Thanking The Postman

[white avenger]

( I just read a great quote from Ronan O'Gara, "Does the postman get thanked for delivering letter?" )

That quote was used as a comment in a recent post, and I just wanted to ask all the members here if you agree with this? Do you thank the assorted postmen, waiters, tellers, clerks, taxi drivers, and all of the other people who do you a service every day, even though doing that service is their job, and they are paid for doing it?

I was raised to believe that delivering that simple courtesy was the right thing to do, that it was an acknowledgement of gratitude that cost me absolutely nothing, and might help someone else know that their actions were noticed and appreciated. Has that somehow changed when I wasn't looking?

 

[Blaze]

I most certainly do! To me, not saying thank you to your waiter, or your delivery man, or a bus driver is a bit impolite, even if it's their jobs. It might be their jobs, but they work hard enough to at least deserve a bit of recognition, and not only that, but like you said, it literally takes a few seconds out of your day.

Having been a student working at different low income jobs , I know serving nice and polite customers can make a world of difference as to how fun and pleasant the job becomes. So if I can brighten those worker's job a bit, I will.

Also, you'd be surprised as how being polite to those people can also change your own world. I recently moved to a new city, and being nice and making friends with my city bus driver, my servers at Starbucks, the servers at my favorite restaurant and a few taxi drivers has made a big difference in my own life. I guess I might be a bit old school, but I actually look foward to seeing those people and see how they are doing, and seeing the smiles on their faces when they see me (as a regular customer) does make my day brighter.

 

[Yosso]

Depends on the service I get and how the postman/clerk/bus driver delivers it. I generally say thank you if I think the person has been at least pleasant and not rude. Though if a postman literally shoves an Amazon parcel into my hand and leaves or a bus driver sits there looking moody (which happens fairly often) then I don't bother as I'm less likely to receive an acknowledgement of the "thank you".

I pretty much always do to waiters, as 9/10 they are pleasant and smile as that's an integral part of their job. Plus I'm a part time waiter as well, so I know what it's like.

 

[JCoatsworth]

When the postman delivers a package and I answer the door, I always thank him. When a waitress or waiter brings a drink or meal to my table I always thank them and I always tip, and I always tip my barber as well.
It's common decency, in my opinion.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I would, but to be honest it's like an automatic courtesy response, I dont mean it in a heart felt way. I also dont believe anyone that says they properly mean it, it's just a automatic response, like how people type lol, your not actually (always) sitting at your desk laughing out loud.

I also dont thank the post man cuz I never see him, if I see him sure, but majority of the time I dont.

 

[Blaze]

I would, but to be honest it's like an automatic courtesy response, I dont mean it in a heart felt way. I also dont believe anyone that says they properly mean it, it's just a automatic response, like how people type lol, your not actually (always) sitting at your desk laughing out loud..

Hopefully I can get you to change your mind about this. Most of the time (of course not always) I really do mean it, and I do say it because I'm actually thankful, and not simply as a courtesy. I've had life pretty rough in some parts, and I tend to be, or at least try to be grateful for the services I have. Of course if the person serving me is a jerk, I'll keep it at a simple courtesy thank you response, or I won't really talk to them. But the people I see often, or if a server is being really nice to me, the thank you they get is genuine.

 

[brinkster130]

Absolutely, I was raised to always be courteous and use good manners. Thanking and acknowledging someone else's work/presence is such a simple thing to do, it's pretty much automatic response for me.

 

[Bexieh]

Saying thank you is what I was brought up to do, I'd consider myself rude if I didn't say thanks for something like that. I even thank people when they don't do a good job, like when a cashier is rude or the bus driver completely misses my stop so I have to get off further away and walk home. It drives my friend mad that I say thank you in those situations but I feel bad not saying it! It's a pretty automatic thing to do and I don't really know anyone who doesn't do that. To be honest I've even said thank you to cash machines :/

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I think some people are kinda missing the point on this one, I think there are very few people that wouldn't thank the post man if they were there when he delivered post.

What about the days you dont see him?

Your not home when he delivers your post on Monday, but you see him on Tuesday he hands you your mail you say thanks, do you also say "oh thanks for delivering the mail yesterday by the way" ?

Or do you have your postmans phone number, so you text him "Thanks" if your not home?

 

[fredthe3rd]

I always shout thank you through the letter box as soon as I hear those letters drop. It probably unnerves postmen who are new to the round but they quickly get used to it.

 

[white avenger]

Your not home when he delivers your post on Monday, but you see him on Tuesday he hands you your mail you say thanks, do you also say "oh thanks for delivering the mail yesterday by the way" ?

No, you leave them a gift in the mailbox every Christmas, in our case, usually a jar of my wife's home made strawberry preserves. It's a tradition in my part of the country to do something like that. I know, the same postman doesn't deliver to the same area all year, but everybody does it, so they get a gift wherever they are on the last delivery day before Christmas

 

[Nix]

No, you leave them a gift in the mailbox every Christmas, in our case, usually a jar of my wife's home made strawberry preserves. It's a tradition in my part of the country to do something like that. I know, the same postman doesn't deliver to the same area all year, but everybody does it, so they get a gift wherever they are on the last delivery day before Christmas

That's really a cool idea and so sweet. Most can't do that here because we don't have mailbox's but we do leave big boxes of chocolates on the bin on the last bin collection day before Christmas for the rubbish men. I always say thanks when I see the postman and thanks to the cashiers at the shops etc etc.