Tradesman ate my crisps - do I bring it up?

[LostSleep]

We are currently renovating a property before moving in. We have all of our furniture there but are staying elsewhere. The windows are currently being renovated. When I went in to see the progress I noticed my multipack of crisps was empty and there were several empty packets of crisps strewn in different rooms.

AIBU to raise this with the lead tradesman?

I have left quite a bit a food there as we are there most days doing DIY/decorating but haven't been there while the windows are being renovated.

My partner says there isn't any point in raising it. Nothing will come out of it.

When we had our windows done, I gave the men toasted teacakes on day one and a cream tea with jam and clotted cream on day two. You need to look after good tradesmen. I would only mention it in a sort of 'Like crisps, do we?' way, as you stagger in with half a dozen more multipacks.

It’s disrespectful!

There’s a difference between feeding them loads of tea and coffee biscuits etc ( I made mine bacon sarnies each day - cos they were really nice and respectful) and taking stuff and leaving litter and disrespecting your belongings. I’d mention it to the boss - not because you want money off the bill but it’s just common courtesy. We had a traumatic fire and lost 50% of our home. The scaffolders who were employed as part of the re build process stripped our bathroom of every fitting and fixture. They probably thought to themselves this is going to be an insurance job so who cares? But it was horrible for us when we found out - it was still our home. They also shat in the toilet ( which was no longer plumbed in and therefore had to be emptied with a bucket 🙄 we complained to the boss of the rebuild who was horrified and said they would never work for him again. They denied it.

This is just ridiculous! They are not gods or heroes ffs! They are run of the mill trades people. Anywhere else taking other peoples things without asking IS considered theft. You wouldn’t walk into a shop and take them, I fail
to see the difference.

My husband is trade. He has his own business but also works alongside his brother. He takes packed lunch and flask everyday with him and wouldn't dream of expecting food to be laid on. Though if it is he's chuffed. He certainly wouldn't help himself then leave the mess on the floor. That would really wind me up too. But then dh works like a Trojan and doesn't take many breaks and is well respected and valued.

Everyone is so petrified of upsetting builders and the like. I had one plumber who within 5 minutes of arriving to fix my boiler, said ‘Is that the kettle I can hear?’🙄 He had various other ‘funny’ ‘cheeky chappy’ comments . Needless to say, he was never called back.

Hermes, messenger of the Gods and Patron of Traders, Travelers, and Thieves would like to have a word with you 🧐

A Tradie God needs an offering of crisps.

One mustn't upset a Tradie God otherwise there's risk being blacklisted for life by Upset Builders

I wouldn't say anything but unlike most people on this thread I would be a bit shocked to come back and find the workmen had eaten my food...it's a bit of a weird one really and I can't understand why they would assume you'd left crisps for them as it's a bit of a strange thing to leave people to eat in the first place.

To add, I could understand if you had left a plate of cupcakes or cookies then they might assume it was for them as that's a more 'normal' thing to offer someone I think...but i'm not really up on my etiquette with workmen as I have never had any!

Builders are snowed under I wouldn't rock the boat, they'll be off.

Surely the plumbers should have bought their own food! If it was obviously for them fine. Otherwise it’s just common courtesy not to take. Actually illegal! That’s where many of the problems we have in society. Pushing the boundaries and disrespecting others cus you know they won’t complain… and if they do, what’s the toss.

Interesting that actual tradesmen and their partners on this thread think it’s unreasonable behaviour, but potential customers think it isn’t!

I personally couldn’t imagine going into someone’s home to do a job (whatever it is) and taking some of their food. Then throwing the empty packaging on the floor.

I'd be so pissed off with the cheek of this, but ultimately not worth mentioning. Just buy more crisps and hide them well!

Feed them, you'll get a better service. We all know when people get hangry they do a half arsed effort.

My employer doesn't feed me, should I do a shit job?

Yes to the Tradie God syndrome. This has everything to do with the fact that they were traditionally (and normally still are) all men and the householder staying home with them was traditionally a woman.

I'll offer a drink to anyone in my home if I'm making on but otherwise the little poppets can act like adults and pack a lunch box. (Or more likely, get their wife/mum to.)

It is interesting the number of people who seem to think that to get a good job out of tradespeople they have to ply them with cream teas and bacon butties. I wonder if they would go to the same level of effort for cleaners or babysitters? I’ll bet bet some tradespeople see it as a marker of the soft touches who wouldn’t realise or complain if they were overcharged for a bad job, because they are clearly more desperate to get the work done than the tradesperson is to provide it. As for those who actually take pride in the work they do, I’m not convinced they would decide who to do work for in the basis of the quality of their refreshments.

I am an extremely laid back person and this would irritate me. On a chair with nappies and wipes…Of course they weren’t for the workers. Tbf it just takes one person to tuck into a bag for everyone else to assume they’re fair game. So I’d say at least one worker is an obnoxious berk, the rest might be alright.

I’d Just say “I notice your guys ate all my crisps. Please don’t eat any more thanks.” If they do it again start putting little smears of honey discreetly on the bags. Nothing worse than sticky honey fingers 👹

They're not good tradesman if they are helping themselves to what was obviously a pile of the homeowners belongings, throwing their clothes in the dust and leaving a mess of rubbish everywhere.

They're behaving like twats.

Good tradies are respectful of the house they are in.

I'd mention it to the boss at the end of the job.

I agree with this.

The whole 'make an offering to the tradie gods' thing is rooted in the idea that women should be catering to men.

Not just catering for men, but clearing up after them.

A pp was spot on when pointing out that these Tradie God worshippers aren't busting out trays of bacon butties for the babysitter or cleaner.

🤣 I'm so chuffed you've adopted this "Tradie God" phrase

Well, you never know, maybe it'll be Pygmalion Effect of sorts

I'm waiting for the next thread about a sloppy lazy cleaner, so I can jump in and blame the OP for not making her Devonshire tea everyday to keep her happy. Everyone knows cleaners are rare as hen's teeth and will do a terrible job if you don't fuss over them all day. I've even heard that if you give them a huge cash tip they'll come back in and clean more stuff for free.

Not any more -

I love your response! Imagine if there was a Tradie God AND he knew about Georgiana Spencer and this and that how to make a cup of Devonshire tea? Can you have your cake and eat it too?!

To be fair, OP was advised to not make fuss about eaten crisps if jobs were done well as in that's rare these days

I mean, spilled milk, crying and all 🥤😎