Would you pay more

JodyBPM

We arranged for a friends FIL to do some work in the garden for us for a price agreed of £400. Three of them (friend, friend's FIL and friend's BIL)came to do the job, and they thought it would take them one day. As it turns out, they misjudged, and in fact are about half way through at the end of one day and are coming back this weekend to finish the job - still one days work left. They are doing a great job, and have worked their socks off, so purely a case of misjudging.

They're still happy to do the job for the price quoted, but I feel a bit guilty as 3 men working 2 full days for £400 feels like we're fleecing them especially since we'd had quotes locally for around £1K to do the job. BUT, we weighed up whether or not we wanted the job done on the £400 price tag.

Would you give them something extra? I would re-iterate that they are honouring their quote, and not asking for more. They are doing a great job, and they are great guys. Should I bung them an extra £50? Or maybe to be more MS, buy a bottle of whiskey or bake a cake?

I feel I should give them a bit more, but then I keep thinking why overpay? They're not asking for it - I wouldn't go into a shop and try to pay MORE than the price stated.

What would you do?

honeypop

I wouldn't pay more, especially as they've not asked. But I like your idea of doing something in kind like baking a cake or buying them a token of appreciation.

Knub

Perhaps keep with the £400 and buy them a crate of beer each as a token thank you gesture? Either that or slip them an extra £50 each.

blue_ashleigh

Depending on your financial situation, if you think you could reasonably spare them a little extra cash (without being in financial difficulty etc.) then perhaps you could do so. Otherwise, I think a bottle of wine, cakes etc. would be perfectly fine.

I think with them doing a good job and other quotes being £600 more than what you're paying, then I think you're not overpaying them at all. Also, if they're trying to make it as gardeners (or are gardeners) perhaps you could ask around if any of your friends need/ want work doing and perhaps then they'd have another job lined up.

Pee

I think they gave you a price for the job... and will this be cash in hand money? If so, I am not sure that you are fleecing them. In fact, if three men got £400 for one day in the garden, I'd say they were fleecing you.

On the other hand, find out from the friend their preferred tiple and give them all a bottle - a little bit personalised - and say thank you.

MrsAnnie

Yes.

I base this given all the circumstances: you personally know them; they are working hard (not idling); other quotes over twice as much, they are being honorable by not asking you for more; misjudging the time involved was an honest mistake and a whole days work is still required.

I would either pay them more or as you said buy them a bottle of whisky each - this shows your appreciation and gratitude for a job well done.

If in future you need them for something they may be more inclined to accept.

SugarSpun

I'd go with a combination of token gift - crate of beer/bottle of wine - each and tell your friends how good they were.

JodyBPM

In fact, if three men got £400 for one day in the garden, I'd say they were fleecing you.


£400 for 3 men for a full days work seemed really reasonable to me! We live in the SE, so prices for labour of any kind are really steep here. Also what they are doing is cutting back hard an ENORMOUS oak tree (about 2x the height of a 2 storey house and not been cut back before in my memory), a skilled job, using harnesses etc, not hedge trimming or weeding etc. I accept that as cash job all the money goes into their pockets probably, but I didn't think they were fleecing me! £400 for 2 days work =£66 each per day, which doesn't seem much to me for what they're doing. You certainly wouldn't get me up that tree for that! And that's before costs, as their petrol costs alone will be reasonably high as they live on the kent coast, and us in surrey.

Pee

But cash in hand may mean that they are not paying tax and are even claiming benefits. I think £133 cash in hand for a days work is very high, even in the South East. (I agree that £133 for two days work is not high.)

Did they have insurance for doing that work? Probably best to just put at the back of your mind if it is down now, but that could have been a serious problem.

phunkles

I would buy them something non alcoholic to be honest - could you not spend the equivalent on something that they could keep like a watch or something they like ie a dvd or cd they want - You said they where a friends FIL?Perhaps broach the subject with your friend?
But I would say make a gesture of some sort? Even if its something for them to enjoy with their families? Maybe 2 cinema tickets for each man as theyve spent a day more than they anticipated working on your garden - Albeit due to their mistake but would be a nice gesture

JodyBPM

Pee wrote: »

But cash in hand may mean that they are not paying tax and are even claiming benefits. I think £133 cash in hand for a days work is very high, even in the South East. (I agree that £133 for two days work is not high.)

Did they have insurance for doing that work? Probably best to just put at the back of your mind if it is down now, but that could have been a serious problem.

I know they're definitely not claiming benefits - I wouldn't have employed them if they were. I don't know whether they will declare the money though - I'm paying in cash, but this wasn't a stipulation, and FIL works during the week doing tree cutting so may be putting it through his books, I don't know.
Re the insurance - again I didn't ask, so I don't know, but would imagine FIL would have it due to his week job, but maybe not the other two.