ProZ.com Translation Forums

Membership cost USD/EUR

Christel Zipfel — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:12:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Membership cost USD/EUR
Poster: Christel Zipfel

I just wanted to renew my membership. Until last year, I paid in Euro, so I was astonished, when I tried to pay, to see the same amount in USD and EUR. I therefore wrote a support ticket and was promptly told that this was an error and that I would be charged the corresponding amount in EUR. So I proceeded and paid with my credit card. Only afterwards I got the "apologies" from ProZ and a link to the FAQs where indeed they say that the same amount in USD and EUR will be charged (for whatever reason, and surely a valid one). But wouldn't it have been more correct to state this clearly in their form? One is not supposed to read first through the FAQs, right?

I won't say that the difference is overwhelming, it's just a question of transparency and correctness, in my opinion, and I would have preferred to know this before.

Donating browniz - anyone interested? | Donating browniz points

Lucia Leszinsky — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:32:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Donating browniz - anyone interested?
Poster: Lucia Leszinsky
Post title: Donating browniz points

Hello all,

Please note that browniz points and KudoZ points are two different things. While you earn KudoZ points for answering KudoZ questions and getting your answers selected as the most helpful ones, you earn browniz points by contributing something to the community or the site, such as site translations, introduction of new members, organization or attendance of powwows, etc. Only browniz points can be donated. More information is available here: [url removed] #4576

You can donate browniz points to other site users without the need to post an offer to the forum by completing this form: [url removed] . The member's ID is the last set of numbers in their profile URL. For instance, my profile URL is [url removed] , so my user ID is 855539. If you have any doubts about a member's ID, you can submit a support request at [url removed]

Lucia

Donating browniz - anyone interested? | Me too

Russell Jones — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:52:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Donating browniz - anyone interested?
Poster: Russell Jones
Post title: Me too

[quote]Mats Wiman wrote:

I have some, but I'm not prepared to toss them into cyberspace. Like with hard earned money, I'd like to give them to a person, who really needs them or to someone for whom I otherwise feel sympathy.
If someone presents worthwhile reasons, I would gladly donate.
As Christine says:
"But I do still like the idea of donating Browniz to translators in countries where fees are not so high and it takes longer than in Northern Europe to earn the cost of a subscription."
[/quote]

I have quite a lot spare to donate, but it must be on the same terms that Mats has outlined.

Donating browniz - anyone interested? | Fair?

esperantisto — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:17:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Donating browniz - anyone interested?
Poster: esperantisto
Post title: Fair?

Oh, do you really think there is something fair in this world?

As for browniz donation, you can get them only once and only use once to pay the first year of your ProZ membership.

Donating browniz - anyone interested? | Is this fair?

Tom in London — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:35:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Donating browniz - anyone interested?
Poster: Tom in London
Post title: Is this fair?

Is it fair for someone to have Browniz who didn't actually earn them? Won't that show up on their profile and make it look as if they've answered zillions of Kudoz questions?

Donating browniz - anyone interested? | Donating browniz points - anyone interested?

Ildiko Santana — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Donating browniz - anyone interested?
Poster: Ildiko Santana
Post title: Donating browniz points - anyone interested?

Hello All,

I fully agree with Mats Wiman's suggestion (2006) re. "Please create a BrowniZ application forum" but I still can't seem to find such option.

[quote]Mats Wiman wrote:

Please create a BrowniZ application forum

I have some, but I'm not prepared to toss them into cyberspace. Like with hard earned money, I'd like to give them to a person, who really needs them

[/quote]

I was able to find where and how this transaction can be completed,
[url removed] #4591
but only if I know the user name or ID of any particular candidate.
I believe that implementing this feature would not only help out users who are otherwise unable to buy membership but it would also bring more paying members to the site.
If I'm mistaken and there is such feature in place already, please share the link.

In the meantime, interested users please message me here or in private. At the moment I have enough browniz points to help out up to 4 users with their purchase of membership.

Best regards,
Ildikó

Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number? | many thanks! - subject closed now

Eric Wouters — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:13:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number?
Poster: Eric Wouters
Post title: many thanks! - subject closed now

Hi,
Many thanks for your replies.
And sorry for being so "stupid": I now understand that my membership # ius also my profile id and the number at the end of the url of my proz profile page.
Kind regards
Eric

Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number? | ProZ.com profile number

Daniela Zambrini — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:49:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number?
Poster: Daniela Zambrini
Post title: ProZ.com profile number

Ciao Eric,
if you are looking for your profile number: the last digits appearing on the url of your profile page (116958)

:-)

Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number?

Eric Wouters — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:43:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Urgent: where can I find my proz membership number?
Poster: Eric Wouters

Hi,
I need to find my proz membership number, but I don't find it on my profile pages, nor on my recent invoice for renewal of my proz membership.
Can someone help me and tell me where I can find my membership number?
Thank you
Kind regards
Eric

Membership offer with Training | Thank you!

Nic B — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:18:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Membership offer with Training
Poster: Nic B
Post title: Thank you!

Thank you both Helen & Jared for you information!

I was starting to think I'd dreamt it!

Thanks again!

Nic

Membership offer with Training | Here's the link to select the option you want

Jared — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Membership offer with Training
Poster: Jared
Post title: Here's the link to select the option you want

Hello Nic,

Thanks for joining, and welcome! You should have received an email indicating where to go to select your training option at the time of your purchase. You can use this link:

[url removed]

Just use the "Select this package" button next to the option you want. You will then receive another email confirming your selection.

Best regards,

Jared

Membership offer with Training | Please submit a support request

Helen Shepelenko — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Membership offer with Training
Poster: Helen Shepelenko
Post title: Please submit a support request

Hello Nic,

Thank you for purchasing the membership and training package at ProZ.com.

To better address your request could you please submit a support request here [url removed] ? This will help me to provide you with further information.

Thanks in advance.

My bests,
Helen

Membership offer with Training

Nic B — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Membership offer with Training
Poster: Nic B

Hello there,

I joined ProZ.com last month as a paying member. When I did so, I purchased the 1 year full membership with a training module. However, an option has never come up to chose the training module nor any information on any training modules linked to this offer. I've tried looking in all the training content but I can't see anything for it.

How can I get access to the training which I paid for in the offer?

Thanks for all your help!

Nic

Does ProZ.com accept payments with Diners Club credit card? | Membership

Florencia Vita — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Does ProZ.com accept payments with Diners Club credit card?
Poster: Florencia Vita
Post title: Membership

Hi Ana Maria,

Have you tried 2checkout? it is an alternative payment method of the Credit Card and sometimes it is simpler on the back end processing and payments go through successfully.

If that fails as well, then wire transfer, Paypal, Moneybookers, check and Western Union are the options available to make the payment.

Anyway, Diners Club is not one of the credit cards accepted for ProZ.com direct credit card payments. Only Visa, Mastercard, AmEx and Discover credit cards are accepted by the online payment system.

Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.

Kind regards,

Florencia
ProZ.com

Does ProZ.com accept payments with Diners Club credit card?

Ana-Maria Kozlovac — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Does ProZ.com accept payments with Diners Club credit card?
Poster: Ana-Maria Kozlovac

Dear Collegues!

I would like to know if somebody of you living in CROATIA pay Renewal Membership "online" with your DINERS CLUB credit card. I have been trying to do that constantly already for 2 days , but without any result. When I enter my Credit card number , expiration date and code, it says that the authorization is failed, although my DC card is valid (expiration date: January/2014). I contacted Diners Club , but they say that they have not received any authorization and that the error might be on the "proz" site.
It is going to become a torture! If somebody of you living in CROATIA have similar problems! There is nothing else to do, but to pay the renewal membership by wire transfer and to pay additional banking costs.
Any information about that would be useful for me.
Thank you in advance.
Ana Maria

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | cv

Avinash Mayaram — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:53:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Avinash Mayaram
Post title: cv

[quote]verslanglais wrote:
I didn’t look at the CVs too carefully, but I made sure that there was something there that reflected the specialization I was looking for.
[/quote]

very interesting :D

and yes please don't lower your rates lol or it will come to the point where you pay them to give you jobs

[Edited at 2011-01-24 18:01 GMT]

(if someone pays me, i will create a job for that person, i'm serious)

[Edited at 2011-01-24 18:05 GMT]

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | thanks, i needed motivation!

Eloisa Aquino — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:48:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Eloisa Aquino
Post title: thanks, i needed motivation!

very useful comments so far, thanks all!

keep them coming!

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | Don't lower your rates, but personalize your replies

verslanglais — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: verslanglais
Post title: Don't lower your rates, but personalize your replies

As a translator, I have replied to countless jobs, here and elsewhere (well, I suppose I could count them, as I keep a file of them. But I digress). It was only recently that necessity drove me to post an offer on this website (to form a team to reply to a big job offer by a direct client), and I got a slew of replies. Not only did I find some mighty fine translators, I also learned some valuable lessons by putting myself in the PM's position.

First of all, I wasn't looking for the lowest rates; the important thing was to be able to count on someone doing the job properly and on time. (I, too, have had people insist that I lower my rates, but they can insist all they like; I’m the boss of me.) All of the translators who replied to my offer were within the price range that I had cited, and many were below. I did not reply to the lower bidders, but then I did not really take the price range into consideration. However, the list of replies was long, so I had to narrow down the choices. Here is what I did.

I had posted the offer in French. Now it may sound rash, but I began by throwing out any replies that were not in French. The lesson is: always reply in the language that the job is posted in (and be careful about typos or poor grammar). I was looking for French-to-German and -Dutch speakers, and reading their replies was a quick way of testing their French (I trust that they are good in their native language). After reading the French replies, I narrowed it down to those who had sent a well-written reply – I must say that a few of them had me balking. You needn’t translate into a language other than your native, but if you are a translator, you should at least be able to write a decent note in your source language.

Next, I was naturally attracted to the people who had personalized their note; those who had taken the time to look at my name and what I was asking for, and reply in kind. (However, in French we have a formal and informal form of address, and I didn’t much appreciate being addressed in the informal way; it just didn’t seem businesslike. The same goes for those who used smileys – for me, smileys are reserved for friendly exchanges, and not when you are looking to impress.) The smart ones listed experience that was specifically relevant to the job. Most of them thought to attach a CV, although I hadn’t mentioned it, and I printed out the CVs of my ever-narrowing selection of translators to make my final choice. I didn’t look at the CVs too carefully, but I made sure that there was something there that reflected the specialization I was looking for.

To contact the translators that I chose, I called them. Now, it’s not very kind of me, but I admit that I hung up when I got an answering machine. I had a lot of competent translators on my list and I didn’t want to leave a message with one, only to call another and perhaps give the second one a false hope, only to have the first one call me back… You get the picture. Impatience on my part, perhaps. But I’m sure that agencies and other clients do this, too.

After this experience, I will be replying differently to jobs, here and elsewhere. I will only reply to those where I have some kind of relative experience, I will personalize my reply, I will include my contact information all over the place to make it easier for the client to reach me, I will include a CV even if it is not requested. And I will keep trying, every day that I don’t have work to do, and so should you! :-)

Best wishes - and please don’t stoop to lowering your rates!

[Edited at 2011-01-24 18:18 GMT]

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | Lucía is right

Annett Hieber — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:26:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Annett Hieber
Post title: Lucía is right

Lucía explained it very well.

At the beginning, it might take a while to become "visible" for the outsourcers. But the more you are visible by activity, the more often you will receive direct inquiries by outsourcers.

When I started on ProZ.com I made the same experience. Then I had enough from quoting for low-paid jobs and stopped quoting. Now, I receive direct inquiries all the time and, when I want to I quote for an interesting job, but with my prices.

Take your time and don't give up. Become active. It really is worthwhile and will pay in the long run!

Good luck to you both,

Annett

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | some suggestions

Katrin Lueke — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Katrin Lueke
Post title: some suggestions

Hello Eloisa,

- do not despair, it takes some time to get new clients
- do not lower your rates, search for good payers instead
- do not only rely on the jobs posted here
- use your access to the Blue Board to find agencies with top ratings which are based in countries where you can expect decent rates
- send them your resume, together with a short, polite cover letter
- polish your profile
- ask your previous clients for references
- be active at KudoZ questions, the more points you have, the better is your ranking in the directory (and that is where the clients look for translators)

Especially the last point is what helped me the most in finding (or rather being found by) very good clients.

Good luck!

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | How to meet clients at ProZ.com

Lucia Leszinsky — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:18:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Lucia Leszinsky
Post title: How to meet clients at ProZ.com

Hello Eloisa, hello Caroline,

First of all, thank you both for supporting the site with your membership. Site membership will give you visibility to potential clients. However, there are a few other aspects to keep in mind to help you do more with that visibility.

The first thing you should know is that the main channel to get jobs at ProZ.com are direct searches outsourcers conduct in the directory.

Now, having this in mind, check the following strategies to meet clients in the site (i.e. winning strategies):

1. A good profile, as your profile serves as your business card and directory listing, and it is the first impression of you that colleagues and potential clients will have when they find you at ProZ.com and when running web searches.

2. Membership, as members are ranked ahead of non-members in the directory of freelancers and interpreters, [url removed] , and are then more visible in searches. Visit this page to check your current directory ranking.

3. KudoZ PRO points in your language pairs and fields of expertise, as this is how directory search results are ranked among the first group (members) and the second group (non-members). A few minutes of effort, a few times a month, may be all that is needed to boost your position in the freelancer directory.

4. Specialization. Let potential clients know what your fields of expertise are by listing fields in your profile in order --your specialty fields must be ordered accordingly, earning KudoZ points in those fields and in your top language pair, providing details in your "About me", etc. More tips on how to show your specialization are available here.

5. PRO status, as becoming a certified PRO will allow you to network and collaborate in an environment consisting entirely of screened professionals, including companies seeking the services of certified PROs only. (it is extremely important though that all previous strategies are put into use, and that all required information is gathered, before applying for inclusion into the Certified PRO Network).

As explained above, membership will give you visibility. But you have to make sure that, once you are visible to potential clients, you attract their attention and keep them interested by showing them a great profile and what you have to offer.

If you are willing to give these strategies a try --some of them you have already implemented, please let me know and I will be glad to assist you both personally.

Also, perhaps you would like to sign up for the free webinar on "Meeting clients at ProZ.com" I will be offering this next Friday at 16:00 GMT:

[url removed]

For more information on ProZ.com winning strategies, please visit [url removed]

Or else, watch this short video:

[url removed]

Hope this helps!

Kind regards,

Lucía

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com? | I am afraid...

Caroline Lett — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Caroline Lett
Post title: I am afraid...

Hello Eloisa,

I am very afraid, because I have the same experience even you have... I do not know how to get jobs on ProZ.com, maybe there are reasons why, but I am not knowing which.

Kind regards,

Caroline

How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?

Eloisa Aquino — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How can I meet clients at ProZ.com?
Poster: Eloisa Aquino

Hey guys,

I am a very experienced translator. In December, due to the loss of a major client, I decided to go Pro in this website. I apply to jobs every single day. At first, I cut my tariff in 25%, now it's less than half, and yet, nothing.

Today I got an email from an unrelated website saying that my tariff for my pair (a very low US$ 0.05 per word) was too high, and they expected me to reduce it to US$ 0.03 or US$ 0.02 per word. So is that the reason I am not getting any jobs? US$ 0.03 per word would be something like 15% (or a 85% cut) of what I made before, and it's actually insufficient to survive where I live. McDonald's pays better.

Anyone out there is getting jobs through this website that are fairly paid? Or are you a member for different reason, for the sense of community, etc?

I appreciate the time and effort of mods and Proz people, but I am mostly interested in knowing other members' experiences!

Thank you!

Euro Tax? | Thanks Jared

Diarmuid Kennan — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:08:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Euro Tax?
Poster: Diarmuid Kennan
Post title: Thanks Jared

Thanks for your reply, but you seem to have missed my point.

This is not about value for money. I readily admit that Proz is actually worth more to me than I pay for it, so please, please leave that issue aside.

My query is about perceptions, the perception that some members in Europe have that they are being discriminated against because they live in the Euro zone. I say some, because if they live in the UK, Denmark, Sweden etc. they currently pay about 25% less for membership.

I read Henry's post and the FAQ already, but they don't properly address this issue in my opinion. For example, the first few lines in the FAQ state that 50% of members are based in Europe, but only 30% of costs are in the Euro zone. I don't see how this is a justification for charging Euro zone members more than other members, including other European members.

This is not a big deal for me, In fact, I think there should be a way for members in wealthy countries to pay more than those in countries with lower average income per capita.

My problem is that I think you owe it to your European members to properly explain the difference in price. Once again, it is not a question of value for money. It is a question of perception.

Keep up the good work :)

[Edited at 2010-12-02 19:09 GMT]

[Edited at 2010-12-02 19:26 GMT]

Euro Tax? | Thanks Diarmuid

Jared — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Euro Tax?
Poster: Jared
Post title: Thanks Diarmuid

Hello Diarmuid,

It's good to hear you are getting a return on your membership.

I see what you're saying. I think Henry's post in the thread you cite answers this, at least partially: [url removed] #903625

I think that ProZ.com membership, which has, over time, steadily increased in value (in terms of what you get for your membership) while remaining at the same price, and at times being decreased, is worth it. At least, members are getting a good return on the investment. As for the EUR-USD difference that comes from the policy mentioned in [url removed] #4033 , it may make sense to adjust other pricing upward, though that's not a step to be taken lightly, and probably one which would result in physical harm to my person ;) . Overall I think, as Henry says in that post, that the price is fair for the value offered.

Best regards,

Jared

Euro Tax?

Diarmuid Kennan — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:59:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: Euro Tax?
Poster: Diarmuid Kennan

Although I enjoy and value my membership of Proz, it seems to me to be very unfair to charge members in the Euro zone a different rate than members in the rest of the world.

The €200 offer for 2 year's membership only costs €152 for people living outside the Eurozone, including for example in the United Kingdom, Denmark or Sweden.

Jared wrote in in July 23 2008 in this Forum that "ProZ.com has promised to apply the policy consistently going forward. Over time it is thought that amounts paid will balance out (and if they do not, adjustment will be made)".

The Euro has had a higher value than the dollar for the past 8 years (exactly).

Proz.com is entitled to charge any rate it likes, but you must see that it is difficult for members in the Euro zone to feel that they are getting a bargain when they know that if they lived in another currency area (some times only a few kilometres away), they could get a 25% discount?

How to get jobs at ProZ.com | At ProZ.com, unauthorized solicitation is not allowed

Lucia Leszinsky — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:20:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How to get jobs at ProZ.com
Poster: Lucia Leszinsky
Post title: At ProZ.com, unauthorized solicitation is not allowed

Dear Miguel,

I am afraid I may not have expressed myself correctly in my previous reply. What I meant was that, at ProZ.com, unauthorized solicitation, sent via the forums, profile messages or elsewhere, is not allowed as for site rule 3, [url removed] #3

Hope this clarifies and sorry for the misunderstanding.

Kind regards,

Lucia

How to get jobs at ProZ.com | Is free enterprise against the rules?

Miguel Carmona — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:03:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How to get jobs at ProZ.com
Poster: Miguel Carmona
Post title: Is free enterprise against the rules?

[quote]Lucia Leszinsky wrote:

... the main channel to get jobs at ProZ.com are direct searches outsourcers conduct in the directory, and not contacting potential clients yourself (... this is against site rule #3).

Lucía [/quote]

Lucía,

So, according to you, contacting potential clients yourself as a freelancer is against one of ProZ's rules?

I did not know ProZ was so much against free enterprise and competing in the market place. Does ProZ set the rules as to how the economy factors should interplay?

Long before the existence of ProZ, freelancers have been freely offering their services to whoever they want, they will continue doing so long after ProZ disappears from the planet.

To be frank, I am not even interested in learning what ProZ's position is in this regard, since whether or not a freelance translator contacts potential clients is nobody's business but the freelancer's.

How to get jobs at ProZ.com | Site guidance request generated

Lucia Leszinsky — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:34:00 +0000

Forum: ProZ.com Membership
Topic: How to get jobs at ProZ.com
Poster: Lucia Leszinsky
Post title: Site guidance request generated

I have generated a site guidance request for you, Sarah. You should have received an e-mail message with the link to this request. Or else, you can find it here.

I will be replying to this site guidance request in short so that we start working together on your profile and on the rest of winning strategies.

I will also let you know of other scheduled webinars as they are announced.

See you at your site guidance request then!

Lucía