Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tipping your Mail Carrier at Christmas

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There has always been discussion around my community at this time of year on how much one should tip their mail carrier:

Gifts for USPS Mail Carriers
There are rules regarding gifts for USPS mail carriers. Postal Service employees may accept the following items:
  • Snacks and beverages that are not offered as part of a meal.
  • Items with little intrinsic value (i.e., greeting cards, plaques, pens, coffee mugs, etc.).
  • Perishable items (i.e., flowers, chocolates, cookies, etc.); if the items are clearly worth more than $20, employees should share them with others in the Postal Service workplace.
  • Items with a market (retail) value of $20 or less.
  • Gifts motivated solely because of a personal relationship.
  • Gifts for which the employee has paid market (retail) value.
  • Gifts paid for by the Postal Service.
Postal Service employees may not accept cash  - in any amount or form (bills, checks, money orders) - from an outside source.


 For further information, please contact the U.S. Postal Service® Law Department's Ethics Helpline at 202-268-6346, or send an email message to ethics.help@usps.gov.
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 12:19 PM

    We ALWAYS tip our wonderful letter carriers in cash. It's almost like a gift card that can be used anywhere. What a concept.

    I also encourage everyone to find generosity in their soul at this time of year.

    What a buzz kill to bring up the "official" rules.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynn AndersonDecember 10, 2014 at 12:31 PM

    Sorry you don't like the rules or the law. There are always people who don't like rules. Try living in a condo. But for the most part, people like doing things correctly.

    Thanks for your "buzz."

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  3. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 12:39 PM

    $20 cash is always appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 12:56 PM

    Cash or gift card. Nobody wants "Items with little intrinsic value (i.e., greeting cards, plaques, pens, coffee mugs, etc.)."

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 2:19 PM

    the post office says NO cash

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lynn AndersonDecember 10, 2014 at 2:27 PM

    12:56...are you the guy going 85mph in a 55mph zone? Rules only apply to the other guy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 10, 2014 at 5:32 PM

    Hey Post Office, Bite Me! Cash is king.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 10:02 AM

    I normally play by the rules. But not on this one. I'm going to keep giving my mail carrier a crisp $20 inside a Christmas card. She does a great job and deserves it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lynn AndersonDecember 11, 2014 at 10:05 AM

    Thanks, anonymous at 10:02. I am giving mine a $20 gift certificate to Toojays.

    I'm a law and order rule sort of gal.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 11, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    as long as it's a crisp bill, anony at 10:02. hate to think of her getting a dirty old bill.

    ReplyDelete