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

He saved them a bit of work that could have been straightforward but equally could have expanded into something complicated - getting a ladder out and climbing up to remove the bulb, doing the online research to see what kind of bulb it is, ordering it, getting the ladder out again to change it, and potentially other awkwardness with getting the right screwdriver to remove the fittings, or finding out the bulb wasn’t the correct one so having to order another, or finding you’ve dropped and lost a screw in the process and need to source another, and through this, having no outdoor light for a few more days, plus having the uncertainty that this would fix the problem and that if it had turned out to be not the bulb they’d have to pay someone to come in after that to assess it.

I would have expected him to take £20 given he’d said ‘a drink’, but I still think a minimum call-out of £50 would not have been unreasonable, plus the cost of a bulb.

Your poor mum. He has totally taken advantage of your elderly parents. I would be messaging him on the FB page and asking why he took £60 from them

😥

You'd graciously consider £20.00 fair payment for more than a day's work. Are you serious. Do you live in the UK or Bhutan?

I’ve never heard of being asked for “a drink” by a tradesman - learn something every day

Me either. I read the op and though he wanted a cup of tea, which I though odd as he was on his way home, until I got to the question.

Nightlight robbery.

I think this is a bit cheeky of him. I have gone to my local garage because my bonnet wouldn't shut properly. I have never used them before. They greased and shut it. A 5 min job and did it for nothing. I have taken my car there every since they did this. And to be honest I'm glad I did. They have also come a jumped my car as I had mot booked but couldn't move my car, again for free

he tried to make himselflook good but then ripped them off

you dont take 60 off anyone for a ligtbulb fitting

I agree, and I would give £20 for a “drink”.
But you have to remember that yes they are doing customers a favour by fitting in small jobs at discounted rates. But they’re doing themselves a favour too, because that money is tax free. I don’t begrudge them that, and I have several regular tradesmen who fit in jobs for me for £20, so I’m happy with that arrangement. But it isn’t a one-way street. It benefits the tradesmen too. They get a bit of tax free cash, and a potentially a future customer for bigger jobs (except in the OP’s case, because he’s a bloody criminal!)

£20 here

We had some building work done. We gave the bricky that was onsite every day for weeks 'a drink' and that was £20 of bottles of ale.

My ukulele group played for an afternoon at a local social club for a Christmas do. They said we'd get a drink. Bearing in mind the place has a bar at club prices. We got a cup of tea each. A cup, mind you, not a mug. And no biscuits.

I think people were picking up on your saying "so generally a fiver or tenner at best unless they'd worked more than a day, then consider 20".

Did you mean if they'd popped over after work on a Monday and then had to grab a special tool from home before popping in again after work on Tuesday?

From what you said, it did sound very much like you were saying to only even consider giving a professional £20 for doing more than a full day's work for you - hardly 'do us a little favour' or 'beer money' territory.

For those suggesting very low amounts such as £5, they need to remember that tradesmen are not working when travelling to the job so the 10 minute job would be an hour with travelling, plus the cost of a light bulb and the cost of fuel.
It is so difficult to find people willing to do small jobs so it's worth paying more than you think the job is worth just to ensure he will be happy to come back for another job,

Oh!

no that’s terrible! That really is. I would be phoning some kind of Chartered place.

where did they find him?

I hate this kind of stuff the most. My granny got taken advantage of

I believe he has totally taken advantage of your parents!!

Oops read update no 60 too much

Tenner, but I think I would have given him 20 cos he sounds like a decent bloke.

We bought a new outside light thinking it’d be a like for like swap…it wasn’t. We called a local electrician who took off the old one and mounted and connected the new one…,£35!

Just read your update, yeah that’s really out of order. He took the piss out of their vulnerability there. If he asked for a drink and your mum handed him £60 he should have said oh no that’s too much and handed her at least £40 back. 😡

I would consider £10 but give £20 so I didn’t look like a tight arse 😂 £5 is absolutely too low! Anymore than £20 seems excessive.

I’d be worried that (a) your parents thought it appropriate to offer up all the money in her purse and just let him take it and (b) that your Mum thought “a drink” might cost cost £60. Sounds like they are struggling with daily living, how can they manage their daily finances if they are that out of touch with what things cost?

I’d probably have taken that literally and given him a crate of beers !

He took money to replace a light bulb??!! Frigging hell!!

They mean a £20 tip on top for works that took a day

Wow. This has teared me up.

If local pub just ask them to give him a drink next time he in and pay them
Wouldn't expect give cash with that reply and odd to say that but then accept £60 for changing light bulb