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jennifer rose

Nov 3, 2003, 10:21 AM

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Dia del Cartero -- 12 November

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That's Postman's Day, and don't forget to remember your mailman with a gift. Money always fits.

gpk

Nov 3, 2003, 12:54 PM

Post #2 of 6 (398 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Dia del Cartero -- 12 November

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This is more important than many people realize. Everyone in Mexico has her/his "day" and it is taken very seriously--so DO give your mailman a gift--cash preferred. How much do you give?

jennifer rose

Nov 3, 2003, 1:32 PM

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Re: [gpk] Dia del Cartero -- 12 November

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Because when I went to rent a mailbox several years ago, my mailman said "You get more mail than a box will hold, which means you'd just have to ask at the desk, and since you do get home delivery, don't bother," thereby saving me $100 M.N., AND because I do get way too much mail and magazines, AND because my mailman rings the intercom to personally hand over the mail even though there is a mailbox inside the gate, AND because he's a nice guy, commenting "You've got a check today" or "I'm sorry but it's only bills," I give him $200 M.N. Last year he commented "That's too much," but he's worth it. My sister and her husband, who don't get the quantity of mail that I do, give him $100 M.N.

Marlene

Nov 4, 2003, 8:05 PM

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Mailman Day

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Absolutely - the day of recognition is SO important here. (Where else is Mother's Day a national holiday on the same day each year?)

Our local postoffice began stamping our "incoming" a few days ago with a message so large that you can't possibly miss it, reminding us of the special day. Our Cartero always looks so professional in his crisp uniform. He has a sports whistle as he goes house to house on his squeaky bicycle with the big wire basket full of mail. He blows the whistle when he has mail to drop. Everyone looks forward to his daily visit when they hear him coming. His memory is unbelievable, so we were confused when he suddenly began throwing my mail through another expat's window down the street! Turns out that the color of both our forwarded mail labels was the same. Hers from S. Carolina and mine from British Columbia, (bless him, we only had to tell him once and it never happened again) This is one of the many joys of living in Mexico and I am glad the subject came up here. Viva la dia del Cartero!

jrice

Nov 9, 2003, 6:28 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Dia del Cartero -- 12 November

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One or two hundred pesos ($10 or 20) is probably lavish and hopefully memorable. In Mexico City, where folks often never see their carteros, the guys actually went door to door last year.

One potential problem for gringos: Mexicans are used to getting a Christmas bonus. And people who work for or with you tend to expect or look for either a bonus or tips at Christmas. In fact, formal workers have a legal right to one. Four weeks, I think (I could be wrong).

So December can be costly.

jennifer rose

Nov 9, 2003, 6:35 PM

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The Christmas Aguinaldo

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In Reply To

One potential problem for gringos: Mexicans are used to getting a Christmas bonus. And people who work for or with you tend to expect or look for either a bonus or tips at Christmas. In fact, formal workers have a legal right to one. Four weeks, I think (I could be wrong).

So December can be costly.

15 days' salary is the legal requirement for the aguinaldo for statutory employees. Of course, there are employees who receive more than the statutory minimum, either through the largesse of their employer or a union contract.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Nov 9, 2003, 6:39 PM)