Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
people thought on the topic.

At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".

Does it still happen?

(Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
lieu of cash.)

Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
Did you once do so?

--
Sam Plusnet

On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
> Did you once do so?

I don't - mainly because my funds are very limited. Many years ago I
delivered newspapers and would sometimes receive tips.
--
Jenny M Benson

On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:06 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

>Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>people thought on the topic.
>
>At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
>Does it still happen?
>
>(Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>lieu of cash.)
>
>Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>Did you once do so?

It crossed my mind but i hacen't for years.

On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
> people thought on the topic.
>
> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
> Does it still happen?
>
> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
> lieu of cash.)
>
> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
> Did you once do so?

A 'drink' (fiver) for the postie - envelope half way out of letterbox
with 'Postman' written on the outside bit, as he wouldn't call unless
there was a parcel. Luckily he's always at pretty much the same time.

I'd give to the binmen too, but the logistics (everyone's bins all down
one end of the back lane) and the variation in timing make it too difficult.

--
Cheers
Clive

On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
> people thought on the topic.
>
> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
> Does it still happen?
>
> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
> lieu of cash.)
>
> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
> Did you once do so?
>

Because of the amount of post I send, and receive, I give the posties a
large box of biscuits at Christmas - the sort of thing they can park in
the sorting office to share when they're sorting their post. I don't
leave anything out for the dustmen though.

--
Best wishes, Serena
When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further
introduction. (Mark Twain)

On 2.1.24 22:36, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what
>> other people thought on the topic.
>>
>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>
>> Does it still happen?
>>
>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas
>> postal deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of
>> tights in lieu of cash.)
>>
>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>> Did you once do so?
>>
>
> Because of the amount of post I send, and receive, I give the posties a
> large box of biscuits at Christmas - the sort of thing they can park in
> the sorting office to share when they're sorting their post.  I don't
> leave anything out for the dustmen though.
>

When my father was a postman I believe he did receive such items. I can
remember in London when refuse collectors thought it was their right -
hammering on the door on a pre-Christmas collection.

However the only tip I give now is to the hairdresser as I feel that the
refuse collectors have achieved far better pay reviews over the years.
The post person here changes with regularity (my father did the same
round for a number of years) - so less inclined and the service is no
longer reliable. No papers delivered here. My wife gives an extra
payment to the gardener and the window cleaner.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On 02-Jan-24 22:36, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what
>> other people thought on the topic.
>>
>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>
>> Does it still happen?
>>
>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas
>> postal deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of
>> tights in lieu of cash.)
>>
>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>> Did you once do so?
>>
>
> Because of the amount of post I send, and receive, I give the posties a
> large box of biscuits at Christmas - the sort of thing they can park in
> the sorting office to share when they're sorting their post.  I don't
> leave anything out for the dustmen though.
>
Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
_not_ be given tips.
I don't know if the workers are as one with management on this.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 02-Jan-24 21:29, Vicky wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:06 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
>
>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>> people thought on the topic.
>>
>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>
>> Does it still happen?
>>
>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>> lieu of cash.)
>>
>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>> Did you once do so?
>
> It crossed my mind but i hacen't for years.

Our post persons seem to constantly change. I'd be much more inclined
to tip (or give a present to) someone, if I'd got to know them over a
period of time.

--
Sam Plusnet

On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:06 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

>Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>people thought on the topic.
>
>At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
>Does it still happen?
>
>(Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>lieu of cash.)
>
>Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>Did you once do so?

Not any more though, as you suggest, we used to but times have
changed. The binmen used to come around the back and take away the
dustbins but now there's no personalised service from them: the
wheelies are herded together at a collection point and mechanically
dealt with way before my morning getting-up time. And like so many
other places in the UK we rarely see a postie any more. When we do
it's never the same one as last time. I've given the odd tip to the
deliverer of large and bulky mail/internet order stuff but that's not
the same, is it?

Giving a Christmas tip to the random postie or bin man who happens to
be there at the right time would feel a bit like sticking a tenner in
the hand of some random person on the high street - although that in
itself might not be such a bad thing to do.

Nick

On Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:52:23 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:

> Giving a Christmas tip to the random postie or bin man who happens to be
> there at the right time would feel a bit like sticking a tenner in the
> hand of some random person on the high street - although that in itself
> might not be such a bad thing to do.

But don't tuck it into her underwear.

--
Jim <http://www.jim-easterbrook.me.uk/>
1959/1985? M B+ G+ A L- I- S- P-- CH0(p) Ar++ T+ H0 Q--- Sh0

Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
> people thought on the topic.
>
> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
> Does it still happen?
>
> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
> lieu of cash.)
>
> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
> Did you once do so?
>

No and No, HTH, HAND

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 03/01/2024 07:06, Jim Easterbrook wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:52:23 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:
>
>> Giving a Christmas tip to the random postie or bin man who happens to be
>> there at the right time would feel a bit like sticking a tenner in the
>> hand of some random person on the high street - although that in itself
>> might not be such a bad thing to do.
>
> But don't tuck it into her underwear.
>
Random Jim, not randy.

Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>
>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>> Did you once do so?
>
> I don't - mainly because my funds are very limited. Many years ago I
> delivered newspapers and would sometimes receive tips.

I worked for over 5 years in a DIY shop and was occasionally offered a tip
for placing bags of sand or cement in the boot of a customer’s car (or
similar services) and always politely declined any tips as I resolutely do
not believe in tipping* in any form.

* Not even fly tipping, though just how much one could attach to a fly, I
am uncertain.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:52:23 +0000, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca>
wrote:

>On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:06 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
>
>>Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>>people thought on the topic.
>>
>>At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>>postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>
>>Does it still happen?
>>
>>(Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>>deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>>lieu of cash.)
>>
>>Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>>Did you once do so?
>
>Not any more though, as you suggest, we used to but times have
>changed. The binmen used to come around the back and take away the
>dustbins but now there's no personalised service from them: the
>wheelies are herded together at a collection point and mechanically
>dealt with way before my morning getting-up time. And like so many
>other places in the UK we rarely see a postie any more. When we do
>it's never the same one as last time. I've given the odd tip to the
>deliverer of large and bulky mail/internet order stuff but that's not
>the same, is it?
>
>Giving a Christmas tip to the random postie or bin man who happens to
>be there at the right time would feel a bit like sticking a tenner in
>the hand of some random person on the high street - although that in
>itself might not be such a bad thing to do.
>
>Nick
We do actually often have the same postman, or postwoman in summer,
but nnot always and it no longer feels like a personal service.

Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:52:23 +0000, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 19:35:06 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>>> people thought on the topic.
>>>
>>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>>
>>> Does it still happen?
>>>
>>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>>> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>>> lieu of cash.)
>>>
>>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>>> Did you once do so?
>>
>> Not any more though, as you suggest, we used to but times have
>> changed. The binmen used to come around the back and take away the
>> dustbins but now there's no personalised service from them: the
>> wheelies are herded together at a collection point and mechanically
>> dealt with way before my morning getting-up time. And like so many
>> other places in the UK we rarely see a postie any more. When we do
>> it's never the same one as last time. I've given the odd tip to the
>> deliverer of large and bulky mail/internet order stuff but that's not
>> the same, is it?
>>
>> Giving a Christmas tip to the random postie or bin man who happens to
>> be there at the right time would feel a bit like sticking a tenner in
>> the hand of some random person on the high street - although that in
>> itself might not be such a bad thing to do.
>>
>> Nick
> We do actually often have the same postman, or postwoman in summer,
> but nnot always and it no longer feels like a personal service.
>

Deliveries are rarely made on a Saturday here, Monday to Friday normally,
Monday is only ever Junk Mail day, so really Tuesday to Friday, time
indeterminate, some of the post is not for this address and what we do get
is often long delayed in reaching the house -Service???!!!

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 02/01/2024 23:13, krw wrote:
> My wife gives an extra payment to the gardener and the window cleaner.

My gardener (and my cleaner) get Christmas presents. The window
cleaners don't get anything special at Christmas but do get drinks and
biscuits throughout the year, which I suppose could be counted as a tip.

--
Best wishes, Serena
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and
taste good with ketchup.

On 03/01/2024 00:36, Sam Plusnet wrote:

<snip>

> Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
> _not_ be given tips.

It was very emphatic at Reading's waste facility. There was a large
sign at the entrance, presumably to remind the operatives, saying
"Refuse Tip".

--
Cheers
Clive

On 03/01/2024 00:36, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 02-Jan-24 22:36, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
>> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what
>>> other people thought on the topic.
>>>
>>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>>
>>> Does it still happen?
>>>
>>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas
>>> postal deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of
>>> tights in lieu of cash.)
>>>
>>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>>> Did you once do so?
>>>
>>
>> Because of the amount of post I send, and receive, I give the posties
>> a large box of biscuits at Christmas - the sort of thing they can park
>> in the sorting office to share when they're sorting their post.  I
>> don't leave anything out for the dustmen though.
>>
> Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
> _not_ be given tips.
> I don't know if the workers are as one with management on this.
>
I'll give them a tip: Close the lid after emptying the bin when it is
chucking it down.

--
Ric

On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
> people thought on the topic.
>
> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>
> Does it still happen?
>
> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
> lieu of cash.)
>
> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
> Did you once do so?
>
My parents used to, back in the old days. I think they still gave
something to the paper person until quite recently when the service
declined, possibly when the newsagent changed hands to somebody who was
clueless.

Times change. I only receive post two or three times a month and
probably put the bins out less often. They quite possibly earn more than
I do and I have to do half their job (recycling the junk mail, putting
the bins out, tracking the bins down and bringing them back). I don't
have a paper or any other regular deliveries or services (I wonder what
happened to the window cleaner?).

--
Ric

On 03/01/2024 11:58, Joe Kerr wrote:
> On 03/01/2024 00:36, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 02-Jan-24 22:36, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
>>> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what
>>>> other people thought on the topic.
>>>>
>>>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>>>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>>>
>>>> Does it still happen?
>>>>
>>>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas
>>>> postal deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of
>>>> tights in lieu of cash.)
>>>>
>>>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>>>> Did you once do so?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Because of the amount of post I send, and receive, I give the posties
>>> a large box of biscuits at Christmas - the sort of thing they can
>>> park in the sorting office to share when they're sorting their post.
>>> I don't leave anything out for the dustmen though.
>>>
>> Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
>> _not_ be given tips.
>> I don't know if the workers are as one with management on this.
>>
> I'll give them a tip: Close the lid after emptying the bin when it is
> chucking it down.
>

Or at least put a squirt of Fairy Liquid in there.

john

Joe Kerr <joe_kerr@cheerful.com> wrote:
> On 02/01/2024 19:35, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> Wofe and I discussed this topic earlier today, and I wondered what other
>> people thought on the topic.
>>
>> At one time it seemed common, if not universal, to give money to
>> postmen, dustmen etc. at Christmas as a "Christmas box".
>>
>> Does it still happen?
>>
>> (Not always money, because Wofe said that when she did Christmas postal
>> deliveries when she were a lass, she was once given a pair of tights in
>> lieu of cash.)
>>
>> Do Umrats give tips to post persons etc. at Christmas?
>> Did you once do so?
>>
> My parents used to, back in the old days. I think they still gave
> something to the paper person until quite recently when the service
> declined, possibly when the newsagent changed hands to somebody who was
> clueless.
>
> Times change. I only receive post two or three times a month and
> probably put the bins out less often. They quite possibly earn more than
> I do and I have to do half their job (recycling the junk mail, putting
> the bins out, tracking the bins down and bringing them back). I don't
> have a paper or any other regular deliveries or services (I wonder what
> happened to the window cleaner?).
>

It is that person over there - wearing a glazed expression.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

Clive Arthur <clive@nowaytoday.co.uk> wrote:
> On 03/01/2024 00:36, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
>> _not_ be given tips.
>
> It was very emphatic at Reading's waste facility. There was a large
> sign at the entrance, presumably to remind the operatives, saying
> "Refuse Tip".
>

Chuckle

Mrs McT

On Wed, 3 Jan 2024 10:43:21 +0000, Clive Arthur
<clive@nowaytoday.co.uk> wrote:

>On 03/01/2024 00:36, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>> Wofe tells me that the Local Authority say that refuse collectors must
>> _not_ be given tips.
>
>It was very emphatic at Reading's waste facility. There was a large
>sign at the entrance, presumably to remind the operatives, saying
>"Refuse Tip".
<Applause!>

N.

On Wed, 3 Jan 2024 11:58:30 +0000, Joe Kerr <joe_kerr@cheerful.com>
scrawled in the dust...

>I'll give them a tip: Close the lid after emptying the bin when it is
>chucking it down.

Mine would be, "Don't forget to collect from the little road off Barn
Lane." They missed our collection on 12th December - I reported it the
following day - and didn't catch up until 3rd January, the next scheduled
collection.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959