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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tradesman ate my crisps - do I bring it up?

298 replies

LostSleep · 28/02/2023 12:52

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.

OP posts:
YaWeeSkitter · 28/02/2023 15:31

The trademan is a CF and I would raise it as a concern with the foreman if you happen to be speaking to them. I would also keep a close eye on the standard of work and raise any concerns you have about this at the same time.
However I would also leave properly signposted drinks and biscuits for the workers. And pointedly - a black bag just for their own rubbish!

Meandfour · 28/02/2023 15:38

FOJN · 28/02/2023 14:59

I can hardly believe the responses here. He/they helped himself to things without being told they were for the builders, that's more than cheeky, that's entitled and according to MN if you don't provide a bin for them then it's perfectly reasonable for them to throw litter on the floor.apparently it's unreasonable to expect an adult not to throw litter on the floor. They threw your things on the floor because they wanted a seat but then did not replace things as they found them and apparently this is OK too.

FFS, Have you employed a professional firm or the local nursery? I would not be happy with such disrespectful behaviour and would say so. I don't think it's OK for people working on your house to treat it as if it's their place. There are professional tradespeople out there who would be horrified that anyone thinks this is acceptable.

I've always made a habit of providing tea and biscuits, either making tea myself or telling the to help themselves if I've not been there to make it. If I've bought lunch for myself I've usually bought extra for anyone doing work on my house and I'm fine with all of that but if they started helping themselves without asking I'd be pretty pissed off.

Without being told? This is an unoccupied flat with no kitchen and no fridge and a random multipack bag of crisps left lying around…
Its hardly a reach they assumed they’d been left!

Maxifly · 28/02/2023 15:48

2 years ago I had a tradesman and his assistant in my house for a week. I made them breakfast sandwiches and tea then cake and tea in the afternoon. He took photos of the food and posted on his website about how he had the best customers! Then I saw him recently and he remembered this. I'm happy to treat them well if they're doing a good job and don't keep disappearing. Your men probably thought the crisps were for them but I would have expected them to clear up.

Strawberrydelight78 · 28/02/2023 15:51

They probably thought you left them out for them. Don't most home owners provide refreshments tea coffee etc and at least some biscuits?

Littleflowerseverywhere · 28/02/2023 16:00

Strawberrydelight78 · 28/02/2023 15:51

They probably thought you left them out for them. Don't most home owners provide refreshments tea coffee etc and at least some biscuits?

Yes I think it’s very common, it is of course less rare to leave snack food out then get yer arse in your hands as they ate some crisps

Tradesman ate my crisps - do I bring it up?
Defaillance · 28/02/2023 16:01

As the others have stated, I wouldn't mention it, especially if he was doing a decent job, however, I would move the remainder of the 'goodies' and just leave stuff you're not bothered about.

C4tastrophe · 28/02/2023 16:01

Don’t mention it. It’s a packet of crisps FFS.

Don’t leave other food about.

Mammajay · 28/02/2023 16:02

I would gently remind the builders that it is your home not a building site.

KalvinPhillipsBoots · 28/02/2023 16:14

First world problems, get a bloody grip ffs

screamingj · 28/02/2023 16:14

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/02/2023 13:02

Tradesmen are priceless these days. I'd be buying him more crisps and also treating to lunch, and a pack of coke, if he's doing a good job.

This. You're lucky a) you can afford a tradie & b) that he bothers to turn up and do a decent job. Forget the crisps, just don't leave any more lying about.

ShandaLear · 28/02/2023 16:17

He obviously thought they were left for him, otherwise he’d have tried to hide the evidence! OP, if he’s doing a good job and likes crisps, buy him more crisps. I’d be over the moon if clients bought me crisps and I’d work extra hard for them (to be fair, I’d probably work for crisps instead of money). Imagine, if you came in saying, ‘Hi, Kevin, I’ve bought you a 24 pack of cheese and onion’, he’d be your slave for life.

Benjispruce4 · 28/02/2023 16:27

Ugh! This is why I hate having tradesmen in. I always say ‘ Help yourselves to the tea/coffee and biscuits’ but I wouldn’t expect them to take anything else unless I state it’s for them. It’s not worth it though. Just don’t leave food there, leave it in the boot of your car.

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 16:30

Myfabby · 28/02/2023 13:30

Really? I hope this is sarcasm..

Show quote history

🛌🕴🗣👥🏍

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 16:35

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/02/2023 14:54

I had a couple of young men in from a removal company recently, just to shift around furniture that is too heavy for me to move by myself.

I greeted them with hot coffee, a cinammon swirl cake, orange juice. They were surprised but pleased. After they did the required job they asked if there were anything else. I said it wasn't on the brief but it had occurred to me that I wanted a door brought in from storage; was going to try to re-hang it in the utility doorway (can't remember why I took it down in the first place.)

They waved away my offer to pay more, retrieved the door from the storage loft AND re-hung it for me. I sent them on their way with a a tip, a couples of cokes and packages of nuts.

It's increasingly difficult to find reliable people in the trades and difficult jobs that require heavy lifting -- I treat them as well as I can. Where would we be without them?

This. It's just gracious and reliable help is so hard to find these days

AbsoluteYawns · 28/02/2023 16:35

YANBU OP
It's disrespectful if nothing else. Leaving the packets strewn and chucking your overalls on the floor. That alone would make me cross.

Silversalt · 28/02/2023 16:36

It is on a high street where there are multiple coffee chains.
🙄

Tradesmen required unlimited tea and biscuits. You need to leave milk, sugar and mugs as well. When my plumber was here fitting a new boiler I provided a constant flow of tea and snacks. It may not be essential but it helps with goodwill.

NormasJeans · 28/02/2023 16:37

I tend to put stuff to make drinks and snacks on a tray in the kitchen and tell them I have left snacks there for them if they want them. Clears up any confusion about whether they can raid the fridge and stops them asking me to make them cups of tea.

Meandfour · 28/02/2023 16:44

Mammajay · 28/02/2023 16:02

I would gently remind the builders that it is your home not a building site.

OP has pointed out it isn’t their home; it’s an empty flat they’re renovating so it is, in fact, a building site!

DramaLlama20 · 28/02/2023 16:46

Cherrysoup · 28/02/2023 12:54

Of course raise it! They are stealing what is not theirs. I remember a plumber scoffing my grapes that I'd bought as a treat when I was first working and broke. I was appalled.

I can't get past the idea that you bought yourself grapes as a 'treat'.

TheShellBeach · 28/02/2023 16:54

I expect a hundred people have already asked you this, OP, but did the tradesman also have the nerve to use your lavatory?
Grin

fetchacloth · 28/02/2023 17:02

It is theft really but is it worth getting uptight over a few bags of crisps? Not really.
If I was you, I would check that nothing more valuable has been taken though.

AlbertaAnnie · 28/02/2023 17:04

Sorry op - I did think that too 😝
I can see why you would find it annoying and it’s not very professional- however in the grand scheme it’s trivial and if, as others have said, they are otherwise doing a good job just let it go

JemimaTiggywinkles · 28/02/2023 17:05

I can't get past the idea that you bought yourself grapes as a 'treat'.

Grapes are expensive. I often buy myself raspberries as a treat - they've even more expensive than grapes or chocolate!

LuluLehman · 28/02/2023 17:10

LostSleep · 28/02/2023 12:57

They had also unceremoniously dumped our work overalls onto the floor so they could sit on the chair.

They could have placed the overalls elsewhere rather than on a very dusty and dirty floor

In my experience workmen leave your place in a state so you have to clear away anything that needs protecting or it will end up filthy or strewn around. I would assume they thought you’d left the crisps for them. Don’t bring it up. At the moment they think you are very kind (leaving them crisps and chairs etc). That will change if you accuse them of being crisp thieves.

Disneygirl37 · 28/02/2023 17:14

If you're happy with their work otherwise I wouldn't bother saying anything about the crisps!