I was told I was crazy this morning.

[bigjimaz]

Points of interest:

1. I have three ID's on eBay. One that I sell inexpensive items and my own personal items I no longer want and one where I sell higher-ticket items (where about 95% of my online income is derived) and one where I make the bulk of my purchases.

2. Some of the items I sell are heavy. Sometimes upwards of 50 - 60 pounds. The packages average about 13 - 14 pounds or so.

3. I use USPS for shipping everything. So far this year I have shipped a total of 935 packages totaling close to six and a half TONS.

4. My letter carrier has been on the route for the entire time I've lived in this town, about 5 years, and was on the route long before I arrived in town. He is always jovial, polite and timely.

This morning I met a buddy for breakfast. The conversation rolled around to what the tip/Christmas gift should be for people like the newspaper delivery guy, postman, etc. My buddy freaked when I told him that I gave my postman $50.00 for Christmas. Even though I explained the above to my friend, he still said that I gave him 5 times what I should have, reasoning that they get paid well from the post office (true) and it's his job to pick up and deliver the mail anyway.

Even after I explained to him that, most times, he had to return with his delivery vehicle to pick up some of the packages (who would expect the carrier to actually carry a 50 pound package with him while he was delivering letters?) my friend actually got a little mad at me and called me crazy.

So...am I? I gave a person a Christmas gift in appreciation for great service over the year. I didn't do it as any kind of incentive for the future. I simply gave someone who went, in my opinion, above and beyond their job description a Christmas gift to say Thank You.

[Saydrah]

Crazy? No way.

Not getting your packages dropped no matter how tired the mailperson is? Definitely. I'd put in extra effort for someone who recognized it.

[DarthRetard]

Crazy for rooting for the steelers maybe, but not for showing your appreciation to someone who never gets a thank you most of the time. Mailcarriers are one of our unsung heroes.

[bigjimaz]

Crazy for rooting for the steelers maybe...

Well, to paraphrase the song...

I was a Steeler fan when being a Steeler fan wasn't cool. Back when Lenny Dawson and Ernie Stautner were the stars on the field.

The last couple weeks have been tough, but when they're in your blood what can you do?

[DarthRetard]

I'm just teasing you. I mean hey, I'm a Dolfan, shoulda seen me beaming yesterday at work after Sunday's victory, Ha Ha. You'd have thought we won the super bowl.

[Emrld]

You are not crazy. I think you are a role model.
If I had a dependable carrier I would be happy to give him a Christmas gift. (basically I had to switch to a "safe mail box" due to mail being gone through and stolen by someone - half the time the carrier is too lazy to push it all the way into the box where it falls down into the safe area - let alone the days he doesn't even make it to our street cause it is quiting time for him etc)

I am really pleased to hear that people do still thank people at the holidays. I know I give meal gift cards to my sanitation collection specialists. I am a corner house on a street where they added an ally about two years ago - so now all trash has to go out back- driveways are in front- most backyards are fully fenced in- my delightful neighbors will put their trash at my house - sanitation workers are aware that it isn't all my trash and don't leave bits and pieces from broken bags in my bushes.

[Greenday]

Um, I'm just going to throw this out there and say most mail carriers do NOT get paid very well. My step-dad is one. The hours are ridiculous. The conditions aren't the best.

$50 is a pretty nice tips. Most tips my step-dad gets range from $20-$100. He's also gotten bottles of wine, bottles of alcohol, beer, etc.

Plus, I kinda look at it this way. Just like pizza and Chinese delivery, mail carriers remember who tips well and who doesn't. They won't treat people's mail like crap, but they'll definitely be a lot more careful with your stuff if you do tip well.

[Tanasi]

I'm just teasing you. I mean hey, I'm a Dolfan, shoulda seen me beaming yesterday at work after Sunday's victory, Ha Ha. You'd have thought we won the super bowl.

A Dolfan but you have Smoky as your AV. Are you also a Volfan?

[Becks]

You're not crazy.



I don't tip the mail carrier. Why? We don't have one that lasts more than 2 weeks. I honestly don't know why.

[Gawdzillers]

I think your friend should get a smack in the head.
Nothing fancy, just a plain old-fashioned thump.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I think that's great of you to be so generous. The guy does a lot more work for you than the average person on his route...he deserves a little extra.

[Rahmota]

Please smack your friend he is a dufus. Around here mail carriers use their own cars unless they are in town then they get one of those wierd little jeep like vans or walk. But driving the route and using their personal vehicle is the way it goes around here. So giving them 50 bucks for a situation like yours would not be an unreasonable thing.

Back in the days before dad died but after he retired he would sometimes go out and meet the mailcarrier since he knew him and give him a cup of hot coffee and a kind word for a moment or somethign nice for christmas. Unfortunately I dont know my current carrier so I'll probably leave a card and a 10 or something but yeah your friend needs a smack and a lesson in just because someone is a govt employee does not mean they are any better off. Especially as the postal service gets a lot of bad rap from people too.

[myswtghst]

I don't think you're nuts. :) My family always tips the mail carrier depending on how long we've had them, how good they are, and how much trouble we cause them during the year, in the sense of large packages, chasing them down to get mail, etc. Our current mail carrier knows my dad and if we pass her making her route, she'll give him our mail, even if she's not to our house yet, just so we don't have to wait. We usually tip in McD's gift certificates or something similar.

But yay you. And I'm sure the carrier will appreciate it and keep it in mind for future packages!

[Crazeyal]

Being generous to people who give you good service to you is SANITY. There is a bare minimum of response and acknowledgement that I, and any average person SHOULD, expect without question. Some people choose to acknowledge these basic services with thanks, praise, and even gifts. This is their choice.

What you've described is a pleasant, positive person who makes your life easier by being so. Rewarding and praising them is not only polite, it's just GOOD BUSINESS. Your friend should really STFU. Do not listen to this person's opinions without remembering this unkind and STUPID reaction.

[iradney]

The only person that's crazy in that picture is your friend. You're awesome for giving your mailguy a big tip :)