Mail carrier + Holidays

[Bea]

Hi Guys,
Tis the season and since I recently moved and have a wonderful mail man for the first time in, well, ever, I'd like to give him something for the holidays.  I read that cash/ gifts in excess of $20 are illegal.  I'm wondering if there are any other rules I should know (does it vary by area? I am in the US, btw) and if anyone has any bright ideas.  I am thinking a gift certificate to a chain coffeeshop in town for $5.00, but also do not want to look cheap. Thoughts appreciated!

[Chocolate Cake]

I always make a tin of frosted cookies for our mail carrier.   He gets a big grin on his face when he pulls it out of the mailbox and sees his name on it.

[Bea]

I was thinking of baking something, but am wondering if that would annoy him because it would give him something extra to carry on his route.  I know that sounds really silly, and that is a good idea that I'd like to do.  I just wasn't sure if it was accepted or not.

[Chocolate Cake]

I think my carrier likes the cookies because it gives him something to snack on on his route.   

[Bea]

good point. =)
Maybe today i'll watch where he parks his truck- if it's on this block, then I think I will bake something so he can just put it back in his truck if he wants to.

[mama1980]

I used to be a letter carrier and it was great to bring home the wrapped box of cookies. And yes, I would eat the unwrapped ones on the route. You need that sugar rush to get you through the cold.

Cash is fine for the letter carrier. Most of us would stop at our personal vehicle and unload our presents before going into the office in the afternoon. Our supervisors were pretty good about all the gifts we'd collect. And if I was feeling particularly generous I would share with the supervisors.

Most of the time I'd rather have someone shovel the walk and driveway so I could get to the mailbox.

[Bea]

"Most of the time I'd rather have someone shovel the walk and driveway so I could get to the mailbox."

HA!  I did that one already, and that's what got me started thinking about this.

Thanks for the inside POV.  I will maybe do a tin of cookies and fudge with a holiday card.  That sounds pretty standard and acceptable and I'll be making a ton anyhow!

[MommaBear]

Ok, these are great ideas.  But would putting "To Our Mail Carrier" on the card/gift be rude? We don't know the name of our mail carrier, but I do know they are nice. Thanks!!

[mama1980]

You can always call your post office and ask who your carrier is. They can at least tell you a first name.

There is usually 2 carriers for every route. The regular carrier you will see 5 out of 6 days, the replacement carrier only on the 6th day. The replacement carrier has the same 5 routes that he/she will carry every week. It's a tough job learning that many routes but sometimes it's great as you have a change everyday.

And again, letter carriers don't care if you don't know their name, they just LOVE to get a gift of any kind. The warm and fuzzy feeling you get from finding a present just for you in a mail box can make any day better.

[LissaR1]

Two points to consider:

Depending on where you live, homemade gifts may or may not be eaten.  If you live in an area where people aren't terribly trusting of each other, I'd skip the homemade stuff, since your mailman doesn't know you.  I know that my stepbrother would probably not eat anything he recieved on his route (he delivers to a really bad area), but I'm betting others would.

Also, I know in my area, the mailmen are not allowed to take anything out of the box for themselves, even if it's clearly addressed to them.  However, if someone hands it to them, they can take it.  So I'm going to be having to watch for our mailperson these days to give him his card!

[platys]

Here are the link to the gift guidelines for USPS employees:

https://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3107&p_sid=LqIhSzni&xssl=1

In particular:

Gifts to Postal Service Employees
While many Postal Service™ customers have traditionally thanked their letter carrier with gifts of cash during the holiday season, this practice puts our employees at risk of violating federal law.  The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch ("Standards"), specifies that Postal Service employees may not accept gifts from outside sources (including Postal Service customers) or gifts given to them because of their official positions. Postal Service employees are also prohibited from soliciting gifts from outside sources.

There are a number of exceptions and exclusions to the general gifts rule. Postal Service employees may accept the following items:

    *
      Snacks and beverages that are not offered as part of a meal.
    *
      Items with little intrinsic value (i.e., greeting cards, plaques, pens, coffee mugs, etc.).
    *
      Perishable items (i.e., flowers, chocolates, cookies, etc.); if the items are clearly worth more than $20, employees should share them with others in the Postal Service workplace.
    *
      Items with a market (retail) value of $20 or less.
    *
      Gifts motivated solely because of a personal relationship.
    *
      Gifts for which the employee has paid market (retail) value.
    *
      Gifts paid for by the Postal Service.

Postal Service employees may not accept cash - in any amount or form (bills, checks, money orders) - from an outside source.

[sysprog]

Somewhat off topic, but a bit humorous:

A good friend has, for many years, given us a plate of assorted cookies that she baked for Christmas.  One time that she stopped by the house to deliver the cookies we weren't home, so she put them in our mailbox.

Of course, the mail carrier took the cookies, thinking that they were for him!

Our friend replaced the cookies when she found out what happened, and we all had a good laugh over the situation.

I didn't realize that postal regulations prohibited the carrier from taking anything out of the mailbox until platys brought it up, though.

[JudiAU]

We give cash in a Christmas card and mail carrier is always happy to take it. Whether they take it for themselves or donate to charity because it violates the USPS policy I care not.