Gardener only mentions net prices

I don't know whether the garden landscaper intentionally mixes up gross and net. But you are a smart kid: for you, it would be intentional to "trip him up just on principle," to teach him a lesson. That would have been fairer. I also don't know whether you have to play the role of a teacher towards a craftsman here. For the fact that he has constantly worked for you, you could have simply asked him. You are aware of the situation. When push comes to shove and he looks after his earnings and reports this, the intent not to pay the MSt is clearly at stake here.

sorry, but this is not a guessing game or a wish list. As an end consumer, I ALWAYS assume gross prices. There is a legal requirement for a reason. I remember that I also initially asked him whether we are talking about net or gross prices. In landscaping, you have to make decisions relatively quickly and cannot wait for an offer for every change.

The fact is, if you don't have an offer, he can basically charge whatever he wants, as long as it is within reason. And he easily has a 20% leeway. If he wants to annoy you, it can get really expensive for you. The mistake is yours, not the landscaper’s. As bitter as it is!

Don't know exactly where the intent is to be read here (regardless of who). The problem will rather be that with purely verbal agreements, it will be difficult to provide proof. No idea how a court will decide then when it's statement against statement. Probably one could meet halfway?

In horticulture, you have to make decisions relatively quickly and cannot wait for a quote with every change.

After all, it's about an offer of almost €40,000 ... Buying a pig in a poke without a quote I find reckless.

After all, it’s about an offer of almost €40,000 ... Buying a pig in a poke without an offer is, in my opinion, reckless.

It wouldn’t even have had to be an offer, just a three-liner with amount, scope, and both signatures (not even that in an email).

It doesn’t matter now, just write what comes out.

I think deviations of 19 or now 16% from other offers in this area cannot be recognized by a private person. From what has written, a solution will probably be found that both sides can live with. Keeping my fingers crossed for you