Christmas tipping? (Memphis, Kingsport, Church Hill: home, live, store)

[DubbleT]

In this area do people tip the sanitation truck driver, the paper delivery guy, the mailman? The guy who does the yard work? I would guess it's probably standard practice in most places but I wanted to ask first, there might be different customs here.
What's the typical way here to say thank you to these people, and let them know I appreciate them? Thanks~

[jabogitlu]

I've never heard of this before. It might even be illegal for the mailman to accept tips.

As for your yard guy, I'd say you employ him, you can do whatever you want there.

[Pam& Bill]

The mailman is allowed to accept 5 dollars a day, like who is going to refuse a christmas tip? As a former rural mail carrier, a christmas tip is remembered and very much appreciated. As were the cookies and chocolates left in the mail box for me.
Pam

[jchometeam]

The sanitation truck driver? paper delivery guy? I hope thats not customary because I certainly have never heard of anything like that and I have never tipped these people. Doubt I would even if it was customary, seems silly to me

[ljay42]

If i see them, I tip everybody at christmas..always have. Paper person, mail guy, etc - I've never tipped the sanitation guy.



edit to add: specifically dubblet, I usually give $5-$10 depending upon what they do and how well they do it. Some may get a little more...labor intensive jobs where I hired the person would be an example of that.

He**, I tip when it's not christmas. The guys that delivered my furniture, the guys that moved some furniture for me, the guys that installed the alarm, the cable guy that went out of his way to make sure my problems were taken care of...people just feel good when you throw them a few bucks for lunch or the beverage of their choice.

But, if you have a crappy attitude, you aren't getting jack.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I've never heard of this before. It might even be illegal for the mailman to accept tips.

That's why I wanted to know how it works here. In my Memphis n'hood if you didn't tip the garbage collectors, for the next six months you'd find your garbage can lying in your driveway when you came home from work on trash day.

Originally Posted by Pam& Bill

The mailman is allowed to accept 5 dollars a day, like who is going to refuse a christmas tip? As a former rural mail carrier, a christmas tip is remembered and very much appreciated. As were the cookies and chocolates left in the mail box for me.
Pam

I thought there were restrictions on the mail carrier but didn't know what they they were. You think a gift card to the grocery store would be good? My mail carrier is exceptional, and I often forget to put my flag down, so I want to get her something she'll find useful.

[Pam& Bill]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

That's why I wanted to know how it works here. In my Memphis n'hood if you didn't tip the garbage collectors, for the next six months you'd find your garbage can lying in your driveway when you came home from work on trash day.


I thought there were restrictions on the mail carrier but didn't know what they they were. You think a gift card to the grocery store would be good? My mail carrier is exceptional, and I often forget to put my flag down, so I want to get her something she'll find useful.

Yes, by all means do that for your mail carrier, that's a great idea!
Pam

[Ripshin]

Yes, we tipped all of the folks that you mentioned - in West Tennessee, Texas, Miami, LA, NO (to name a few places I've lived). It is indeed customary in many cities/states. I just moved to the area - my father says he tips them, and has for the 25 years that he's been in JC. Regardless of whether it is a custom here, I'd do it anyway. (It appears perhaps that it's not.)

[rccrain]

Here, it's seen as optional and at your discretion. I certainly don't think there will be retaliation for not tipping ... but perhaps that is even a better reason to do it.

I tip based on the service I get, if someone gives above acceptable effort, I want them to know I appreciate it.

[kamoshika]

When I delivered newspapers 30+ years ago in Kingsport, most of my customers gave me $5-10 around Christmas. My parents in Church Hill have always left a gift for their mail carriers over the years. FWIW, USPS workers and other civil servants can only accept non-cash gifts up to $20 in value.
Holiday Tips: Consumer Reports Survey results
Holiday tipping, holiday tipping review, Consumer Reports, survey, 2008