Tipping tradesmen. How much?

[HurdyGurdy19]

We have had our downstairs cloakroom refurbished this week.

The quote from the plumber, for the whole job, was £3,500 plus VAT.

He has brought in other trades - carpenter, tiler, and plasterer. All part of the quote.

How much would you tip?

10%, as in restaurants, or a fixed amount?

My husband suggested "enough for a couple of rounds", but my leaning is more towards a couple of hundred pounds.

What, if anything, would you tip?

(I hate this tip culture, and resent feeling obliged to offer any extra, but always feel that you should look after a good tradie for when you need them again.)

wtf! Absolutely nothing, you're paying thousands of pounds already. I know some jobs where tipping is normal. I don't think it's normal to tip a tradesman especially one that is getting thousands of pounds from you already.

Nothing.
They quote the price required to make it worth their while and run a viable business.

Good lord, the tradesmen we have used are all a lot better off than we are! I wouldn’t tip a lawyer or accountant so I don’t tip a plumber or plasterer.

Tipping is for bin men, milkmen, the postie etc at Christmas.

Ex is a general builder so quoted for a whole job, or worked on a day rate. Not the type of trade that traditionally charges a call out fee or gets emergency call outs.

The only people that would contact him like that would have been previous clients in a bind, or someone he was working for at the time who had an emergency while he was there that was unrelated to the job he'd quoted for. He didn't do work like that for free and would have invoiced afterwards, but mostly the people were just very appreciative at the time and wanted to give a gesture of thanks.

Nothing, but we did tip our movers last time. They did a great job, worked hard and were great interacting with our toddler. I hate hefting boxes so I guess it stemmed from that

What? That's not a thing?!

DP is a tradesman and he doesn't get tips - he might get some beer at xmas, especially if he does long days to get something finished before the 25th. He has occasionally had something if he's gone out to an emergency and dropped everything else to help someone.

He has got lots of repeat customers, sometimes one of the farmers might give him some sausages or something like that.

Only exception for me as a customer is if there's been an apprentice who's worked really hard and done a great job, l've given them some cash before as they don't get paid very much.

@FruitBadger that's fair enough then, I'd probably tip in that situation too, although I'd have to have my roof caved in to disturb someone on Boxing Day!!

That's very close to what had happened!

What? No tip! Ask how you can give them a good review. Say they can use before and after pics if they'd like to.

I've never tipped a tradesman!

I work for a construction company and our lads are never tipped either.

Nothing!

I always get some beers/biscuits/treat for them, but only if I've got to know them well enough. We have a lovely guy who is a plumber, electrician and builder and I always give him a few things to say thank you for the bigger jobs.

I once tipped an emergency plumber in my first flat, he had to come out on christmas eve morning to stop a leak and I gave him £50 to get his kids something nice on the way home.

Tipping would be weird in this situation.

The pass me's who work with our builder get a £1k a week take home pay.

The ones who aren't actually qualified to do anything.

Why the hell would you tip? ! They're earning good money.

We got the ‘boys’ who did our extension a few packs of beer. Nothing for the boss. He said that would be appreciated when I asked him what they drink. I actually assumed everyone did it! It only cost me about £20.

We tip removal men and we once gave someone a bottle of wine because they were very friendly and their wife kept sending baked goods for the children.
But no, other than that we just pay the bill.

Oh and beer for our painter, but he was here on and off for months.

Nothing… offer a brew and biscuits. They are well paid.

Of course you don't need to tip the trades. Although sometimes DH has come home with a bonus bottle of wine, which is kind but not expected.

Who else do you tip?? GP receptionist for checking you in promptly? Sainsbury’s cashiers for putting your food through in one piece? Airline pilot for taking off on time?

Airline pilot for taking off on time?

This one id consider if it worked 😂

Is this a thing now?? I assumed the thousands of pounds I paid was sufficient 🤦‍♀️

Nothing, never tipped a Tradie in my life.
They get drinks, biccies and use of my loo and the pleasure of DDogs company and thats enough for anyone.

£0

I never tip tradespeople, in my area they charge a fortune.

I don't tip tradespeople but if they are there at breakfast time they are offered a bacon roll and coffee.