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Original poster

Gifts for postman and bin men?

45 replies

Aneira11 · 08/12/2018 19:20

Do you give Christmas gifts to your regular postman and bin men?

We recently moved to the suburbs and this is our first year of having a regular postman we see and the same binmen... previously lived in flats in central London and never saw anyone doing those jobs, so no one to thank personally!

OP posts:

tracelab · 08/12/2018 20:49

I always do. Waitresses and hairdressers are "just doing their job" but get tips and these guys are often out in the foulest weather working hard. This year the bin men are getting chocolates and the postman is getting a fruit cake.

E20mom · 08/12/2018 20:50

No, but I know my mom and dad do.

E20mom · 08/12/2018 20:50

As well as the paper boy and the milkman!

IAmNotLikeThat · 08/12/2018 20:59

I do not have a cold heart. I’m lucky if I get my bin lifted on the correct day, I have to drag my bin a lot further than the bin men. Maybe you have nice caring bin men and posties but the ones I come across do their job and nothing more as they are under huge pressure from their bosses to get the job done within ridiculous timescales.

I know you don't. Sorry.

Try something different. If it's not working, for you or them, try something different.

StoorieHoose · 08/12/2018 21:13

Sorry IAmNotLikeThat what do you mean ‘if it’s not working for you or then try something different ‘ ??? Should I try and make their job easier for them? Should i help them move my bin the 2 feet instead of them? Should I hand deliver my rubbish to the tip?

Do you generally tip people who don’t provide you with the service you pay for (albeit through council tax)?

Kezzie200 · 08/12/2018 21:25

At work i give our main postie some wine and a box of chocs for the sorting office as we get different posties occasionally. I give a couple of bottles of wine to the people who live next door (as they seem to get the short straw when we have parcels delivered when we are closed). I dont at home though

Kool4katz · 08/12/2018 21:33

Yes, our postie is fab and we always get her something at Christmas to say 'thank you'. She'll sign for parcels an leave them in the shed if we're not in. She's also very generous with the sweeties when DS and the other kids go trick or treating. If someone was vulnerable or ill, she'd definitely help look out for them. She's a lovely lady.

Shadow1234 · 08/12/2018 22:43

We always give the binmen £20
Our postmen/women are always different (never seem to have the same one for more than a week) so we dont tip him/her.

TheBigBangRocks · 08/12/2018 22:44

The bin men and postman just appear to do their jobs here so neve thought to tip just for that.

The window cleaner does the odd job if he spots it so we always do a Christmas gift for him and our vets are excellent so drop in buscuits for them to share.

Anybody that is involved with our children gets a gift as they always go above and beyond job descriptions.

Singletomingle · 08/12/2018 23:16

I don't tip either, our postman has never delivered more than once a week and thats unusual! Our binmen vary between too empty to bother with or to full to deal with. Often have to collect post myself and usually end up taking rubbish to tip myself think they should be tipping me!

CherryPavlova · 08/12/2018 23:18

Yes we give envelopes to both. Our postman is fantastic and keeps an eye on the older folk. He’ll take parcels for us and will even sign for things for us if we’re out.
Bin men we keep sweet so they take extra bits and pieces, when necessary.

FamilyOfAliens · 08/12/2018 23:20

Our window cleaner is easy to tip as I see him.

The binmen come at 6am here, postie comes when I’m at work, so I’m not sure how I’d tip either of them.

caringcarer · 08/12/2018 23:27

I tip postman £5, bin men £10 because 2 of them, blue bin recycle an £5 but i know my sister who is a great baker makes choc chip cookies and cupcakes for them. They seem happy with both. They do a good job often in bad weather.

mummymayhem18 · 08/12/2018 23:38

I tip my regular postman £10 at Christmas. The bin men I leave a tin of sweets on top of the bin.

NotCitrus · 09/12/2018 00:34

If I see regular postie I'll tip him as he's fab, but usually he's on other routes in December.
I don't know how to tip bin men as anything left by the bin would get nicked.

Ontheboardwalk · 09/12/2018 00:56

I tip the window cleaner cash for a drink, I see him to pay him. Never see the postie so can’t tip him.

I’ve got 4 bin trucks with 3 men each truck. Seems a bit much if I tip them all. If I did it would be general waste truck I’d tip as they have the toughest time. Cardboard truck crew has an easy job in comparison

Timeandtune · 09/12/2018 01:04

Our postie is great. I take a tenner in a card down to the sorting office each year.

CanSurvive · 09/12/2018 01:05

Postman must have hated me one year. I thought I was being nice giving him a card “for all the cards your deliver that Make people smile” but probably thought WTAF as there was no money in it! I thought I was being nice, I know realise not.

Butterflycookie · 09/12/2018 01:12

Mum gives the postman a fiver every year

SusieQ5604 · 09/12/2018 01:31

I'm giving garbage men a new crisp $20 each and prolly same for postman.

Even though they get paid, it makes them happy and also makes them more apt to go out of their way to help with stuff in future if needed.

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