'Am I the weird one?' Aussie tradie etiquette has woman confused

Some people claim it's "not the norm" while others insist it's rude not to. Where do you stand? 

Everyone has tradies pop into their house every once in a while, whether it’s to fix the plumbing, do some work outside, or give your home a bit of a spruce up.

But, when they are there, what’s the norm when it comes to etiquette?

One visitor from the UK has taken to Reddit to ask just that after being shut down on their offer for a hot drink more than a few times, and it’s opened up the floodgates for opinions.

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“Is this not the norm here?”

A Redditor from the UK, currently residing in Brisbane, has taken to Reddit asking for advice on what to offer tradies when they’re working on your home - and if it’s the norm in Australia to do so at all.

“Hello! I'm from the UK and back home if we have a plumber, electrician, builder etc come into our homes for work the majority of us would offer them a brew or coffee, even a biscuit if we've got them in,” the post read.

“Now, whilst living here I've only had 5, maybe 6 tradespeople come to do work on the house and every time I've asked they've said ‘no we're working?’ or just looked at me like I'm crazy.”

So, they wanted to know if they were the problem, or the tradies.

“Is this not the norm here? Am I being the weird one?” the poster asked.

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“I’ll always offer!”

Locals quickly took to the comments assuring that overall, the poster is definitely not in the wrong.

“I always ask if they want a tea/coffee/water or anything. Only one in about 10 ever accept. But I’ll always offer,” said one commenter.

“Same. I also offer a can of coke or similar if I have it in the fridge,” another agreed.

“Look, it'll always be appreciated if you offer. You might have to ask twice, though - in case they feel like they're obliged to say no. I think they might just be a bit taken aback at the generosity more than creeped out,” a third said.

Do they usually accept?

But, as for the reason they’re saying no, Aussies did have some homegrown advice.

Some said the poster could word their question a little better.

“First tradie I had in looked like he wanted to fight me after I asked ‘do you want a brew or owt’. Always say tea/coffee/water now as brews don’t mean the same thing over here,” said one commenter.

“If you're offering them ‘a brew’ rather than tea, they might think you're offering them a beer. Brew as slang for tea isn't as widely used here, but brew as slang for beer is,” said another.

Others suggested the tradies may have just packed their own food.

“I suppose that these days, most tradies have an esky, thermos, cold water esky, in the ute, packed with whatever they need for the day. Gone are the days of heading to the servo in between jobs for a pie and coke, and eating cake supplied by the customer with a cup of tea. I've had guys bring a gourmet salad, noodles, fruit, and wash it down with water because healthy,” said one commenter.

“I always offer, very few say yes, to the point I am surprised these days if they take me up on it. I have even had some explain that their company doesn't let them (who knows if it's true, or cares honestly). Almost every tradie I have had at my place has had a water bottle or cooler with them, or a giant bottle of gatorade etc.” another said.

And some said they just wouldn’t have time to pause for a drink.

“They’re at yours to do a job, get in, fix it, get out. Having a tea or coffee takes time, and they just want to get on with it and move on the their next job/finish up for the day. You can continue to offer, but you will get turned down more often than not,” said one commenter.

“They are probably just trying to cram as many jobs together that day as they can or otherwise have a busy schedule. So totally normal, respectable and polite to offer such things :)” a second agreed.

Water? Yes please!

But, the majority said they may have just been offering the wrong thing. If you’re unsure, a bottle of water and directions to the bathroom might be the key!

“Always cold water, it's so hot often here. Coffee and tea, and toilet! A few use the bathroom, one or two have said yes to coffee when we are making it from the machine anyway. Lots of yeses to water,” one commenter said.

“I usually offer a cold drink/water and that gets accepted on a hot day on the way out,” another agreed.

“I always appreciate it when people offer me a drink. I don’t drink tea or coffee but knowing I can get a water or use the dunny makes my day a bit nicer. It feels like they see me as a person not a service when they offer. As for the biscuits, only the best customers ever offer biscuits, keep it up mate,” a third said.

“Particularly on hot days, I always offer cold water. Not everyone accepts, but it's definitely nice to offer and I don't think it's weird at all,” another person said.

Originally published as 'Am I the weird one?' Aussie tradie etiquette has woman confused