NWR: Holiday Tipping

I Want Cake

FI and I would like to give holiday tips to the service providers who deliver our mail, pick up our trash, and other services we use on a somewhat regular basis.  We didn't last year, because we'd just moved into our house, but I think it'd be a nice thing to do for them for the holidays.  We never did before because we weren't homeowners, so we figured it was the responsibility of the property owner to do this.

What is an acceptable tip to give?  Should it be monetary, or in the form of a gift card or something homemade (always looking to get rid of truffles)? 

TIA!

bellaxanthe

I've always just given small gift cards. If I had more than a passing relationship with them, a homemade gift comes to mind. 

sailerwedding

Our mailman is close to a million years old and recently widowed, and completely a sweetheart, I am making him a big gift basket of Christmas treats. For the lawn and snow guys I'm doing a gift card to bar and grill thats nearby.
I think homemade treats or small gift cards are appropriate....also I don't think postal carriers can accept cash as a tips but that may just be an urban legend

aligross

It's true that Postal Workers cannot accept cash, but they can accept gift cards, holiday cards with a check etc. My parents have always placed a Christmas card with a gift card/check the week before the holidays on the mailbox or somewhere the person will see it. It's a great gesture to "thank" them for all they do for you!

I Want Cake

I know our postal carrier works his ass off for us.  FI has a friend in Canada who orders a truly ridiculous amount of stuff from eBay and has it shipped to our house if he can't get the seller to send it to him in Winnipeg.  I really feel for the postal carrier having to constantly walk this stuff up to our house.  Him and the UPS guy.

I'm thinking maybe doing gift cards to Target or something.  I wouldn't feel right putting a box of truffles on top of a garbage bin, and there's really no good place to put them by the mailbox.  Taping a card to the bin/box would be much easier.

drdifabio

I must live in a hole as I have never heard of anyone doing this before.
It sounds like a really nice gesture though!

EmilyCMN

Someone called into the radio the other day to say if you are wanting to tip your garbage carrier send it to their main office and they will get it to the driver. They would prefer for you to not put it on the can since they won't see it and it often gets stolen prior to pick up.

olivehim

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_nwr-holiday-tipping?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:f81478c3-9279-49ec-acc6-00c7260dffadPost:0548a3d5-8fec-46a7-bde0-22cdbd197475">Re: NWR: Holiday Tipping</a>:
[QUOTE]I must live in a hole as I have never heard of anyone doing this before. It sounds like a really nice gesture though!
Posted by drdifabio[/QUOTE]

I know, right?!?  I feel like a schmuck for never having done this - I guess it's never too late to start!

Steph0871

DrD- I think it's more common for homeowners, so don't feel bad!  My mom has always gotten our mailman a nice gift card and chocolate or something like that... but he's the same guy that's delivered our mail for 20 years (even though we moved twice!)