To have no clue about tipping the postman!

[Izzy82]

Is this the done thing? I heard a woman in the post office today saying she tipped her postman and her bin man! I've never in my life tipped the postman, in fact, up until a few months ago I had never even laid eyes on him. but I'm on maternity leave now and have done all my christmas and baby shopping on line so speak to him regularly. Today he delivered my post, saw I wasn't in so came back an hour later with my packages. Bless him!
So, are you tipping your postman and if so, how much?
Xxx

[SaucyJack]

Well, er, good for him?

[Gaia81]

Bin men employed by the council shouldn't accept tips, or if they do accept things like chocolates it should all be declared and in the case of our local council it's donated to the chairman's charity.

Our postman doesn't really deliver anything but junk mail these days.

Neither need tipping imo.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

I agree - good for him, and good for all the other people who help, above and beyond what is expected of them.

Gaia - how many recipients do you know who have 'declared' chocolates? If I choose to give a box of chocs to our binmen or posties, I would like to know they've eaten them themselves, not donated to the "Chairman's Charity", whatever that might be. I make other donations throughout the year to various charities. If I choose to give the postie (or whoever) a box of chocs or similar, I would like to think that he or she (and their family) will be eating it, because it is a personal gift from me.

[Greymalkin]

We've had the same post lady for years but I've never tipped her, and I don't plan to!

Rather than walk up the path, she cuts across the gravel kicking stones everywhere and when she needs to deliver a parcel or similar, she hammers in the door like a riot squad trying to bust in! Every, bloody, time.

When DS was a newborn and napping in his buggy in the hallway I nearly ripped her head off for waking him up!

[maddening]

To those with tipping experience - Do you do a Christmas card also and if so how do you address it - eg "to the bin men" sounds wrong

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

And of course, that is your prerogative, Greymalkin Tips are entirely optional, not compulsory, and most definitely should not be proffered if undeserved.

[ToomanyChristmasPresents]

I just tipped our postman £5 today. It's not much, but he's a lovely guy and if a lot of people give him a little, it probably makes a difference. I think Xmas presents have to stay below £10, or they have to be declared. (Not sure, but that's what a neighbour told me.)

I haven't done anything for the bin men, as they are changing all the time. We don't have any consistent bin men anymore.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

I don't, Maddening for the fellas, just give them either the money or a box of beer, but for the Post Lady I do give her a card, just because I think she, as a person, appreciates it. Depends on your recipients, I guess.

[royaldavescity]

Don't tip ours because a. Haven't a clue who they are and whether it's the same one each day and b. It's their job. I don't tip bus drivers or shopkeepers at Xmas so don't understand what makes postmen special tbh

[SparklyTwinkleGlitter]

We always tipped our postie in the UK. He was fabulous and would leave stuff in hidden areas when we were out so we wouldn't have to drive several miles to the main office to collect stuff.
Since we recently moved, I intend to tip our new post lady too. Fabulous service and always with a big smile.

I think it's v. important to show appreciation to others, regardless of the fact they're being paid to do a job.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

As has already been said, RoyalDavesCity - depends entirely upon your postie, surely? Some are especially helpful, others not so. Ours are really lovely and helpful, yours quite clearly not so.
Personal choice

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

I agree, Sparkly Some people are more helpful than is required in their job spec, which is really lovely and can often go unnoticed.

[naty1]

I didnt know people did, however i wont be as in the last just over yr, they have
Dropped someone elses post in my front garden
Had probably 3 pieces of post that i know of go missing. (1 being very important and my have cost me a lot of money)
The other reminds me im missing one of my payslips from where i used to work.

[Purplehonesty]

Yes I will tip both our potatoes with chocolates or homemade cakes as they are really lovely and do go the extra mile

[LapsedTwentysomething]

My DF is a postie and is always grateful for the tips. He ends up with about £500, which is a nice boost to a fairly modestly paid income.

[LapsedTwentysomething]

Potatoes?

[SaucyJack]

I genuinely don't understand how a postman or bin men can go out of their way to be helpful- even if they wanted to. The postman puts post through the letter-box and the bin men wheel the bins over to the truck and tip the rubbish in. That's what they're paid to do and that's what they do. There's no scope for going over and above.

Having said that...... if any Royal Mail staff wanna come round and tile my bathroom for me, then I'll be sure to slip them a fiver on religious holidays.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Oh, no! We have to tip the potatoes as well now? Cheese or sour cream . .

[ChrisMooseAlbanians]

We have a different postman every time... So no.

[emmelinelucas]

Postman/women are not allowed to accept tips.
Gifts have to be declared and recorded.

[SparklyTwinkleGlitter]

Saucy - it's not just about delivering letters. It's a hassle if you have to drive several miles to main office to collect parcels. Much more helpful if postie leaves them for you, inc. recorded delivery stuff. Obviously, I wouldn't risk this if we still lived in a major city.

When we bought our new place, a few miles from previous home, the new postie delivered all our post to us inc. stuff that was still addressed to old place.

We didn't pay for a re-direction, she said there was no need as she knew where we lived and postie at previous address gave her the post still addressed to our 'old address'. Post for both houses is sorted at same office.

Hasten to add this is rural Ireland, not UK. They don't worry about rules & regs here.

[Boredshitless]

I tip the bin men, the window cleaner and not the postman!

My postman is my OH, so he gets to come in the house, pee in the toilet, grab a slice of toast and call me darling!! That's enough tip for him!

Having said that, he has retuned tellies, found lost remote controls for OAP that have dropped it under her bed (likely story !), climbed thru windows to let it locked out people The digital retune had him with three OAPS accosting him to sort their TVs One said her son told her she had to give him £5 and a bar of choc! The others gave cakes and stuff.

We had a lady knock frantically the other night that she was scared as a man was being chased and looked like he might attack her, so she know she was safe to knock here as he's the local postman!

I think I may be married to Postman Pat!!

So he goes the extra mile, is smiley etc and does well at Xmas!

And out Binman are great!! My bin at Xmas is overflowing they never refuse to take it, they smile, they chat and they deserve their tip! I used to have to take my mum to a day centre once a week, getting her wheelchair out of her flat was a nightmare , her Binman used to help all the time, they were lovely!

My window cleaner has been the same one for 25 years, he knows our kids, out dog and would always look out for the house if we are away.

They all deserve a tip

[Gaia81]

When I worked in a local authority we declared everything, anything else would be misconduct. People should just be aware that a) the person receiving the gift may get into trouble if they accept without declaring b) if they do declare it they may not benefit from the gift.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

All tips have to be legally declared and recorded, by everyone receiving them. Not just confined to Postmen/women. I don't think any of us believe this actually happens though? Do you work for HMRC, Emmeline?

What is the difference between a tip and a gift, I wonder?

[Boredshitless]

Saucyjack, does my post answer your question?