Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you give the postman/bin men a Christmas present/tip?

134 replies

SofaCushion · 09/12/2019 11:35

Just wondered if you give your postman or bin men a Christmas present or tip? I mentioned popping out to buy tins of biscuits (nice chocolate ones) at lunchtime and one of my colleagues just asked me why I’d give anything to them...

We moved in end of last year, so wanted to thank the postman, as he’s always the same guy and happy and smiley when he delivers. Although the bin men always block our drive with our bins (they always put the neighbours’ bins back nicely though). I think cos the old vendor was an arsehole, so maybe they didn’t like him. Maybe a gift will get the bin shifted properly 😂

Thoughts? Maybe biscuits isn’t the right idea? Anyone else got a better suggestion?

OP posts:
spanglydangly · 09/12/2019 19:55

I've noticed that all the people that don't tip have bad service and all the people that do have good service.

So what came first the chicken or the egg...

Isitsixoclockalready · 09/12/2019 20:18

I tip our postman - he's friendly and helpful. There's no right or wrong ; it's just what people want to do. I wouldn't judge people either way.

faevern · 09/12/2019 20:26

I must be the only person to tip the my hermes man. He is reliable, underpaid and I have a lot of parcels.

Not the bin men they just chuck the bins back on the path.

TheOliphantintheRoom · 09/12/2019 20:38

You don’t have to tip of course, but you don’t need to be smug and horrid about it

No one's being smug or horrid - some of us choose not to condescend to other adults by giving them a "tip"

Those saying no because they earn more than me, why don't you do their job then?

Because I do my own job which they are not qualified to do.

Cleaning up other’s people shite is worthy of a tip in my mind

How patronising is that? It isn't what bin men do. I have respect for the service they deliver but don't choose to express my appreciation with a tin if Celebrations!

MustardScreams · 09/12/2019 20:46

@TheOliphantintheRoom yep, you’re clearly better than everyone who tips. Well done.

Ithinkwerealonenowtiffany · 09/12/2019 20:50

I dont tip. Never do. We all get a wage.

Freesunglasses · 09/12/2019 21:02

We used to give the bin men a box of beer until they got lazy and all elf and safety then didn't empty our bin because of one item! They can piss right off now.
Postman, I'm not even sure who they are, we hardly ever see them anymore.

Rezie · 09/12/2019 21:10

I don't tip people who get paid to do a job. Only if they do something above and beyond what is expected. I've yet to experience a postperson or binperson to do anything other than what is their work description and I don't expect them to do more.

Rezie · 09/12/2019 21:12

To add to my previous post. I also cannot follow the logic on why certain professional groups deserve a tip and others don't.

Krouse64 · 09/12/2019 21:13

I tip the bin men as ive been seriously I’ll for the last 6 months with terminal cancer and sometimes my husband has had to take me to hospital in the early hours of collection day and we don’t have bins only black bag collection. They saw me going to the hospital early one morning and told my husband they would get the bags out of the shed and not to worry also bought me a lovely box of chocolates and a soft blanket so my husband asked what they would like and the said beers so will be buying a few crates

FoxInABox · 09/12/2019 21:13

I tip the postman- we’ve had the same one for years and he is brilliant. He will come back round with my parcels later in the day if I’ve been out, always friendly & polite.

littlepooch · 09/12/2019 21:14

I don't but my mum does (much to my dad's annoyance!)

We never seem to have the same postman for longer than a few months and I never see our binmen!

theemmadilemma · 09/12/2019 21:16

£5 each for postie, blue and green bin men.

It's not a huge amount, but it's something and I know it's appreciated because the postie always says thanks and the bin men always put my bins nicely, take them when I forget to bump them down, and have taken extra.

bigbluebus · 09/12/2019 21:26

I actually have to move the wheely bins further than the bin men do - and they don't leave me a tip!

GorkyMcPorky · 09/12/2019 21:33

When my dad was a postman he really appreciated his Christmas tips. Made a big difference to a crappy wage.

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2019 21:34

I tip both. The postie is a star and he hides parcels and forges my signature so I don't have to make the 45 minute trip each way to the post office.

The binmen will come and get our bin if I forget to get it out.

I give a tin of sweets to the binmen so they can be shared and either £5 or £10 for the postie depending on how flush I'm feeling.

OneTooManyBathtimes · 09/12/2019 21:41

I'll be giving our bin men a box of chocs. Every Thursday they wave and talk to my son, who loves watching them. It's really helped him come out of his shell and I'm so glad.

My parents always get something for the firemen and police around Christmas eve time. And the ambulance drivers if they're in the same vicinity, depending where they are visiting at the time.

faevern · 09/12/2019 21:42

@bigbluebus that made me laugh out loud I also move my bins a whole lot further than the bin men Crown Smile

faevern · 09/12/2019 21:42

@bigbluebus that made me laugh out loud I also move my bins a whole lot further than the bin men Crown Smile

BlueEyedBengal · 09/12/2019 21:56

No because they drop the rubbish all over the street and leave it for us to pick up when if I did that I'd get a fine.

Original poster
SofaCushion · 09/12/2019 21:59

Thanks all. It’s so interesting that it’s split 50:50. I’ll go ahead with a present for the postman. I think some people do just their basic job, whereas others choose to do more than their basic job description and genuinely make a big impact on their clients. He’s definitely in the latter category. I like him and want to say thank you.

The bin men I’m less impressed with. I may get them a tin of chocolates or something. We’ll see if they then start moving my bins properly in the new year 😂

OP posts:
AgeLikeWine · 09/12/2019 22:03

No.

Tipping the postie & binmen feels inappropriately feudal to me. I am not lady bountiful and they are not my servants.

NumbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsStation · 09/12/2019 22:06

Always postie and bin men.

Ours go above and beyond and they are a lovely lot. They deserve a little token of thanks.

user1487194234 · 09/12/2019 22:06

Cash tip to paper boys,milk delivery boy,post person and bin men £20 each

NumbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsStation · 09/12/2019 22:08

@faevern

You are not alone Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread