Our paper carrier is NOT tip worthy. We have a deranged socio-path who swears AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS 4am sunday mornings when he delivers the paper. No, not the muttering ramblings of an introverted angry person...Shrill stacatto outbursts like Hitler stubbing his toe. Wakes up the whole house. Then he leaves thousands of the plastic bundle straps in our yard and gutters to wash into the lake....not tip worthy. We've called the DNT, it took them months to speak to the guy...then they told us..."We told him to stop it at your house"...great this guy now knows we're the ones who complained....sorry to horror all over your attempts to "do good" Paul but I needed to share..

I can't tell from the photo - is the paper carrier's name on the envelope?

If not, perhaps you should write it in big bright red marker?

You might also give a call to the DNT to make sure that tipping is okay...

As far as tipping guidelines:
http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

It says daily carriers should get $25-50, but if it's only the weekend paper they should get $10.

So take your pick...

And Baci, the Budgeteer people do the same thing to us because we have such a long walkway going up to our porch... they complain about it every time they deliver. But hell, it's the Budgeteer.

It's odd that it's not getting picked up. Maybe your regular carrier is on vacation and the substitute doesn't feel right taking it. I'd say, leave it out a bit after the holidays. If it doesn't get picked up, you can always add a tip on the bill (that's how I used to do it). I guess you could also get up early and accost your carrier at the door. Good luck.

Last year my newspaper person left me a a DNT- produced holiday card with his name on it a few weeks before Christmas. So a few days before the 25th, I left him a card & tip with his name printed big & bright on the envelope taped to the door.

During the course of a week, I left the card in various places because I figured he just didn't see it. After two weeks of doing this, I brought the weather-worn card inside and used the tip on groceries.

I didn't even bother to tip this year.

A friend of my son delivers for the DNT. He said the holidays are his favorite time of year. All his hard work pays off. He receives no other compliments and appreciation but during the holidays people come flying out of their doors to catch him and present him with (most often) a generous tip. Worst tip: pizza coupons!
Another observation of his: As for the elderly - if it wasn't for the postal worker or paper carrier they would not have any human contact with the outside world.
So as for the unclaimed tip, you must catch the paper carrier delivering your paper in order to present the gift.

heh heh. Baci annd I have the same paper carrier.
I love that guy.
I heard him grumbling and yelling just this morning.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php:

Graphic Designer - Nothing

/cry

I can see tipping for a Shoeshine ($1-2), but for being locked out of your car ($5-10)?

Well, I'm certainly not going to get up at 4 a.m. and stare out the window for however long it takes to catch the paper carrier in the act.

I didn't get a card, so I have no idea what my carrier's name is. I think I'll just have to give up on this one.

But thanks PDDers for your advice. And thanks, paper carrier, for your excellent service and not being a deranged socio-path like Baci's carrier.

Seal the tip in another envelope, and mail it to the DNT with a little note explaining it's for your carrier, and they should be able to take care of it from there.

To expound on what Tamara said:

I tip my friend River a dime for every Budgeteer that he takes away from our house when he comes over. I usually kick them off into a pile on the porch when I come home from work.

oh, but in.dog--there are two things worthwhile in the Budgeteer:

Russ Young is a priceless example of how much the insane have trouble with logic. He serves as a terrific tool for critical thinking in our home-school. Sometimes the tears of laughter are too much, but he's an addiction. And proof that anyone can get published in this town!

Larry Weber reads my mind and answers any question that's been banging around in my mind about the woods. It's uncanny.

I also have a pretty good paper boy and he also left me a card with his address. But by the time I had some extra cash I had lost the damn thing. So I taped an envelope inside my mailbox, even though only a small portion of it was sticking out he took it that morning. I would think that any paper boy would be searching for tip envelopes around the holidays.

I agree that Russ Young is required reading every weekend. The guy is a laugh riot...the scary part is he's dead serious though.

To those of you tipping, I love you! When I was a carrier in my high school days, I could count on @$3-500 in tips (I delivered 250 papers a Sunday) during the holidays. More recently, I delivered papers for 4 years. The maximum total for tips I got was $40 one year, the minimum? $0! I thought tipping the paper carrier had gone out of style.

Thank you to all of you who have restored my faith in Duluthians humanity.