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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
I just read on Yahoo that US Regulations allow mail carriers to receive gifts up to $20 in value, but NOT cash or monetary tips.
Anyone else ever hear this?
ETA - It's also in the fine print of this CNN Holiday Tipping Guide from 2006.
Message edited 12/8/2007 10:07:49 AM.
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Posted 12/8/07 10:04 AM  |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:06 AM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
I give him a $25 Visa Gift Card.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:06 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:09 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
how about a GC to Starbucks or DD's
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:10 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Interestingly, UPS can accept tips, but FedEx is not allowed to receive gifts over $75 in value. FedEx is also not allowed to accept cash tips. I never knew this (though I don't tip the UPS / FedEx guys anyway).
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:10 AM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
Oh, we don't have jobs like that where we'd get into trouble. I agree, not worth it over a $20 gift.
Actually now that I think about it DH is licensed with the SEC. Maybe he could get into trouble too. Hmmm, guess maybe I should pick something up.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:11 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
how about a GC to Starbucks or DD's
That's a good idea!
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:12 AM |
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2girlsforme
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 3071 total posts
Name:
XXXXXXXXX
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
I'm also a lawyer, but my husband isn't and every year he "gives" the mailman $20, in a card. I'm hoping the grievance committee is more worried about co-mingling of escrow funds.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:12 AM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by Kara
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
how about a GC to Starbucks or DD's
That's a good idea!
But isn't that still a monetary tip?
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:13 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by CathyB
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
Oh, we don't have jobs like that where we'd get into trouble. I agree, not worth it over a $20 gift.
Actually now that I think about it DH is licensed with the SEC. Maybe he could get into trouble too. Hmmm, guess maybe I should pick something up.
I know I'm being paranoid, but like you said - if there's a tiny chance, why take it over a $20 tip? I mean, I've seen the goverment do stupider things than finding a $20 tip "bribing a gov't official." LOL Not worth it to me. I think I go to too many ethics CLEs.
I think I'll give a gift card somewhere like Starbucks or DD or something. That sounds like a good idea. I think a Visa GC is a good idea, but too close for comfort for me.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:14 AM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Mailman tipping - not supposed to accept cash?
Posted by 2girlsforme
Posted by Kara
Posted by CathyB
Technically yes, but they've never returned it when I slip a $20 into a card for them.
I understand that... but I have to be very careful as a member of the bar. While the chances are 1 in a 1,000,000 anyone would ever know, I don't want to get in trouble for it... (They've reprimanded lawyers for far less...)
Paranoid? Yes, I admit that...
But I will have to think of something else to give the mail carrier this year.
I'm also a lawyer, but my husband isn't and every year he "gives" the mailman $20, in a card. I'm hoping the grievance committee is more worried about co-mingling of escrow funds.
I believe I fully admitted I was being paranoid.  
I've seen the character and fitness committee go ape over dumb things before though...
Regardless of MY personal reasons for tipping or not tipping, I just thought this was useful info to pass along. (It doesn't bother me what other people want to do - just passing along info I didn't know.)
Message edited 12/8/2007 10:18:22 AM.
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| Posted 12/8/07 10:15 AM |
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