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

[ColdCottage]

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

I've also never heard it from a tradesman, only from friends, who I would buy a drink for.

If a tradesman I'd never met before said it to me I'd be massively confused and either think he was wanting to go on a date or start stressing about how and when I was supposed to buy him a drink or assume he didn't want paying at all.

If they want £20 why on earth don't they just say so? As seen on this thread we don't all understand this secret code and they risk not getting paid anything at all, or much less than they actually wanted.

What do younger people say when they do someone a favour.
Would it just be “ forget it” when someone asks how much?

Surely who ever is paying then says “ thanks, here, get yourself a drink” whilst they shove a tenner in their hand. To show it’s not payment but something tangible ( drink being a nice gift).

Yes I've bought friends drinks when they've done me a favour, but this isn't a friend, it's a tradesman who is presumably a stranger. You've said he won't care if he's given nothing, but various people in the thread have said it means the trasdeman is expecting £20. So would he really not care if given nothing?

Not sure if I'm younger (41). But I'm in the not heard of this camp.
If I'd done a friend or acquaintance a favour, I might say 'you can buy me a drink some time'. Because there's an actual chance I might go out socially with them. Or I'd say, 'don't be daft, call it a favour' and they might say 'OK I owe you one'

I'd expect a tradesperson to say either 'no charge'. Or 'it was only a small job, I'll just charge a call out fee - £20' which I'd be happy to pay because I don't expect any tradesperson to work for free.

No one would get cash pressed into their hand because I never have cash on me, ever.

@RichardMarxisinnocent Yes he’s genuinely not expecting money because he would have said “oh just give us a twenty quid” or whatever if he wanted cash.

“Buy us a drink” means he’s doing you a free favour.
You give him a tenner so he can buy himself a drink - you acknowledge the favour he’s done you.

Is it to avoid paying tax? In a sense not being paid but getting given a charitable donation?

I would defo have taken that as being asked out!

Obviously you don’t have to give him money. He’s told you it’s a favour.
Just nice to be appreciative.

I think it’s better than “ no charge” because there’s the risk you’d always expect that job to be free. ie that’s the pricing policy.

Pity there's no voting on this thread! By my reckoning 50% of people would think the tradesman was being weird, over familiar and possibly asking them out.

I'm stunned an adult wouldn't know this, it's hardly 'code.'

Its expensive in the South East, I'd budget a fiver 😅

Is it generational, or regional?
Quite a few said they are South East.

I am an adult. But North East.

I can’t believe people haven’t heard of this. I use it the other way as well - ie when giving someone a tip where it wouldn’t be expected, I’d say “Please let me buy you a drink”
or “please have a few drinks on us”.

And now you know you could have had your garden done for £10/£20 😂

I'm nearly 50 and have never heard of this!

I have heard it this way, but would just say 'here's a little extra for you' or 'for your trouble' myself.

I mean thinking about it more, saying 'please let me buy you a drink' could be taken the wrong way easily.
Especially if older male saying it to younger female.

I mean thinking about it more, saying 'please let me buy you a drink' could be taken the wrong way easily.

It’s usually said while actually offering the cash, though, which makes it clearer!

I'm in my 40s and have NEVER heard this. I would feel totally awkward and wouldn't have a clue how to respond to this. And would probably think he was asking me for a drink!
Why not just say "no worries, a tenner/twenty quid will do"
I have had someone say it to me now I'm thinking about it, but it was a friends husband who happens to be a builder and it would be completely feasible to see him in the pub and literally "buy him a drink" so I didn't think anything of it!
I think I bought him a case of lager to say thanks in the end

NW, 40s and NEVER heard this.

I assumed all the replies would be about chatting you up.

Mind you, I was thirties before I heard the phrase “doing a foreigner” in relation to tradesmen and I was very suspicious of the person who explained it to me as if it was obvious.

If they want £20 why on earth don't they just say so? As seen on this thread we don't all understand this secret code and they risk not getting paid anything at all, or much less than they actually wanted.

Life is full of little oddities like that, though. You could say exactly the same about restaurants and tipping - where they frequently don't even give you any indication at all that they want you to give them extra money, but may well think you terribly mean (even ripping them off) if you don't offer it unbidden.

trades don't do favours for total strangers

It might be different in big cities, where there are numerous tradies, but I've encountered a number of tradespeople who've done a very simple job as a favour/'for a drink' and then we've gone on and used them for a much bigger job. Maybe not strictly a favour as such, but certainly goodwill that will put them favourably in your mind when you next need somebody for more involved (and lucrative) work.

@jewishmum No. It means the person isn’t expecting any payment.
You give them something because that’s its a nice thing to do,

We used to have a lovely guy who came to sort out our boiler / central heating - now sadly retired - we had an insurance policy with his company which covered callouts, parts etc so there was never a fee to pay, but we always used to give him a tenner and tell him to get himself a pint. He never actually asked for it, but I guess the idea is the same!

Doing a job on the side is that?

Is this a north/south thing?

It seems to be making perfect sense (and have a fairly established monetary value) amongst southerners and not mean a bloody thing in the north?