In Falls Church City, the guy who delivers the free City newspaper inserts a card with a pre-addressed envelope in the paper right before Christmas. I think that's super tacky, but then I worry that if I don't send him something, he won't deliver my (FREE) paper anymore. We always tipped our mail, newspaper, and trash people when I was a kid, but we also knew them! They would say hello every day and always went the extra mile for their customers, so we liked to express our appreciation at Christmas. My husband never did this and thinks its weird that I want to tip our mail delivery woman.

Out $500! Not $200!

Np here - what if I gave our mailman a $5 gift card
To Starbucks for his solicited holiday present? Is that too cheap? I also don't celebrate Xmas and feel a little put-upon to have everyone and their brother reminding me to gift them, and frankly, after school teachers, housekeeper, and nanny, we're already out $200.

the property manager that lived w/his family in our building and is Indian would shove Christmas cards under our doors w/empty envelopes in them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My newspaper carrier gave us a card and envelope. The card included a pre-printed note that said he was sorry the newspaper was always late, but it was hard to get it there in time. It takes a lot of nerve to admit you've done a bad job and still ask for a tip!

No way! That is hilarious. And ballsy.

Give him a tip - like: "Next year try and be on time with the newspaper - thanks!" That's a tip isn't it?

Anonymous wrote:My newspaper carrier gave us a card and envelope. The card included a pre-printed note that said he was sorry the newspaper was always late, but it was hard to get it there in time. It takes a lot of nerve to admit you've done a bad job and still ask for a tip!

No way! That is hilarious. And ballsy.

The only one we tip is our hairdresser because he comes to our house to do all of our hairs, two adults and two kids.

And we love him almost like family, 11 years with us .

Soliciting a tip is a sure way NOT to get one from me.

Our mailman (who is incredibly lazy and I refuse to give him even one Christmas M&M) gives us an envelope like that. Our newspaper carrier did too.

They can both whistle Dixie because the way to ensure we will not gift you is to act as though it's expected.

My dogwalker solicited a tip which just grated me to no end. Frankly, I think paying $18 is a HELL of a lot of money for some shitty 20 minute walk. I made her cookies and that is that.

My newspaper carrier gave us a card and envelope. The card included a pre-printed note that said he was sorry the newspaper was always late, but it was hard to get it there in time. It takes a lot of nerve to admit you've done a bad job and still ask for a tip!

Anonymous wrote:

I am not into tipping everyone and their mother. I am happy to tip well when eating out or at the salon, but it irritates me that everyone wants a tip (or to tip) for everything.

Agree 100%

Me too, and it's posters like the "don't be a cheapskate" one that drive these ridiculous expectations. Let me see, according to some on DCUM I should be tipping for the holidays:

Extra to my stylist and hairdresser (on top of usual tip)
Mail deliverer
Newspaper deliverer
Extra tip to the babysitter
Extra to the house cleaners
$ to teacher
$ to teacher's aide
UPS guy
Extra tip to mani/pedi technician
Crosswalk guard

Who did I forget? I am all about the generous teacher gift, but all these extra big holiday tips and tips to people who don't ordinarily get them (in some cases you can't even legally offer them) are just ridiculous and set up expectations where none should exist.

I'd not send him anything then after the holidays ask him if he liked what you sent him. When he replies he didn't get anything, tell him it must've got lost in the mail - and blame the post office.

That is terrible. I'd report that for sure. He's not allowed to solicit gifts!

I am not into tipping everyone and their mother. I am happy to tip well when eating out or at the salon, but it irritates me that everyone wants a tip (or to tip) for everything.

Agree 100%