What would be a nice but inexpensive gift to give my mail lady? Also, how would I get it to her? We don't have outgoing mail here.

Last year I gave mine a picture frame, and she put a hand-written thank you note in my box after. You can get even really NICE ones at the dollar store of all places. That, or a candle, I'd say. Always good bets.

I give mine a gift card from Starbucks.  There's one on my block so I know he can use it at lunch to warm up.

DH was thinking a GC to Dunkin' Donuts since there's one near our house and one almost right across the street from the post office.. but again.. how would I get it to her? I'm not sure what her name is but she's very nice (especially now with all of these PBS packages). We have those big ugly metal boxes for all of the people in our HOA so it's not like our mailbox is right outside our house or anything.

You could leave it in your box, call the PO and ask what her name is. Of if they wont tell you, just put "To My Really Nice Mail Carrier" on the outside of the envelope.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=130944

Lots of good ideas on that thread. :)

Thanks :)

Last year I put my gift in an envelope and left it in the mail box as though it were mail to be picked up.  The next day I had a very nice thank you note from my mail lady.

I always give my mail carrier $20, that way he can use it as he wishes. I know it sounds impersonal but when I thought of the things to get him nothing sounded quite right. I've been doing that for years. I put an envelope in my mailbox with his name on it (I've since become friends with him) and he always leaves me a nice note. Whenever there's a holiday or he goes on vacation he always leaves a nice note in my mailbox now. Also, I'm disabled and frequently sick and he sometimes comes to the door to check on me or asks my husband how I am. He's a real sweetheart.

We live in Kansas, and earlier in the summer had a tornado warning go off, with a tornado nearby, and our letter carrier had no idea of the danger or how close it was -- I invited him to shelter in our basement.  I was thinking of giving him a pocket weather radio to help keep himself safe and informed -- would that be too geeky and impersonal?  Letter carriers, please speak out?  He's a great letter carrier, knows me by name, always has a kind word -- I'd hate to see him end up in Oz.  I know about the $20 price limit and I believe I can get one that will meet the limits and his needs.

What do you all experienced folks think?

--Catt

Postal rules say that mail carriers cannot accept money........ gift cards are nice.  But, to be honest, I have a great mail carrier (yay Ricky!) and he goes above and beyond for me with all my books.... so I give him $20 in a nice card with a note anyway.  He hasn't turned it down :) 

We also have community mailboxes.... I put the card into my mail slot with a bow and a candy cane attached.  He won't miss it :)

Having worked in a contract post office for two years now, I deal with postal employees often - and I have gained great respect for the work that they do.  I used to be a complainer, just like many other people.  But until you are working behind a counter at Christmas or tax time, you will never know the kind of stress that is involved.   We are aligned with a very busy post office, which also happens to be my home post office, and they have a thankless job which they do quite well :)

So, do something nice for your mail carrier!  All of the above suggestions are great, and leave it in your mailbox with a bow on it so he/she knows exactly what it is.  They will appreciate whatever you do!  And they will get a warm fuzzy knowing that they are appreciated also.

Laura - if you put a gift or an envelope in your mailbox (I also have community boxes) addressed to : My mailcarrier ........ they will get it.  I always put a bow and a candycane on it .  Obviously it has to be small enough to fit into the box.......

Trust me - your carrier will get it.  And I bet within a day or two, you will get a "thank you" note from him/her.

That's why you put a bow on it - it will not look like a regular envelope ......

Even though your carrier accepts the money that you give him-he is not supposed to according to Postal regulations.  They are reminded every year of the law and could really get in trouble if caught.

Anything that has a money value of less than $20 is acceptable.

Do you live in a colder climate? Hand lotions are always nice, chocolates, hot cocoa packets inside a cute coffee mug. Hand knitted scarfs or gloves are nice. Gift Cards they can use on their lunch breaks are an awesome idea.

I'm a substitute rural mail carrier and don't usually get any gifts-they are always left for the regular carrier. Not that i mind, she does all the hard work full time and is fully entitled to it. Last winter the regular carrier was off because of shoulder surgery and some of the customers were very kind and did give me small gifts. I can tell you, it REALLY brightened my day to be acknowledged like that. It's not always an easy job (especially in bad weather) so it's really sweet when people remember us on the holidays.