AIBU to not offer a cup of tea?

[perrita]

DH and I have own business and had a visitor coming to our office today, who we are paying for their time. I don't really drink tea or coffee so never have these items at the office (no kettle either although there is a communal kettle in a communal kitchen at opposite end of building) and it didn't occur to me to bring them in so I didn't offer them anything to drink, they were here about 1-1.5 hours.

DH asked how it went and asked if I offered them a drink. Adv no. I just didn't think about it. He's annoyed I didn't, said it makes us look bad.

If it was a client or potential client I would agree and would have even bought posh biscuits for them but AIBU to think that it's not up to me to make cups of tea for people we are paying? When I'm at work I wouldn't expect people to make drinks for me, if they offered I might say yes but wouldn't be offended if they didn't. Id take my own drink with me for the day and wouldn't rely on other people providing my refreshments.

DH thinks I'm BU, I think he is, who's right??

I do a lot of meetings with people who are paying me. It has always surprised me how few of them offer me anything to drink,

Harsh. In almost all of my meetings I'm in the 'supplier' role (my employer is the one being paid, they don't pay me directly) but I almost always get offered a drink on arrival, and usually further offers depending on how long I'm there. It's also the norm when visiting our suppliers, or when our suppliers visit us. It's just courtesy, surely?

...exactly how I feel about tea. Will remember that as it is indeed what separates us from the beasts.

but so does the X-Factor ...

Carabos your not often offered Tea in Northern Ireland??? Surly not, you do know the Irish are famed for their tea! I am shocked and appalled on your behalf. I will be having stern words with my wee county about this.

Ps if your ever staying here on business/leisure pm me I have great hotel deals on :)

Strange for your DH to ask if you offered a drink. What's that about?

Yabu, they werent your employee were they? They were someone coming in to do a job for you. Therefore you should be trying to give a good, professional impression and at least offered a tea or coffee.

My husband goes in to businesses and homes to work and is mostly always offered a drink.

Bad manners. Im with your dh here. I dont drink tea but offering a glass of water is common curtsy.

Yabu op I agree with your husband, an 1.5 hour meeting, when you are in a warm room constantly talking is thirsty work, you should of offered water at least imo, did you know how long the meeting was going to be at the very start?

Do you think the OP has got the message yet

I think it would have been nice to offer some tea or water but I don think it is that bad that she didn't. An hour and a half isn't that long. I think it depends a lot on what time of day it was and where the office is.

I did wonder what was the point of your dh raising it, especially after the meeting. If he was bothered he might have gone and got tea for you to offer before the meeting happened.

lurking husband x factor is the antithesis of a nice cup of tea.

This morning I got offered ice cubes in my tea at the train station. Because it was hot I wanted to say "don't be offering English people ice cubes in tea in a hurry" - gross insult to our culture? - but was concerned that it would come across as rude/ xenophobic rather than funny.

Blacktealeaves (

I would have offered water at least; it's not too hard to have a jug of water and some glasses on the table. I would probably have asked them if they wanted a tea or coffee even if it's slightly inconvenient to go and make it.

Hadn't thought about my name when I posted but did choose it because I'm obsessed with tea! However if my dh comments on how much tea i drink (alot, but none of his business) I say I will take up smoking again if he doesn't shut up.

Ice cubes was thoughtful you are right. I probably seemed a bit rude because I was too shocked to say anything after I had checked that was what she really said! Didn't mean to be rude though.

I said no thank you, obviously!

I'd guess the DH just raised it as part of a general discussion about how the meeting went/what happened.