This is a quote from a posting made by Werner Patels on the TCR-D list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TCR/message/11296 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \"Everyone\'s situation is different, so you cannot, in my opinion, simply go by \"market information\" or rates offered by other bidders. If so... See more This is a quote from a posting made by Werner Patels on the TCR-D list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TCR/message/11296 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \"Everyone\'s situation is different, so you cannot, in my opinion, simply go by \"market information\" or rates offered by other bidders. If someone can make a living on 5 cents a word, it\'s his problem or he\'s damn lucky What\'s right for that guy may not be right for you.
I don\'t believe in \"competition\" in our profession. Just as every translation is different, and unique, every translator has something different to offer. Therefore, being able to see somebody else\'s bid and rate is not that important to me - as a matter of fact, it is completely irrelevant to the way I present my services and to the rates I charge. Yes, I like to browse other translators\' websites or profiles and look at their rates, because their general rates can tell me quite a bit about them (after factoring in their geographical location, etc.), but in terms of actual jobs, that does not - and should not - matter, because your bid should be based on your own personal circumstances. That\'s just the way I see it.
As for saving the time and trouble of placing bids on \"hopeless\" projects: well, if you are referring to ProZ, at least you get to see the number of bids received thus far. It won\'t tell you anything about the quality of these bids, but it might give you a good idea. However, it\'s never \"hopeless\" - if you are really interested in a project (i.e., you have tons of experience in that field), go and place a bid, even if 50 others have already done so ahead of you. After all, there is always that chance that your experience and qualifications will prevail.
The problems you mention do not apply to \"professionals\" (however you\'d like to define them), because for them, there are no \"uninformed hit and miss tactics\" - they have their rates, and if they engage in a bidding, they will simply enter their going rates and, basically, tell the client to \"take it or leave it\".
Let\'s not forget that there are a growing number of translators (also on ProZ) who regularly and \"stubbornly\" offer a higher rate than the one requested by the outsourcer, and several of them have reported positive results with that kind of approach.\" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A very much share his view!
Mats J C Wiman Ubersetzer/Translator/Traducteur/Traductor > swe http://www.MatsWiman.com http://www.Deutsch-Schwedisch.com http://www.proz.com/translator/1749 Deu>swe Proz.com moderator Trask 201 SE-872 97 Skog Tel : +46-612-54112 Fax : +46-612-54181 Mobile: +46-70-5769797
[ This Message was edited by: on 2002-12-05 11:08 ] ▲ Collapse | |