Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - USPS Postal Regulations USPS Postal Regulations

Topic: Holiday tipping

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
megt avatar
Subject: Holiday tipping
Date Posted: 12/21/2010 11:28 AM ET
Member Since: 2/2/2010
Posts: 1,208
Back To Top

Question for USPS workers - Are mail carriers allowed to accept cash tips from customers?  Is it not allowed but still done?  Just wondering, I have always heard that people do it, not sure if it is expected.

Motleigh avatar
Date Posted: 12/21/2010 11:49 AM ET
Member Since: 7/30/2007
Posts: 4,275
Back To Top

Question for USPS workers - Are mail carriers allowed to accept cash tips from customers?? it is not allowed

Is it not allowed but still done??  yes- its done all the time. if you want to tip, but still follow the rules, small denomination gift cards (maybe 5 to 10 dollars) to fast food places or a coffee house IS within the rules. Snacks are good too, either store bought or homemade.

Just wondering, I have always heard that people do it, not sure if it is expected.  
Its not expected at all, but it is very nice to find an unexpected treat.

riksny avatar
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 12/21/2010 8:19 PM ET
Member Since: 8/25/2009
Posts: 6,414
Back To Top

You may accept a gift from an outside source if:
the gift is based on a personal relationship? friend or family; or
the gift is valued at $20 or less (but aggregate sum of gifts, from that same source, cannot exceed $50, in a calendar year).

What if I am offered a gift of cash?
Postal employees absolutely CANNOT ACCEPT CASH or investment interests FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.

Cash does not include retail gift cards with a face value of $20 or less that are designed for use in a specific retail store and cannot be converted directly to cash.

jubead avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 12/22/2010 7:41 AM ET
Member Since: 5/14/2009
Posts: 6,852
Back To Top
For my carrier, she will recieve a Dunkin Donuts Gift card and a travel mug. The PO will receive donuts from a bakery (they are so good) or cookies. Up until I moved here, I didn't purchase anything, but the customer service was awful and the PO clerks mean. Current carrier and PO are exceptional!
Generic Profile avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 12/28/2010 5:27 PM ET
Member Since: 9/9/2010
Posts: 1,644
Back To Top

Any other day, my carrier crams mail into my mailbox - most of it usually actually mine - unless the package won't fit, then she just throws it on the ground by the mailbox. As often as not, she doesn't even check to see if there's any outgoing mail already in the box.

Lo and behold though, on December 24th this year, she knocks on the door with her cute little Santa hat on, and mail all neatly bundled together, delivered with a cheerful "Merry Christmas!" What? Expecting a tip for good service one day a year? I don't think so!

Generic Profile avatar
Standard Member medal
Subject: gifts
Date Posted: 1/1/2011 4:40 PM ET
Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 143
Back To Top

This year I gave my rural carrier a gift card to Subway for $15.00. She drives 78 miles a day on her route and has a CD player in her car. Last Christmas I gave her an audio book  which i got from my PBS trades. 

cmegobye avatar
Date Posted: 1/2/2011 1:52 PM ET
Member Since: 10/13/2008
Posts: 16
Back To Top

I have the best Mailman ever.  He does a rural route by car.  He is always on time.  We have talked about PBS and he picks up my outgoing stamped PBS packages from my mailbox.  Saves me lots of time and money.  I gave him a tip this and he left me a very nice Thank You post card.  I felt the tip was well deserved.  It really makes a difference if all goes well with your mail.  Sometimes if I'm getting too many PBS packages to put in the mailbox, he will stash them in an agreed upon spot for me.