Would you tip a tradesman??

jonnyb1978

I know this is a money saving board but have you or would you ever tip a tradesman. You hear alot of unhappy customers but not alot of happy ones.

If they done a real good job would you tip them? The same if they done a bit extra than quoted. Eg a 3 day job turning into 4 day due to unforeseen work.

Do tradesmen expect this also or is it not the done thing?

Dan-Dan

jonnyb1978 wrote: »

The same if they done a bit extra than quoted. Eg a 3 day job turning into 4 day due to unforeseen work.

I think if a tradesmen worked for free, the best tip you can give, is to try a new career

jonnyb1978

Dan-Dan wrote: »

I think if a tradesmen worked for free, the best tip you can give, is to try a new career

Obviously contingency plans would be quoted for but if the jobs takes longer thats the way it is. Neither his fault or mine. Difference between quote and estimate.

Its called good service to try and get repeat custom. I had a quote for new windows yesterday. One window was catching something. He went to his van for a tool and fixed window in 5 minutes. Not had his quote yet but the little extra care and help goes a long way. Some cowboy could of charged me £50.

I

Dan-Dan

No tradesmen is going to do a days work , based on an unforseen problem , for free

What i would say , is the last tradesmen i paid , for a flat roof , were courteous and clean , and i got them a crate of lager , went down well

I think these days , any tip under a tenner is pretty much pointless so a gesture like mine went down well without costing a great deal

jonnyb1978

Well I just had a boiler fitted and few bits to go with it.He told me 3 days and was here 4 till 7 at night each day. Gas problem coming to house so he waited a couple of hours for national grid to turn up. Still cant commision boiler as they need to do work on gas supply coming into house, therefore he has not been paid the full amount yet. Neither mine or his fault. Whilst he waited he asked if I wanted to go b&q he would fit some floorboards for me. I know the job has been done properly.

phill99

In the 10 yets I have been working for myself I have probably had £400 in tips, a few bottles of wine and a couple of cases of beer.

It's not expected, but it is a nice surprise.

The biggest tip you can give a tradesman is to use him again and recommend him to others. Tha is worth a lot more than the odd tenner.

cyclonebri1

phill99 wrote: »

In the 10 yets I have been working for myself I have probably had £400 in tips, a few bottles of wine and a couple of cases of beer.

It's not expected, but it is a nice surprise.

The biggest tip you can give a tradesman is to use him again and recommend him to others. Tha is worth a lot more than the odd tenner.

And that is the key. tell him you are happy, over joyed even, and that you will recommend him to others, that is what he is actually looking for.:T:T

2013yearofthehouse

I provide lots of drinks and a few snacks, and let them take home the leftovers at the end of the last day - had a few comments that this is appreciated and more than they usually get

abankerbutnotafatcat

There was one job that I thought was particularly cheap so when I paid it by bacs I rounded it up from £130 to £150 and when I emailed to say I'd paid I told him I had given him a bit more to buy a drink or two just so he wouldn't think it was a mistake and maybe feel awkward.

Mainly I just look after people well (refreshments etc.), thank them profusely, recommend and/or rate them (Checkatrade) and pay promptly.

Leif

My neighbour has just had his bathroom refitted. I viewed it today, and the work is first rate. He made the chap sandwiches for lunch, and on at least one evening he cooked him dinner. My neighbour used to be an upholsterer and he has a massive fund of stories, if you like that kind of thing, for example a chief of police drove into his bus while blind drunk, and he was warned by the police to keep quiet if he wanted an easy life. I am sure the bathroom fitter had a good meal.

I recently bought a hand made coat hook rail, and I paid extra because I was so pleased with the item. I payed the same as for cheap tat and got lovely oak and ash. I didn't pay much more, but it clearly made the chap very happy, as it was validation of his work. The chap who tiled my kitchen floor did a small survey of the bathroom, when I had a dispute with some cowboys. I got three reports in total. when I won compensation, I sent the tiler a cheque for £100 as a token of my gratitude. When some builders did ~£10,000 of work for me, I deducted £150 due to minor issues.

keystone

jonnyb1978 wrote: »

I know this is a money saving board but have you or would you ever tip a tradesman. You hear alot of unhappy customers but not alot of happy ones.

Thats because the unhappy ones like to have a moan. The happy ones are too busy being, well, happy.

If they done a real good job would you tip them? The same if they done a bit extra than quoted. Eg a 3 day job turning into 4 day due to unforeseen work.

If a quoted for 3 day job turned into 4 because of previously unforseen extras then it would be right and proper for him to bill you for the 4th day. If it ran into 4 because he was slow and incompetant then that's at his cost not yours.

Do tradesmen expect this also or is it not the done thing?

Am with most others here. A thank you, perhaps a tinny or two and a recommend are more than adequate additional compensation over and above settling the invoice.

Cheers