Tip newspaper carrier?

[wishing4PA]

There are a lot of generous people on this board.

I'm not sure what we will do. 10 years ago, when I lived elsewhere and the newspaper carriers always delivered well before I had to leave for work, and I didn't even have to put on a robe to get the paper because they left it up on the door sill (or whatever that metal strip is called), I tipped, of course.

Now, where there's no snow, little sleet, etc., and the paper usually arrives after I would have gone to work (on my old schedule) and it's often after the newspaper's stated time for delivery, when the carrier is new several times a year (I think), and the paper just has to be stuck in a paper box under the mailbox down by the street ... I don't know. Aside from the so-so service, my main issue is the carriers changing so much. Tipping yearly seems like tipping mousekeeping at the end of a stay when the person who may have been cleaning the room all week is on her day off and the money all goes to the lucky person who gets checkout day. I think we did tip last year -- because it seems so "expected". And it sure isn't a job I'd want ...

 

[clh2]

We absolutely tip our newspaper people. As a PP mentioned, they are delivering about 3 or 4am, we get daily delivery, and they get the sucky weather, snow, sleet, cold, ice.

We also tip our "G-men".

 

[JackJack08]

OMGosh....if you knew how LITTLE these people make, you would so want to tip them. It is insane, that they even find people to deliver the paper, with what they pay them. Needless to say, yes, we tip at Chrismas.

 

[torinsmom]

I delivered newspapers for three years; yes, in snow, ice, rain, fog and every other kind of weather you can imagine. The job is much more than chucking papers. You have to lug those big bundles to the car, roll each one and stuff it in its bag(double bag if its wet outside), stuff them all in your car and then make sure each person gets their paper where they want it. Now, if you can remember when 200 people prefer their paper at 2am driving around in all kinds of weather, you are really good! Unless there was a special request, we put the paper in the driveway, because that is where we are taught to put it. It will stay drier there than in a ditch or the grass. I don't know how much carriers are paid now, but 9 years ago, I made 8 cents per paper, and 10 cents on Sunday. I had no health insurance, and had to pay my own gas and repairs(newspaper routes are he@# on brakes) I was hurt several times putting papers on porches as well, but still did it when requested.

I think people should tip their carrier if they get good service. Remember, we are not to blame if the paper is late. The printer waits for important news sometimes or breaks down. Believe me, we had to sit and wait often for the papers to get to the drop-point as well.

As far as amount, I used to get checks for $5-$10. I would end up with $200 or so total, as maybe 25% tipped. Most carriers will REALLY appreciate it, because it is a low paying job and they rarely hear anything besides complaints from customers.

Marsha

 

[AnnaS]

We get the paper daily. I give him $20 cash as a Christmas gift.

I would give him $10 if I received it only on Sunday.

 

[KTSMOM]

We tip our paper carrier as well. We get it daily and tip $20 at Christmas time.

 

[Chelley00]

We have a paper box under our mailbox which she uses about once a month, if that.

Our newspaper requires that each house in our neighborhood has a paper box mounted to our mailbox. We have 2. We only get the paper on Sundays, and every Sunday, our paper is thrown IN FRONT of our mailbox. Really wish I could teach the dog to fetch it


I'll still tip, but we can't afford to do much, plus it's not like we get great service, and isn't that why we tip? To reward great service?