El-Kabong and ernestrp it sounds like a little bit of sour grapes from you too. If you are unhappy at your job as a software tester or want more money get a different job. Don't cry because you think it is wrong that if someone (postman/woman) gets a tip or a gift or anything for that they treat the person who gave the item better than those who did not. If you honestly believe that a person(a) doesn't treat person(b) better if they like or have been treated better by person(b) then there is no reason to continue explaining as you just won't get it.

I have never condoned the fact that this happens, I am just aware that this is a reality. I don't set the rules in society, I just play by them.

It's funny to hear ernestrp say that "all garbage men want free gatorade". I didn't say that, all I said was that I give them gatorade, primarily because that is what I have in my refrigerator and it is easier to give them something that they can take with them and won't spill while driving. You can give your garbage man whatever makes you/them happy.

I don't think that by tiping you should expect " hugs and kisses or mints on my pillow" as Kabong so aptly put it. I certainly don't expect that and I don't tip for that reason. The reason I tip is because I receive a lot of packages and would not reasonably be able to go the post office to pick them up if my mailman didn't drop them for me.

I think when you have experienced a little more of how the world works you will realize that everyone's purpose in life is not to serve you, because it is their job. And as far as tiping the world goes, software testing is not a service industry and the pilot while serving the passengers makes 5+ times your average postal carrier and they work a lot less frequently, not to mention you already paid several hundred/thousand dollars for the flight.

In the end, if you don't want to tip...don't...just don't get upset when you postal carrier delivers your neighbors mail to their door because they broke down and parted with $10-$20 and your mail is jammed in your box.....here endith the rant. Peace-out...

I will say that tiping is most beneficial to those who own homes as you are likely to be there for several years and reap the benefits.

I think a good point was made. People like to feel important. I stated earlier that all mailmen get paid the same, no bonuses, no rewards for good work. Management is only around to yell at you if you mess up, no praise whatsoever. It leads to some frustration and a bunch of bitter people. There is no reason to do anything but a poor job. The guy who goes slow and does everything half-assed will get paid overtime when he stays out late, or he will receive help from an idiot like me who runs through a route and gets done early. I personally don't take a lunch or break until I am completely done with my route since I know people want to get the mail early. I end up eating my lunch after 3 on most days. I then go back to the office to set up the route for the next morning so I can get out early. More times then not, I am sent out to help someone else, which then backs my route up and make me late through no fault of my own. It's frustrating to me, and I am self motivated. I like doing a good job, I take pride in my work, and I like when people tell me I did good at the end of the year, in words, or tips. I can't stand that so many crappy postal workers exist and they can't be fired or made to work better. It is not fair to the customers that are stuck with them, and it sucks even worse to have to work with them.
People that sort mail in the back get a few tips over the window, and some cookies, but they generally don't get much. People don't see them as often, and certainly not out in the rain and snow, so they don't really bother.
I also agree that postal workers should do their jobs. I am just giving you an honest answer and a little insight to the post office. Many mail carriers do change how they treat you based on how you treat them. I don't approve of it, but it is a fact. As for remember who tips and who does not, it is actually quite easy. I cover 5 routes a week, I am a relief man who covers on the regulars rotating day off. I have 1700 stops total. I know the name of every person at every house. I also remember the names of all the people that lived in those houses for the past 8 years I have worked. I remember the dogs names, and a lot of people's birthdays. So remembering who is nice and who tips is pretty easy for the average mailman. But I do know a mailman who keeps a Christmas chart.
My general rule is to tip anyone who give me regular service..postman, garbage man, and even my UPS man. I don't give much, it is more about the thought. I seem to get good service...though I do have a package missing presently. For those of you who don't want to tip, that is fine. If you have a decent mail carrier, it shouldn't matter. But many of you sound like you have bad carriers, and it may make a differance. But then again, I can't even promise that a bottle of wine, or a few bills will make a differance. Sometimes a crappy carrier, is just a crappy carrier.
Good luck to everyone with the missing packages. I wish I could help more.

I had a package delivered to the wrong address today. It was clearly marked by the smaller Amazon label in the upper left corner and the VERY large USPS "UPS" type white label to my street number.

Our mailman routinely "forgets" a package and decides to place it in the nearest mailbox so he doesn't have to go back to the post office with anything. (Did we every hear about going back to the correct address? It is only across the street, directly across from the house it was delivered to.) We do have honest neighbors across the street who have brought things over before if they have been mis-delivered.

Your mailman should be written up, then suspended, then fired. People should complain, the supervisor should take action. Most people are afraid to complain. I'm not sure if it is completely national yet, but the post office has a new phone number for all the offices 1 800 ASK USPS. The numbers to the local offices are now changed and are not given out to the public. They have set up a customer service center to answer the basic questions and complaints. I think it is a huge mistake to do this. A person sitting in an office 500 miles away isn't going to have a clue as to what goes on and how to solve your problem. They don't even address the problem immediately. They take down your info, and then email the office with the problem or question. When the supervisor gets around to reading it, he may or may not call back. It is just another way to bring down customer satisfaction. If anyone has a question about the post office, the how or why something is done, I would be happy to answer.

You want to hear the topper of all tops? I sent in the deferment for my college loan and it apparently never got there. I sent it from a post office less than a mile away from the school.

The second time I sent it Certified, Signed Receipt Requested, and it got there, but the postman never marked it as delivered, and he never had anyone sign the return receipt (I never got it back).

It went into collections during that time, I assumed because I was sending it within the same town it would get there OK within a day. Don't assume anything. After a month I had them do a search for the one I sent Certifiedd and it came up as "Lost". I might have to go to court over this and I have no proof I sent in my forms the first time. All I have is proof that the mail is screwed up with my second submission.

All I get from this is a $250 collections fee, lots of headaches and a measly $2 back from the USPS for not doing what they were supposed to do. They SUCK!