Thanks for your responses

[GasHouseGang]

No, I've never seen that. I did a quick search and found the following:

There are a number of exceptions and exclusions to the general gifts rule. Postal Service employees may accept the following items:
*
Snacks and beverages that are not offered as part of a meal.
*
Items with little intrinsic value (i.e., greeting cards, plaques, pens, coffee mugs, etc.).
*
Perishable items (i.e., flowers, chocolates, cookies, etc.); if the items are clearly worth more than $20, employees should share them with others in the Postal Service workplace.
*
Items with a market (retail) value of $20 or less.
*
Gifts motivated solely because of a personal relationship.
*
Gifts for which the employee has paid market (retail) value.
*
Gifts paid for by the Postal Service.

Postal Service employees may not accept cash - in any amount or form (bills, checks, money orders) - from an outside source.

So it sounds like they are breaking the rules by setting up a tip jar.

[Rookiemonster]

Here's a tip buy Honda stock !

[vintagetoppsguy]

Wow! Never seen that and I'm at the post office a lot. Funny stuff!

[Snapolit1]

I gave my carrier the allowed $20 gift this year for great service, and he really appreciated it and I was happy to do it. But to face a tip cup every time I come in for some stamps or to drop a package off? Dunno . . . seems a bit much.

[GaryPassamonte]

Instead of being a tip jar it was probably loose change left by customers similar to what is on retail counters in many places to be used by other customers. It is highly unlikely there would be a tip jar in any Post Office. The clerks and/or local management would be on the hot seat for that one.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Instead of being a tip jar it was probably loose change left by customers similar to what is on retail counters in many places to be used by other customers. It is highly unlikely there would be a tip jar in any Post Office. The clerks and/or local management would be on the hot seat for that one.

That's what I assumed for the last year . . .then I looked at it and noticed there were always a few singles taped to the inside perimeter of the cup. And it was fully of quarters.

[JustinD]

I think I would ask the postmaster their opinion on if they feel that falls under the guidelines. I personally find it appalling.

[Buythatcard]

Never seen that. What's next? Tip jars on the dealer's tables at the card show.

[drcy]

I volunteer at a non-profit art gallery and during an artists' reception where there was free food and wine for the guests, a guy put a tip in an empty flower vase someone had left on the concessions table I and a woman were working at. I told him that it wasn't a tip jar and that we were were volunteers who didn't even accept/want tips. But there was a crowd and he was too embarrassed to reach in and take out the money in front of everyone. So we treated it as a donation to the gallery.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I gave my carrier the allowed $20 gift this year for great service, and he really appreciated it and I was happy to do it. But to face a tip cup every time I come in for some stamps or to drop a package off? Dunno . . . seems a bit much.

+1 ! - I give my carrier $50 every Christmas