Christmas Tips

[zidangus]

Ok so its coming up to that time of year again, so I thought I'd ask what kind of tips customers give their postman (no jokes please). A lot of posties in my DO are given different rounds every week, so I guess that this will affect any tips they get. I have been on the same round now for three months and have a good relationship with a lot of people I deliver too, but I have a feeling that they are about to put me on a new round before Christmas :(

[steven100]

A bottle of whisky, helps my thirst during the delivery .

[north london driver]

christmas is not celebrated anymore due to the foreign element in london.
may get a few bottles from firms but times have changed.

[BettySwollocks]

christmas is not celebrated anymore due to the foreign element in london.
may get a few bottles from firms but times have changed.

If its anything like Manchester, the customers will be expecting tips off the postie !

[Darren Bent]

Don't expect too much as in last 5 christmas I probably have about 20 pounds combined. (None in last two) I am reserve. If you stay on same walk for 7 months you might get about 30 pounds or thereabout. But don't expect too much or plans to buy a holiday or new flat screen TV with tips.

Some postman with their walk for 10+ years get about 300 pounds. So it is luck really. It is known at our office one walk did get 700 pounds.

[ElvisGaddafi]

It's not like it used to be. For a start if you do get any tips it will be mainly from pensioners. Also, you'll find that all of the customers who are really friendly during the year, and you go out of your way to help when necessary, will mysteriously disappear over the Christmas period.

[ballee]

It must be a different culture in Northern Ireland, people fall over themselves to give you money at Xmas expecially on rural duties. In my own office two of our rural drivers regularly pass the £2,000 mark. This does not include the various bottles, pairs of socks etc.

The town walks may not be as profitable but the average walkholder would lift between £400 and £500 pound, the strange thing is it is always the people in the less well off areas that seem to want to tip you. If you refused to take it they would regard it as an insult.

[clashcityrocker]

It is different because you used to see people when delivering before breakfast.
Now you occasionally see someone coming home from work.
In order to get a serious amount of tips you need to be able to build up a proper rapport with your customers. That is now very difficult to do.

That said - a tenner off a lapsed duty is worth a ton on your own walk.

[Indy]

Last year was a record for me at nearly £50 but normally its about £20/£25.

Biggest problem around here is that the main 'employer' is Social Security!

[korky]

been a leave reserve for over 6 years, i usually manage a pound max and the odd penny i pick up
however i got promised a homemade xmas pudd today on my new round

[happy]

should we get tips with the service we give now i think not?

[TeeferTiger]

I used to get bugger all as I was the parcel driver. The guy that covered my duty while I was on my 1/6 got £20 and didn't give it to me the cheeky fugger. The guy that took over my delivery shortly before Xmas apparently got an apple off a customer...

[Dorset Plodder]

should we get tips with the service we give now i think not?

Good Point Happy. I know it's not our fault but I still feel bad when you hear about some of the deteriorating standards that are being accepted by RM (and it's Watchdogs) And the Public don't see as much as we do.

[dvbuk55]

I used to do OK for tips. Several hundred pounds, slippers, scarf, cigarettes (when I used to smoke), vodka, wine, whisky............I did the same delivery for years and the people were really nice and it was a nice area. It had if my memory serves me about 823 drops. Even when I left the delivery they had a collection for me and sent it in with their new postie. Mind I am a nice man, which helps.

[krussel]

the customers who are really friendly during the year, and you go out of your way to help when necessary, will mysteriously disappear over the Christmas period.

Aint that the truth