The treating of tradesmen

[Sydney Grew]

At this time of the year do people still leave out presents for the postman, the dustman, the milkman, the paper boy, the baker's boy, the butcher's boy perhaps, and the gardeners? And if not . . . why not?

[mangerton]

Of the list you gave, I, and I suspect the vast majority of the population, have the services of only two.

Of these, the postman frequently mis-delivers the mail, and leaves the premises littered with red elastic bands. The dustmen make a fearsome racket, leave an appalling mess, and never shut doors. Naturally, I am looking forward to tipping them all lavishly next week.

[tony yyy]

We are blessed with excellent tradesmen in our village and the postman never fails to deliver the post, even in the deepest snow. They fully deserve their small Christmas gifts and it's a joy to see their faces light up when they open them and realise that Tiny Tim may get his turkey after all. Sadly, neither the baker nor the butcher has a boy.

[ahinton]

Where I live for the time being there's no butcher or baker for miles and the nearest "village" one of either is an admittedly first-class butcher 15 miles distant. On the days when I actually get may mail delivered correctly, I'm lucky if I get if before mid-afternoon and, whilst the delivery staff are OK, the problems with misdelivered mail are down to the local delivery office; having had five Special Delivery items go AWOL over three years, the extent of this should not be hard to understand. I do have the most excellent, efficient and reliable refuse collection service, however - every Monday, between 11.30 and midday, come rain or shine, ice or snow, hell or high water - and I do tip them at around this time of year, although I don't doubt that if was caught doing so by the police, I'd be in trouble...

[scottycelt]

I do think tipping is all a bit silly nowadays, but I'm known to give the window-cleaner and gardener/grass-cutter a bit extra at Xmas, even though they are probably better-off than myself, as, privately, they both manage to run expensive-looking cars.

The extra payment is in recognition of their impeccable reliability, and the fact I know and speak to them as 'friends' as well as tradesmen.

Postmen seem to change regularly in our area and dustmen I rarely see ...

Of course. in many companies employees are not really supposed to accept tips from customers, anyway.

[MrGongGong]

At this time of the year do people still leave out presents for the postman, the dustman, the milkman, the baker's boy, the butcher's boy perhaps, and the gardeners? And if not . . . why not?

NO

I don't live in the 1950's

I only "tip" the Gardener but then she is my wife and its her garden anyway !

[ahinton]

I note also with some dismay and puzzlement the terms postman, dustman, baker's boy and butcher's boy; aside from the fact that "dustman" is in any case a peculiar antediluvian misnomer for someone who collects general garbage (or "refuse", if you prefer) rather than mere "dust" which is collected by the vacuum cleaner, what about the postwoman? and why only "boys" at the butcher's and the baker's?

[Lateralthinking1]

I think that is fair. You only have a scullery maid, don't you.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[QUOTE=ahinton;113358... what about the postwoman? and why only "boys" at the butcher's and the baker's?[/QUOTE] No postwoman has ever wrecked our catflap by forcing it open to pusg a packet through. We're in dispute with the local mail delivery service and Royal Mail never answers our polite letters.

[salymap]

My chief postman is based on Peter Sellers, think 'I'm alright, Jack'. He certainly earns more than Icould dream of and frequently delivers the wrong mail.
My Refuse Men, come in sixes, one for each type of bin and I can't tip them all.
I did give my private home help a present as she has saved me the vacuuming, etc, which is nearly impossible for me now. She was recommended by a friend and is very nice too. The others don't come around here.

[cloughie]

I note also with some dismay and puzzlement the terms postman, dustman, baker's boy and butcher's boy; aside from the fact that "dustman" is in any case a peculiar antediluvian misnomer for someone who collects general garbage (or "refuse", if you prefer) rather than mere "dust" which is collected by the vacuum cleaner, what about the postwoman? and why only "boys" at the butcher's and the baker's?

A bottle of wine each for our hairdresser (female) and Royal Mail Delivery Person (male). Sad to see so much Bah Humbug in this thread - perhaps we are just fortunate with our services.

[vinteuil]

I would have thought Mr Grew would expect his major-domo to deal with all such banausic matters...

[amateur51]

My non-gender specific deliverer of post is called Postie round here and always answers with a grin

I give him a modest £10 because it's all I can afford and because he provides an excellent, efficient and cheerful service in all weathers. He waits for me to get to the door even if I'm a tad slow and he uses his initiative!

[Bryn]

My non-gender specific deliverer of post is called Postie round here and always answers with a grin

I give him a modest £10 because it's all I can afford and because he provides an excellent, efficient and cheerful service in all weathers. He waits for me to get to the door even if I'm a tad slow and he uses his initiative!

Mine is called Errol and, like you, I have nothing but praise for his diligent and friendly service. However, I don't like the idea of giving him cash as a Winter thank you. I have tried eliciting from him his favourite tipple but it turned out he was tee-total. Any constructive suggestions would be welcomed.

[Mary Chambers]

I give ten pounds each to gardeners (without whom I couldn't live in this house), window cleaner and milkman. The milkman deserves it more than the others, because he is a hundred per cent reliable, and the milk turned up every day during the awful weather last winter - nothing else did. My postman (it is always a man) is different virtually every day, so doesn't get anything, though when I had a regular one (for 26 years!) he did. Neither do the binmen (also always male).

I'm not sure, but I doubt if my sons would dream of tipping anyone except taxi drivers and waiters/hotel staff. I'll ask them. I think it may be a generation thing.