paper delivery girl $15.00 for her Christmas gift. I think that the kids prefer money as opposed to gift cards as they can they buy what they want from where they want (be it for themselves, or if they are buying for others for Christmas)
I know most kids like Tim Hortons, but generally it is the adults that pay for them anyway ( I used to work at Tim Hortons, so I know that not too many kids came in by themselves) Just my honest opinion. Hope this helps!
Carol

 

[Vivig]

Thanks soo much! But I am aware that our "Paper Boy" is an adult. So I do not think I am too off providing a $10.00 Gift certificate if he is coming only on Saturdays.

Thanks for the info,
Happy holidays!
Vivian

 

[iluvwesties]

Hi Vivien,
For an adult with a once a week delivery, I think the amount and certificate you are "gifting" is just right. (I didn't realize that it may have been an adult, I was just going by my own situation) Our paper girl (age 14) delivers the local paper 3 times a week.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Carol

 

[Amberle3]

I admit that I'm cheap, but I think that the $10 gift card is actually a little high. Here you'd pay $7.59/mo for Saturday only delivery, so that tip is more than you pay for a month's worth of service. I'd be more inclined to go with $5.

Mind you, I'd also take exception to getting a card that reminded me in any form about tipping. My general rule is that if anyone asks for a tip, they don't get one. And saying "you don't have to tip me" in a completely and wholly unsolicited way (ie you didn't ask what an appropriate tip is) is the same as say "I'd like you to tip me".

 

[Vivig]

Thanks Everyone...

Well...I left the $10.00 Gift certificate..not sure if they liked it or not? I was also inclined not to leave anything..but I would forever feel guilty.

I know this must have been a silly question for you all...but I wanted to ensure I was in-line with what the 'norm' was.

On that note....Hit the stores...only a week left!

Seriously..Happy Holidays to you all..and may the New YEar bring your hearts desire!

Vivian

 

[totalia]

Before this web site, I'd never heard of giving your newspaper carrier a tip or even a gift.

I also don't see the point.

 

[langin]

My 11 yr old son is a paper boy and I never really thought too much about tipping before now but he gets up at 5:30 am to get his papers ready and delivered by 7;00 am and still get ready for the bus at 7:15am , he has trudged through the worst weather ,6 mornings a week and the only day off he gets (besides every Sunday) is Christmas day. I don't want to sway him to quit, I know I would but he does like the $60.00 month he makes, which works out to be about $3.30 /hr. I personnaly only tipped him $5.00 but I am a Fri & Sat only and he really doesn't deliver it , he just leaves it on the table, LOL! But he has gotten this week a 16.00 tip and a 10.00 tip, he did deliver Christmas cards but I (or He) would never think to put anything about tipping in the card, how tacky!

 

[hockey mom]

If you tip all year long do you also tip extra at this time of year? From someone who funds Disney vacations solely on tips you would think I would know this.

 

[PoohBWV]

Do you guys pay your carrier in person? We never see our carrier as we pay in the office. I know it is a student who delivers the daily paper as I have seem him down the street on my way home from work, but the weekend paper is delivered so early, I have no idea who even delivers. How do you tip in this situation?

 

[maryliz]

PoohBWV - I left an envelope in my mail box standing straight up and left the lid of it open (if you can't leave your lid open, just stick the envelope out so it's noticable). They did see it (I was worried because it's so dark in the mornings when they deliver). I put it out just before I went to bed, so it wasn't out there for anyone else to see. I also put a little note on the envelope thanking them for always making sure my paper was not in the wet, mudhole which is my front porch these days, prior to us getting the mailbox put up. I guess they've figured out the tricks to keep papers dry since it's all new houses.

And I used Tim Horton's gift certicates. Our delivery people are a married couple.

Mary-Liz

 

[Vivig]

PoohBWV,

We have a ledge near our front window..so I just like maryliz left an envelop on the window ledge prior to going to sleep. Woke up..envelop gone and newspaper there.

Maryliz I too found it tacky to leave a Xmas card that states in brackets 'tip is optional'...but it's christmas time

Totalia, I thought I was the only one who had not heard of this custom prior to receiving the card with the tip is optional statement..then I figured either no one n the neighbourhood is tipping or I am the only one who is not tipping. Regardless, I now know for next year....