| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Are my rates too high ? Thread poster: Lise Kristensen (X)
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Lise Kristensen (X) 
Local time: 12:55
English to Danish
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks, guys | Feb 20, 2007 |
For all the insights -
and I sit here tending to agree with all of you...and ending up with the conclusion that it really is a question of supply, demand and the rent....the latter not being unimportant, but then neither is our selfrespect
Thanks again
Lise
| | | | | I have the same question | Feb 22, 2007 |
Martin Jones wrote:
The problem is there are a lot of guys willing to work like a mule.
What can we do about it?
Have a nice time.
[修改时间: 2007-02-19 07:39]
It'd not easy to get out of the confusing translation market in China, as life is the priority.
| | | | | A few word (I'm in a hurry...) | Feb 22, 2007 |
Translation business is really amazing. It is one of the few examples I know of a totally free, unregulated market. Anyone can be a translator and market his/her services anywhere on earth without any restriction.
The pernicious effects of this unregulated market are known to all: customers trying to get as much as they can for a song, agencies trying to produce as much as they can to answer this demand (and exploiting translators to be able to meet the demands of the customers) and... See more Translation business is really amazing. It is one of the few examples I know of a totally free, unregulated market. Anyone can be a translator and market his/her services anywhere on earth without any restriction.
The pernicious effects of this unregulated market are known to all: customers trying to get as much as they can for a song, agencies trying to produce as much as they can to answer this demand (and exploiting translators to be able to meet the demands of the customers) and translators entering this system (either by necessity or lack of knowledge).
I really think we need to educate our customers : I often explain to them how big agencies work (I own a small agency myself). It's easy to understand that you pay much more for a product in a supermarket than at the producer's farm, isn't it? It's also easy to understand that the product is often much better at the producer's farm.
There is still some space for good translators working at fair prices and people need to understand how this profession is working.
The day I will be forced to produce crap, I will quit without hesitation. Until then I will keep on enjoying this job... ▲ Collapse
| | | | | US$ .05... not a bad rate for India:( | Feb 23, 2007 |
I was contacted by an India-based agency recently and they offered me US$ .005 (half a cent) per source word for English>Spanish translation. I did not even bother to reply to them.
My normal rates range between US$ .07 and .11/target word... but they do not get me any work. I have contacted over 400 agencies over the past 12 months and although most of them find my CV very attractive, why would they give me any work when they pay their translators between .02 and .04?
So guys, as so... See more I was contacted by an India-based agency recently and they offered me US$ .005 (half a cent) per source word for English>Spanish translation. I did not even bother to reply to them.
My normal rates range between US$ .07 and .11/target word... but they do not get me any work. I have contacted over 400 agencies over the past 12 months and although most of them find my CV very attractive, why would they give me any work when they pay their translators between .02 and .04?
So guys, as someone asked before: Where on earth do you get those high rates?
Have a nice weekend:) ▲ Collapse
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| Get the rate that you want | Feb 24, 2007 |
There are a few points about large translations on http://portreference.com/000001-Pricing.htm . It's from how I dealt with a 75,000-word job once.
In short I left it to the client to decide how many portions he'd want the job done in and asked him to pay for each in advance. I suggested around 10 portions. He paid 50% for the first 50% portion in advance 40% for the second 40% portion i... See more There are a few points about large translations on http://portreference.com/000001-Pricing.htm . It's from how I dealt with a 75,000-word job once.
In short I left it to the client to decide how many portions he'd want the job done in and asked him to pay for each in advance. I suggested around 10 portions. He paid 50% for the first 50% portion in advance 40% for the second 40% portion in advance again. The final payment was when I finished, since the source was actual booklets and not by email or Word format or some way that the words could be pre-calculated.
The per word price quoted was with the normal discount that I always give to bring the price that I want and accept working for. The article mentioned above will tell you how to do that. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | RE:Where on earth do you get those high rates? | Mar 19, 2007 |
trixiemck wrote:
So guys, as someone asked before: Where on earth do you get those high rates?
I live in Washington DC, and I get at least 0.14 USD per English word for Chinese-English translation. I guess it all depends on the market where you are...
| | | | | the market... | Mar 19, 2007 |
It does not really matter where you live, but who you are offering your services to. I am talking about US-based agencies.
| | | | | be your self, Lise! | Mar 26, 2007 |
Lise Kristensen wrote:
Hi -newbie here, and I was just wondering: a job this week paid $ 0,10 pr word translating 10.800 words on a web-site. A couple of hours ago, I was contacted by an Indian company with a rush-job of 3300 words and they were willing to pay $ 0,05. I politely declined, but was wondering whether perhaps the rates fall so much outside Europe.
I don't want to charge too much, buton the other hand, I won't sell myself too cheaply.
Thoughts, anyone?
Lise
No matter where do you live and how much your price. Give your best and they'll offer you jobs.
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