| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you respond to translation requests sent to several translators at the same time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you respond to translation requests sent to several translators at the same time?".
This poll was originally submitted by Thomas Johansson. View the poll results »
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 12:07
Member (2006)
German to English
Either a customer wants me to do a job or not. In case yes, I have a name and they should use it, I do the same with them.
In some cases, I do resond, but only to tell them to take me off such mailing lists
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 13:07
Turkish to English
+ ...
Not responding to inquiries seems to be a flawed business policy to me.
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:07
Hebrew to English
| Rarely, very rarely | Mar 12, 2014 |
Especially if it is a totally depersonalized email that has come via a Proz mass-mailing.
I have no interest in bidding on projects.
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It's lazy and they always choose a cheaper supplier anyway
Here I am, this is my price, take it or leave it
| | | | Marjolein Snippe
Netherlands
Local time: 12:07
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| Almost always | Mar 12, 2014 |
I almost always reply, although replies to non-personal emails can be very curt.
I don't even know sometimes why I bother to reply - it must be either because it would feel very rude to ignore someone, or for the same reason that I can't bear not finishing reading a book once I have started to read, and find it really difficult to skip even the parts of newspapers I know do not interest me...
Anyway, a brief 'I am sorry but I won't be able to take this on' takes almost ... See more I almost always reply, although replies to non-personal emails can be very curt.
I don't even know sometimes why I bother to reply - it must be either because it would feel very rude to ignore someone, or for the same reason that I can't bear not finishing reading a book once I have started to read, and find it really difficult to skip even the parts of newspapers I know do not interest me...
Anyway, a brief 'I am sorry but I won't be able to take this on' takes almost no time to send and makes me feel easier than ignoring it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 19:07
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Yes, but ... | Mar 12, 2014 |
I will 99% of the time politely decline since they are fishing for the cheapest supplier, as Chris S says.
I also have a pet hate for mass mails beginning with 'Hi, translator' .... These are instantly put in the rubbish bin and flushed into oblivion. Grrrrrr
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
I always try not to compete with other translators in this sense, and prefer to be contacted individually anyway.
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It does depend who they come from.
Most of the ones I receive are from good clients, but the jobs are often small and urgent. It is a waste of time that could be better spent proofing the translation to send individual mails.
Letters in response to a letter received last night, answer needed preferably two hours ago, but ASAP ... or press releases, for instance.
On other occasions - like last Friday - the PM sent files amounting to several weeks' work with ... See more It does depend who they come from.
Most of the ones I receive are from good clients, but the jobs are often small and urgent. It is a waste of time that could be better spent proofing the translation to send individual mails.
Letters in response to a letter received last night, answer needed preferably two hours ago, but ASAP ... or press releases, for instance.
On other occasions - like last Friday - the PM sent files amounting to several weeks' work with a round robin to the effect of: OK, I need this lot by next Friday, so how many words can you take, and which files do you prefer?
Here I chose the contract and got it, shuddering at the technical stuff, while my guess is that an engineer colleague happily grabbed some of the technical stuff and would not touch the contract. I don't know who else is involved, but I do know we're all busy until Friday!
I do distinguish between group mails and mass mails.
If a note from Proz.com says the mail was sent to 100 others and I am not interested, I delete it, but normally I do briefly answer group mails.
It's a small world, and I might be interested next time... So I send two polite lines that I'm sorry, but I don't do finance into US English or whatever the story is.
Or I just mention my rates  ▲ Collapse
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I put myself on the other side.
I have no time and I need to select a translator, what would I do?
I would select those with a suitable profile, ask them for their availability, stating the terms of the translations, in order to see who is available.
I do not think it is a matter of "being part of a general mailing list", I think I am part of a group of translators with specific characteristics.
And anyway, translators and other freelancers usually complain ... See more I put myself on the other side.
I have no time and I need to select a translator, what would I do?
I would select those with a suitable profile, ask them for their availability, stating the terms of the translations, in order to see who is available.
I do not think it is a matter of "being part of a general mailing list", I think I am part of a group of translators with specific characteristics.
And anyway, translators and other freelancers usually complain because their emails sometimes do not get any reply, I want to be different, I reply, unless someone writes: "reply only if interested" ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Other - it depends | Mar 12, 2014 |
If it's obviously a mass mailing and the stated rate is low, I ignore it. Otherwise, I usually respond.
I think it's good business to be courteous.
| | | | | Yes, always! | Mar 12, 2014 |
I respond to all inquiries, even if it is just to say, "thanks for contacting me, but...".
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It depends on the sender and the style of the e-mail.
If it is a mass, impersonal message or it is probably a scam, I don't respond.
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 12:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
No, the "Let's throw a piece of meat into the water and watch the feeding frenzy start" method of finding translators doesn't attract me in the slightest.
I respond to emails sent to me personally, either to express interest or politely decline the offer.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 12:07
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Seldom, if ever | Mar 12, 2014 |
It, of course, depends on the sender. If it's a good client with a huge project, I reply.
Usually I just delete it. If a sender (especially this one well-known scammer) keeps sending me these mass mails, then I might reply saying something like, sorry, my name is not "undisclosed recipients", send it off and file the email in its approproate folder (File 13).
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