I'm thinking about tipping

[Anonymous]

Why do we tip food delivery people but not UPS or USPS? We are getting a lot of stuff delivered these days and I've been thinking about the practice. SOmetimes I pay extra for white glove delivery or there's a fee. I usually don't tip then. I used to tip with Fresh Direct because the drivers would bring the bags in the kitchen and sit them on the counter--that was a different level of service but if they are all just leaving it on the porch then what? I know UPS and USPS theoretically get paid a living wage. YOu never know with some of the delivery services I'm using now if the delivery person will be the owner of the company or a poorly paid delivery person--I've had both happen. Ugh. It's so confusing.

[Anonymous]

People often give $ to the postman or UPS driver at Xmas. This is not a new idea and should not be confusing. Just give them holiday cash if you would like to. You won't be the only one, so they will not be shocked.

[Anonymous]

Ups and usps are career jobs (for some) with a living wage and benefits. Delivery drivers for uber and amazon etc are all gig workers workong shifts for barely minimum wage using their own cars (most of the time) and working for tips.

[Anonymous]

Tip Amazon??? Are you really serious?

[Anonymous]

Question for those who tip, I have thought about it, but we don’t seem to have one specific delivery person. It seems like there’s constantly a new person dropping off our packages, so I’m not even sure who all to tip. I certainly can’t afford to keep envelopes of money out for each person who may come by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for those who tip, I have thought about it, but we don’t seem to have one specific delivery person. It seems like there’s constantly a new person dropping off our packages, so I’m not even sure who all to tip. I certainly can’t afford to keep envelopes of money out for each person who may come by.

agree. I think it is always different ups or fedex delivery person every time. I would not tip amazon delivery people, I think I have spend thousands this year and I pay for my subscription of amazon prime.

For usps mailman that deliver mail to my mailbox, I think I have seen a few of different ones doing rotation. So, whoever sticks around for xmas gets my small giftcard that I leave it my mailbox.

[Anonymous]

Op here. We have several ups and usps people and one of our mail carriers throws our packages at the door. Nope, not tipping her. Plus you never know who will show up on any given day. It could be someone you’ve never seen before.

[Anonymous]

Good grief. Tipping has gotten out of control.

[Anonymous]

I do not typically tip package delivery people, although we do tip generously Uber eats or Postmates people. That said my husband and I have discussed that when we are expecting a very heavy item, we should put a envelope with a tip taped to our door as it is an effort to transport the item from the truck to our front stoop.

[Anonymous]

One reason we don't generally tip mail carriers is that they are prohibited from accepting cash and cash equivalent gifts (gift cards) from customers. They can accept gifts valued up to $20 as long as they do not receive more than $50 in gifts from one person in a year.

I think part of my mental calculation when tipping is the person's likely wage and benefits. There are a lot of companies that say they offer great pay and benefits (like Starbucks), but then they set their employee schedules and vesting requirements at such a ridiculously high bar that few employees qualify. There are also many exceptions to eligibility, such as locking seasonal or temporary employees out of benefits eligibility. In other cases, the employees' cost burden to buy into benefits, like health insurance, is such a high percentage of their income that no one uses these supposed perquisites. Essentially, few hourly workers are compensated well by their employers. Companies that hire their laborers as full-time, salaried employees generally offer fairer pay, benefits, and some opportunities for advancement.

In the contemporary era a lot of people are contractors, not employees. Most people who grocery shop for you, deliver white goods to your home, drive you around town, or bring you food are contractors. While the company that dispatched them may charge you a hefty fee, the workers do not see any of that fee. (Take my word for it, I was a seasonal employee of a company that charged $125/hr. for personal services. I saw $15/hr. of that.) When you order from Home Depot or Lowe's, for example, the people who deliver your new dishwasher do not work for the store. They work for delivery and logistics companies who got the gig by being the lowest bidder to the big box chain. The same is true for "white glove" set up fees; Anthropologie, One King's Lane, or Macy's aren't hiring, supervising, or paying the people who come into your home. (This is part of the reason why scheduling deliveries and sorting out problems is such a nightmare.)

I also think about who is classified as a "tipped wage worker" in the law. Anyone who customarily receives more than $30/month in tips can legally be classified as a tipped wage worker. Employers can pay those folks less than minimum wage, and the workers are expected to make up the shortfall in tips. Legally, if tips fall short, employers are obligated to pay the difference between tipped minimum wage and minimum wage. In practice, employers engage in a lot of time theft and employees' only cost effective means of combating the practice is to quit. It is, therefore, so important to tip your hairdresser, manicurist, doorman, valet, etc. well because they might otherwise receive nothing or next-to-nothing for their work.

[Anonymous]

Since covid, our favorite pizza place now automatically adds %20 to PICK UP orders. I am a little annoyed by that (we are all hurting financially right now, not just restaurants) Are we supposed to tip on top of that?

[Anonymous]

I give the mailman a Giant gift card every year - everyone needs groceries and a box of dog biscuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since covid, our favorite pizza place now automatically adds %20 to PICK UP orders. I am a little annoyed by that (we are all hurting financially right now, not just restaurants) Are we supposed to tip on top of that?

Good question! I've seen that too and then they also have a tip line. And this is for pick-up, not delivery.

[Anonymous]

Years ago I had a non tipper working for me. He did not give mailman or even his nanny a holiday tip. I was joking once as he was proud of it and said does that mean I can give your Christmas bonus to the other staff. He said no that is different.

I go how I pay you to work and the bonus is optional and an extra for good work. I stopped very quick went whoops don’t want HR in here.

But I still find it unusual non tippers and non bonus people demand they get there bonus

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, (once things are back to normal and people start traveling again), please leave cash for the hotel housekeeper. It makes a big difference in their lives and its physically draining, unappreciated work done by women living on the margins of society.