EDITORIAL: A tip for Press subscribers

Two men in their 60s made a confession over dinner: They don’t tip their newspaper carriers.

They said they would be happy to start doing it, but they had never really thought about it before.

We encourage you, Press subscribers: Please, if you receive good service from your carrier, show your appreciation with a generous tip.

What’s generous? Some customers include tips of $5 or $10 a month with their remittance. Others choose to give $20 or more as a one-time Christmas bonus. Several years ago, a Post Falls subscriber bestowed a $1,000 gift on his carrier. Talk about a happy customer! Any and every tip is gratefully received.

In case you don’t know, your carrier is an independent contractor. She or he is paid on a per-piece delivery basis, and that pay has to cover not just working in the wee hours every Monday through Saturday night, but gasoline, wear and tear on the vehicle and, in sometimes miserable weather, a good pair of gloves and boots.

Your carrier is one of the hardest-working people we know. In many cases, carriers take on newspaper routes to supplement their family income. It’s a second job for many; a third job for some.

These are moms, dads, brothers and sisters who choose to sacrifice the comfort of a warm bed to ensure their financial goals are met. Sometimes, they willingly work these demanding jobs rather than sit at home and collect welfare.

There’s one other thing. Newspaper carriers help keep you safe. At a time of night when many burglaries and other crimes occur, carriers serve as neighborhood watchdogs, reporting suspicious activities to police. You might never see your carrier, but she or he is keeping an eye out for you.

Please join us in expressing gratitude for these dedicated workers this holiday season with the warmth of a generous tip. If you don’t know how to ensure your carrier is rewarded, call The Press circulation department at 208-664-0220.