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.)

£0

We've just completed 2yrs of a renovation on what was a derelict property. We've had at least 10 different trades and over 30 individual workmen/women work on various aspects of it. Some were here a day and others for weeks. It never occurred to me to tip anything at all! Why would you???

There isn't a tip culture for tradespeople

Well this thread has been a revelation! I wish I'd posted sooner, as I have been merrily giving extra when a tradie has been and done some work in the house. What a sucker I've been 😆

I've no idea where I got the idea that it was "the done thing", but you've all thoroughly disabused me of that notion, so I thank you all 😊

Didn’t your husband, or anyone, ask what I’m Earth you were doing every time you tipped a tradesperson?
It kind of sounds like your husband has tried to tell you to stop it, and you’ve just ignored him?

Remember MN is full of angry feminists.

WTF has that got to do with tipping?

@SabinaSteele my husband wouldn't dream of tipping a tradesman. Gas lit really? You been reading "How to be right wing for dummies" tonight?

why would you do that? stop it, or they might all start thinking they’re gonna get tipped.

Glad we've saved you a few quid.

I mean, the first post nailed it really. We could have all said "ditto".

@NewName24 one day AI will summarise our posts so posters can get to the point quickly

Tipping trades isn’t a thing. If I’m working from home whilst they are there I will offer a drink on arrival and probably pick up some sausage rolls and doughnuts from Greggs at lunch time. Then I just hide away as I find having people in to work unbearable!

I don’t think it’s an angry feminist thing to not tip.
I think there’s something a bit off about tipping a tradesman it’s almost as if people view them as poorer some how and then feel all superior and charitable by pressing and extra £20 in their hand for a round of drinks. I also cringe at people tipping bin men.

Our last plumber charges £400 a day. He can buy his own feckin round 🤣

I tip hairdressers , in restaurants etc I would not dream of tipping a builder / plumber

I have never tipped a contractor. However, I provide lots of tea/coffee and decent biscuits/cake whilst they are at my home and will leave treats if I'm out whilst they are are here. Most importantly, I pay them immediately for the job. If they do it by bank transfer, I'll do it before they leave, particularly if they have paid out for the materials they have used upfront.

I have two contractors for small jobs recently, one who came out on a Saturday, and on both occasions I felt they were undercharging (on both occasions it was work for my very elderly Mum). I gave them extra not because I was 'tipping', which I think is a bit disrectful of their skills but I wanted to be be fair - and also good contractors are worth weight in gold and I like to accumulate their goodwill.

My Mum comes from a culture where if you have people working in your home all day, you should invite them them to join you for lunch. If, for example, they got a taxi from their home in the country to relatives in the nearby city, the taxi driver would be invited to lunch with the family. They were just other members of the same community doing their jobs. When she had a new kitchen and bathroom put in she was best friend with all contractors by the end of the week and knew all about their lives.