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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - Your kettle must be broken

170 replies

TellMeItsNotTrue · 06/03/2018 13:16

AIBU to not offer a drink to workmen who say this or similar 5 minutes after arriving? Angry

Angry it pisses me off! If you want a drink then ask for one, if you had given me a chance I would have offered you one but not 5 minutes after you turn up while you are still unloading the van and haven't even started doing anything! Angry

I always offer a choice of tea, coffee, cold drinks. I make sure I have biscuits in, I've even made homemade soup for workmen in the past when they were working on the garage in horrible weather!

So it's not like I'm mean when it comes to that sort of thing, comments like that just get my back up and then I don't want to offer them anything! So AIBU to reply "yes it must be" and then not offer a drink?

OP posts:
FizzyGreenWater · 06/03/2018 13:52

Walk in with a cup of tea.

Tell him you don't havea husband any more, as a matter of fact.

Hand him his tea.

Then stare blankly at him and after the first sip state: 'He was standing there just like you are now, you know. Then he just dropped. Dropped to the floor.'

pause

'They said it was probably something in the tea.'

Grin
Fromage · 06/03/2018 13:52

Phrasing it like that would put my back up, asking with some wit or courtesy would be fine with me, even if they'd just got there.

I would probably reply "Ah, you seem to be asking for a mug of boiled sarcasm" and then I'd go out, taking the kettle with me.

It they queried it, I'd say I'd taken it to be mended.

beanii · 06/03/2018 13:53

First thing I do is offer them a drink - I would like to offered one and the happier they are the better job they will do :)

Myheartbelongsto · 06/03/2018 13:54

I honest to god can't believe some of the responses here!

You all need to lighten up.

CavoliRiscaldati · 06/03/2018 13:59

Is that how you would ask someone for a drink Myheartbelongsto, or order a drink if a coffee shop? Really?

Cocolepew · 06/03/2018 13:59

I had workmen fitting a boiler do were in the kitchen. I told them yo help themselves to tea, coffe etc, which I'd left out. I couldn't get in the kitchen all day.
Later on I heard one of them complaining on the phone that I hadn't made them lunch. They also went into the fridge and drunk 6 tins of coke and ate 9 packets of crisps from the cupboard.

Melamin · 06/03/2018 14:00

When we were having our extension built, the builders always brought their own flasks, which they got out for their exactly timed tea break routine Grin. They said they did not accept tea and the subcontractors did not either.

I did give one man a big jug of squash when he was digging a foundation hole by hand in the sun though, and he drank the lot - I think it was needed.

Bindibot · 06/03/2018 14:00

@FizzyGreenWater GrinGrinGrin

SilverySurfer · 06/03/2018 14:02

They would have a long wait in my house since I don't drink tea or coffee and do not own a kettle. Very rude of them.

coffeeeandtv · 06/03/2018 14:06

As soon as any friend or worker enters my door I offer them a drink, I suppose I would hope to be given the same respect, as a funny issue though, recently I had a visit from the police....(I wasn't the guilty party honest guv, my neighbour, unfortunately had been having some issues and I was a witness) on arrival I offered them a drink which was refused but after a minute or so they both politely requested a coffee, afterwards they explained that they always say no initially until they can see how clean the homeowner is and whether it is safe to enjoy their brew, so if anyone has ever had a cuppa refused by the emergency services then perhaps you need to get out the cif/detox/domestos.

Stephisaur · 06/03/2018 14:10

@Fizzygreenwater GrinGrinGrin that's brilliant!

I usually offer more or less as soon as they're in the house, but would have deliberately withheld any form of refreshment with that attitude and told them to piss off to costa round the corner!

@coffeeeandtv - that's interesting!

eggsandwich · 06/03/2018 14:10

A few years ago we were having a conservatory put on our house and the man who was doing the work with his son expected me to feed them (bacon/sausage sandwich’s) and constant tea and biscuits, anyway my Dh and myself went out one day leaving them too it, when we got back which was a couple of hours past lunchtime he said “where have you been we’re hungry” he was really shirty and pissed me right off so I said “why are you not providing your own lunch and snacks and that the volume of my food they were consuming I expect the final bill to reflect that,” he soon shut up.

TerfsUp · 06/03/2018 14:12

Saying that to someone is rude unless you know them well and they can be sure that you are joking.

To say it to someone you don't know is bad manners..

expatinscotland · 06/03/2018 14:12

Are there any other professions where your employer is expected to make you hot drinks and feed you on top of paying you to do a job or you won't do as good a job? YANBU.

Enuffsenuffsenuff · 06/03/2018 14:13

Cheeky bastards. Don't give them anything, they can sort their own teas and coffees out if they're going to be that rude!

AdoraBell · 06/03/2018 14:15

Oh please do what Fizzy said, please 😁

CindyCrawford2 · 06/03/2018 14:16

I had two workmen fitting laminate flooring from a famous carpet shop years ago- they had been here five mins when they asked me if they could smell bacon? I replied no, so they asked if i would make them a bacon butty - I explained I had no bacon in, so they then asked for toast. I made toast for them (I was early twenties, first house, first ever experience with workmen and extremely naive - I also felt intimidated by them) They then started messing about with their phones - trying to get me to speak to whoever was on the phone, then looking at my wedding photos on the wall and asking me who people were on them. The final straw was when they told me that as the flooring had not been opened and acclimatised (?) they could not fit it!! I just wanted them out of the house, they left and I rang the shop, who apologised profusely, gave me compensation and sent some completely different fitters the next day. 20 years later, I still always offer workmen tea, coffee & biscuits and let them use the loo, but I will never again be so naive and if they start getting cheeky - they get nothing!!

NomsQualityStreets · 06/03/2018 14:18

Didn't say anything to me as I went out for the day but recently the workmen doing some work in our office/loft used DPs keepsake mugs. He collects them whenever he travels or if it means something to him some of them are quite intricate and they are all stored up in the loft and definitely not used for drinking out of.

But apparently they were the preferred choice and they'd brought them from upstairs rather than using some of the 15+ mugs in the cupboard just next to the kettle.
DP was not amused.

LittleOwl153 · 06/03/2018 14:18

I remember this one summer with I was doing my A levels - living with DM. She has workmen doing the windows. I kept out of the way - she let them in before going to work. they made some noise about tea - but I was too busy studying to realise this was directed at me!
It turned out that they went to our neighbours house to offer to quote for work - but could they please have a cup of tea because the 'tight bitch indoors' wasn't making any! Neighbour told my mum when she got home - first I'd heard of it! They were creepy buggers too - was glad to see the back of them!

Original poster
TellMeItsNotTrue · 06/03/2018 14:24

Melanin I wonder if we had the same people, we had that once, the person who oversees the whole thing and employs people of different professions insists on all of his workers arriving with flasks/drinks and food and that they take breaks of certain lengths. It's all very professional and we were really impressed, they all had a great work ethic.

It was them who I made the soup for actually, I insisted because the weather was awful and the soup would warm them from the inside rather than a sandwich. Their work ethic and manners and everything was what encouraged me to do that, I cared that they were out in the cold and damp, even then they were cheery and polite, and they were really grateful for the soup.

I will happily pay a bit more to have them do jobs for me rather than employ someone else because I know they do a good job and I feel comfortable having them in the house. Unfortunately this was an urgent job and they are booked up. Unsurprisingly they are never short of work even though other people may undercut them in price.

OP posts:
HotelEuphoria · 06/03/2018 14:30

First thing I offer a workman, they knock on the door we confirm what is being done and where and then I offer a drink.

No big issue. I work from home, I drink 5 cups of tea a day and I don't have a kettle I have a Quooker so it is really no problem at all.

expatinscotland · 06/03/2018 14:31

A friend is there to visit, but someone you employ to do a job is there to do the work, not be served hot drinks.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 06/03/2018 14:34

Why do so many claim to offer a cup of tea as soon as they arrive?

I wouldn't be happy about a workman strolling into my house and immediately going on a teabreak?

MrsHathaway · 06/03/2018 14:34

It's a bit overfamiliar, isn't it. No professional distance. I wouldn't dream of saying the same to the hairdresser before I've taken my coat off, even though I know for a fact she'll offer thirty seconds later.

That said, like Hotel I am asking "do you take milk and sugar?" before they're even over the threshold as they've typically had a journey to get to us.

beanii · 06/03/2018 14:35

All of our workmen drink it as they go along so don't stop work :)