I used to tip the kid who had a paper route. I also used to have a paper route, but all the papers now hire contractors to deliver the paper. I don't tip them at all. He just drives around in his truck, never gets out, and tosses the paper to wherever it lands. He's lucky enough to not have to deal with collecting the money himself, dogs, putting the paper behind the screen door (or in the mailbox, etc) and rude people.

Our delivery man is very good at getting out of the car and putting the paper on the porch. We go out the garage door and the porch isn't convenient so I just told him to throw in on the driveway. I think he is very kind to be so thoughtful to his customers.

I used to deliver papers when I was a kid, too, and even though my customers were nice and I always put the paper where they told me they wanted it, I rarely got tips (except at Christmas). Maybe the people on my route were cheap. I think in a case like this any tip will be appreciated, as most customers will not give him one. What about $5 a month?

Ken

I'm wondering about this too. We just moved to MA. We never even knew the name of our old carrier in Florida and never would have known how to tip him, since he didn't leave envelopes. I guess it's different up here. Our carrier from the start let us know who he is, and right before the July 4 weekend left a "convenient" envelope inside the bag. I thought carriers would only expect Christmas tips. I didn't leave him anything.

Actually I'm not sure whatever this guy does is the norm for this area, since one day I was calling customer service for some reason and accidentally pushed the wrong button (1 instead of 2) and told the system (by mistake) that I had not received a paper that day and would get a one-day credit. In trying to get my other issue resolved I forgot all about the accidental credit and didn't tell the customer service rep. The next day my carrier left me a VERY nasty and sarcastic note written in permanent marker on the outside of the bag. I found out later they get fined $1 for every missed paper. I felt terrible and left a message for his supervisor about my error, but I also felt the guy could have merely brought it to my attention and asked what happened instead of being offensive.

So I am left to wonder if the guy is psycho and when I really should be giving him tips. Thanks Julie for bringing it up because I wonder about it from time to time.

I wouldn't tip a jerk who wrote nasty notes to me. For all he knew a dog or person had carried your paper off. He should have just asked what the problem was.

When I used to get the newspaper I was billed every three months and there was a spot on the bill for "optional carrier tip" and I tipped $10 on each bill.

Brings to mind a clever kid we had delivering papers at one time. Seems he had a route with 30 customers on it. We all signed up thru him, so the paper wasn't involved (army - germany).

About 2 years into our three year hitch, neighbors sitting outside yakking came to the conclusion that we each missed our paper about once a month. No real biggie, but we figured he must have been pocketing the extra subscription $$$. We chalked it up as a kid with a successful future.

BTW, we didn't tip except $5 at Christmas.

I have a paper route and tips are very apprieciated, especially if you have specifically asked that your paper be on the porch or something. After all, to get it up there involve stopping, getting out of the car, and getting close enough to get it on the porch. It more than doubles my route time, and was enough of a pain that I bought a Jeep. OK, I would have liked one anyway so maybe I should say thanks. Anyway, from the people that do tip it's about a five dollar average. About 1/8 of my stops tip me regularly without a real increase at Christmas. Very bad neighborhood.

Ideliver papers for a living--500 a day--dispite what everyone thinks it is hard work and we put up with alot of guff--we try hard to do what the customer wants---put them on pourches and such--but sometimes there are cars or trash cans in the way or they leave other papers in the tubes--rain and snow make a big difference--we work 7 days a week, 365 days a year--and we can never find a sub for a day off--not to say we take our lives in our hands with the other drivers--they see our flashers going and panic and are not careful and about run us off the rosd--we have been rear ended many times--why do I do it?? Because I want to be home with my kids--so I deliver papers for 3 hours every morn and are done by 8 or 9 each morning and can spend the day with my 7 kids--I take a different kid with me each day--we take the tip I get and use it on doing special things with the kids--the other money we need to live on but the tips are extra--we give great service and most months only get 20-30 dollars in tips--at Christmas we get more and we let the kids deceide how to spend the Christmas tips--last year they got a TV--delivering papers is hard work--Ive learned to appreciate the mail carrier and others that deliver things to me---we do it when we are tired, sick,or have other things pressing--we have alot of customers that tick us off but our moto is the customer is right--so smile smile smile-then go home and scream!!! Yes tip them if they give you good service--but keep in mind they are human like you and not perfect--we will make mistakes!!Remember we dont get a day off

My paperboy is helped by his mother who drives him around the route. I send them a plant at christmas so the whole family can enjoy it.

gennif

Sharon G in FL,

Curiosity seems to be my besetting vice, but here goes ...

Since you are a resident of MA - does FL mean ...

Farm Loan

Fatally Leveraged

Feeble Link

Feverish Lover

Finally Loved

Financially Literate

First Love

Fiscally Lazy

Flying Low

Footloose Liar

Ford Limousiner (sorry - that should really be "Lincoln")

Fortunate Loaner

Free Loader

Freedom Limited

Funny L ...

Sorry - I just ran out of ideas.

Oh, yes - how about "Funny Looking"?

No - not that.

Enjoy your day.

joyful guy

The woman who delivers my paper is great. Paper is inside the storm door every morning, and she puts it in a plastic bag when it is wet outside. She has to leave her car in the parking lot and walk 200 feet to the front door to deliver my paper. Most of my brothers had paper routes when they were young, so I know it is work. And every year when my paper deliverer goes on vacation for a week, I am reminded about just how good she is. (During that week, papers are all over the front lawn, sopping wet if it rains and frequently not delivered at all.)

There's a place on the bill to give a tip, so I tip her $10.00 every three months. What I don't like about this system is that I don't know if the paper tells her who the tip is from. Every year at Christmas time, she leaves an envelope in the paper, and I tip $25.00 then. But I tip because she works hard and does a really good job. Other carriers that I've had before her didn't do a good job and I either didn't tip or tipped a lot less.

Cammy

I used to live in a third floor walk up. Every morning come rain, shine or snow my paper would be sitting neatly in front of my door by 7am (at the latest).

Once when I was on vacation, The carrier called to tell me he had seen someone come into our unit without our permission. He also helped our local police department catch someone trying to steal a vehicle on our street.

He would provide an envelope that was addressed to his home. I tipped him $2.50 a month and gave $25.00 at Christmas. I considered it a small price to pay for such good service.

On the other hand, my MIL lived in an assisted living community. Each morning her carrier would throw her paper right in line with the sprinkler system. The paper would be soaking wet. She'd have to drape it over chairs to dry out before she could read it. She called more than once to ask them to rectify it. Nothing was done. She paid her bill by the year. When she passed, I made sure they refunded every penny of what she was still owed and didn't include anything for a tip. As far as I'm concerned, they didn't deserve it.

We subscribed to the daily newspaper. They automatically bill our credit card. So we never see the carrier or a bill. But in three years, he never missed delivering one paper. Oh, I take it back. We got two feet of snow one night, so no paper the next morning, but BOTH papers were delivered the following day. When it's rainy or snowy,he double-bags them (those long narrow plastic bags). At Christmas he leaves a little printed card with his home address. Every December I send him a $20 bill.

I always tipped at Christmas, but this year I got a note from my carrier saying that $35 was the minimum appropriate amount. This is a driver who just hurls my paper out the window - no personal service at all. I was so mad I called the newspaper. They told me not to tip at all this year and they would explain to the carrier that this is what happens when you make demands.

I hate the whole idea of tipping anyway. I would so much rather just be charged enough for a meal or a paper to pay the wages of the staff - and not go through this whole tipping thing. There was a segment on one of the news magazines about a Florida cruise line that was in a fight with some of its customers who didn't understand that tipping wasn't optional. There shouldn't have been anything to understand. The price quoted should have been the price.

I am an actual paper carrier. I am 14 and will be 15 in September. I like to think of myself as a decent carrier. I get the papers delivered on time (98% of the time) and I rarely have wet or blown away papers. I always take the time to go up to the door or porch, or put it in a box.

I wouldn't need/expect more than $20 a month in tips for my entire route. (50 people) Sometimes I get more than that, sometimes less. I always appreciate tips, but I know that my customers are already paying me by paying for their papers. Also, I would never have the audacity to leave an envelope for a tip. Maybe that's just the way I'm brought up, but I would think it's impolite.

So, I guess what I'm saying is: you need to consider if he is dependable and on-time, and then give what you feel comfortable giving.

If that was any help at all, I'm glad I posted. :)
James