Spinoff: Tipping

Couple of questions:

Who do you generally tip and about how much?

Would it be terrible if we didn't?

Our garbagemen pretty much toss our cans when they're done dumping the garbage. I always find them turned over, upside down, sometimes rolling down the street. We've lost 2 covers b/c they were run over after being thrown (?) in the street. Stray pieces of garbage that has fallen out of the can or a bag are just left there. It's really annoying.

Our mail carrier is ok. Never seen him/her but it's been well over a year since we've moved in and we're still getting the other people's mail. I am constantly having to write "please forward or RTS" on the previous owners' mail. S/he takes it but it happens frequently. Also, s/he occasionally leaves the door to the mailbox open and I sometimes find mail laying in my driveway or on the grass by the mailbox.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

Posted by ElizaRags35

Couple of questions:

Who do you generally tip and about how much?

Would it be terrible if we didn't?

Our garbagemen pretty much toss our cans when they're done dumping the garbage. I always find them turned over, upside down, sometimes rolling down the street. We've lost 2 covers b/c they were run over after being thrown (?) in the street. Stray pieces of garbage that has fallen out of the can or a bag are just left there. It's really annoying.

Our mail carrier is ok. Never seen him/her but it's been well over a year since we've moved in and we're still getting the other people's mail. I am constantly having to write "please forward or RTS" on the previous owners' mail. S/he takes it but it happens frequently. Also, s/he occasionally leaves the door to the mailbox open and I sometimes find mail laying in my driveway or on the grass by the mailbox.

Message edited 12/14/2012 12:22:53 AM.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

We don't tip the mailman or garbage men. I would only tip them if they were doing us a favor like hauling away done some extra junk from our basement etc.

Spinoff: Tipping

Tipping is always at your discretion. You don't have to do it. I like to think of tips to these people as bonuses. If they are extra awesome, they get a bonus (just like folks in the corporate world).

Spinoff: Tipping

I've always tipped both our garbage men and mailman because both were awesome. Our mailman recently changed (I think he retired and had I known I would have gotten him a gift before he left) so I'm not sure I'll tip the new one. I'm not even sure we have a regular person yet. Our old one used to hold back any mail that wasn't ours and would always knock and wait for me to come to the door when we had a package. And he was just nice. I think if they earn the tip with great service, then yeah. If not, then I might skip it.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

We usually tip the garbagemen $20 each (there are 3). Last year we didn't because they destroyed all our garbage cans (lids run over, wheels ripped off, cans flung all over). This year we have a new crew who always put the cans nicely off to the side of the driveway, lids placed back on, etc. Plus they provided phenomenal service post Sandy in our area, most days any of our debris was removed within 2 hours of putting it out.

Mail person - Most years we don't tip, nor do most of my neighbors. We must be on a training route, we always have new people and twice a week (at minimum) we get other people's mail. We are constantly having to exchange mail with one or more neighbors. One year we had the same letter carrier for a while and she was great, we gave her a $20 gc to Target since they aren't supposed to accept cash.

Spinoff: Tipping

I do not tip anyone. And nope I don't feel bad.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

in your case i think its fine if you don't tip. My garbage men are terrible so we don't tip them. We do tip our mailman though (just give him a $20 gc to dunkin donuts). We don't see him often, but he bundles all of our mail for us in a rubber band and he filters out everything that gets sent to the old owner of the house. When he's on vacation, we notice.

Spinoff: Tipping

Thanks for the responses! Glad I'm not alone.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

No we do not tip. we spend a ton of money during Christmas, enough is enough.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

Spinoff: Tipping

We don't give money for the holidays .... I only gave the garbage men money when we first moved in and we had so much garbage

I personally don't feel bad

Spinoff: Tipping

I live in a coop and pay over $900 in maintance, so no I dont tip our garbage men, besides they are awful.

We had a really nice mailman and we did tip him. He has since been replaced and the person is everchanging so no we will not tip him.

Re: Spinoff: Tipping

I think it is completely optional. My garbage men are great, they take everything. My pails are also not thrown around like others.

My mailman has been around a very long time. If he sees are mail hasnt been brought it, (if we are away) he doesnt let it pile up and will deliver it to us when we get back.

So we tip them at christmas, not alot usually $40 for garbage and $25 for mailman.