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Original poster

How much would "just buy me a drink" mean to you when you ask someone how much you owe them?

166 replies

ColdCottage · 05/09/2022 16:59

I had a very lovely tradesman in today to look at my broken appliance. He couldn't fix it - well he could but it wouldn't be worth it due to the cost.

When I asked him what I owed him he said "just buy me a drink" I had no idea how much this should be.

He had been there 20 minutes I would guess, maybe 1/2h.

I was a bit surprised and had no idea how much this should be. I guessed 2 beers would be £10 so gave him that.

Wondered if I might have been a be short as he was a very lovely man and suggested some other brands for me to get the best value replacement.

So I thought I'd canvas opinions here so I'm more prepared for next time.

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
ColdCottage · 05/09/2022 18:15

Lovely man, old enough to be my Dad. Definitely wasn't asking for a date, just being nice as it didn't take him too much time.

South East here so feel I might have short changed him 🙁 such a nice man too. Will know for next time. Have already told lots of people about how helpful he was so I hope he gets more customers.

Thanks people.

OP posts:
latetothefisting · 05/09/2022 18:16

I'm in the "have never heard of this and would assume he actually wanted me to get him a drink" group!
Probably would have stared at him awkwardly and said "um....im working sorry....."
So at least you got his meaning!

Choconut · 05/09/2022 18:21

I would just think it was one of those things to say that means you don't need to pay him anything - due to the fact you'd never actually see him out to buy him a drink. I had no idea it meant £20 - why don't people just say that FFS?

creampuffs · 05/09/2022 18:26

I hate these codes people are supposed to just know! If he wanted £20 he should have just asked for £20. Since he didn't specify, I think giving him £10 was fine though.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 18:27

I've heard it a lot from people basically meaning give me £10/20 for my trouble/as a gesture, but I won't invoice you at the normal rate.

I can't remember who it was, but I remember reading about a celebrity from decades ago (Tommy Cooper, maybe?) who would routinely say "Here, have a drink on me" and then tuck something into somebody's top pocket - but instead of the expected banknote, it was a teabag!

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 05/09/2022 18:29

VenusClapTrap · 05/09/2022 17:55

someone once said this to me so I literally gave him a couple of beers out of the fridge 😳

DYING 😭😭😭

FlibbertyGiblets · 05/09/2022 18:30

Round here that means either a tenner or if lucky/unlucky dep on the cleanliness of the kitchen, a jar of jam from the pantry.

sweetsalted · 05/09/2022 18:33

I would hate this because I’d assume he meant literally buy me a drink! So I’d probably laugh awkwardly. If it clicked that he meant ‘give me the price of a drink’ I’d be tying myself up in knots trying to work out how much to give him

MintyChipton · 05/09/2022 18:35

Oh bloody hell, I've never heard this. Glad I have now because I'd probably have said "Um ok, I'll just get my shoes on"

dworky · 05/09/2022 18:40

gratefulheart · 05/09/2022 17:02

To me that means he's asking you on a date!!

No, it definitely doesn't mean that when workmen say that 😂
It means pay me £10-20.

Blankspace35 · 05/09/2022 18:42

In that situation id normally just buy them a crate of beers, probably a 12 pack

CrapBucket · 05/09/2022 18:43

I've never heard of this, I would have said a fiver so I'm glad other people know this fucking wierd code!

NoSquirrels · 05/09/2022 18:47

Well, that’s weird. I’d never “buy a drink” in a pub if it was going to cost me £20! A single drink is a fiver tops, surely?

Why not just say “Oh, £20?” And then everyone knows where they stand.

Marmite27 · 05/09/2022 18:48

A tenner is fine. Last time we ‘gave someone a drink’ we sponsored a kit for his kids sports team in deceased FIL’s old company name. That cost us £15.

mumda · 05/09/2022 18:49

Bottle of whisky (or other top shelf spirits) used to be the accepted rate round here.

A good brand if you thought it was worth more but the cheap stuff from Lidl is good too.

Cash wise - about £20 perhaps.
But a tenner isn't bad if it wasn't out of their way and took no time.

jewishmum · 05/09/2022 18:52

A drink? About £2.50?

Flowerytoe · 05/09/2022 18:52

I would have thought he was either asking you for a date or saying don't worry about paying me just give me a good review or or any other small gesture.

FloppyFlippy · 05/09/2022 18:53

I thought this was a really common thing to say.

cherrysthename · 05/09/2022 18:59

I'd have just given him his call-out charge.

SunnyD44 · 05/09/2022 19:06

I would take “buy me a drink” to literally be meeting someone for a drink rather than giving them the money for one. I’d never give someone cash in that situation.

Me too!!

Surely he would say just give me money so I can buy a drink. Not you buy me a drink.

Thank fuck no one has ever said this to me as I would 100% have assumed they were asking for a date and I would have seriously embarrassed myself!

I’m sure I’ve said this myself when flirting and the guy has taken my hint and invited me out on a date.
Obviously there was flirting going on too though.

Breakfastisjustporridge · 05/09/2022 19:09

PurpleDaisies · 05/09/2022 17:02

I would take “buy me a drink” to literally be meeting someone for a drink rather than giving them the money for one. I’d never give someone cash in that situation.

How about see you later?

toodlesthen · 05/09/2022 19:10

sagalooshoe · 05/09/2022 17:39

A drink is £20 if a tradesman did you a quick favour

Yep. Correct.

AutisticHouseMove · 05/09/2022 19:12

I hate stuff like this!

Why don't people just say, "Call it £20"?

I'd probably give £5. A pint of Peroni is about £5. A drink = 1 drink. £5. Or 2 pints if Carling at the local spoons. I might give £10 if I were feeling generous.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 19:14

In that situation id normally just buy them a crate of beers, probably a 12 pack

Do you mean give them enough money for them to buy a crate of beers when convenient for them or actually get them to wait there hopefully whilst you dash to the supermarket?!

MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 19:16

I have never ever had a tradesman say that.
I would also have been most perplexed!!
Just buy me a drink....what now? Next time you're in the pub? What....??

Also, where do you drink that a drink is £20??