Prince

As a lover of the printed word I started subscribing to the local newspaper. I've been reading it for a couple of months now. Up until last week I didn't have any delivery problems, but last week I didn't receive the paper on three days out of seven. I don't know whether it just wasn't delivered, or if the neighbour went ahead and stole it. Regardless, after reporting the paper as not received for the third time, I have been receiving it on my doorstep instead of on the driveway.

Today, I got a Christmas card with the paper, along with an envelope, clearly for the purpose of sending the carrier a tip.

Coming from a country where tipping isn't customary, I've had a difficult time getting used to the concept, but I do tip food delivery guys and waiters, and I'm not a shitty tipper.

But newspaper carriers?

What is the protocol when it comes to tipping the newspaper carrier?

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Tully Mars

I wouldn't tip much if any. I delivered papers as a kid, no one tipped me. Plus the service you're describing doesn't sound like it's worth the tip, IMO. I tip pretty much based on service. I rarely leave a restaurant without tipping. But it seems like everyone has their hand out anymore.

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MSD

It's probably a neighborhood kid. Give him ten bucks if it won't break the bank.

sapiens

I was tipped by some customers when I delivered papers in the eighties, but I never had the nerve to provide an envelope.

stevie667

Such blatent asking for a tip is a good way not to get one imo.

I was a paperboy, never asked for or received a tip.

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shakran

oftentimes nowadays papers don't use paperboys. They use grown adults who operate as independent contractors, and they don't pay them very much at all.

That said, the envelope shows a hell of a lot of chutzpah, and not the kind I like either. They'd get no tip from me if they did that, just as the dorks at the Dairy Queen don't get 'em when they put out a tip jar.

eribrav

Agreed.
I delivered my route for several years and, if I may say so, did a commendable job.
Papers were on time and placed where the customer wanted them.
I got to know my customers well.
They typically gave me small weekly tips (as in, keep the change from $3 for a $2.75 subscription.) At holiday time many of them gave a tip, anywhere from a few dollars up to $10. This was the early 1980's.
I never asked for tips and would never even have thought of leaving a tip envelope.
If some one did that to me now it would not be well received.

LoganSnake

I tip the waiters and I tip food delivery people. That's it.

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Moyaboy

From what I see here. Most people will tip for direct services a person provides.

Whether it is serving you food, maintaining your lawn, delivering your mail, cutting your hair, providing a massage, parking your car, loading your car for you, or delivering your luggage to your room.

There are plenty of jobs that get paid great or not so great that you tip them for. So what is the difference of tipping a person that gets up early to stuff your paper and make sure it gets to your residence. The other option is going out every morning and getting a paper.

They are providing a convience that you requested. Tipping them seems natural if you tip all those other services that are provided to you for your convience.

Now I don't agree with the blatant envelope for tipping, but to treat them fair for months of great service isn't unfair.

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Bear Cub

I have tipped waiters/waitresses, UPS men, mail men, and paper people.

When they did a good job, and didn't ask for handouts.

Sounds like your guy meets neither of those criteria.

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thingstodo

These are people that get up at 2:00 am to pick up their papers and deliver to you. Most of the time they do it because they need the money and it is quite often a part-time gig. The job doesn't pay well, especially with today's gas prices. Most of the time you pay the newspaper directly so you don't really have a relationship with your newspaper carrier, thus the reason to leave a card and an envelope. How else would you know who they are?

You have no idea if your paper was missed because of poor delivery, theft or some other issue. Apparently, the carrier didn't want it to happen again so starting delivering to your porch. That is VERY GOOD service - more so because you didn't request porch service.

Don't be a chump...give your carrier a tip. I give mine $20 every year and often send a basket of some sort. You give your pizza delivery person a nice tip and I'll bet you also pay a delivery charge so don't flake out here. And for those of you that were kid carriers and got a .25 tip each week, just multiply that by 52 weeks in your head...you were tipped $13 a year and didn't even drive a car. And that was back then.

Fudge on everything you can but don't hurt the little guy at the botttom trying to make a living. If you've got it, share a little!!

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f6twister

I got a card attached to my paper about two weeks ago. I threw it out. I've had to call and get my paper redelievered at least twice per month because it was either missing or the carrier was too lazy to tie the bag shut and my paper was soaked and destroyed. I provided better service as a 12 y/o riding a bike than the adult with the car.

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skizziks

we used to tip the paperboy during the holidays. he didnt ask for it, we just did it. like, 5 bucks. im not a fan of the empty envelope suggesting the tip, but if you look at it from his point of view, people dont tip so much anymore and he is trying to give a freindly reminder.

Push-Pull

Yeah, I was the kid on the bike at 3am as well. I started my route right after the idiot before me got all the Xmas tips, so I didn't have much to lose. But I provided "good" service to everyone, and always obliged any special requests that any of my customers had. The tips just kinda happened on their own. I won't say that I worked for the tips, but it really did help me feel appreciated for the extra bit of effort I put into the job.

If your guy is getting the paper on your porch, and it's regularly on time and in good condition, consider giving him a tip.

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Prince

Judging by the writing on the envelope I think it's a kid that delivers the paper. I'm not opposed to tipping for good service, but it's something that's taking some getting used to. I wasn't too excited when the paper was missing on three mornings in one week, but since then it's been delivered right to my door, whereas my neighbours still get theirs on the driveway, so I can't complain.

And I do agree that while I think sticking an envelope and a card in a paper is kind of tacky, how else is he supposed to get a tip? I never see him since the paper gets delivered before my alarm goes off.

From what I understand these newspaper carriers don't make diddlysquat... I'mma send him a tip.

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Willravel

I'm glad.

When I delivered papers at around age 12 or 13, I believe I made something like 25% of the cost of a paper. I had a route of about 125 homes, which means about $80 a month (and that's getting up at 5AM before elementary school, folding the papers, and making two trips because not all the papers would fit in the bag carrying thing). On foot, I wouldn't expect a delivery-person to have more than maybe 200 homes per morning. Professionals have upwards of a thousand or more now.

If he's just some dumb kid like I was, I'd say giving him a break really isn't too bad. And I'm sure that he's not being intentionally rude with the "tip me please" card. I would complain about the missing papers, though.

Moyaboy

I happy to hear that.

I hope that the good service continues.

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Willravel

BTW, one of the people on my route would tip me in M&Ms. Their paper was always absolutely perfect; on time, at a right angle to the door exactly one foot from their wall, and in the plastic cover whether it was raining or not. The special tip bought special service.

Amaras

I've tipped $10-15 around Xmas, and maybe 2-3 a month generally. But then again, I'm cash poor.

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thingstodo

High five!!!!

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