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Is the tradition of Christmas tipping still going strong? | Is the tradition of Christmas tipping still going strong? |
(about 13 hours later) | |
To some, slipping a note or two into the hands of the postie or the refuse collector at Christmas time is second nature. | To some, slipping a note or two into the hands of the postie or the refuse collector at Christmas time is second nature. |
But others have never heard of it. | But others have never heard of it. |
The tradition of the "Christmas box" sees people give cash or small gifts to those who perform personal services in their lives - be it the person delivering the milk or post, cleaners or hairdressers. | The tradition of the "Christmas box" sees people give cash or small gifts to those who perform personal services in their lives - be it the person delivering the milk or post, cleaners or hairdressers. |
And some can take home a decent haul. | And some can take home a decent haul. |
Modern manners specialists Debrett's suggest giving a £5 tip to those delivering goods to your door, along with those taking rubbish away. | Modern manners specialists Debrett's suggest giving a £5 tip to those delivering goods to your door, along with those taking rubbish away. |
But in the days where people rarely see their refuse collector, don't know their postie and carry less cash, is the tradition dying out? | But in the days where people rarely see their refuse collector, don't know their postie and carry less cash, is the tradition dying out? |
Jason King and his dad Neil have worked as postal workers for more than 14 years. | Jason King and his dad Neil have worked as postal workers for more than 14 years. |
Last year Jason says he made £350 from tips, which he puts down to knowing his customers, and never leaving a package undelivered. | Last year Jason says he made £350 from tips, which he puts down to knowing his customers, and never leaving a package undelivered. |
But more experienced dad Neil brought home a haul of £600, plus around 50 bottles of wine and a huge stash of chocolates. | But more experienced dad Neil brought home a haul of £600, plus around 50 bottles of wine and a huge stash of chocolates. |
Neil has a special technique to help his customers embrace the season of goodwill: he delivers post dressed up as Santa. | Neil has a special technique to help his customers embrace the season of goodwill: he delivers post dressed up as Santa. |
In the run up to Christmas, he and his colleague, who dresses as an elf, embark on festive deliveries around their patch in a Cambridgeshire village. | In the run up to Christmas, he and his colleague, who dresses as an elf, embark on festive deliveries around their patch in a Cambridgeshire village. |
"The kids love it, the mums and dads spend a bit of a time saying hello," Jason says. | "The kids love it, the mums and dads spend a bit of a time saying hello," Jason says. |
Jason said he's only gone as far as sporting a Christmas jumper, but is tempted to follow his father's footsteps. | Jason said he's only gone as far as sporting a Christmas jumper, but is tempted to follow his father's footsteps. |
Throughout December, their sorting office is awash with gossip of colleagues' Christmas tips totals. | Throughout December, their sorting office is awash with gossip of colleagues' Christmas tips totals. |
But he says "it's not a competition" and that those who deliver to villages tend to do better than those in towns, since they know their customers better. | But he says "it's not a competition" and that those who deliver to villages tend to do better than those in towns, since they know their customers better. |
Despite his postal worker credentials Jason admits: "If I wasn't a postman, I wouldn't think of tipping the postman. It wouldn't occur to me." | Despite his postal worker credentials Jason admits: "If I wasn't a postman, I wouldn't think of tipping the postman. It wouldn't occur to me." |
"I would never tip my postman!" he laughs. | "I would never tip my postman!" he laughs. |
He isn't the only one who doesn't think about festive tipping nowadays. | He isn't the only one who doesn't think about festive tipping nowadays. |
A recent survey of 2,000 people by British Corner Shop found only 8% of 25-34 year olds said they'd tip their postal worker and refuse collector at Christmas, versus 20% of over 55 year olds. | A recent survey of 2,000 people by British Corner Shop found only 8% of 25-34 year olds said they'd tip their postal worker and refuse collector at Christmas, versus 20% of over 55 year olds. |
'My milkman is the supermarket' | 'My milkman is the supermarket' |
Rachel Waterman, 44, from Northwich, Cheshire, hasn't carried on her parents' tradition of Christmas tipping. | Rachel Waterman, 44, from Northwich, Cheshire, hasn't carried on her parents' tradition of Christmas tipping. |
"My parents gave 'Christmas boxes'," she says. "They gave the postman, the binman, and the milkman a bit of money to say thank you for doing your job." | "My parents gave 'Christmas boxes'," she says. "They gave the postman, the binman, and the milkman a bit of money to say thank you for doing your job." |
But she says times have changed, and services have become far less personal: "Now the postman doesn't come until halfway through the day - I'm at work. | But she says times have changed, and services have become far less personal: "Now the postman doesn't come until halfway through the day - I'm at work. |
"Mum and dad knew the postman, they knew them by name. Nowadays your milkman is Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco." | "Mum and dad knew the postman, they knew them by name. Nowadays your milkman is Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco." |
"Mum talked about tipping the hairdresser - I've never tipped my hairdresser," she said. | "Mum talked about tipping the hairdresser - I've never tipped my hairdresser," she said. |
Rachel says like others, she doesn't carry cash as often, making it harder to quickly pass on a few pounds or tell people to "keep the change". | Rachel says like others, she doesn't carry cash as often, making it harder to quickly pass on a few pounds or tell people to "keep the change". |
Royal Mail previously warned postal workers against accepting festive tips of more than £30 for fear of bribery charges. | Royal Mail previously warned postal workers against accepting festive tips of more than £30 for fear of bribery charges. |
But they told the BBC they want colleagues to "get the recognition they deserve" and regard the giving of Christmas tips "as a matter between customers and individual postmen and postwomen." | But they told the BBC they want colleagues to "get the recognition they deserve" and regard the giving of Christmas tips "as a matter between customers and individual postmen and postwomen." |
William Harvey, a 24-year-old postal worker from North Lanarkshire, said he didn't know Christmas tipping existed until a woman came up to him and tried to give him £20. | William Harvey, a 24-year-old postal worker from North Lanarkshire, said he didn't know Christmas tipping existed until a woman came up to him and tried to give him £20. |
"I hadn't really spoken to her. She just came up to me and I was like 'don't be daft'," he says. "I tried to give it her back." | "I hadn't really spoken to her. She just came up to me and I was like 'don't be daft'," he says. "I tried to give it her back." |
In his first winter as a postal worker, he's received £90 in tips so far. | In his first winter as a postal worker, he's received £90 in tips so far. |
"Even if I've not got mail for them, they just run after me and say 'here, that's for Christmas'," he says. | "Even if I've not got mail for them, they just run after me and say 'here, that's for Christmas'," he says. |
One of his colleagues, who has been working the same affluent area for 30 years, said he's been given a £1,000 so far this season. | One of his colleagues, who has been working the same affluent area for 30 years, said he's been given a £1,000 so far this season. |
"He says he's got a grand, he's just paid for his holidays next year," William laughs. | "He says he's got a grand, he's just paid for his holidays next year," William laughs. |
But it's still only a minority of people who tip, he says. | But it's still only a minority of people who tip, he says. |
Neil Fay, 45, from Liverpool, says he gives a tenner to the postie and the person delivering his milk - but the refuse collectors won't be getting a look-in this year. | Neil Fay, 45, from Liverpool, says he gives a tenner to the postie and the person delivering his milk - but the refuse collectors won't be getting a look-in this year. |
"My parents did tip the binmen in the days when they would take anything from you. | "My parents did tip the binmen in the days when they would take anything from you. |
"But these days with wheelie bins and the strict collection policies I feel I do 80% of their work by taking the bins to the end of the back entry every week." | "But these days with wheelie bins and the strict collection policies I feel I do 80% of their work by taking the bins to the end of the back entry every week." |
"A milkman costs me more than supermarket but I like the idea of a community based service and he's a lovely fella. | "A milkman costs me more than supermarket but I like the idea of a community based service and he's a lovely fella. |
Neil says he's picked up the tradition from his parents' generation but he doesn't think it's so common now. | |
"But even just a small token of appreciation to somebody might just put a smile on their face for a bit and that can't be a bad thing," he says. | "But even just a small token of appreciation to somebody might just put a smile on their face for a bit and that can't be a bad thing," he says. |
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