<p>I place a lot of online orders throughout the year (usually through Amazon Prime), so I see my UPS delivery guy often! He’s a really nice, friendly person, and I have never had any delivery problems at all. </p>
<p>I’m thinking maybe I should give him a Christmas tip, but – I’m not sure. I think I have read that UPS drivers/delivery people are well paid, and don’t expect tips during the holiday season. But I will see him today and tomorrow for several Amazon deliveries, and I would feel funny not giving him something!</p>
<p>So, do you tip the UPS person during the holiday season? Or maybe give him/her something like a Starbucks or Amazon gift certificate?</p>
<p>Hand warmers, lol! I’ve never understood how they can survive the winters up here! But that’s a very good question…my UPS guy is so nice and often will make a return trip on his way back to the warehouse if he has something that requires a signature. Although I don’t actually see him very often, he delivers at least three times a week and always leaves a treat for my dog:) I know they’re paid decently and don’t expect a tip, but I have a fairly long driveway that often drifts during the day when I’m gone…I see his footprints so I know he leaves that truck on the street! Let us know if you come up with a great idea and I’ll steal it, haha (or maybe I’ll just use the gift card idea you’ve already provided)!</p>
<p>Do you usually have the same delivery person? My UPS delivery people seem to change quite a bit with sometimes multiple people within the span of the same week - they must have multople trucks covering the same areas. Given that, the tipping thing wouldn’t work so well except for whichever one ended up with the tip/gift card. If you have the same person most of the time and especially if they go the extra mile (long driveways, etc.) it seems that a batch of homemade cookies or Christmas treats (make up a small tin with them) or maybe a Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Best Buy or similar gift card would be nice.</p>
<p>Yes, I have the same delivery person almost all the time. Once in a while there’s a substitute, of course; the regular guy must take some days off and go on vacation once in a while. But it’s clear there is one person assigned to our apartment building.</p>
<p>I agree that if you have different delivery people, it doesn’t really work well to tip. It also occurs to me that it will be easy for me to make sure the regular guy gets the tip, because I am home most days and so can hand it to him person. I figure I’ll put it in a Christmas card, and hand that to him. If it’s a substitute delivery person, I’ll just wait for the next delivery that I get after Christmas. But if I weren’t home during the day, the logistics would be more difficult, and I couldn’t be sure I was leaving the tip for the regular person.</p>
<p>I like the idea of homemade cookies, but I’m leaning towards the Starbucks gift certificate. The question then is, for how much? I’m thinking $20, but – hm, not sure!</p>
<p>SodiumFree, like you, I get a lot of deliveries, and have had the same UPS man for years. He’s a very nice man and we always chat and have reached the point where we ask about each other’s families so, yes, I do tip him with a giftcard every year around Christmas.</p>
<p>$20 gift card (or $20 cash, much easier on you, and driver can spend at Starbucks or wherever) is fine for a regular UPS driver who has been with you for years.</p>
<p>If UPS driver has not been with you consistently, then I don’t see the need to tip, IMO.</p>
<p>We never see the UPS man so I have no idea if it is the same guy. He drops the package at the front door, rings the bell, and leaves. The only time he stays if it is something that requires a signature. (not that we have a vast amount delivered except round christmas and text book ordering time).</p>
<p>Thanks, hyealb, for confirming that $20 is a good choice for the amount.</p>
<p>I see what you mean about giving cash – he can spend it on whatever he chooses – but I personally like to get gift cards instead of cash. With cash, I usually spend it on something like groceries. With a gift card, I spend it on something frivolous for me! So at this point, I am leaning towards giving a gift card, as alwaysamom does. </p>
<p>But it’s more complicated giving a gift card to someone like the UPS person, because what if he doesn’t drink coffee or just doesn’t like Starbucks? Although – Starbucks does have a lot more than just coffee.</p>
<p>We really like our UPS delivery guy but don’t get very many UPS deliveries (maybe one or two a month sometimes and then none for many months). Recently, it seemed UPS was training someone new, as there were two guys in the truck and neither looked like the guy we are familiar with. He was asked to do a different route but he hated it & told them he’d retire if they didn’t give him back the route that covers our valley so they relented. Maybe he really retired after all. Sorry, never did give him a tip, but maybe I will if I see him again.</p>
<p>I love Starbucks. But neither of my kids drink coffee (or tea, where did they come from?) so would not appreciate a starbucks gift card. Personally, I would not give someone a starbucks card unless I knew they enjoyed coffee.</p>
<p>Even if someone doesn’t drink coffee, there are still things to enjoy at Starbucks. I suppose if you don’t like tea, hot chocolate, yummy pastries, muffins, cookies, sandwiches, wraps, salads, cheese and fruit, then a Starbucks card wouldn’t be a nice gift to receive. ;)</p>
<p>I’m with swimcatsmom. As a teacher, I get lots of Starbucks cards during the holidays. I really do appreciate the thought but I don’t drink coffee and DH and I would not make special trip to Starbucks for a pastry,muffin, cookie, snack,etc. </p>
<p>How do you all know your UPS drivers so well? The ones who deliver to our neighborhood just drop the box on the porch and take off in their truck. I have never had any interaction with the delivery guys. Last night I happened to be at home when a pkg. was delivered. They just ring the doorbell and take off. When I got to the door, the guy was already in the truck. I did call out “thank you” to him. He said “no problem”.</p>
<p>Depends on the people involved. The guy who was driving our route really liked our valley & made an effort to speak with us as he walked our packages to the door & got our signatures. He knew us & our buddies across the street and would leave our packages with either of us happily knowing we could easily go across the street to reclaim. If none of the packages require signature & they have a lot of deliveries, they do rush off.</p>
<p>If you have different guys all of the time then you live on a training route. The ups guys don’t expect a tip, but they do love it when they get one. Trust me on this one, during the holidays they kill themselves, sometimes they can’t even enjoy their own holiday time because they are so exhausted and hurt so much. Any act of kindness is greatly appreciated, more than you will ever know. Whether it is a gift card, homemade cookies, what ever know that it means a lot.</p>
<p>If someone gave me a Starbucks gift card I’d just give it to someone else since I don’t drink coffee and wouldn’t go there to buy whatever else they have.</p>
<p>Another gift card I’ve given, although it might be regional, is a restaurant gift card that can be used at Chilis/Macaroni Grill/On the Border/and some other place (the single card can be used at any of these - they must all be owned by the same company) - most people will like at least one of those and it gets them out for an occasion as opposed to just putting cash in their wallet or a check into their account to pay bills with.</p>
<p>I don’t know what level gift card you can get for Best Buy ($20 or $25) but at BB one can get some CDs, DVDs, or put it towards other things they might use. I’ve given these before and people seem to like them.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten most of my gift cards from a rack full of gift cards in the grocery store - it’s the easiest way to get them but they don’t always have the denomination you might like. They also have them at drug stores, Walmart, Costco, etc. This way you don’t need to go to the actual place and have a wide selection to choose from.</p>
<p>I don’t tip my UPS driver …but today I did tip one of the distributor drivers that delivers thousands of dollars worth of dog food to my store every single week. My store is next to a Starbucks, and after he delivers my order, he often stops for a coffee. From now, until June or so, he’ll be having his coffee on me!</p>
<p>As a school nurse, I receive numerous gifts each year. I don’t drink coffee, but I do love Starbucks hot chocolate so I welcome those gift cards. Personally, I don’t really care to get home-baked goods, especially if i don’t know the person well that gave them to me. In years past, when DD was in school, we often gave movie theater gift cards/certificates and they were well received. We don’t get packages on a regular basis but, when we do, the UPS driver leaves the package on the porch, rings the bell, and is usually halfway down the street before I get to the door. I know they’re really hopping during the holiday season so I think it’s a nice gesture to think of them, especially if you have come to know them personally.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for all the feedback! I think I will head out to CVS later. I know they have a rack with many different gift cards to choose from.</p>