Discount scheme Thread poster: Sandra B.
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Sandra B.
Portugal
Local time: 17:11
English to Portuguese
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One of my clients has requested me to suggest a discount scheme for the following:
- for anual volume discount (applicable to outstanding volume). I have to define a percentage for the discount.
- Project volume discount (I have to define the amount of words the discount applies and the percentage of the discount)
- snail rate discount: I have to define the amount of words/day and the pecentage of the discount.
I would to know your opinion on this an... See more One of my clients has requested me to suggest a discount scheme for the following:
- for anual volume discount (applicable to outstanding volume). I have to define a percentage for the discount.
- Project volume discount (I have to define the amount of words the discount applies and the percentage of the discount)
- snail rate discount: I have to define the amount of words/day and the pecentage of the discount.
I would to know your opinion on this and what percentage should I eventually apply.
Thanks,
sandra ▲ Collapse
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I have received the same request (agency name starts with C, doesn't it?) and this was my answer:
- annual volume discount: 0%
- project volume discount: 0%
- snail rate discount: 0%
And I know a few colleagues who have sent them the very same reply.
fwiw
Joeri
[Edited at 2005-11-04 11:57]
| | | | Sandra B.
Portugal
Local time: 17:11
English to Portuguese
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TOPIC STARTER | Yes, same agency indeed ... | Nov 4, 2005 |
And I will do the same. Thanks!
Cheers
sandra
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I have never worked for them, but it seems I am in their database.
I simply replied indicating my working conditions, which include a minimum fee (they don't want this) and no volume discounts.
No time to go through the three documents they sent, my working conditions are much simpler that that. I assume they will never contact me.
Regards,
Cristobal
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| And the point would be...? | Nov 4, 2005 |
Sandra Baptista wrote:
- for anual volume discount Project volume discount [...]
- snail rate discount:[...] [/quote]
I don't see the point of this.
An agency can only hand over projects to you that they themselves have been offered beforehand. Even if they sincerely wish to load masses of translation jobs on you throughout the year, they can't do better than that.
In other words, volume discounts for agencies won't produce more business for the translator. So what would be the point of offering them?
The same reasoning applies to direct clients. Should I really postulate a client that sits in his office some day and thinks, "Hey, I get discount if I produce business for that translator. Let's write down lots of superfluous things and have them translated...?"
A snail rate might make sense if you are nearly booked out and you are looking for clients to fill rare "gaps". On the other hand, you might equally charge rush rates and earn more money.
P.
[Edited at 2005-11-04 12:52]
| | | | NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 12:11
Member (2002)
French to English
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MODERATOR | They sent me chocolates one year | Nov 4, 2005 |
But never any work!
I don't go for volume discounts either.
Nancy
| | | | Rosa Maria Duenas Rios (X) 
Local time: 12:11
| Just for kicks... | Nov 4, 2005 |
Below is a table published once by a well-known Prozian fellow (Au) in the Spanish Forums:
Illogical logic of volume discounts:
If the give you 5.000 words, they pay you 0.08 USD per word (even though those who propose these schemes never start with such a high rate.)
If they give you 10.000 words, they pay you 0.07 USD
If they give you 20.000 words, they pay you 0.06 USD
If they give you 30.000 words, they pay you 0.05 USD
If they give yo... See more Below is a table published once by a well-known Prozian fellow (Au) in the Spanish Forums:
Illogical logic of volume discounts:
If the give you 5.000 words, they pay you 0.08 USD per word (even though those who propose these schemes never start with such a high rate.)
If they give you 10.000 words, they pay you 0.07 USD
If they give you 20.000 words, they pay you 0.06 USD
If they give you 30.000 words, they pay you 0.05 USD
If they give you 40.000 words, they pay you 0.04 USD
If they give you 50.000 words, they pay you 0.03 USD
If they give you 60.000 words, they pay you 0.02 USD
If they give you 70.000 words, they pay you 0.01 USD
If they give you 80.000 words, they pay you 0.00 USD
STOP. Here you really need to be careful, VERY CAREFUL, because it is YOU who will start paying to translate!
If they give you 90.000 words, you have to pay …how much in USD?
[Edited at 2005-11-04 15:29] ▲ Collapse
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Rosa Maria Duenas Rios wrote:
If they give you 10.000 words, they pay you 0.07 USD
If they give you 20.000 words, they pay you 0.06 USD
If they give you 30.000 words, they pay you 0.05 USD
If they give you 40.000 words, they pay you 0.04 USD
If they give you 50.000 words, they pay you 0.03 USD
If they give you 60.000 words, they pay you 0.02 USD
If they give you 70.000 words, they pay you 0.01 USD
If they give you 80.000 words, they pay you 0.00 USD
STOP. Here you really need to be careful, VERY CAREFUL, because it is YOU who will start paying to translate!
Stop sooner. With that scheme, translating 40.000 words puts more money in your pocket than translating 50.000 words.
P.
[Edited at 2005-11-04 16:55]
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Rosa Maria Duenas Rios (X)
Local time: 12:11
| Of course I would stop sooner , Peter! | Nov 4, 2005 |
Peter Bouillon wrote:
Stop sooner. With that scheme, translating 40.000 words puts more money in your pocket than translating 50.000 words.
With that scheme, we better dedicate ourselves to something else... just pushing it to the extreme to show how ridicule it can become...
| | | | Stephen Rifkind
Israel
Local time: 19:12
Member (2004)
French to English
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| It's even worse. | Nov 5, 2005 |
The longer the document,the more difficult it is to edit / proof it. That means you spend more time per page on longer documents. Therefore, there should be a surcharge on longer documents!
Stephen Rifkind
| | | | Uldis Liepkalns
Latvia
Local time: 19:12
Member (2003)
English to Latvian
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| This is my standard answer | Nov 5, 2005 |
I already for several years have stored a special template to answer such discount requests:
""Volume discounts" is an misconception imported into translation field from the wholesale/retail industry.
Translation is a job performed by a highly skilled bilingual individual and can be compared to job of lawyer, doctor or architect.
Does your dentist give you discount for more bad teeth?"
(c) Some Prozean, but I don't remember who.
Uldis
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Uldis Liepkalns wrote:
Does your dentist give you discount for more bad teeth?"
(c) Some Prozean, but I don't remember who.
Uldis
Good point, Uldis! I will definitely save this argumentation for future clients.
Regards
Erik
**********************************
Erik Hansson ( SFÖ )
Technical translator DE-SV
Hansson Übersetzungen GmbH
Am Birkenwäldchen 38
D-01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde, Germany
Phone +49 - 3 59 52 - 321 07
Fax +49 - 3 59 52 - 322 02
E-Mail [email protected]
Internet www.hansson.de
Internet www.t-translators.net
Internet www.technical-translators.net
ProZ profile http://www.proz.com/pro/21654
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