Why is it proper etiquette to tip the mail carrier .. given they almost always bring nothing of value anyway?

Question

All they bring are bills, junk mail and the occasional magazine (and usually delivered incorrectly as well)

Why should they be tipped ?

Answer 1

Interesting responses you got here. First of all, you aren't supposed to put or receive anything in your mailbox that doesn't meet postal regulations (stamp, etc.), therefore you would have to actually see your mail person in order to tip them. I personally think that when the service you provide is your job, you should not expect a tip for doing it. On the other hand, I did tip my mail man one Christmas because he had made sure I got my mail everyday even though my neighbor's car was constantly blocking my mailbox. 6 months later, I found out that my mail carrier had murdered his ex-wife's new boyfriend. Wow! I decided then that I wouldn't try to develop any kind of relationship with people who routinely visit my house.

Answer 2

I tip a delivery person but not the mail carrier , at Christmas time I give him a nice thank you card and a bottle of wine .

If someone does tip the mail carrier perhaps he /she goes the extra mile for that person ,perhaps an elderly person or a disabled one, such is climbing stairs etc... in my opinion a person that tips recognize the kindness of a person and likes to thank him/her by giving them tips.

So even if a carrier brings bills or greeting cards he/she is only doing a job, on the other hand are you willing to go to a community mail box and retrieve the mail yourself instead of having it delivered at your door step? I 'm not ! so if I feel the need to tip someone for a service rendered that really shows that I appreciate the person and the service that I get.

Answer 3

Well I'm only fifteen so I don't really have money to tip them with but I do give them a little card or poem if I see them sometimes. I feel sorry for them they have to walk in the snow, rain, and all that other junk and most of the mail carriers here are kinda old and they are always friendly to me, but I can tell they're sad. So I hope to lighten up their day a little bit.

blondie

Answer 4

There are some places that do tip or gift their mail carrier. Usually in small towns, where the mail carrier also will do small errands, or carry verbal messages, as well as deliver the mail.

Answer 5

Because they come everyday in rain and snow and awful driving conditions. They are not in charge of what you get in the mail! And if you ever did have something of value coming, they would bring it to you instead of stealing it :)

So if you want to continue to get your mail in a timely fashion just put $20 in an envelope with "Happy Holidays to my favorite Mail Carrier! Thank you!!" written on it.

Answer 6

Here in Scotland it is normal to give the usual postman a few quid at Christmas. The problem is often that they use students to help with the Christmas mail so you should keep it till your usual guy turns up.

Answer 7

Hey it's not their fault you only get junk mail. They just bring you what they are told to bring you. Plus I have never heard of tipping a mail man, I don't even see my mail man he just puts the mail in the box and leaves.

Answer 8

People that actually know their carrier tip them. I only see mine maybe 4 times a year. So, I don't tip mine.
Technically, the rule is that they're not allowed to get any money, or anything in worth over $10. But, they're also not allowed to open anything at the person's door and have to take it with them just to see what's in it...

Answer 9

Within the state of new York I've never heard of it. Maybe if you're living in some really small town where everyone knows each other - I guess in that case if people do it all the time, there's no law stating you have to.

Answer 10

Don't know where you're from, but I've never tipped my mail carrier.