 | | 
16.02.2015, 11:47
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Zürich
Posts: 16
Groaned at 2 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts
| | Gratuity etiquette
Hello all, I was hoping some Swiss, or someone living here long enough to almost be one, to help me with a little dilemma.
I have been receiving by post some boxes full of books, which weigh around 4kg each, and will keep receiving them for some time still (parents are mailing me my preciouses). My postman comes in the mornings when I am already gone for work, so I am not able to receive them. However, he is kind enough to bring these heavy boxes down the stairs to my door, instead of taking them back and leaving a note, or even leaving them by the common building entrance.
I am extremely grateful for this, and I would like to show him my appreciation, as I think that he is going beyond his duty and saving me worries and hassle.
So, I would like to leave him a gratuity and a small thank you gift. Now, as I mentioned, I am no longer home when he comes by, so I can't do it in person. Normally, I would leave an envelope stuck to my door with something like "Dear Mr. Postman" in big letters, but I don't know how is the etiquette around here. Are public workers even allowed to take small gifts?
The other question is what to give, or how much. A card, for sure, and I would usually give a chocolate and some money as a tip, but, again, I have no clue of what is acceptable here. Let's say 50 francs. Is that enough to show appreciation for a guy who is spending about 4 months basically carrying 8kg of my stuff per week down a flight of stairs? Or is it insulting that I should even be offering him a tip at all for doing his job (although way beyond his basic duty)?
Thanks a million!
| The following 5 users would like to thank SofiaN for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 12:14
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: na
Posts: 11,553
Groaned at 37 Times in 33 Posts
Thanked 27,569 Times in 8,492 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
I'd be careful here, and run this by one of your Swiss neighbors. Ask what he or she would do, explain that this would be a normal way to thank someone in your country, but that you don't know what is expected or appreciated here.
The reason I suggest that is that 'norms' vary all over Switzerland - so what is right in my neighborhood in SZ might be different in yours.
(Here giving a gratuity to someone outside the gastro or hospitality business would definitely be considered an insult, as if you saw yourself better than that person, belittling the dignity of his job. But then, we are very proud egalitarian Schwyzers - YMMV.)
That said:
Switzerland is not a tipping society - and giving a monetary gift runs the risk of being construed as patronizing, even insulting.
The norm in my area is to give a gift at Christmastime, something small and not money. A bottle of wine, chocolates are good 'neutral' gifts but if you know the person something more personal is appreciated.
For instance, the postman and I often chat about gardening and he knows that I make jam from my own fruit. So I give him a selection of my own jams.
Gift giving outside the holidays is best done with a thank you card, in response to a specific event.
But again - I'm not Swiss, and thus even after all these years still worry about putting a foot wrong, misconstruing the subtleties. So to be sure, ask your Swiss neighbors for advice.
| The following 5 users would like to thank meloncollie for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 12:21
|  | Roastbeef & Yorkshire mod | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Neuchâtel
Posts: 14,149
Groaned at 276 Times in 235 Posts
Thanked 24,218 Times in 9,869 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Personally I would just stick a envelope addressed to the post man on the outside of your post box or your front door with a thank you card or note inside.
Tell him/her how much you appreciate his kindness in bringing your parcels all the way to your front door and leaving them there. He will probably be really touched by your gesture.
To be honest he would normally have to bring the parcels to your door to deliver them as part of his job and leaving them there actually saves him the bother of having to carry them back to his van and leave you a yellow slip in your post box.
| The following 5 users would like to thank Belgianmum for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 12:27
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Geneva
Posts: 3,934
Groaned at 67 Times in 48 Posts
Thanked 3,712 Times in 1,730 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette | Quote: | |  | | | Personally I would just stick a envelope addressed to the post man on the outside of your post box or your front door with a thank you card or note inside.
Tell him/her how much you appreciate his kindness in bringing your parcels all the way to your front door and leaving them there. He will probably be really touched by your gesture.
To be honest he would normally have to bring the parcels to your door to deliver them as part of his job and leaving them there actually saves him the bother of having to carry them back to his van and leave you a yellow slip in your post box. | | | | | That and a box of chocolates | This user would like to thank gata for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 12:38
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
I think cash would be conspicuous, and can set a bad precedence. Chocolate or a bottle of wine would go over just fine.
| This user would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 17:07
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Zürich
Posts: 16
Groaned at 2 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Thank you all, you have been very helpful!
Thank you for the suggestion of asking my neighbours, it really was silly of me to not even think of it. I'm taking you all up on your advice, and stick to the thank you card and box of chocolates, as it seems more innocuous. But just in case, I'll run it by one of my neighbours first.
(As for the box delivery: in my small home town, postal workers drive around on scooters with those little trunks and saddlebags, which means that parcels that are voluminous or heavy are not delivered to your post box, you get instead the paper slip to pick it up. Since I've seen the local ZH post driving around in their scooters - even though with a small trailer - I thought they might do the same to save space.)
| 
16.02.2015, 17:27
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Basel
Posts: 15,044
Groaned at 295 Times in 199 Posts
Thanked 19,147 Times in 8,049 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Personally, if the postman has been doing it, I would leave things and give a generous gift for Xmas.
If you give a gift suggesting he is doing more than what is his job, you could open a whole new can of worms.
| This user would like to thank Phil_MCR for this useful post: | | 
16.02.2015, 18:55
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
I wouldn't stick anything to your door unless you want to tell burglars you are out. I would arrange with a neighbor who is in when the postman comes round to pop out with a present from you & tell him you appreciate his work. My postman happily went off with some tomato plants one year. He was lovely but seems to have been replaced by a young man who thinks the mailbox is a tardis & crams big parcels into a little space instead of taking 3 seconds to ring my doorbell.
A bottle of local wine from your region with an envelope containing a bit of pocket money or a shop voucher should go down well.
| 
16.02.2015, 21:35
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California
Posts: 683
Groaned at 27 Times in 15 Posts
Thanked 720 Times in 316 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Waiting until Christmas to do anything may be fine, but by then the mail carrier may no longer be working that "beat". So do it now!
| This user would like to thank SwissPete for this useful post: | | 
17.02.2015, 19:18
| Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zurich
Posts: 182
Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanked 69 Times in 40 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Are you sure it is your mailman? I ask because mailmen ride motorbikes and deliver letters or very small packages. Larger Packages tend to come by van driven by another mail person and not the normal mailman. If it is coming via post van the person may change frequently and not be the same person each time. Also, unless your package requires a signature it is normal for it to be left at your door.
I think it is great that you want to thank the person who is doing this. But I think it might just be that your packages can and should be left and when the delivery person can get into the building they almost always take the package to the door. You may also have a nice neighbour who picks up the package at the mailbox and brings it to your door, that often happens at my place.
| This user would like to thank CB1 for this useful post: | | 
17.02.2015, 20:49
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Town or region
Posts: 11,491
Groaned at 655 Times in 417 Posts
Thanked 16,388 Times in 6,379 Posts
| | Re: Gratuity etiquette
Nonsense, next time you get paid, walk into the local post-office with a roll of beaners and start giving it away like candy. All this chocolates and cards remind me too much of that dreaded V-Day...ugh! |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 18:20. | |