Poll: Do you reply to every new inquiry you receive (by email) about your availability/services? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you reply to every new inquiry you receive (by email) about your availability/services?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
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| Reply to agencies | Oct 3, 2009 |
I don't bother to reply to agencies that have my details in their database already but clearly don't check before blanket e-mailing. Smacks already of sloppy.
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I almost always reply to enquiries. I have occasionally ignored messages that were not personally addressed to me and where I didn't think I was the right person for the job.
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Wil Hardman (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:55
Spanish to English
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| Almost always but... | Oct 3, 2009 |
There is one large agency that always sends me mass emails and if the job doesn't appeal (it usually doesn't) then I sometimes don't reply. In this situation I don't think they really expect or want a reply, unless I actually want to do the job. However in all other circumstances I do reply. I think it is polite and also means they are more likely to keep you in mind for the next job, whether you do the current job or not.
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David Russi
United States
Local time: 00:55
English to Spanish
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I do not reply to mass mailings, emails designed to elicit bids for the lowest possible price, or offers that are too ridiculous for a serious professional to contemplate. And, of course, I don't answer scamming/phishing attempts...
I do answer emails that are directed to me to solicit information in a respectful, professional way, without giving me the impression that I am here just to be exploited. Emails asking for "your best rate" get deleted: my rates are my best rates, and tha... See more I do not reply to mass mailings, emails designed to elicit bids for the lowest possible price, or offers that are too ridiculous for a serious professional to contemplate. And, of course, I don't answer scamming/phishing attempts...
I do answer emails that are directed to me to solicit information in a respectful, professional way, without giving me the impression that I am here just to be exploited. Emails asking for "your best rate" get deleted: my rates are my best rates, and that is the proper place for a respectful professional relationship to start.
[Edited at 2009-10-03 15:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Agree with David | Oct 3, 2009 |
I'm selective, too. If a person (not an agency) writes to me (not a mailing list) with an inquiry, I answer. Blanket or automatically generated emails? If I have time, I read it before deleting. Once in a great while, if it appears interesting and I'm not already swamped with work, I will follow up, but so far it has never led to anything.
Right now I'm swamped with work, so a glance at the preview pane is all that the non-personal emails get from me.
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Abraham Abukar
United States
Local time: 02:55
Member (2005)
English to Somali
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| at time by calling. | Oct 3, 2009 |
If the project sounds interesting, I just pick up the phone and I give them a call. Much easier.
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Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 02:55
German to English
| Only if personally addressed ... | Oct 3, 2009 |
... and within a reasonable price range. There's no point in clogging an agency's e-mail with a negative reply to a mass mailing. Jobs offering a single-digit rate are also ignored.
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| If it's directed to me personally, absolutely! | Oct 3, 2009 |
I'm not familiar with the mass mailings people are talking about. If the message's salutation has my name in it, I always answer.
My answer usually includes my rates and conditions, to save everyone's time.
Only about 10% of those inquiries turn into jobs, but I'm always open to building my client base.
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 08:55
Member (2006)
German to English
| As a matter of courtesy | Oct 3, 2009 |
even if it is not addressed to me personally.
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 08:55
English to French
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Even though the only mass mailings I ever get come through Proz, sometimes with nonsense requirements like "Belgian French". I usually advise the sender to check my availability on the site before sending this type of mail. Or is that functionality just decorative?
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Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 02:55
English to Spanish
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| Selective also | Oct 3, 2009 |
I rarely reply to mass mailings, save when the project looks really interesting; and I definitely don't answer them when they ask to "please reply with your best rates".
I do answer all personally addressed e-mails, even if/when I have a strong hunch that nothing will come out of it (extremely informal mails, little information if any, etc.).
Greetings,
Andrea
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| Selective, also | Oct 3, 2009 |
David Russi wrote:
I do not reply to mass mailings, emails designed to elicit bids for the lowest possible price, or offers that are too ridiculous for a serious professional to contemplate. And, of course, I don't answer scamming/phishing attempts...
Exactly!
I almost always answer personally addressed e-mails, except when the offered rates seem to be a joke.
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Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 02:55
Spanish to English
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| Generally agree with David and Muriel | Oct 4, 2009 |
I reply to all e-mail personally addressed to me that does not offer an insulting rate. I generally don't respond to "cattle calls" and actually find these rather irritating.
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