Every year, I leave my mailman a card and a cash tip. My mailbox was recently destroyed by a person who went off the road in a snow storm. We got it back up, but the door was broken off, and we haven’t been able to replace it yet because the whole rig is quite complicated, and also, there’s over a foot of snow on the ground. I don’t want to leave cash in a mailbox with no door. Is it acceptable to write a check to the mailman? I know his first and last name. Thanks.
I’ve never even heard of someone tipping the mailman. Depending on your jurisdiction that could possibly be construed as bribing a government official.
Presumably you aren’t attempting to induce him to act or neglect to act in regard to his official responsibilities as per the cite but it could be seen that way if he’s taking money from you.
Are you kidding me? It’s a Christmas gift. I can’t give the mailman a Christmas gift? How am I bribing him? I’m not asking him to do anything. I think he’s a great mailman, and he goes out of his way to do a good job. I think your accusation of bribery is laughably absurd.
My brother is a mailman, and I assure you, giving the mailman a tip is a widespread practice.
Now I wish I hadn’t posted this question.
I think it is OK legally but the limit is $20 IIRC. I have never done it myself but it isn’t unheard of. Still, they are professional federal employees so I don’t group them in mentally with the groups that should get tips.
This is interesting, because where I grew up and live now (Midwest) tipping the mailman is extremely common. I usually leave cash, but I always leave it in an envelope saying “For mailman - happy holidays” or something like that. That way, I can leave cash in there but it just looks like a normal letter if the door pops open. If you’re afraid he will just grab the envelope and put it in the bag, you could tape it to the top of the inside of the mailbox, hanging down, so he sees it is addressed to him.
Rigamarole, it’s actually a common practice - my grandparents did it for years. But that was also because they had a relationship with the postal worker - he had been delivering their mail for years. I personally have not kept up the practice, mainly because I don’t know my mail person - and on the rare occasions I see the carrier it’s invariably a different person.
Personally, I would try to arrange someone to be home when he delivers the mail and try to meet him at the box.
(p.s. I just had to add that I got the funniest image in my head when I read the thread title 
)
The box is quite far away from the house, and there’s no way to arrange to be there, especially when it’s winter, as the mailbox sits by the side of the road in what is now about 2’ of accumulated snow. Hence my dilemma. In years past, I have put it in the mailbox, but the door is off. I think I will just tape it to the inside of the box, hanging down.
From the USPS point of view, it is not ok for a mailman to accept cash gifts (which I think would include checks) of any value. Cite.
Huh. Good to know. I hope you don’t think less of me that I’m still going to do it. I think I can squeak in under the “friends and family” exception, since we know each other by name and have dealt with each other personally on multiple occasions. But you’re right, the check would be completely out of the question.
That’s interesting - I’m sure it’s a regional thing as I’ve never heard anyone here (Los Angeles) mention anything of the sort.
Theoretically, if he takes the money indiscriminately and it never effects his job performance in any way it wouldn’t be a bribe. But if he ever goes out of his way to perform any kind of special, extended service for the guy who gave him 50 bucks last Christmas that he wouldn’t do for someone who didn’t “tip” him, at that point he’s been influenced to act in a way outside the realm of his official responsibilities and it’s a bribe (see my cite above).
Thanks to amarone for the USPS cite. I’d wager they disallow this behavior (accepting gifts) probably for fear of exactly this reason.
MrWhatsit is a mail carrier, and I asked him about this. He said that most mailmen (and women) he knows are perfectly happy to accept a small tip during the holidays, and HQ doesn’t really say anything about it one way or another. He said that anything over $15-20, he would probably thank the customer but say, “I can’t accept that, it’s too much.” That being said, sometimes people will give him a Christmas card and then he brings it home to find out there is money inside. (More often, people will give him homemade cookies or fudge or whatnot, which is also appreciated.)
And, very relevant to this thread, last night we just found one where the customer had actually written him a check! This person only knew MrWhatsit’s first name, so she wrote his first name on it, and then included a little note saying “Fill in last name.” I have to say, he’s been carrying mail for about four years now and this is a new one on us.
Oh, and he also said that absolutely the person who gives a plate of cookies or $10 or whatever, should not expect to get preferential mail service, because they won’t. But really that’s not why people do it, of course.