| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | The real value of the Blueboard Thread poster: Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
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I always check new prospects (and sometimes even old customers with whom we have not worked for a while) in the Blue Board, and in at least another couple of online payment practices sites.
I don't think that a mention of the rates paid by each company would be of any use in the Blue Board: the BB is to provide us with information that we would otherwise find difficult to get (whether or not a company pays promptly or as agreed), not for information that we would get with the assign... See more I always check new prospects (and sometimes even old customers with whom we have not worked for a while) in the Blue Board, and in at least another couple of online payment practices sites.
I don't think that a mention of the rates paid by each company would be of any use in the Blue Board: the BB is to provide us with information that we would otherwise find difficult to get (whether or not a company pays promptly or as agreed), not for information that we would get with the assignment (whether or not the company accepts our rates - we can find that in their answer to our e-mail).
Adding information about what kind of rates a translation company pays, would only add noise to the system. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Barbara
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:58
Member (2008)
English to German
+ ...
| Good value (if I had cared to look)! | Feb 23, 2009 |
Aniello Scognamiglio wrote:
A UK agency with 195 entries in the Blueboard is currently hiring English into German External Quality Managers offering a standard rate of $20/hour for External Quality Management.
First of all, I would like to say that this is, in my opinion, a ridiculous offer. However, it can easily explained when you have look at who that agency expect to work for that money:
Quote from their job posting:
This is a great opportunity for individuals with language/translation/editing experience (teachers, recent grads, grad students, etc.) to earn extra money through freelance work.
Having read this, it is clear to me that this agency has a completely understanding of quality than I have... Some people just have to "educated" as to what quality translations are worth.
Back to topic:
The blueboard is very good. However one time I did not look at the agency's profile before working with them (I was a bit desperate for clients during the start-up of my freelance business). When the payment had not arrived after the agreed period of 60 days (from now on 45, preferably 30 days), I finally looked at the blueboard and found a lot of 1-ratings and that the outsourcer had been banned from posting jobs at ProZ.com.
Okay, it was a bit late then, but after looking at some comments I knew what do to with that agency (it was easy, really) and received the payment soon afterwards...
Well, that was a lesson learnt and I will never forget to look at the Blueboard again
| | | | Rod Walters 
Japan
Local time: 15:58
Japanese to English
My best clients aren't on there.
| | | | | Excellent value | Feb 23, 2009 |
I also agree with the excellent value of the Blue Board. It has saved me sometimes from accepting jobs from lousy companies. As stated by Proz:
"...any ProZ.com user can enter a number from 1 to 5 corresponding to his or her likelihood of working again (LWA) with a given outsourcer (ie. client or translation company/agency)."
So the Blue Board is only meant for translators to express if they liked to work with a given company. You can then explain the reasons why you li... See more I also agree with the excellent value of the Blue Board. It has saved me sometimes from accepting jobs from lousy companies. As stated by Proz:
"...any ProZ.com user can enter a number from 1 to 5 corresponding to his or her likelihood of working again (LWA) with a given outsourcer (ie. client or translation company/agency)."
So the Blue Board is only meant for translators to express if they liked to work with a given company. You can then explain the reasons why you liked or not the company (nice/bad people, quick/late payers, interesting/boring jobs, etc.) but it's not meant to give them a bad rating because they paid you little for a job and rate... you had mutually previously agreed!
The Blue Board is to give a comment AFTER you did a job, so it's suppose that you agreed the payment with the company. If the company offered you a job of 1000 words for US$ 30, you accepted it, did the job, and then the company pays you within a week, this is still a good company, independently from the rate previously agreed by both of you.
The real value of the Blue Board, I believe, is to be able to read the comments of other translators and have the possibility to avoid working for bad companies, as well as to choose for the good ones.
Regards! ▲ Collapse
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Rod Walters wrote:
My best clients aren't on there.
And that means ......?
| | | | | Agree w/Cristina | Feb 24, 2009 |
Cristina Heraud-van Tol wrote:
I also agree with the excellent value of the Blue Board. It has saved me sometimes from accepting jobs from lousy companies. As stated by Proz:
"...any ProZ.com user can enter a number from 1 to 5 corresponding to his or her likelihood of working again (LWA) with a given outsourcer (ie. client or translation company/agency)."
So the Blue Board is only meant for translators to express if they liked to work with a given company. You can then explain the reasons why you liked or not the company (nice/bad people, quick/late payers, interesting/boring jobs, etc.) but it's not meant to give them a bad rating because they paid you little for a job and rate... you had mutually previously agreed!
The Blue Board is to give a comment AFTER you did a job, so it's suppose that you agreed the payment with the company. If the company offered you a job of 1000 words for US$ 30, you accepted it, did the job, and then the company pays you within a week, this is still a good company, independently from the rate previously agreed by both of you.
The real value of the Blue Board, I believe, is to be able to read the comments of other translators and have the possibility to avoid working for bad companies, as well as to choose for the good ones.
Regards!
Dittto.
I could not have said it more clearly.
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Rod Walters wrote:
My best clients aren't on there.
Mine, either. But then, I'm mainly an interpreter, and only about 10% of my income comes from translating.
| | | | Jerzy Czopik
Germany
Local time: 08:58
Member (2003)
Polish to German
+ ...
| Make it complete | Feb 24, 2009 |
Rod Walters wrote:
My best clients aren't on there.
Tell us - we put the in.
If something is in your eyes imperfect, donźt your first try to fix it, before you critisize?
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Rod Walters
Japan
Local time: 15:58
Japanese to English
| Response to the initial question | Feb 24, 2009 |
Aniello asked "What are your experiences?"
I merely answered his question.
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 23:58
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
Rod Walters wrote:
Incomplete
My best clients aren't on there.
Simply go to:
>Directories >Blueboard >Add outsourcer
Then enter the information and the Blueboard won't be incomplete any longer.
| | | | | I never take a job from a new agency without checking it first | Feb 24, 2009 |
It happend to me yesterday. I got a mail from a Swiss agency who urgently needed Italian translators from EN as her translator had just disappeared without delivering the job. It sounded interesting as the Swiss pay better rates than Italians . But I checked the BB and she had so many 1 that I didn't even reply (actually, sometimes I do, saying: sorry your BB rate is too low). I'm happy to add that all my invoices were always... See more It happend to me yesterday. I got a mail from a Swiss agency who urgently needed Italian translators from EN as her translator had just disappeared without delivering the job. It sounded interesting as the Swiss pay better rates than Italians. But I checked the BB and she had so many 1 that I didn't even reply (actually, sometimes I do, saying: sorry your BB rate is too low). I'm happy to add that all my invoices were always paid.
Paola ▲ Collapse
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I find the Blue Board most valuable, even if it has imperfections. Whenever I'm approached by a new outsourcer I look at their BB record first and it has helped me find several good new clients and avoid bad ones. Indeed, the Blue Board was the reason why I joined Proz in the first place, later discovering its many other advantages.
Jenny
| | | | Jan Willem van Dormolen (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 08:58
English to Dutch
+ ...
| On the contrary | Feb 24, 2009 |
Liv Fridtjofsen wrote:
I think it might as well happen that translators may have to delete their negative comments to get paid.......
[Edited at 2009-02-23 21:08 GMT]
I've never had that experience, or know someone who has, but maybe...?
However, what I DID experience, was that I got paid after I entered a bad comment.
So the 'coercion' actually (sometimes) works in our favour!
| | | | Nigel Greenwood (X)
Spain
Local time: 08:58
Spanish to English
+ ...
| At the first I had my doubts | Feb 24, 2009 |
At the beginning, I had my doubts regarding the efficiency of the BB, but since then, I have used it correctly, i.e. checking on outsourcers before accepting a job. I am in full agreement that BB is very efficient and helps make this profession worthwhile. Of course, its effectiveness also depends very much on ‘our’ honesty. Personally, I make a point of introducing reports for any outsourcer who stands out for either: a) late payments, hassling, etc. or b) prompt payments, collaboration, et... See more At the beginning, I had my doubts regarding the efficiency of the BB, but since then, I have used it correctly, i.e. checking on outsourcers before accepting a job. I am in full agreement that BB is very efficient and helps make this profession worthwhile. Of course, its effectiveness also depends very much on ‘our’ honesty. Personally, I make a point of introducing reports for any outsourcer who stands out for either: a) late payments, hassling, etc. or b) prompt payments, collaboration, etc.
Regards to all,
Nigel. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | 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 » The real value of the Blueboard | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
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