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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:
LondonQueen · 30/03/2024 15:10

£10-£20. Perhaps a nice bottle of wine if I had one in the kitchen.

RichardsGear · 30/03/2024 15:07

Soigneur · 30/03/2024 12:41

It literally means to buy him a drink next time you see him in the pub. How is this confusing?

Do you live on Coronation Street or something? I have literally never once seen any tradesmen who've been to my house in a pub local to me (and there are a few on our High Street so which one exactly is the pub?!).

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 30/03/2024 15:02

I don't like these wooly, undefinable statements. So I think I'd say something like,

"Thanks for your help, there's a bird bath in the garden, help yourself to a drink whenever you like."

JMSA · 30/03/2024 14:56

£20. I'm cringing at those who are saying a fiver.

Bluebunnylover · 30/03/2024 14:54

My husband is a tradesman and would do this type of thing. I would say £20 or wine/beer to the value of

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 30/03/2024 14:52

I’d have assumed a cup of tea.

FangsForTheMemory · 30/03/2024 14:47

Well my local electrician charges £70 for a call-out, so that was nasty of him if he'd just said 'a drink'. Maybe he thought better of it.

Sisforsmile · 30/03/2024 14:46

Actually diddl is right regarding age

Sisforsmile · 30/03/2024 14:45

biteysaurus · 30/03/2024 14:38

I'm furious on their behalf. What poor conduct. I like PP's suggestion to contact him and ask for a breakdown of cost/why he felt £60 from almost 90yr olds was acceptable.

Sorry you have to deal with this, OP

I’m furious too and agree with this.

diddl · 30/03/2024 14:45

biteysaurus · 30/03/2024 14:38

I'm furious on their behalf. What poor conduct. I like PP's suggestion to contact him and ask for a breakdown of cost/why he felt £60 from almost 90yr olds was acceptable.

Sorry you have to deal with this, OP

Well their age is irrelevant unless he has special rates for over a certain age!

diddl · 30/03/2024 14:43

Oh that does sound as if he took the piss.

I mean from no charge to taking £60 from them?

I would have thought £10/£20

I bet you feel like warning others about him!

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 30/03/2024 14:43

biteysaurus · 30/03/2024 14:38

I'm furious on their behalf. What poor conduct. I like PP's suggestion to contact him and ask for a breakdown of cost/why he felt £60 from almost 90yr olds was acceptable.

Sorry you have to deal with this, OP

Daylight robbery

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 30/03/2024 14:40

Rosscameasdoody · 30/03/2024 14:36

Because it’s ridiculous ? Could you survive on £100 a week ? We hired a local decorator and he charged £100 a day - and that was several years ago. The daily rate now is an average of between £240 and £400.

Edited
Show quote history

Only you are being "ridiculous"!
The thread is about "beer money," not paying people for jobs/etc

biteysaurus · 30/03/2024 14:38

I'm furious on their behalf. What poor conduct. I like PP's suggestion to contact him and ask for a breakdown of cost/why he felt £60 from almost 90yr olds was acceptable.

Sorry you have to deal with this, OP

Rosscameasdoody · 30/03/2024 14:36

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 30/03/2024 14:25

Why would I say that and not mean it?

Show quote history

Because it’s ridiculous ? Could you survive on £100 a week ? We hired a local decorator and he charged £100 a day - and that was several years ago. The daily rate now is an average of between £240 and £400.

Rosscameasdoody · 30/03/2024 14:34

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 30/03/2024 10:22

All depends what the person did and how long it took - you are not going to give 20 quid to someone for 5 mins work

so generally a fiver or tenner at best unless they'd worked more than a day, then consider 20

You think £20 a day is a reasonable wage ? What decade are you in ?

susiedaisy1912 · 30/03/2024 14:33

£20

Original poster
cockapup · 30/03/2024 14:32

Needanewname42 · 30/03/2024 14:17

It's a bit of a nightmare. But you also have the MN attitude that all older people are rolling in it. And benefited from cheap houses and triple lock pensions.

Are you miles away from your parents? What about Grandchildren at those ages I'd expect teen or 20 something grandkids could have done it.

Did they tell the guy before he came out it was just a bulb it needed, but they weren't fit to do it?

No not miles away, but I wasn't aware it needed doing. My mum thought it was a broken fitting and not something any of the family could deal with as 'electrics'.

OP posts:
DrJoanAllenby · 30/03/2024 14:30

£10 or £20 if I didn't have a £10 note.

Better to have him remember you as being generous if you ever need urgent help in the future.

Crochetablanket · 30/03/2024 14:28

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 30/03/2024 14:18

He's totally mastered the art of making himself seem like a really good guy, whilst simultaneously acting like a really bad guy, hasn't he?

Honestly: anybody taking £60 for changing a light bulb from a couple who are both knocking on 90 needs to have a really long, hard look at themselves.

I'm not necessarily saying he was wrong to earn anything for his trouble, but what a shame he couldn't have been like plumber James Anderson of Burnley:

Sometimes something restores your faith that there are good humans out there !

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 30/03/2024 14:25

BabyofMine · 30/03/2024 10:24

You think £20.00 is adequate recompense for more than a days work?!

Show quote history

Why would I say that and not mean it?

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 30/03/2024 14:18

He's totally mastered the art of making himself seem like a really good guy, whilst simultaneously acting like a really bad guy, hasn't he?

Honestly: anybody taking £60 for changing a light bulb from a couple who are both knocking on 90 needs to have a really long, hard look at themselves.

I'm not necessarily saying he was wrong to earn anything for his trouble, but what a shame he couldn't have been like plumber James Anderson of Burnley:

How much is 'a drink' in payment terms for a tradesman?
Needanewname42 · 30/03/2024 14:17

It's a bit of a nightmare. But you also have the MN attitude that all older people are rolling in it. And benefited from cheap houses and triple lock pensions.

Are you miles away from your parents? What about Grandchildren at those ages I'd expect teen or 20 something grandkids could have done it.

Did they tell the guy before he came out it was just a bulb it needed, but they weren't fit to do it?

pootlin · 30/03/2024 14:06

Sounds like he took advantage. This is why we live 5 mins away from my parents even though I’d love to move away.

Mum feels a constant guilt about money and gives her basic pension away like sweeties.

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 30/03/2024 14:03

Wasn't it Tommy Cooper who used to stuff what felt like a folded banknote into people's top pockets, with the words "Here, you have a drink on me" - and it was actually just a tea bag?!