Tipping question...

December 14, 2019 11:38 PM

Me and my mom are old farts, and like reading the paper every morning. How much should I tip the delivery person? They do a good job, the papers always there, double bagged if its rainy, always in the middle of the driveway.
posted by Marky to Home & Garden (12 answers total)

I would give a week's cost or $20 whichever is higher.
posted by AugustWest at 11:46 PM on December 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

My family always tipped $20 for the holidays.
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:19 AM on December 15, 2019

I'd tip $20 for dry, daily paper in the target zone!
posted by maloon at 3:56 AM on December 15, 2019

I'd add a little more if you live in a high cost of living area or one with difficult weather conditions, etc. Also I think the amount for this kind of tipping might be one of the things that people don't tend to update too often over the years, while the delivery person's cost of living has probably been rising slowly but constantly. So I'd say be generous if you can afford it.
posted by trig at 5:43 AM on December 15, 2019 [6 favorites]

$20 is the perfect amount unless, as AugustWeek says, the weekly cost is higher.

The fact that it's always there, and always dry is the deciding factor. My old man was a real bastard about this (I thought) when I was growing up. Now that I'm an old fart myself, I see his point, even though I don't get the paper.
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 6:16 AM on December 15, 2019

If you want to make it a bit more personal, add a small starbucks or other gift card, esp. for coffee. They get up early.
posted by theora55 at 6:17 AM on December 15, 2019 [4 favorites]

I'm a tad more generous: $40. Because $20 doesn't buy what it used to, and because not every customer tips at all (by a long shot).
posted by beagle at 7:55 AM on December 15, 2019 [6 favorites]

Please don't tip with vouchers/gift cards.
posted by turkeyphant at 10:46 AM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I gave $50 to each of my newspaper deliverers. It's barely $1 a week, and it's a slog of a job.
posted by vickyverky at 11:12 AM on December 15, 2019 [3 favorites]

$20 was my first thought, but beagle’s comment made me realize that it was my first thought because it’s what my parents were tipping the mail carrier and paper deliverer when I became aware that this was a thing (mid-90’s). $40 or $50 seems more reasonable in light of the inflation and general corporate wage-fuckery in the intervening years.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 2:22 PM on December 15, 2019

Tip what you can and think it's worth (definitely over $20).
posted by skepticallypleased at 8:36 PM on December 15, 2019

Tip a fifty-dollar bill, ideally in one of those envelopes with the little window so the recipient can see Grant's face.
posted by box at 7:12 AM on December 16, 2019