itb76- Our local paper has also instituted changes that I don't care for. If I had an alternate source for daily local news I'd drop that rag in a heartbeat.
Given the circumstances with your mail delivery, I'd say that yeah, you oughta tip him. Sounds like they're a lot more invested in the whole thing than my guy.
And yeah, I tip cleaning people if I stay a few days. At the resort we frequent we leave $10/$20 (depending on a lot of things), often for both the day and night crews. In regular hotels where the service is once-a-day, I find out if it's the same person/crew working the whole time I've been there and only tip if that's the case. These days I seldom tip less than $10...I might go to $5 but that hardly buys a pack of smokes (which for some reason is sorta a litmus test for me). I don't mind tipping as I also don't hesitate to make demands (um..."requests") either
General rule in my book: if you even think of tipping the answer is "yes" and you oughta give enough that a normal person in that situation oughta appreciate it (whatever that threshold is to you but try not to be a skinflint). I find that being a generous (but not extravagant or "showy") tipper helps grease my path through life and I'm very conscious of how much many people depend on tips. I can say without any qualification that people I tip remember it if/when I go back, whether it's a diner or a hotel or, well...anywhere.
I consider tips to be a built-in part of the cost of things (if I can't afford the tip I can't afford the whole thing period) and I've never (AFAIK) offended anybody by offering a tip. I *have* had people decline them, and I don't push the matter but rather express my appreciation verbally and/or maybe write a nice letter to the management.
IME folks who "treat the little people right" generally have a better ride in this life, even if you don't buy into the whole karma thing.
