| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Is 0.02USD per word a serious/ fair offer? Thread poster: Ewa Hayward
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Ewa Hayward
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:43
English to Polish
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I was asked to do a semi-specialised translation (IT) and offered 0.02 USD per word. Do you think it's fair or a silly offer?
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Do you pay your taxes? Do you have a computer and pay for the internet connection? Do you own software which you have paid for?
The list could be much longer, but anyway, any cleaning lady earns more on an hourly basis. And she needs only a pair of gloves.
[Bearbeitet am 2009-08-23 21:48 GMT]
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Work out how long the job will take you to do and how much you will earn, factor in all your expenses and I think you can work it out for yourself.
| | | | | Is it fair to you? | Aug 23, 2009 |
If you feel it is a reasonable payment for your specialisation, experience, and education/training, you should take it. It is the same decision each of us faces every day. The only good rate is the one that makes you feel satisfied. Does 2 cents make you feel satisfied?
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David Russi 
United States
Local time: 09:43
English to Spanish
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| Silly question | Aug 23, 2009 |
Any offer of that sort is not worthy of the dignity of consideration of anything but a message to the person posting it letting them know that it is beneath your dignity to consider it.
You will get more satisfaction doing something for free that will benefit your community, instead of feeling like you are being exploited to work almost for the lowest possible rate there exists (zero is really, really close...). Or doing something for yourself; or for your family.
Any o... See more Any offer of that sort is not worthy of the dignity of consideration of anything but a message to the person posting it letting them know that it is beneath your dignity to consider it.
You will get more satisfaction doing something for free that will benefit your community, instead of feeling like you are being exploited to work almost for the lowest possible rate there exists (zero is really, really close...). Or doing something for yourself; or for your family.
Any other time you might spend working for next to nothing will be better invested in growing a base of clients that pay real rates for real work.
Good luck!
[Edited at 2009-08-23 22:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I suggest that you do a forum search on that particular figure | Aug 23, 2009 |
Hello Ewa,
It might be helpful for you to do a forum search on that particular figure, since it is mentioned in forum threads on a fairly regular basis.
You can carry out the search under the menu "Home" and then "Search".
Astrid
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 11:43
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
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| Is 0.02 USD per word a serious offer? | Aug 23, 2009 |
For the USA, this is about 1/6 (.12-.15) of a fair offer for an agency and 1/10 (.20-.25) of a fair offer for a direct client. Therefore, to me, it represents the client laughing at you all the way to the bank, making (or saving) at least .18 a word while you (the person doing all the work) earn only .02.
However, if you want to work 500% more for the same money, to each his own...
Companies that pay "fair" rates usually do not specify rates in their communications. The... See more For the USA, this is about 1/6 (.12-.15) of a fair offer for an agency and 1/10 (.20-.25) of a fair offer for a direct client. Therefore, to me, it represents the client laughing at you all the way to the bank, making (or saving) at least .18 a word while you (the person doing all the work) earn only .02.
However, if you want to work 500% more for the same money, to each his own...
Companies that pay "fair" rates usually do not specify rates in their communications. There is no need to say "we are paying a maximum of .15 per word for this job." This is only necessary when they are fishing for someone who will work cheap.
Unfortunately, this fact leads to the misperception that low rates are more common that they actually are (not to mention the fact that they have to keep returning here again and again to find new "translators" willing to work with them while companies paying "fair" rates only find themselves without a supplier on rare occasions).
Ewa Murawska wrote:
I was asked to do a semi-specialised translation (IT) and offered 0.02 USD per word. Do you think it's fair or a silly offer?
[Edited at 2009-08-24 22:34 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 11:43
Spanish to English
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| Makes more sense to get a gig wiping tables at Burger King | Aug 23, 2009 |
.....by way of agreeing with and summing up the sentiments expressed by my esteemed colleagues........
[Edited at 2009-08-24 00:28 GMT]
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diana bb
Lithuania
Local time: 18:43
English to Lithuanian
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| Not serious and unfair | Aug 24, 2009 |
... and what else is there to say?..
Diana
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:43
Flemish to English
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| In the Eurozone | Aug 24, 2009 |
this means that after conversion of the dollar to euro, you would have to pay to work.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 17:43
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| What matters is the total amount | Aug 24, 2009 |
Ewa Murawska wrote:
I was asked to do a semi-specialised translation (IT) and offered 0.02 USD per word. Do you think it's fair or a silly offer?
It's hard to say. If the translation is easy and can be done quickly, it may be a good offer. What matters is the total amount of money and how long it will take you to do the job in good conscience.
| | | | | You'd better invest these two cents in your business | Aug 24, 2009 |
My two cents about your two cents:
If you refuse this offer and spend the time you'd have to spend on it to expand your client-base, improve your skills, etc., you'll gain much more. There's no cheaper way to develop your business or improve your skills than to pay hypothetical two cents per each word you write for yourself. For example you could improve your ProZ.com profile.
I wouldn't even waist my time to respond to such an offer, because the best response to mocker... See more My two cents about your two cents:
If you refuse this offer and spend the time you'd have to spend on it to expand your client-base, improve your skills, etc., you'll gain much more. There's no cheaper way to develop your business or improve your skills than to pay hypothetical two cents per each word you write for yourself. For example you could improve your ProZ.com profile.
I wouldn't even waist my time to respond to such an offer, because the best response to mockery is ignoring it.
[Edited at 2009-08-24 11:49 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Anneli
Luxembourg
Local time: 17:43
Italian to Estonian
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| I do not think so, | Aug 24, 2009 |
also because your language combination, if not very rare, is not the most common one. Also, 0,02 USD/word seems too little even for a very generic text, let alone for a specialized one. Of course, it all depends on the context : for instance, if it's was a NGO, it might be OK, but if it's a normal agency, I would definitely not accept, also because, as a translator said only today on a payment practices forum, "It would be collective suicide to do quality translations at that price"
| | | | Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
Germany
Local time: 17:43
English to German
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| Business is not about fairness | Aug 24, 2009 |
Ewa Murawska wrote:
I was asked to do a semi-specialised translation (IT) and offered 0.02 USD per word. Do you think it's fair or a silly offer?
What puzzles me most is your question and some answers given by colleages.
Even 12 cents would be close to peanuts!
@Samuel M.:
How can you say that it's the total amount that matters? 100 Euros in one hour, 2, 3 or 5?
| | | | | If you have to ask... | Aug 24, 2009 |
... you should probably try working at that rate so you can figure it out and remember the lesson
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Is 0.02USD per word a serious/ fair offer? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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