In Japan tipping is seen as rude because high standards are expected as the norm.

I don't really know. Is it a class or regional thing? My mum was from east Manchester and very working class, so it's not come from a position of having money to throw about. IT seems to be people who bring things to your house, her Dad used to tip the coal boy at Christmas for example.

Our postie is exceptional, not only chatty and very polite, he has a system whereby he knows who will take parcels in for whom, even if it means doubling back on himself. As a result, people very rarely have to go through the annoyance of driving into town, finding somewhere to park, queuing up for your parcel - or having to wait until Saturday for eventual redelivery. In short, he goes the extra mile and everyone appreciates it. I think perhaps Xmas is just a traditional time to show appreciation.

My O/H gets bottles of wine and chocolates from clients at Christmas and he works in the construction industry, it's not just money.

Yes, we tip our postman and binmen. Not a lot, but they appreciate it.

Some say they shouldn't be tipped for just doing their job, but I think that's just mean spirited.

As a girl I used to give a Christmas card to the lollipop man who helped us cross the road near our school and one year I took him one of the mince pies I had made with my mum at home. It made me feel good to give, and I'm glad I've never grown out of it.

why would anyone do that, they never do the job their suppost to do, i have a different postman every day of the week, and never seen the same one twice in less than 2 weeks. as fot binmen they useless layabouts that complain about anything and fine you for them refusing to empty it

I used to Leave a Tip of 6 Cans of Beer for our Binmen, Did it for about 16 Years until the Next Collection after Christmas 16 Years ago.Local kids had Knocked over loads of Wheelie Bins and rubbish was all over the Place,So i used to bring the Bin along with next Doors OAP,S Bin to the Front of the House and then Pull them up the 6 Steps to the Footpath in the Morning 7.00am, But this Paticular week i was getting Shaved in the Bathroom and heard the Lorry stopping outside, By the time i got to the Door they where away up the Road. No problem as they turn at the Top of the road and do the other side of the Street on the way back so i pulled the 2 Bins over to the other side of the road.Only to be told NO We have done YOUR Side WE Only do this SIDE NOW You are too late. Never will they ever get anything from me again. I also tip my Barber and the Oil Delivery Man But no one else.

We always used to but times have changed, over xmas we receive our post at random times from many different people as we haven't had a regular postie now for years. Back in the 80s we always had the same dustmen for years who did a great job, not easy lugging about heavy bins in all weathers.
I just couldn't bring myself to tip the binmen anymore, they're just not amenable. I've had a sticker slapped on it saying it was contaminated (a bit of polystyrene) so they refused to empty it. One morning they threw a plastic plant pot across my front garden in a right strop towards my son's friend barking "these aren't allowed" at her. Poor girl was only waiting for my son.

I remember being a paperboy 20 years ago and a lady waited In her living room and as soon as I went up to her door she rushed and opened it. I thought she was going to say something about how her papers were being delivered but she gave me £5 and said my 'husband and I appreciate what you do.'

Not mine. They didn't take my bin yesterday despite seeing me put it out before they left. So no tip for my binmen.

Nope, they seem to change every other day and even at that I wouldn't tip them anyway. I have had zero Special Deliveries delivered on time this past year and I get on average 2 per month and 2 even got lost altogether. 1 postman even admitted that I would upset his set route by delivering before 1pm, Its not uncommon for me to meet the postman when I am coming in from work at 4pm so we are obviously last on his route.

I complained to Royal Mail about this but they did damn all about it, One smart ass postie though he would be smart after this and would gob outside our house constantly after I complained, I caught him one Saturday and shall we say "Politely" asked him to stop, I've not seen him since. You tip for decent service, I don't call this decent service.

Do I shite

That's nice, that's what tipping is all about. Appreciating what people do. I tipped the taxi driver the other day as he was nice and friendly as I wasn't entirely sure where I wanted to be and he helped me out.

I just did

Ahh, I watched "The Grinch" today with my grandkids.

I used to give a "Christmas Box", as my parents called it, to my postman and milkman.
My parents used to tip the Dustman and the Oilman.
My postman got given a different route.
My milkman sold his route and the new guy just bolloxed our orders so we dropped him.
The bin men just chuck our bins all over the place as they sprint to finish early.
So now I buy a £30 bottle of Glenffidich and raise a glass saying "Keep it up!" 👍🍷

Good for them. Again, never heard of it.

Yep - I tape cards with money in onto the bin and door.

Postie often gives me a card back. It's pot luck which bin crew get the tip, as they alternate recycling and domestic each week.

I tip the postman but the bin men are no longer helpful and don't deserve a tip.

There is an existing thread on this but it got derailed somewhat because I mentioned coal delivery men. Going by some astonished and disbelieving responses, some people have never heard of wood burners, multi fuel stoves etc.
As for the rest, we have no 'bin men' in this area because we have no bins! Instead we are issued with two refuse bags every week and the bags are collected the following week. So 'bag men' perhaps.
The post is tricky because we have 3 regulars and I ain't giving them all a tip. One of them is surly and rude - but come December he started sporting a rictus smile He has no chance.
But the other two maybe. I live out in the sticks and buy a lot online. They go the extra distance to make sure I get my parcels.

We tip our postman Andy. My wife has a lot of deliveries from various online traders and he's really good, even coming back in the evening in his own time sometimes to drop stuff off for us. We gave him £20 and a pack of those assorted ales, and one assorted ciders.

So you want them to change thier round so you are not last on the route, that would mean some one else being last on the route, how do they keep everyone happy ?

What's the point in Special Delivery then? Guaranteed before 1pm if they can't be arsed.

I would say the problem is at the sorting office, as it would mean the postman changing his round daily to deal with Special Deliveries daily. Round here Special Deliveries come out by a van not by normal postman

Same here.

No, why would i do that ? They are already getting paid as it is.

I live in flats so no idea who the postman is. There's a nice postwoman at work but she walks far too fast to give her a tip

I bet that's because they role play in the bedroom where he plays the part of the young paperboy.