Should I tip my builders ?

robatwork

drummer_666 wrote: »

a random question, how often do builders want cups of tea?

i don't drink it myself, and never know if they want to be left to get on with it, or would want a cuppa every hour, every couple hours or what... lol

Most I know would be quite happy with an intravenous feed direct from your teapot.

Otherwise every 2.5 hours with a selection of:
Ginger nuts
Rich Tea
Bourbon
Hob Nobs

At least that's what I have lined up for the bathroom fitters....

baldelectrician

I don't expect tips, but do expect a cuppa at least, no cuppa (or offer of one) = no return visits for the client by us.

My apprentice reguarly gets tips from clients as he always gives >100% and takes pride in his work.
Most of my work is word of mouth / repeat business and a customer with a decent attitude makes all the difference.
I reckon (from personal experience) that over 95% of customers are happy to get somoene in that charges a fair price and does what they do correctly

I went to a job last Wednesday and this lady was a referral from her sister.
We arrived and she offered (seeing we were under time pressure as the morning job - 45mins - ran on) to change her job to the following day as it made her life easier as she was off then.




After we finished she told us of the last 2 sparks ;

1. One smoked substances and was never on the correct wavelength. Put the sockets back on the skirting board as it was 'easier' - depsite the client getting him in to raise them
2. Another charged by the hour and took ages - he disappeared for ages under the floor

We did the job, tested and found that the earth into the house was unacceptably high- phoned Scottish Power who gave a job reference and attended later.

The other sparks obviously never tested or they would have noticed this.

drummer_666

robatwork wrote: »

Most I know would be quite happy with an intravenous feed direct from your teapot.

i don't have a kitchen let alone a teapot lol.

Think I gave them 3 cups they were there 8am-11 then 3-6 but couldn't get to them from 9-11 coz bricks would have fallen on my head lol

never thought of biscuits etc, this is my first house and first builders i've 'employed'. He is being really good to me and doing stuff for free that he didn't quote for, so I shall buy some biscuits

nickj_2

i occasionally get tips from my customers , i certainly don't expect it ,but it's always nice to feel your efforts are appreciated , sometime people send a card of thanks for a great job which is also great ,
tea, biscuits or cake are all welcome , but again not expected .

more important to me is prompt payment on completion of work , try going to tesco's and telling them you'll pay for your weeks shopping when you feel like it and see what happens

noelphobic

southcoastrgi wrote: »

a tip OMG, some of my customers don't even know how to plug the kettle in lol

I was asked whether the kettle was broken last week lol! I do always offer a drink and he had only just arrived, so not as bad as it sounds!

noelphobic

I've had a lot of work done recently on my bathroom and kitchen. The builder was recommended and things started off well. However, as time went on he got more and more unreliable and, to cut a long story short, we didn't part on the best of terms. It has come to light since that at least 2 of the relatively simple jobs he did (pointing and guttering) were bodged and have had to be redone - the guttering actually fell off on to my flat room and it probably would have been a while before I noticed if my neighbours hadn't pointed it out.

While he was working for me he dropped hints/made 'jokes' about me giving him a bonus. He didn't do anything over and above what had been asked for, at least not without making sure he charged me extra, so there is no way I would have 'tipped' him, especially after he more or less asked me to. By the time he had finished I would have been happy to tip him over the top of a very high mountain though!

I wouldn't discount doing it in the future if I felt that it was deserved though - tipping that is, not pushing builders off mountains

southcoastrgi

noelphobic wrote: »

I was asked whether the kettle was broken last week lol! I do always offer a drink and he had only just arrived, so not as bad as it sounds!

Tipping in the building game really isn't expected just a thanks, here's your money & i'm going to recommend you, is really all that's req, most of us will drink tea or coffee all day until it's coming out of our ears so a good supply is always welcome, it's always wise to keep in with the plumber or sparkie cause one will turn your water off & the other your power.

I did a two day job for a self employed painter (you would have thought he would know better) & him & his wife were home for the whole of the two days, on the first day they made themselves loads of cups of tea & never once asked if i wanted one, so on the second day i turned the water off at 8-30 & didn't turn it back on til 5-00 (even though i had no reason to turn it off at all), totally wrong i know but i did leave the job with a smile on my face

cyclonebri1

I think praise is the best tip you can give.
Let them know they've done a cracking job and that you want them back for every job in the future, that'll go further than a pint;);)

The only time in my life that I employed a builder they were brilliant. They were a couple of guys, local, and both in their 60's
They were brilliant, every optional extra was offered and costed, eg, I had 9" joists to the kitchen ceiling instead of 4" witch meant the large void above was suitable for heavy storage or even living space.

The only downside I'm sure they used the extension as a toilet before the concrete went in, never caught them , but I smelt it.;)

Best tip if it's a bad job?, "don't come back"

noelphobic

southcoastrgi wrote: »

I did a two day job for a self employed painter (you would have thought he would know better) & him & his wife were home for the whole of the two days, on the first day they made themselves loads of cups of tea & never once asked if i wanted one, so on the second day i turned the water off at 8-30 & didn't turn it back on til 5-00 (even though i had no reason to turn it off at all), totally wrong i know but i did leave the job with a smile on my face

That was unbelievably ignorant of them. I don't drink a great deal of tea or coffee but would always offer one, even if I wasn't having one myself. I can't imagine making myself one and not offering one.

Can't blame you at all for what you did!

keystone

Tea / coffee & bikkies and use of loo for No1s (No 2s are a no-no) plus not looking over their shoulder ALL the time, payment on time and a thank you/ recommend to others if satisfied should be well sufficient.

Cheers