How much do you tip your paper carrier?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Is it a specific percentage of your bill, or a couple of bucks here and there?

[DainBramaged]

1. You still read the newspaper?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. No, I just enjoy having it tossed somewhere in the vicinity of my house every day.

:P

[DainBramaged]

3. BBBaaawwwwhhhh good one

[hellbound-liberal]

4. We gave ours $25 at Christmas..

Delivering the newspaper 365 days a year must be a tough job so we think he deserves some appreciation for that.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. So you don't tip on a monthly basis?

[Pierre.Suave]

6. Wait, what?

we are supposed to tip the kid that delivers the paper?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I tip when the service is good.

The only problem is, that happens once a month at best. It's been years since they consistently gave good service.

So I thought I'd offer a tip based on the number of times it actually reaches the porch.

So I'm wondering if .20 a day is fair. I thought the potential for a higher tip might encourage them to do a good job.

[peekaloo]

7. $20 at the end of the year.

I pay the bill every 13 weeks and it never fails that the week the bill arrives the paper has been damaged/not delivered which is why I skip the carrier tip portion.

I'm petty like that. :-(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I was a paper carrier as a kid; and I don't think it's petty at all.

I never expected a tip; though I knew that I could count on certain customers to give one. I never thought of delivering it anywhere but right in front of the door, or in the screen door if there was one.

[stuntcat]

8. yeah what??

okay we get a christmas card every year from our carrier and I realize we ought to give him something for Christmas but we never do, I get too confused and busy and forget :( I need to change my ways I think.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I'm getting the idea that they don't care until Christmas comes...

...for the most part.

[hellbound-liberal]

12. I think the individual carrier that you have makes the biggest difference

If you have someone who wants to do a good job, they will do what they are supposed to do regardless of whether or not they get a tip. If you have somebody that just doesn't care, then it probably doesn't matter what you tip them. Chances are if you have a lousy carrier, they probably won't last through two Christmases anyway. Either way, it can't hurt to give them a tip.

[stuntcat]

14. I'll change my ways

We've had the same one, we've only subscribed 3 or 4 years and we Never see the car that drops it off, but his Christmas card has the same name.
So next year I'll do better though, I swear it.

[Nicole]

13. $2.00 a month

If the service has been good, I tip extra in December.

For the last 2 years I've had an elderly man as my carrier. He doesn't throw the paper because he said he hated when the paper hitting the door used to wake him up. He brings it to the door & places it on the mat. Every single day. I give him $25 extra in Dec., so it's about $4.00 per month.

The two carriers before him got nothing in Dec., just the $2.00 per month. I often had to search for my paper with those two.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. I hope he does it because

he wants the job; not because he needs it. He sounds like a gem of a carrier. He takes pride in his work. I'd be willing to give someone like that extra money at Christmas.

[Nicole]

17. He does it because he wants to.

He told me his Dr. said he needed to start an exercise program. So he got the paper route which he walks. He said he would rather be paid to exercise than pay for a gym membership. Plus he has built in motivation, he can't just skip a day like he could at the gym. Pretty smart thinking if you ask me. Maybe I should do it too because I definitely skip too many days. :rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Good for him!

It IS excellent exercise. I can see why he would want to do it.

[Danmel]

16. I guess I'm pretty generous

We get the NY TImes delivered 7 days a week- it is here almost without fail when I get up at 5:45 in the morning. I tipped her $40 for the year.

We also get Newsday on Sundays only- I tipped her $15.00

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. That seems like a fair tip...

When I delivered papers, I'll never forget this one elderly couple that were customers, the Ludds. They always paid on time and always gave a generous tip. And sometimes they'd give little gifts...cookies, a poster of the US Flag (back when Vietnam was foremost on people's minds). What a sweet couple...