What do you give your mailman or woman and trash collector

[mickeyfan2]

We put $20 in and envelope for the mailperson and put two $10 bills in a car for the trash collectors. The card it taped to the outside top of the trash can. The cans are in a trash "house" so it won't blow away.

ETA: The adult paper carrier also gets $20 sent to their home.

 

[mickeyfan2]

The trash collector? After what they did today, they get a big NOTHING!!!!!

What did they do today?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Garbage: Beer

Some years we do this to.

 

[taylor1293]

I give them nothing at all. I don't know them, we have no communciation. They do a job, for which they are well paid for, why would I give them a Christmas gift?

 

[ducklite]

When I lived in NJ I had a TERRIFIC mailman who always made sure packages came to a dry place by the door, generally hidden from view. I knew he liked wine, so I gave him a nice bottle every year--worth in the $20 range.

Here I get almost all packages delivered to a box at the UPS store, and it seems I have a different mail carrier every week, so they aren't getting anything.

My taxes pay for the garbage, and they do a lousy job on top of it--half the time leave half of it in the can so I have to make a trip to the dump on Saturday. Lat week they didn't even pick up the recycling. The only thing they are getting is a lack of complaint to the town.

I don't get the newspaper, and we're giving my lawn guy a $50 GC to Carabba's.

I gave my hair dresser an extra $50 last Saturday when I tipped her as well.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I stand corrected.
But where does the postal service get funds to cover their annual deficits?

Unless something ahs recently changed, the US Postal service is the only government agency that does not, and never has operated at a deficiet, and are entirely self-funded.

Anne

 

[mickeyboat]

My FIL is our trash collector, and he is getting a Cabela's gift certificate.

We get our mail delivered t oour post office box because we do not have local delivery where we live, so the post people get nothing.

Denae

 

[Keggy]

I have never seen our mail carrier because in our neighborhood we have the stations with 50 boxes. So, we actually go get our mail. I was thinking of tipping the trash person, because I think they do a great job. They always tip my can over if it is going to rain so it never fills up, etc. How would I leave it? I don't know their name to address the card - should I tape a card to the top of the trash can and hope they get that it is for them? Is it weird to label it "Trash Collector"?

Also, I wanted to know if I should tip the guy who does my nails. I see him every two weeks and my next appointment will be right before Christmas. I was thinking I would just put extra cash in an envelope for him? How much does anyone suggest?

Thanks,
Kelly

 

[imsorry]

My mail lady and gardener each get $25.

 

[mickeyfan2]

should I tape a card to the top of the trash can and hope they get that it is for them? Is it weird to label it "Trash Collector"?

We tape ours to the top (not rainy or windy day) with packing tape The envelope say "Merry Christmas".

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

We usually give the trash collectors $10 each. (There are usually 2-3 of them.) We have been doing some major cleaning out this year that included some items they weren't required to pick up but they did anyway. So they deserve it. We also give them bottles of water in the hot summer.

The mailperson gets nothing. For a few years we've had temporary mail carriers. They changed every day and not one knew a damned thing. There would be days we got no mail...because it went to the neighbors. For awhile we weren't getting our mail until about 4pm. One time I had received a piece of mail with the right address but the wrong addressee. So I wrote "Addressee Unknown" on it and put it hanging out of the mailbox, as we were instructed. The mail carrier would, and I am not kidding, sneak the mail into some penneysaver the next day instead of taking the mail back. For two weeks that mail kept coming back into my house inside ad's. When we had halfway competent mail carriers we would give them cookies from the local bakery. Until we get a competent one again, they get nothing.

 

[Anewman]

Unless something ahs recently changed, the US Postal service is the only government agency that does not, and never has operated at a deficiet, and are entirely self-funded.

Anne

From the New York Times Archives

Postal Service Reports $588 Million '81 Loss

AP
Published: February 14, 1982
The Postal Service, saying it lost nearly $588 million last year, attributes its deficit to cuts in its subsidy and delays in raising mail rates.

The deficit was the largest since 1977.

The Postal Service's losses, which far exceeded projected losses of $3 million, were disclosed in the mail agency's annual report. Unlike previous years, the report was not distributed to reporters.

In 1977, the agency lost $688 million, and the Postal Service's first surplus in decades was reported in 1979 when it made $469 million.

The annual report said the 1981 deficit was a result of ''factors largely outside the control of postal management.'' The Postal Service said it lost more money than expected because the Postal Rate Commission, an independent regulatory body, refused to approve an increase in mail rates from 15 to 20 cents a letter.

Another factor contributing to the deficit was a cut of $250 million in the Congressional subsidy for some money-losing mail services.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we don''t.....we don't have one mail person or trash collector - the faces change all the time, I wouldn't know who to tip

paper delivery people always remind ("ASK" in my mind) about tipping - that is the first thing they can do to guarantee they won't be getting one!!!!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.nalc.org/postal/perform/selfsufficient.html#subsidize

 

[M 'n C]

I've never tipped them. I feel like they are doing their job so why tip them. I perform services for my clients but I'm not tipped because I'm a professional. What makes them any different?

 

[Todd&Copper]

I like my mail carrier and hadn't thought to give her anything for Xmas until I saw this thread - I think she'll be getting a box of some homemade cookies and candies.

The garbage men do a horrible job in my neighborhood (they skip my culdesac every-other pcik up day it seems) so they get NADA.

 

[DVC-Don]

Nuttin.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I tip everybody.

Mailman gets cash - $30
Trash people get liquor and or beer. They are the best - they will take anything away. This year I have cases of Amstel waiting for them.

 

[beattyfamily]

I give them nothing at all. I don't know them, we have no communciation. They do a job, for which they are well paid for, why would I give them a Christmas gift?

Since you asked a question I'll answer why I give to some folks. I give because its Christmas and I like to do something special for those who affect my life. I give to the mailman, my drycleaning lady, the bus driver, the teachers and my hairdresser.

I don't have to but I want to. To me its a special bonus for all the work they do for me....just like when my DH gets a bonus at work at the end of each year. Same thing. He gets paid well for what he does but a bonus is a great unexpected surprise.

That's why I give gifts to those who do a good job for me and my family even though they are already paid well.

 

[taylor1293]

Since you asked a question I'll answer why I give to some folks. I give because its Christmas and I like to do something special for those who affect my life. I give to the mailman, my drycleaning lady, the bus driver, the teachers and my hairdresser.

I don't have to but I want to. To me its a special bonus for all the work they do for me....just like when my DH gets a bonus at work at the end of each year. Same thing. He gets paid well for what he does but a bonus is a great unexpected surprise.

That's why I give gifts to those who do a good job for me and my family even though they are already paid well.

Thanks for the insight and please don't get me wrong, I don't see a problem with it, giving gifts is always a wonderful thing! I just don't understand why so many people tip their mail carrier/garbage people when they've never even met them. The analogy of your husband doesn't really apply. Your husband getting a bonus from his work is not the same thing as a total stranger giving him a "bonus" because he did his job.

I understand if you know the people personally, like a teacher, hairdresser, and cleaning person. Giving gifts to those people, because of the personal connection, makes sense to me. I give gifts to my kids teachers and I love to give gifts as much as the next person. However, it just seems odd to me to give gifts to people I don't know because they did what they were supposed to do.