Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: un1v4c222 on February 08, 2012, 06:23 am

Title: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: un1v4c222 on February 08, 2012, 06:23 am
I've always been friendly and respectful with postal employees.  Go to any post office and witness the abuses they endure at the hands of the general public.  anything you might want to know about their services is well described on their web site and i've noticed many of them are relieved to deal with well informed consumers.  Anyway I gave my postman a christmas card with a cash tip inside, and he seemed extremely grateful to receive it.   He seems like a simple man who takes his responsibilities seriously.   He's brought me misadressed mail, which I suspect might otherwise have  been returned to sender.   The other  great thing is he comes at the same time almost every day.  Long story short, I think this guy is a great letter carrier and I would never suspect him of stealing my mail.   My question is: Is it a bad idea to tip your postman at christmas?
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: Holly on February 08, 2012, 07:23 am
I wish my postman was as a hard worker as yours.   Sadly not.  ):
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: someone703 on February 08, 2012, 07:25 am
Why would tipping anyone ever be a bad idea?

Unless of course you're tipping them for doing a bad job at whatever it is they're doing...

If your mailman is on point, don't see the harm in tipping him for a job well done.  I need to start tipping my mailman and UPS guy but I'm broke at the moment and looking for work out of college.

Once I get my finances in better order and student loans under control I intend to tip them something somehow.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: aciddeath on February 08, 2012, 03:32 pm
no! not a bad idea AT ALL
Postal workers (I believe) are prohibited by law from accepting cash gifts

While I was growing up my parents would tip the mailman (money in a card) every Christmas and sometimes even make him cookies. Being cordial with the service workers you rely on daily is a sure way to make sure your mail never 'gets lost' or otherwise.. plus it's a nice thing to do. Those people get shit on all the time.

For example our old neighbor had a pair of really mean dogs and one bit the mailman once. Mailman said he wasn't delivering mail to our building until the dogs were chained up properly. Guess who still got mail that entire two weeks while our scumbag neighbors didn't (left their dogs outside)? All because we were friendly to our mailguy.

Workers appreciate feeling like human beings.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: Deleuze on February 09, 2012, 12:48 am
Nah man that's a super nice thing to do.

A lot of people eat a shit sandwich every day they go to work and its small acts of kindness that make life bearable.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: tabbenoit on February 09, 2012, 02:07 am
always tip your mailman if they're normally the same person and consistent.  I also tip the garbage guys at christmas, not many people do this but it is worth the money put out ten fold.  4 bag limit?  not this guy.  remodeling debri?  not a problem  dead hooker chopped up in garbage bag, we ain't seen nuttin'
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: gtg424 on February 09, 2012, 02:14 am
I give him $20 each Christmas--tipping's an easy way to show appreciation.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: LexusMiles on February 09, 2012, 02:25 am
dead hooker chopped up in garbage bag, we ain't seen nuttin'

Thats some lol-worthy right there  :P

OP I think its a good idea.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: PumpkinYeti on February 09, 2012, 04:37 am
It's a good idea, not only if they do a good job regularly, but if you're getting some things in the mail you'd prefer them to turn a blind eye too if they ever suspect something, it'll be the best money ya ever spent. What's a $25 gift card once a year anyway? For a little peace of mind? Cheap!

As someone said though, I don't think US mail carriers are supposed to accept cash money gifts anymore...
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: tabbenoit on February 09, 2012, 11:07 pm
what they said, gift card instead of cash, keeps them legit
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: DigiPimp on February 09, 2012, 11:37 pm
...and its small acts of kindness that make life bearable.

Fuckin a, man.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: snapple on February 10, 2012, 01:02 am
My buddy is a mailman and he says he gets lots of tips during the holiday season (Christmas for the old schoolers) so I'd say shoot him a tip. I gave mine a $25 Home Depot gift card last year.

It's a nice jesture and may just save your ass, after all, my buddy says that since the USPS has fallen on hard times they are asking mail carriers to step up and report suspicious packages. If you've got a small package that faintly smells of weed, a good tip could be the difference between getting it and getting fucked.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: nevesurOMA on February 13, 2012, 10:47 pm
Nah man that's a super nice thing to do.

A lot of people eat a shit sandwich every day they go to work and its small acts of kindness that make life bearable.

totally quote !!!
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: un1v4c222 on February 14, 2012, 04:29 am
Thanks for the feedback.  I was just wondering if I was calling undue attention to myself, but it seems like the practice is fairly customary.  definitely money well spent.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: enddox on February 14, 2012, 04:43 am
Interesting thread.

Are most of you guys from the USA?

Tipping isn't customary in my country and I can see the good & bad sides of the issue. If by not tipping you are given sub-standard service then I am glad it is not a custom but if tipping is only given when you have been provided with great service I can see many positives.

If a small gift card or a little bit of cash is the difference between reporting a suspicious package and letting it slide then it seems like money well spent. Although could there ever be a situation where a mailman was hauled over the coals for accepting bribes??

As I said tipping isn't a common practice here and I'm really not sure of the etiquette or legal ramifications.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: gtg424 on February 15, 2012, 01:26 am
^ Tipping in the U.S. varies a bit from situation to situation.  I would guess that most people probably don't "tip" their mail carriers but it's definitely a nice thing to do.  But if you're at a restaurant, in a cab, ordering delivery food, etc then tipping is expected.  15% is usually considered a respectable tip for adequate/good service (though I'm sure others have their own opinions about the proper amount to tip). 
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: anarcho47 on February 15, 2012, 02:37 am
Unless they are a complete asshole, ALWAYS tip your regular service people at Christmas.  Even a $25 starbucks gift card.  I don't like government monopolies, but doing a job like mail delivery or anything else along those lines is a very under-appreciated position by the customers.  You just don't make contact very often.

One of my best friend runs a few websites and one of his went down hosting side because of a hardware issue in the server bank.  Whoever was working that day happened to get things swapped faster than ever before, and my friend was so impressed he called up the hosting company and spent two hours getting transferred around until he finally tracked down the tech that did the work.  Sent him a $50 gift card (i can't remember what for).  I bet that IT guy had one of the best days of his life - seriously, who even thinks of them when you are yelling at your monitor during down time?

It is true, what was said up above.  One small act of kindness can lift you up and get you through an entire day :)  Do nice shit for people from time to time and don't expect anything back.  It makes life beautiful.
Title: Re: Tippng the mailman at Christmas
Post by: DrakeInArse on February 22, 2012, 11:18 pm
I vote a big yes to tipping the mailman. I have the same guy every day. He is a very nice guy so I throw him 25 at Christmas and tell him to keep rockin it.