How much is 'a drink' in payment terms for a tradesman?

[cockapup]

My elderly parents contacted a tradesman on a local FB group as needed an outside light replacing. The tradesman said he'd pop round after finishing another local job to assess. As it turned out it was a bulb needing replacing so took him less than 10 mins. He kindly said no charge but just give me a 'drink'.

How much would you give? Just wondering if what my parents gave was excessive- I'll reveal amount later.

I’ve never heard of being asked for “a drink” by a tradesman - learn something every day 😊
I’d probably give either a £10 or £20 note depending on what I had in my purse. It might have only been 5 mins, but he came round and sorted it for them then and there - others would have diagnosed the problem but left them to change the bulb, or charged a call-out fee even if the job was small. And he didn’t know when he came round that it would be so minor, and could have been doing a paid job at that time.

10

Are you coming back?

A drink is £20 here

£10

I’d give £20, and be very appreciative. The cost of the bulb would eat up a chunk of £10.

I had no idea how much to give when someone suggested this after popping up a ladder for me to reach something, his words were 'oh just give me a drink' I was tempted to put the kettle on but gave him, I think £10
I asked another tradesman how much is appropriate if it was ever suggested again and he said around £20

£20, I'd want him to feel appreciated as it's so hard to get anyone to do small jobs in and that way, he might come again if I needed.

Anywhere between 5 - 20 pounds depending on how much I liked them

£10

If they said no charge, just give me a drink, I would take that literally and wouldn’t give cash but would buy a drink next time I saw them, so either a pint at the pub, a coffee and cake at a nice cafe or I’d buy a few beers or a bottle of wine to give next time I saw them. I wouldn’t give money, I thought the point of saying no charge give me a drink was precisely so no money changed hands. Am I being too literal?

£10 - edited to say even £20 if your parents live in a big house and look (the emphasis being on look) wealthy.

£20 is what I’d probably offer, and say thanks very much.

£15-20 for the time and courtesy shown. I'd want to keep this contact for future jobs.

Yes. Give them £20

£20.
As another poster said, it's really difficult to get trades to come and do such small jobs so I'd be appreciative.

For less than 30 mins I’d have given a 4 pack of lager, for more than that a crate of lager. Or a bottle of wine for either scenario if they preferred (I’d probably offer both).

I wouldn’t offer cash if he said no charge… as surely he would have said £20 not “a drink” if he was expecting £20…

Shit. My friends husband has done a number of odd jobs for me with my house and car and I always just buy him a beer. I had no idea the right thing was to give cash. I’m autistic - if people want cash why can’t they said ‘just give me £20’ instead of a drink. Especially as a drink usually only costs £5-£10!!

It depends. If he supplied the bulb then £20. If not, £10 since it was on his way home. I called my odd job man out for something that ended up taking 2 minutes. He absolutely refused to accept payment but did later ask if could leave a review which I did.

I mean, realistically ‘a drink’ is probably £10 but I’d give him £20, just for being so nice really! He made the effort to add a little time to his day to help them out.

I would give £20 and give him some beer/wine in the fridge but I appreciate it's really hard to gauge!

It’s the petrol, time and good nature of him to come - I’d pay £10-£20

£20 - pays for their time, the bulb and hopefully keeps them on side for other small jobs if they were reliable and trustworthy.

@MolkosTeenageAngst It’s maybe bit different if it’s your family friend as opposed to a tradesman though ? I think in that situation you’re right to buy them a drink.I would find it strange to give a partners friend cash unless it was a big job and you’d agreed in advance

That said I agree that people should be clear, I’d dislike if someone asked for a drink meaning cash.

My parents gave him £60, which is what cash my mum had in her purse. So although I think too much I do appreciate he did come at fairly short notice and sorted it there and then.
The bulb was actually provided by my parents, as my mum is one of those that has the stock of a supermarket in the under stairs cupboard 🤣