I am due to renew our subscription next week, so I will include some extra $ for our carrier. In years past we haven't always done anything, b/c we have had our carrier change several times and I am not sure how the paper distributes the "tip". We used to pay for a year at a time, but it started in May. We always seemed to end up with a different carrier by Christmas time and I hated that the person that probably got the tip was no longer our carrier, and that our "current" carrier was probably getting nothing... but I don't know how it works(ed). We have the same carrier this year as last, so I will include $ with the bill next week for her(him?).
I will say also, that during the times of transition (prior to this past year anyway) we routinely had issues. Either not getting our paper, having it rained on and not bagged, having the bag not tied so it was soaked anyway, not re-starting delivery when we asked for it after a vacation, etc... just one thing after another. I swear it seemed that once a month I was on the phone with the distribution department. And I am loathe to call and complain about things, but when it is POURING rain, and they toss the newspaper on the driveway not in a bag, and it is the one with all the coupons and sales papers?..... not gonna cut it with me. :(
I just feel weird about sending $ to them directly through the mail (to the address on the Xmas card they include). I don't know why. I think I'd rather try to figure out a way to stick it on a stake at the end of the driveway, lol. But it will go in with the billing statement this year.