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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:
toodlesthen · 05/09/2022 21:08

degsydoodoos · 05/09/2022 21:00

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!

This is exactly where it stems from. It's so funny and surprising that people don't know this, or that a standard drink is £20.
But, you can't know what you don't know! Maybe it is a london/se thing.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 21:09

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

Technically, I suppose you could interpret it that way; but he's hardly coining it in if he's suggesting you might want to give him a tenner/twenty as a thank you, rather than charging you a standard call-out fee and minimum one hour labour.

I'd say it's no more a deliberate tax-avoidance scenario than if a friend with a van or large car helped you move house or do a tip run and you gave them twenty quid or bought them a breakfast in gratitude (whether unbidden or hinted at) - would they be trying to avoid tax if they just kept it as a friendly gesture between you?

I really think that a lot of tradies who do this are hoping that a bit of kindness and goodwill will come back to them by way of more work sooner or later - and why ever not? It's generally also a good way of marking out an honest tradesperson from a rogue trader, who would seek to rinse you at every single occasion and wouldn't in their wildest dreams 'waste' an opportunity by giving a freebie/cheapie.

toodlesthen · 05/09/2022 21:27

The £10 drink isn't actually wrong either...if you're treating someone to a pint then it's fine. However if the established payment terms are 'a drink' then it's £20 as standard. Could even go up to £50 depending on the work involved.

Blowthemandown · 05/09/2022 21:30

@ColdCottage buy me a drink is exactly what you’ve done: the value of a drink, so £5 or £10 depending how long he was there. Definitely not a chat up line !

Mosso · 05/09/2022 21:37

It's £20. Everyone here would know that

Original poster
ColdCottage · 05/09/2022 21:39

CurlsLDN · 05/09/2022 19:41

Oh god.
This thread has made everything clearer.

I once had a guy round to quote for some garden work, he said it wasn't a big job and he could tack it on at the end of another job as he lived very close by. When I asked how much, he said 'just buy me a drink'

I went with another, far more expensive, gardener, as I felt so awkward that gardener one was trying to chat me up and was prepared to do work in return for a date, especially as he lived nearby and it could all get very awkward if it didn't work out.

I totally misunderstood and was totally flattering myself wasn't I?

Love this. Such as shame as you could have had more money for plants. You know where to go next time you need a small job done rather than the offer of a date.

Glad it's helped clarify things 😊

OP posts:
MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 21:40

Mosso · 05/09/2022 21:37

It's £20. Everyone here would know that

Where do you live out of interest? Roughly of course!

Original poster
ColdCottage · 05/09/2022 21:44

LividLaVidaLoca · 05/09/2022 20:54

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.

I've never heard "doing a foreigner” please explain?

OP posts:
Tanfastic · 05/09/2022 21:47

Twenty quid!

MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 21:47

I think doing a foreigner is when you work for say a plumbing company, and you do a job on the side for yourself.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 21:48

However if the established payment terms are 'a drink' then it's £20 as standard. Could even go up to £50 depending on the work involved.

If you want £50, you traditionally say "oh, just buy me a lobster" Grin

Christmasiscominghohoho · 05/09/2022 21:51

£20.

I wouldn’t give anything less.

MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 21:52

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 21:48

However if the established payment terms are 'a drink' then it's £20 as standard. Could even go up to £50 depending on the work involved.

If you want £50, you traditionally say "oh, just buy me a lobster" Grin

Are you having a laugh now? I can't tell!! Is this thread a giant wind up??!!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 21:56

Are you having a laugh now? I can't tell!! Is this thread a giant wind up??!!

Eeeeerrrrmmm, maybe Grin

YesitsBess · 05/09/2022 21:57

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll always speaks the truth, especially when suffixed with a giant grin 😁

RewildingAmbridge · 05/09/2022 22:00

Londoner, live in Essex £20 is a drink or if it was a really substantial favour maybe £50. Eg my friend's older brother fixed my car for me when a garage quoted £250 that I really couldn't afford, I was a new graduate and skint, just started a new job and just moved out of my parents permanently. I gave him £50 which he really tried to refuse (friend had said oh just give him a drink) when I asked how much I owed him, to me he'd saved me and my commute!

MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 22:07

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 21:56

Are you having a laugh now? I can't tell!! Is this thread a giant wind up??!!

Eeeeerrrrmmm, maybe Grin

I'll get some funny looks then when I start offering people lobsters 🦞

YesitsBess · 05/09/2022 22:08

On a complete tangent, that’s made me start singing a very rude Derek and Clive song about a lady from Amsterdam.

pilates · 05/09/2022 22:13

£20

TheYearOfSmallThings · 05/09/2022 22:15

I had this before with a plumber - I had no idea what he meant!

Nagado · 05/09/2022 22:21

I absolutely love that some of you would think that the plumber was being overly familiar 😂

£20 here in the south east.

Namechange303333311 · 05/09/2022 22:26

I think £10 is fine. I’m in the South East and he could get 2 drinks here, 4 if he drinks in Wetherspoon's.

MichaelAndEagle · 05/09/2022 22:30

Nagado · 05/09/2022 22:21

I absolutely love that some of you would think that the plumber was being overly familiar 😂

£20 here in the south east.

The boot would be on the other foot for you lot though, if you come up north and try offering people drinks to come and do odd jobs for you 😂

Rutland2022 · 05/09/2022 22:32

”A drink” here is code for £20

DustinsHat · 05/09/2022 22:33

£20. I don't think some people commenting realise that he isn't literally going to go and buy a drink with the tenner you gave him!

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