To think tree cutters expect a tip?

[ILookLikeAPinkBlancmange]

They're cutting down my tree right now. Doing a reasonably good and professional job. It's not an especially difficult job in terms of access etc but they did help move my heavy rabbit hutch out of the way.

Is it normal to give a tip? How much? Two blokes, not the company owners, charging £660 inc VAT

YABU = don't bother
YANBU= tip them

You are paying them what they have invoiced, they earn loads as a day rate. Give them some cake if you pity them somehow? Otherwise I can't think why on earth you would tip.

Nah.

The best tip you can give them is the phone number of the nearest allotment for dropping the bark off at.

Don't most people just make them a cup of tea

No

I’d slip them a £20 note if they were doing it for free, like we do the neighbouring farmer’s grandson when he comes to cut our hedges for free. But presumably you have contacted them to do this job and are paying them based on what they quoted you (probably not cheap!), in which case, no.

£660 to cut down and dispose of one tree? Unless it's a Californian Sequoia tree, that sounds plenty already.

They'll probably chip/mulch it and then sell it on to somebody else anyway.

I'm a big fan of professionals giving you a price that they're happy covers their costs and desired profit for the agreed job. If they want an extra amount, they simply increase the price they give you to cover it: easy!

We had a willow pollarded recently. It cost a little more than £660, so that’s probably not unreasonable, but it’s quite enough. It’s a skilled job, and they are probably being paid accordingly.