4 ms·
In places in India, it is customary to tip the postman whenever you receive something important - particularly, government documents like a passport, driving li
by rudiv 6y ago
In places in India, it is customary to tip the postman whenever you receive something important - particularly, government documents like a passport, driving licence etc. because those are specially tracked and it's easy for the postal worker to recognize the envelope/packaging too.
- mcpeepants 6y agointeresting - is it because of the implication that, since they can easily recognize the package, they could also easily "lose" the package? Are people tipping as a sort of implied form of racketeering, or is it just genuine gratefulness for delivering an important item?
- jldugger 6y agoAs I understand it -- primarily from TED Talks -- corruption in India is endemic and somewhat expected. Sure, it's a form of racketeering, in the sense that many government employees have to give their boss a cut, and if they don't, they will be replaced by someone who does. It's typically presented as an "expiditing" fee. And the cause there, as presented by Wikipedia[1] is fascinating to contemplate. The abnormally high tax rate (especially compared to the services provided) increases the demand for corruption to avoid taxation. Taxation avoided reduces money available for bureaucrat salaries, to where they are almost reliant on the bribery system to make ends meet. And hence the pressure on line staff to kick back money up -- a promotion would separate you from direct contact with the public and represent a loss of income that must be replaced somehow. It's kind of a weird Laffer curve phenomenon where higher tax rates yields less revenue. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_India#Factors_contributing_to_corruption_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_India#Factors_co...
- geodel 6y ago> they could also easily "lose" the package? And they often do.
- samsari 6y agoIt sounds like it would act as an incentive for important mail to arrive safely and promptly, if the delivery agent benefits personally.
- pal_9000 6y agoI believe it's just an expectation that has been built by previous tippers. When there's a significant positive event like childbirth, obtaining a driving license, e.t.c, naturally people tend to tip. This sets a precedent and they start expecting as a sort of obligation.
- Gibbon1 6y agoA friend of mine described how you need to address a package in India. I say tipping is probably reasonable.
- pnako 6y agoIn some places you need to "tip" the police when driving somewhere. We generally call those tips "bribes".