Duplicate content - offer discount? Thread poster: Alicja Weikop
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Alicja Weikop 
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:57
English to Polish
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Dear Translators,
I have received several files for translation over 6,500 words long. The price and deadline were agreed on this knowledge. During my work I discovered that one file is a duplicate of what already exists as a part of another file (some 1,000 words).
Would you offer the customer a discount reflecting the exact amount of duplication - say 1,000 words, or a nominal discount of say 10% or deal with this differently?
I will still take the time ... See more Dear Translators,
I have received several files for translation over 6,500 words long. The price and deadline were agreed on this knowledge. During my work I discovered that one file is a duplicate of what already exists as a part of another file (some 1,000 words).
Would you offer the customer a discount reflecting the exact amount of duplication - say 1,000 words, or a nominal discount of say 10% or deal with this differently?
I will still take the time to translate the duplicate file (using TM) to make sure there are no discrepancies and I intend to return the same number of files as I received for translation.
This agency does not have a history of demanding that I use a CAT tool or to charge less for fuzzy/exact matches in translation (usually not applicable anyway). Needless to say, I like working with them and want to do the right thing.
Many thanks for your views or past experiences.
Best wishes - Alicja ▲ Collapse
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Peter Linton (X)
Local time: 08:57
Swedish to English
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| Win-win situation | Jan 8, 2011 |
Given that you like working for this company, you could tell them that you have found a lot of similarities, and therefore you proposals to charge them for only 6,000 words. That way you both win.
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:57
Member (2007)
English
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I think that's what Peter was proposing, too.
Charge zero for the second occurrence of this text and you're losing out as you're going to spend a little time on it. Charge 100% and you may get away with it but if the agency notices they will understandably be peeved and it will destroy the good relationship.
So, 50/50 seems fairest to me, although you could go lower if you feel generous.
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| tell the truth | Jan 8, 2011 |
Explain that you have found a part that is virtually identical and that you will give them a discount on it. Be perfectly clear: you can't do those 1000 words for free because you have spent time checking and making sure there are absolutely no discrepancies.
Split it down the middle = 500 words.
They will appreciate your honesty and, if not, more fool them !
Some time ago, I was asked to translate the same smallish text 3 diferent times by three different departments in... See more Explain that you have found a part that is virtually identical and that you will give them a discount on it. Be perfectly clear: you can't do those 1000 words for free because you have spent time checking and making sure there are absolutely no discrepancies.
Split it down the middle = 500 words.
They will appreciate your honesty and, if not, more fool them !
Some time ago, I was asked to translate the same smallish text 3 diferent times by three different departments in a multinational. I told them and respectfully suggested (very politely) they should get their act together internally. I still work for them very regularly..... ▲ Collapse
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Alicja Weikop
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:57
English to Polish
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TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for your replies and advice - I think you are all right and that was my feeling anyway.
Have a nice weekend!
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David Wright
Austria
Local time: 09:57
German to English
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| Dishonest not to | Jan 8, 2011 |
I personally feel that it would be dishonest not to give a discount; this has happened to me occasionally and if the texts really are identical I only charge 25% for the second time round (to cover the time spent finding out!)
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| Same over here | Jan 8, 2011 |
David Wright wrote:
I personally feel that it would be dishonest not to give a discount; this has happened to me occasionally and if the texts really are identical I only charge 25% for the second time round (to cover the time spent finding out!)
Yes, same method over here. My customers usually use some CAT and detect these things beforehand, but when they don't, I usually charge 25% in the reused part.
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 09:57
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| Discount only if you want | Jan 8, 2011 |
Alicja Weikop wrote:
During my work I discovered that one file is a duplicate of what already exists as a part of another file (some 1,000 words). ... Would you offer the customer a discount reflecting the exact amount of duplication - say 1,000 words, or a nominal discount of say 10% or deal with this differently?
In the days before CAT, you'd still have to check the source texts against each other line by line to ensure that both are exactly the same. So from that point of view you'd still have had to do a lot of work. Some people can proofread (compare texts) much faster than they can translate, but some people (like myself) don't proofread much faster than they translate, and the time saving would therefore not be as spectacular.
If the client is unaware of CAT, there is no need to introduce the complexity of CAT to him. Not telling him that you have special ways to increase your speed using technology is not dishonest. There is no compulsion to pass on time savings to your client whenever you find ways to do things faster.
I believe that if the client had wanted a discount for the duplication, he should have told you about the duplication.
In your case I would not feel dishonest about it to charge the client for the full word count.
Keep in mind that the client may not understand why an exact duplication results in a mere 50% discount instead of a 100% discount. You may spend more time explaining that to him than the original time saving is worth. If the client feels that you're ripping him off (when you're money for duplicate work), he may tell you (and then you can explain it to him) or he may not tell you (in which case you might lose a client instead of gaining one). Sometimes it is better to leave sleeping dogs be.
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| I agree with 50% | Jan 9, 2011 |
polyglot45 wrote:
Explain that you have found a part that is virtually identical and that you will give them a discount on it. Be perfectly clear: you can't do those 1000 words for free because you have spent time checking and making sure there are absolutely no discrepancies.
Split it down the middle = 500 words.
They will appreciate your honesty and, if not, more fool them !
Some time ago, I was asked to translate the same smallish text 3 diferent times by three different departments in a multinational. I told them and respectfully suggested (very politely) they should get their act together internally. I still work for them very regularly.....
Absolutely!
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