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Original poster

How much is 'a drink' in payment terms for a tradesman?

315 replies

cockapup · 30/03/2024 10:20

My elderly parents contacted a tradesman on a local FB group as needed an outside light replacing. The tradesman said he'd pop round after finishing another local job to assess. As it turned out it was a bulb needing replacing so took him less than 10 mins. He kindly said no charge but just give me a 'drink'.

How much would you give? Just wondering if what my parents gave was excessive- I'll reveal amount later.

OP posts:
KCSIE · 30/03/2024 11:12

DSD9472 · 30/03/2024 11:08

I now think he was pretty rude to accept the £60! He should have handed some of it back, especially as they supplied the bulb! He asked for A drink, not a whole bottle of Moet!

Agree. Doesn't sound like a trustworthy trade person. Not one I'd have back again, at least.

Willmafrockfit · 30/03/2024 11:11

oh dear, your poor dm

Mayflower282 · 30/03/2024 11:10

He doesn’t sound like an honest and trustworthy person to have around your parents. I wouldn’t use his services again.

DSD9472 · 30/03/2024 11:08

I now think he was pretty rude to accept the £60! He should have handed some of it back, especially as they supplied the bulb! He asked for A drink, not a whole bottle of Moet!

MaryFuckingFerguson · 30/03/2024 11:07

I’d give £10 for a lightbulb. £20 if he’d been there a while.

Original poster
cockapup · 30/03/2024 11:07

Just to add, they are not well off and the £60 was their shopping money. My mum just got the cash out of her purse and showed him the notes and he took it all - I too would have expected him to hand at least £20 back!

OP posts:
Barleysugar86 · 30/03/2024 11:06

Wow £60 was a lot- I'm surprised he accepted it from pensioners. I would give £20 personally (south).

ByUmberViewer · 30/03/2024 11:06

£60 was a bit much really, however, he will be available at other times and will prioritise your parents hopefully. I mean, it COULD have been a real emergency. He'll be a good contact to have if nothing else.

Jokl · 30/03/2024 11:06

£60?! And he accepted it?? Blimey. I mean, he wasn’t wrong exactly to accept it because it was offered and everything but that’s a heck of a lot!

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/03/2024 11:05

Astartn · 30/03/2024 11:02

@MolkosTeenageAngst It’s maybe bit different if it’s your family friend as opposed to a tradesman though ? I think in that situation you’re right to buy them a drink.I would find it strange to give a partners friend cash unless it was a big job and you’d agreed in advance

That said I agree that people should be clear, I’d dislike if someone asked for a drink meaning cash.

Okay thanks, friends husband is a tradesman but I suppose is also sort of a friend too so maybe that’s where it gets confusing? I agree it would feel weird giving him cash for minor jobs, he’s done things like put up shelves or change bulbs and the wipers in my car so not really jobs related to his change. Very confusing though, I think even if it was a tradesman I didn’t know if they said give me a drink I’d have given a drink. Things like this are such a minefield!

Tattletwat · 30/03/2024 11:04

RandomMess · 30/03/2024 10:21

£10-£20

A pint is best part of a tenner in many places.

Blimey I'm glad I love in the north if that's how expensive a pint is.

That said would give 10-15.

Astartn · 30/03/2024 11:04

£60?!

That’s generous of them, if they have the money to then it up to them I guess. It’s their money!

For me personally though that’s excessive.

Edited to add: Another reason why I like people to be specific in their pricing so I don’t go overboard OR shortchange them.

OwlCityisthemostunderrated · 30/03/2024 11:03

£60 was too much. I would have expected him to say so and give £40 back.

missnevermind · 30/03/2024 11:02

I would give £20 but feel I was being generous

Fumnudge · 30/03/2024 11:02

£10 if they're on their uppers, if they have a nice pension, £20.

Original poster
cockapup · 30/03/2024 11:02

My parents gave him £60, which is what cash my mum had in her purse. So although I think too much I do appreciate he did come at fairly short notice and sorted it there and then.
The bulb was actually provided by my parents, as my mum is one of those that has the stock of a supermarket in the under stairs cupboard 🤣

OP posts:
Astartn · 30/03/2024 11:02

@MolkosTeenageAngst It’s maybe bit different if it’s your family friend as opposed to a tradesman though ? I think in that situation you’re right to buy them a drink.I would find it strange to give a partners friend cash unless it was a big job and you’d agreed in advance

That said I agree that people should be clear, I’d dislike if someone asked for a drink meaning cash.

Singleandproud · 30/03/2024 11:00

£20 - pays for their time, the bulb and hopefully keeps them on side for other small jobs if they were reliable and trustworthy.

Thefutureisourownpath · 30/03/2024 11:00

It’s the petrol, time and good nature of him to come - I’d pay £10-£20

iLovee · 30/03/2024 11:00

I would give £20 and give him some beer/wine in the fridge but I appreciate it's really hard to gauge!

Jokl · 30/03/2024 10:59

I mean, realistically ‘a drink’ is probably £10 but I’d give him £20, just for being so nice really! He made the effort to add a little time to his day to help them out.

Astartn · 30/03/2024 10:59

cockapup · 30/03/2024 10:20

My elderly parents contacted a tradesman on a local FB group as needed an outside light replacing. The tradesman said he'd pop round after finishing another local job to assess. As it turned out it was a bulb needing replacing so took him less than 10 mins. He kindly said no charge but just give me a 'drink'.

How much would you give? Just wondering if what my parents gave was excessive- I'll reveal amount later.

It depends. If he supplied the bulb then £20. If not, £10 since it was on his way home. I called my odd job man out for something that ended up taking 2 minutes. He absolutely refused to accept payment but did later ask if could leave a review which I did.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/03/2024 10:59

Neverpostagain · 30/03/2024 10:57

Yes. Give them £20

Show quote history

Shit. My friends husband has done a number of odd jobs for me with my house and car and I always just buy him a beer. I had no idea the right thing was to give cash. I’m autistic - if people want cash why can’t they said ‘just give me £20’ instead of a drink. Especially as a drink usually only costs £5-£10!!

DaisyHaites · 30/03/2024 10:58

For less than 30 mins I’d have given a 4 pack of lager, for more than that a crate of lager. Or a bottle of wine for either scenario if they preferred (I’d probably offer both).

I wouldn’t offer cash if he said no charge… as surely he would have said £20 not “a drink” if he was expecting £20…

Shellingbynight · 30/03/2024 10:58

£20.
As another poster said, it's really difficult to get trades to come and do such small jobs so I'd be appreciative.