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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:
BrussellRand · 31/03/2024 20:56

You do realize 'A drink' doesn't mean one drink' it means a few pints' so £20 would be fair unless you thought that modern slavery was ok and £20 should be a days wage.

Fluffmum · 31/03/2024 20:53

Tenner

Arconialiving · 31/03/2024 20:43

I'd have paid £20 if he said it was the cost of a drink. He's definitely ripped your parents off with £60.

I'd also be wary about him returning & saying further work needs to take place. Please make sure they're prepared & say no if he does return.

OldPerson · 31/03/2024 20:28

£10. He took the time to come out to the job, assess it and change a lightbulb.
He said "Just a drink."
If they throw more than £20, they don't have a good basis for him pricing up any further jobs.
But where were you?
Why don't you buy and send them a lamp, so that if another bulb blows, they won't be in darkness.
And this is one of the reasons we make sure we have good relationships with neighbours.
The good neighbour will pop round and say, "new lightbulb", or "I don't know, think you need to call out a professional"

Dressinggownlife · 31/03/2024 20:26

hellsBells246 · 31/03/2024 00:58

Where do you live that a drink is £20?

Show quote history

Hertfordshire

ChedderGorgeous · 31/03/2024 20:14

It may be he was thinking of a nice Chateau Margaux, 1989 Red, in which case it was a great deal !

walkingback · 31/03/2024 20:09

I would’ve given him a tea bag!

Toptops · 31/03/2024 19:57

£10

lemming40 · 31/03/2024 19:53

Maybe he only drinks champagne 😂

Londonrach1 · 31/03/2024 19:51

£20.

TheEternalForever · 31/03/2024 19:49

I'd give a tenner or twenty depending on which I had on me/could get out of the cash machine. If I was anticipating having to spend more to replace the whole light or whatever I'd still consider £20 to be decent value tbf, considering the bloke came over, didn't try and upcharge me for anything, and did the thing I couldn't do myself on his own time after his proper work day had technically ended

Salome61 · 31/03/2024 19:38

What a pig, sorry he took your parent's food money for the week, £20 for ten minutes work would have been plenty. What has the world come to.

Wimin123 · 31/03/2024 19:15

If you want someone to drive over quickly and sort your issue in the future £20 - can’t believe people are suggesting £5 - tight wads

Brendaloves · 31/03/2024 18:30

I think a nice bottle of something is in order, maybe a speciality beer or an entry level bottle of wine, but nothing extravagant (I would class a spirit to be excessive on this instance).

MumTeacherofMany · 31/03/2024 18:25

Should have been no more than £10! Especially as they provided the bulb! I'd contact him OP

Jack80 · 31/03/2024 18:01

No more than £20 or could buy a 4 pack for someone

Missingpop · 31/03/2024 17:51

About a tenner he’s said a drink a pints about a fiver so ten gets him two for good will

Judecb · 31/03/2024 17:45

£10.00 min. Even if it was a 10 minute job, travel etc will add up

RichardsGear · 31/03/2024 15:35

caringcarer · 31/03/2024 00:21

He didn't ask for £60 he just said but me a drink. Your Mum chose to give him £60. He just took what she gave him. My late Mum would always overpay tradesmen and made them homemade cakes, biscuits and I've known her to offer some bacon sandwiches and be constantly asking them if they wanted tea or coffee. It's my Dad's fault because he always used to tell her if you want a good job done offer them one of your cakes or shortbread.

The mother didn't choose to give him £60 - she didn't know how much he meant so showed him the money she had in her purse and he chose to take the lot.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 31/03/2024 10:51

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 30/03/2024 23:19

Would you work for that? How do you afford your basic bills, if so?!

Show quote history

Yes I would if I had indicated "beer (wine) money."

hellsBells246 · 31/03/2024 00:58

Jeez, @Sunshineandpinkclouds , where do you live that a glass of wine is £15???

hellsBells246 · 31/03/2024 00:58

Dressinggownlife · 31/03/2024 00:06

A drink here is approx £20
DH charges £67.50 + Vat per hour call out however min of 2 hours plus parts
this for all small maintenance works. Larger works are all quoted for.
its his business so not able to do cash in hand. Sounds like person your parents used is more of a handyman rather than a business.

Where do you live that a drink is £20?

hellsBells246 · 31/03/2024 00:56

I'd contact him and ask why he did what he had done. Stop him doing the same to other older folks. What a chancer. A real rip-off merchant.

RogueFemale · 31/03/2024 00:25

Rip off. A drink in this context means £10, absolute max of £20 if the bloke had to drive a long way at an inconvenient hour. Horrible that he accepted £60.

Iknowitsyou · 31/03/2024 00:25

housethatbuiltme · 30/03/2024 20:11

Maybe Im a bit dense but if I asked how much money I owe and someone said no charge just give me a drink I would give them liquid to drink not money.

Like a cup of tea, can of pop or maybe a bottle of beer if I had one and they drank alcohol.

This I was expecting op to come back and say they gave him a bottle of vodka. I do tend to take things literally though!