The post office did call me back after the above post, and they've only forgotten my packages once since then. The new guy is good and I want to give him some kind of tip. Keep in mind I live on a walking route. The carrier works really hard on our route everyday.. 100+ and humidity in the summer, and cold and rain in the winter. Then he has to remember to drive back to my house at the end and pick up all my packages.
The debate here isn't whether to tip or not, I am decided that I will... Any suggestions?
There are actually specific rules about tipping your mail carrier. Maybe a gift card or a nice water bottle since you're on a walking route? That should fall under the maximum.
ReplyDeleteCopy 'n pasted from USPS's website:
All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period.
I really like the water bottle idea. And maybe some mio or Gatorade packets.
DeleteNot trying to get anyone in hot water but when I had a regular carrier, in a different state, I tipped $50 at Christmas. I always put it in a card but didn't sign it so even if they wanted to give it back, they couldn't. In my view, that worked out to about $4 a month for a carrier who took care of me (and my neighbors) all year long (pre-ebay days & I don't use our current carrier for ebay packages - I sell so little I take them to the post office on my way to work).
ReplyDeleteThis carrier was great and I wish I could have done more back then. I respect that the post office has standards of ethical conduct. But it's not like I'm tipping them to influence them to slide me my neighbors mail. I also think no one's employer is going to tell me how much to tip or tell me a limit on a gift. At the present, it's not relevant - every time I see our carrier, it's a different person.
You may tip more, you may tip less, you may give a gift, you may give cash. I'm just glad you are tipping! In this business a good carrier is priceless.
PS - I flew in the CHKD at Fairfield yesterday and thought I saw a Keurig - if you are still looking for one. I was in a rush and it was on the top shelf so I couldn't see the price or the condition.
Thanks for the tip Ree Cee.. We're all sick so don't know if I'll make it over there:/
DeleteI'm glad you asked this. I was wondering the same thing. I'm afraid that the day I tip my regular carrier won't be the one on the route. How do you know?
ReplyDeleteI see my carrier because my box in I. my porch so I'll probably just run it out there. So maybe if you're not sure leave cookies instead and hopefully they will tell the regular one whereas they probably wouldn't if it was cash.
DeleteI use a larger post office and usually deal with 3 different employees (all of whom are amazing). I am planning to gift them with a huge gift basket from Sam's Club. It's full of cookies, nuts, chocolates and other candies and will be more than enough to share.
ReplyDelete