Tips etiquette

[sophie97]

My first job where I can get tips, Ive been told the household often tapes it to their door or leaves the chocolates etc by the door.

do we just take them and walk off? or do you knock and say thanks?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Up to you - but make sure its meant for you not the dustbin men, or local booby.

If you want to say thanks take a few cheap christmas cards round with you and pop one through the door appropriately inscribed.

[demon]

always send a thank you christmas card

[BernardBresslaw]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

[fishtank]

Never open the envelope in front of the customer.
First of all it's bad form but also If it's just a card you'll never keep that look of disappointment off your face and of course it doesn't look too good having a postie rummaging through envelopes in the middle of the street.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

I am the opposite - I am a walk holder and I share my tips with the day off cover.

[chrisj]

I find the whole thing uncomfortable. I am only doing my job!

I still have some cards that have not even been opened and I rarely ever spend the money - all locked away.

However, I do say thank you and God Bless (habit). Merry Xmas and all that. And I do give a card back if happen to be covering the same round for most of Xmas.

Some walkholders make sure they work their days off for the last 2 weeks of Xmas to keep all the tips. I could not care less as long as I have a restful Xmas and no messed about too much.

*Last year, our manager brought someone (a relative newbie) from another office and gave him a round and even give him more hours to come in early to deliver packets whilst the Reserves were messed around and hardly made-up and got all the Tuesdays - the Bank Hols - great!

[NWpostie]

I'm sure some have taken my tips when I was off, there is a few in my place that I wouldn't trust to watch a turd, they probably steal it !

[mlw]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

glad you get tips from regulars as only 1 guy out of 5 walks i cover give me anything i have been floating for 3 yrs same duties! and these are quite posh walks!

[BernardBresslaw]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

glad you get tips from regulars as only 1 guy out of 5 walks i cover give me anything i have been floating for 3 yrs same duties! and these are quite posh walks!

It's very rare. Only twice last year. One lady gives me a lovely box of Marks & Sparks biscuits and a tenner, ever since I've been delivering.

[chrisj]

If someone post a tip to the door and it says 'to the postman' then I do not think it is 'stealing' if another postman takes it... The other fella is also a postman and if the customer truly knows the regular they will probably put the name on the envelope.

I had a note on the door saying postman please knock and when they opened the door, they said 'Oh!' we were not expecting you where 'Dave Gorman?' - "it is his day off". 'Merry Xmas' - "same to you".

I had share this with your colleagues and seen a customer with at least 3 notes - postie, paperboy and dustbin men...

We do not even have time for the customers these days and many of them see so many different posties these days that the whole tip thing is dying... In between trying to catch up with your partner and trying to get to those Specials before 1pm - there is very little time for customers or recipients.

[Lounge Lizard]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

I am the opposite - I am a walk holder and I share my tips with the day off cover.

My day off cover does the decent thing and hands me the tip the next day.
I then do the decent thing and say "No, you don't get many tips, you have it" and he accepts saying that I'm the only one to share my tips in this way.

[mickeymacca]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

I am the opposite - I am a walk holder and I share my tips with the day off cover.

My day off cover does the decent thing and hands me the tip the next day.
I then do the decent thing and say "No, you don't get many tips, you have it" and he accepts saying that I'm the only one to share my tips in this way.

Well done you, 6 xmas's not a sausage from any of my colleagues who I cover days off for....(5 duties)

Do you think it should be like D2Ds you get 1/6 th of all tips (joke)

[DB1100]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

I am the opposite - I am a walk holder and I share my tips with the day off cover.

I do,but I also give the RBL and ABF a donation

[Brainache]

If you are covering another post mans round I have always done the decent thing and collected on their behalf and they have always seen me ok. Honesty pays. I'm a day off cover for the same 3 posties and have been for a few years now, and do likewise. Some customers now know me enough to tip me specifically but I always see it as the duty holders tip otherwise.

I am the opposite - I am a walk holder and I share my tips with the day off cover.

My day off cover does the decent thing and hands me the tip the next day.
I then do the decent thing and say "No, you don't get many tips, you have it" and he accepts saying that I'm the only one to share my tips in this way.

Well done you, 6 xmas's not a sausage from any of my colleagues who I cover days off for....(5 duties)

Do you think it should be like D2Ds you get 1/6 th of all tips (joke)

Yes you should get 1/6 of the tips as a floater. If not then keep the tips you do get on those rounds. Last time I was a floater I handed over tips to the regular postie one xmas expecting a bit back but got nothing. From then on every year I pocketed the lot if I was on his round, sod him.