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Original poster

Tradesman asking for a sandwich

592 replies

AtleastitsnotMonday · 18/01/2021 15:49

I’ve had a tradesman working on the outside of my property today. Got here about 11.30, job was about a couple of hours worth of work. About 1200 I went out and asked if I could get him a tea or coffee. He answered “Tea, white with two please, would you be able to knock me up a cheese sandwich while your there?”
Now, admittedly I’m rubbish at saying no at the best of times and I wasn’t expecting this so obliged, even returning to check if he would like pickle/tomato etc with it.”
Dp thinks I’ve lost the plot and he was being grabby and to be honest I’ve only ever made drinks with the odd biscuit before, the only exception being when we had an extension built which was a much longer project and I outdone make them bacon sandwiches on a Friday morning if I wasn’t working.
Would you have made a sandwich?

OP posts:
billy1966 · 18/01/2021 16:37

I would always bring out lots of iced drinks on a hot day and good coffee and a nice plate of cakes and biscuits.
I have made sandwiches for men who might have been doing a hard day.
I have always found them to be hugely appreciative and it always resulted in getting a more obliging job from them.

Are lots of places closed around you.
If he asked politely, I wouldn't hesitate to make a nice sandwich for someone.

GreenlandTheMovie · 18/01/2021 16:37

CF. What tradesman/woman doesn't bring their sandwiches to eat in their van for lunch? Its probably even covered in their training!

"Sorry, but I'm out of bread" covers it.

Amazed at all the inventive slave labourer comparators and times--are-so-hard inventions that the poor chap can't even afford a loaf of bread and some cheap Cheddar. About £3 for an entire week of sandwiches for someone who is in employment?

tttigress · 18/01/2021 16:37

Well my mom makes her Gardner snacks, but she actually enjoys it and they are more like friends.

But if you were just working with someone for the first time sounds like a p take.

soundofsilence1 · 18/01/2021 16:38

I have been asked on occasion but mainly becuase it is miles to the nearest shop and they don't want to waste time. I always oblige when asked.

rooarsome · 18/01/2021 16:38

@Love51

I find it odd that people ask for anything. But I work for the local authority and used to do tonnes of home visits. Some colleagues wouldn't accept a cuppa, let alone food. I'd take tea if offered but wouldn't ask.
I'm a district nurse and we are told not to accept a brew from patients/families
Skysblue · 18/01/2021 16:38

We’ve had a lot of tradesmen for a project recently that lasted many months. Hired quite a rough looking (and cheap) crew but they were happy when I offered them a drink and said that the boss is clear: you can accept if offered, but you must never ever ask for one.

I’ve only offered food once and that was because I was making 3 sandwiches and had enough for a fourth. He said he didn’t need anything.

They all bring their own food and snacks...

CleverCatty · 18/01/2021 16:38

A sandwich is being very cheeky and you could have easily have said no.

A few years ago a friend of my DBro's was hired by my parents to paint their hallway - upstairs and downstairs - he took a very long time over it and why I don't know - my DM made him very nice sandwiches every day which he ended up asking for, plus added fruit on the side etc - I was at college then and found him a bit dodgy - he tried to grope me once - but after this my DM got wise to him - I think he stretched this job out to a month or more and said she wouldn't recommend him to anyone as he took too long and the sandwich grabbiness too.

Rosebel · 18/01/2021 16:39

I always offer drinks and biscuits. Don't do any other food. My husband did do bacon sandwiches once but they were friends of his.
Never had anyone ask for food. I probably would do it but think they were a CF.

chasingmytail4 · 18/01/2021 16:39

@GreenlandTheMovie

CF. What tradesman/woman doesn't bring their sandwiches to eat in their van for lunch? Its probably even covered in their training!

"Sorry, but I'm out of bread" covers it.

Amazed at all the inventive slave labourer comparators and times--are-so-hard inventions that the poor chap can't even afford a loaf of bread and some cheap Cheddar. About £3 for an entire week of sandwiches for someone who is in employment?

I wasn't suggesting for one moment that he was slave labour, I simply said the Archers storyline immediately came into my head and wondered if I was the only one!
EBearhug · 18/01/2021 16:40

I'd have directed him to the corner shop (about 5 doors away) - they're much more likely to have sandwich ingredients (and actual sandwiches) than I am anyway. But I might also be thinking about current Archers storylines and whether he's properly paid.

I've never had a workman ask for this, though, nor offered more than a cup of tea or glass of water.

AiryFairyMum · 18/01/2021 16:40

I make them lunch because it takes them less time than if they go to the shops and take forever coming back. It's enlightened self-interest!

CleverCatty · 18/01/2021 16:40

@billy1966

I would always bring out lots of iced drinks on a hot day and good coffee and a nice plate of cakes and biscuits. I have made sandwiches for men who might have been doing a hard day. I have always found them to be hugely appreciative and it always resulted in getting a more obliging job from them.

Are lots of places closed around you.
If he asked politely, I wouldn't hesitate to make a nice sandwich for someone.

Iced drinks, coffee and cakes/biscuits if you're feeling generous is fine to offer but a sandwich (e.g. their lunch) they should generally provide and should factor in time to either make or buy them themselves, as cafes and supermarkets are open now.
rooarsome · 18/01/2021 16:40

I think it's the manner of the request that I find to be rude, rather than the request itself.

ginghamstarfish · 18/01/2021 16:41

Cheeky, and for some people it might mean using up something they were going to eat themselves. Tradespeople should take something with them if not in vicinity of shops, supermarkets etc. I'm impressed when guys I've had here have even refused drinks, having their own flasks with them.

user1471538283 · 18/01/2021 16:46

I've never given lunch but for a bigger job I've done breakfast sandwiches. I've never been asked for it though.

CheesyWeez · 18/01/2021 16:47

I would have made the sandwich but thought it was cheeky. I would have been scared that 6 of his mates would turn up to help and all want a sandwich too Shock

We recently had fibre broadband installed and I got an email from the company explaining the installation process including this:

"Step 6:
Ahead of the engineer’s arrival, make sure the biscuit tin and tea caddy are full, connecting your home to Britain’s fastest Full Fibre network is thirsty work."

So there, it's official that tea and biscuits are expected. Brew Biscuit Brew

Oooohbehave · 18/01/2021 16:47

Cheeky of him to ask but yeah I would have made him a sandwich and chuckled to myself at his cheek.

PuppyMonkey · 18/01/2021 16:47

Considering we’re in a pandemic/lockdown, I think I wouldn’t even have offered a cup of tea let alone a sandwich - is that just me?Confused

I mean normally, I’d have offered a cuppa if they’re going to be there for a fair few hours.

MrsDiplo · 18/01/2021 16:47

@daisychain01 can I have a couple of rounds of Finest honey roast ham, pickle sarnies on whole meal bread and a bag of salt and vinegar Kettle Chips, you might have raised an eyebrow at that!

im starving and now i want this but dont have anything nice in as the tesco man hasnt shown up yet. Sad

TatianaBis · 18/01/2021 16:48

Of course I would, but I would think it a bit cheeky.

ArabellaScott · 18/01/2021 16:48

I always offer food if people are working all day or longer. But never had anyone ask, that's cheeky as fuck!

Godimabitch · 18/01/2021 16:49

God no. I'd have thought he was joking and just laughed it off. You get a cuppa and some biscuits of you're lucky here. I dont get why anyone would feel the need to cater to people doing work for them. No one feeds me when I'm at work. And DH is very rarely offered a drink when he's working on peoples vehicles all day, no way would he even consider asking a customer for a drink in any circumstances, never mind food!

im5050 · 18/01/2021 16:51

When the guys who were building my deck a few years ago they were going to have a pot noodle for lunch .
I went and got them pasty’s and cakes every day from the local bakery told them they could use the kitchen for tea coffee & juice and put a loaf of bread with butter in case they wanted to make some toast .
They were working at my house for about 10 days in really hot weather . So the least I could do was make sure they were fed and watered plus they were bloody good builders which are really hard to find and keep . So If I wanted them to come back and do more work they would .

Oh and I had no problems in letting them use the bathroom either 😂
But I always give a tip anyone doing work in my house and offer them the use of my kitchen to make a drink for themselves and they can use the toilet . To me it’s just basic manners.

It seems to work as any one who’s done work at my house has always returned if I needed them to

whitechocolatehobnobs · 18/01/2021 16:52

I think he was a cheeky fucker! Who the hell asks a customer to make them lunch?! Like others have said, no way would he have asked your husband/partner to make him lunch! It's him thinking he's doing a manly job and that the little woman in the house has got nothing better to do than make him lunch.

We've had loads of work done on our house over the past two years and a couple of tradesmen have taken the piss and asked me repeatedly to make them drinks. I told them I was busy working and to ask DH instead! Funnily enough they didn't.

RedHotChiliChips · 18/01/2021 16:52

If the workman knows he's working out in the cold all day, what stops him bringing a flask of hot drink with him? As well as his lunch and snacks? I'd hate to do this type of job and rely on the customers to sort out my drinks. I'd rather be in control and have my own supplies to keep me going.

There's many reasons why the household won't and can't offer drinks or bloody food. We had an extension built two years ago and I set up a kettle station for the builders. Sometimes if I had time, I did offer to do drinks for them too. But on most days, I was trying to cram in as much as work as I can within the school hours and no way I would have spent time making sandwiches for grown adults who should be capable taking a packed lunch with them.

To me it is just so sexist and it is one of the reasons why I often put off having any jobs done as I know there's the unspoken expectation of having to cater even though you are the one who is paying for the service. If they'd ask for a sandwich, I would never use them again.