***Christmas And The Mailman***
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
United States
November 24, 2012 4:19pm CST
My mailman is super cool, and does go out of his way for me. I have a note posted that says "Do Not Leave Any Packages" and he doesn't. If I'm not home, he'll leave a notice to give me options on if I want to pick it up at the Post Office or have him re-deliver it.
I get quite a bit of items from Ebay so I'm always concerned living in an apartment that someone might take it. I had one item stolen when I first moved in...thus, the note.
He's very personable and we talk all the time, but I still really don't know that much about him. I'd like to get him a Christmas gift again for all the trouble he goes through but I'm not sure what to get this year. Last year I gave him a box of candy....but would like to find something different this year.
So, I'm just wondering if anyone here buys their mailman a gift for Christmas and if so, what did you get him/her? I'm really looking for something different, other than candy or cookies, because I'm not sure if he's dieting or diabetic or has any allergies. Suggestions?
4 people like this
12 responses
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
25 Nov 12
On a technicality, it's against the law where I am (USA, Washington state) to give any federal, state or local government employee, including the mailman, gifts valued at over 20.00 or cash gifts of any kind-- i usually give my mail lady a 20.00 Walmart gift card, so she can get whatever she wants for herself. It's also part of the law that they can't take checks or money orders, and they can't take snacks or drinks if part of a meal, for some nutball reason. They can get chocolates or flowers over 20.00 if they share with the other USPS workers (though how anyone would know, I don't know LOL). Part of the federal governments regulations over the years to avoid bribery of officials. mailmen got an exception because of the "rain, snow, sleet and dark of night" business.
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
25 Nov 12
all of my neighbors and I go with the gift card thing, and we all choose the same stores-- our mail lady likes our street very much. This year, we are going with a local super grocery store-- it has clothes, housewares, all kinds of stuff as well as gas and food of course. I think she'll be happy.
2 people like this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
26 Nov 12
Good idea! I bet your mail lady like your street!! 
All those great goodies she gets!! I'll probably end up giving him a GC too..it seems the safest.
All those great goodies she gets!! I'll probably end up giving him a GC too..it seems the safest.@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
25 Nov 12
Hi Chrys,
Yes, I know about all the rules and regulations, I checked that out a couple of years ago. And some of them are really goofy, like you mentioned. I guess they have their reasons though, whatever they are. I gave him Whitman's chocolates last year but had second thoughts on it. I was hoping he wasn't allergic or diabetic so this year thought I'd ask around to see what other people do.
I'll figure something out. There are all kinds of retail stores around so maybe I'll do that. 
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
25 Nov 12
I didn't think they were allowed to take any gift. If they did, I think a gift certificate is a great idea, or a couple tickets to a movie theater, that is what I am getting my son's teachers this year.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
25 Nov 12
No movie tickets? That stinks, maybe a nice card to let her know how much I appreciate her..Because I can't see flowers and food, not with so many people who may have a selective diet..Retail gift cards? So like a gift card to Walmart or even a grocery store? I wonder if I should call my local post office and ask what their own regulations are, just in case..
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
25 Nov 12
Hi Carm,
Yeh, they can accept certain gifts like doughnuts, coffee, cookies, candy, fruit, flowers, "retail" gift cards as long as it's not over $20.00 and they can't exchange it for cash.
They can't accept checks, cash, booze, gift certificates, event tickets, clothing..stuff like that, and I certainly don't want to get him in trouble, lol! So I guess the event ticket would be the movies but it was a great idea!
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
26 Nov 12
You can just as easily look it up online. Yes, the retail gift certificates like Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc. I'm just guessing that movie tickets are what they would call an event. Maybe I'm wrong on that one. I know a lot of people still give money which I know isn't allowed...poor mail people.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
4 Dec 12
I wish we had a mailman just half as nice as your one is, our one is a regular and he is a miserable g*t, he really is, he won't even speak to you when you are in the garden and he hands you your mail. Surely being a Mailman is a people focused job? I know it can't be fun at times being out in all weathers, but surely he should be happy he has a job? Recession is terrible and unemployment is high in our country. I agree it is difficult to know what gift to give him, at the end of the day it's the thought that counts and candy at least is a neutral safe bet! Even if he is diabetic he could always share them with his wife or family! I am sure he will be grateful with any gift!
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
4 Dec 12
Hi Wolfie,
I would think it's a people focused job, and yes, they make good money and be thankful you're working. I believe they get some pretty good benefits too.
What's funny is, when my mailman is off, there are 2 different women who bring the mail and they are just like your mailman...no talking, grumpy, no smile, just nothing. They'll hand me my package and just turn away and go back to putting the mail in the slots. And BOTH women are the same, I swear they're related, lol! Sometimes I tell them "Now remember, you just have yourself a really good day!", and I'm sure they know it's done sarcastically, but I can't help it.
I did end up getting him a $20 gift certificate from Walmart. He's really worth it and does his job so well all year long. I think it's the least I can do.
I would think it's a people focused job, and yes, they make good money and be thankful you're working. I believe they get some pretty good benefits too.
What's funny is, when my mailman is off, there are 2 different women who bring the mail and they are just like your mailman...no talking, grumpy, no smile, just nothing. They'll hand me my package and just turn away and go back to putting the mail in the slots. And BOTH women are the same, I swear they're related, lol! Sometimes I tell them "Now remember, you just have yourself a really good day!", and I'm sure they know it's done sarcastically, but I can't help it.
I did end up getting him a $20 gift certificate from Walmart. He's really worth it and does his job so well all year long. I think it's the least I can do.@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
4 Dec 12
I love sarcasm too under the right conditions. 
And thanks, I do appreciate him.
And thanks, I do appreciate him. 
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
3 Dec 12
Like others, I've found gift cards to be the most convenient. I can leave them outside, on or in the mailbox, for either the mail carrier or the newspaper delivery guy (when I had a subscription) and nothing happens to them. There is a convenience store that's about a 5-minute walk from my house. I buy their gift cards because they are right in the neighborhood and the mail carrier and others can easily stop there for coffees, sodas, snacks, sandwiches, etc. They are working in my area anyway so I know they don't have to go out of their way to use the gift cards. So far, they've always been really appreciated :)
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
4 Dec 12
A $20 certificate is a super nice gift... I'm sure he's really going to appreciate that! Sounds like you have a mailman that takes his job seriously and does it really well, too. I think it's kind to offer something in return for the consideration received. Good of you! 
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
4 Dec 12
I'm sure he'll appreciate it too. The way I look at it is that he does this all year long, almost every day. This is the least I could do for him.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
3 Dec 12
I did get him a $20 gift certificate to Walmart. It's only a few minutes away from here and I thought maybe he can use it for new gloves, socks, whatever. It really gets cold here so hopefully he'll find something good. He's really a super nice guy so he's worth the money.
I can't leave the gift card out in a card because I live in a small apartment complex, and one of them would probably steal it. That's why the mailman doesn't leave anything that doesn't fit in my mailbox and he's really good about it. I do appreciate that very much.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
26 Nov 12
it would be hard to know what he likes and doesn't like. i know you have already done this, but i think candies are the best. i actually know our mailman (he is a friend of the familys) and i know he appreciates food that he can eat on his route.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
26 Nov 12
That's what I thought and gave him a box of Whitman's chocolates last year. After I gave it to him I started thinking about it more and more. I wondered if I made a mistake because he might be diabetic or has allergies. Boy, do I wonder about the goofiest stuff or what! 
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
24 Nov 12
I was also thinking a gift card to go to a nice resturant or to walmart since pretty much everyone goes there at one time or another for something. Lol.
That's what I am going to do for our mail lady, she is just so sweet and we are always talking too! I like having a mail person like that. =)
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
24 Nov 12
Hi sugar...yes, I was kind of thinking of the same thing. We do have a Walmart right here, plus Target and numerous other stores like McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks.
The lady mail people that I get, which are 2 different one's when mine is off or on vacation, are sooooooo boring. They hand me the package without even looking at me and have no personality at all...what a shame. I tell them thanks and have a good day and they just mumble something..whatever.
That's why I want to get him something special this year..he's just so nice. I was even thinking of a really warm pair of gloves too.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Dec 12
I am not crazy about the fill in people when she is out either. They act like they hate their job or something, not friendly or anything. And she acts like its the best job in the world! Lol.
Thanks for the BR! =) 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160777)
• United States
25 Nov 12
Very nice of you to want to give him a gift. There may be rules about whether he can accept gifts or not, or how valuable they can be. I would think the post office or a US Post Office website would tell you. My thought is a good pair of gloves or a scarf for his neck as they do deal with all kinds of cold weather.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
25 Nov 12
Hi GG,
I've been getting him a gift for the last couple of years. I just thought I'd see if anyone has a better idea than food of some sort, like candy, cookies, etc. I gave him a box of Whitman's chocolates last year but afterwards thought to myself..."gee, I hope he's not diabetic or allergic to chocolate" and decided to do something different this year.
They are not allowed to receive clothing but it was a great idea! I would have loved to get him some gloves and a scarf but they're only allowed to accept certain items. You can read this in my comment to Carmel. Thanks for the idea though!!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Nov 12
I used to but now I have several different ones....we used to have just one that delivered all the time but now they split up our route and we have three different ones that each take two days a week....until they go on vacation then we have yet another one. I used to get him a little gift card to McDonalds....that way he can just stop and buy coffee and make it last for a while ...or use it all at once for a meal.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
24 Nov 12
Hi Jill....yes, I have a couple different one's too but not too often. I would imagine my guy has been a postman for a while so he probably might even get vacation for Christmas.
I do know his name though and when I have his gift, I'll leave a message on my mailbox for him to buzz me (apartment). This is how I give him my gift and don't confuse it with the other people which aren't half as nice as him. I'm lucky if I even get a smile out of those people...which are women.
I might just do the McDonald's GC...like you said, he can stop and buy whatever he likes. I really think I like that the best right now, plus it's right up the street on his route a few minutes away.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Nov 12
how about a few dollars in an envelope or xmas card. thats what i used to do when i had money
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
24 Nov 12
I was just telling MandaLee above, they really are not suppose to accept cash as a gift. They do, but I'm kind of leary about it. A gift certificate might be good but I'm not sure where to get it from...hmmm, gotta think about this one.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Nov 12
I would give a gift certificate. He can do whatever he wants with it. That way he can do as he likes with it. Either use it or give it as a gift to someone else. Pick something that he can use. I would avoid restraunts because you don't know what he eats. If Walmart has them that would be good. Walmart sells everything.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
26 Nov 12
That's probably what I'll get. I was just looking for something different but I guess there isn't much that you can give them that's more unique.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
24 Nov 12
I know they are "not allowed" to accept cash, which I get kind of nervous about. He's such a nice guy, haha, I don't want him giving it back to me because it's going against regulations.
I might go with the gift certificate..that sounds like a good idea.
I might go with the gift certificate..that sounds like a good idea.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
24 Nov 12
Sounds like a great guy... It would be nice to give him something. many post men here walk around with cd players listening to music. maybe a cd would be good for him.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
24 Nov 12
Super great idea but he doesn't walk around with any music. I wish he did because I'd do this in a heartbeat! He's so nice and this is so hard, lol!
He's so nice and this is so hard, lol!