Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

tonte

English translation:

being milked/fleeced

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2019-07-08 17:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jul 5, 2019 07:26
4 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

tonte

French to English Bus/Financial Marketing customer survey
This translation includes responses from hundreds of energy customers to a survey, with the usual complaints about prices, customer service, etc.

One customer complains about the "tonte permanente", within their full response reproduced below:

"Contrat monopolistique sur un lotissement signé avec le lotisseur. Prix défiant tout entendement et hors marche compte tenu du service rendu. Collectif de propriétaire souhaite renégociation prix. Rupture contrat et recherche autres fournisseurs reste la seule solution si pas de discussion possible avec [fournisseur]. J’espère que cette enquête permettra à [fournisseur] de comprendre qu’un client rentable est celui qui reste et que la tonte permanente n’est pas de nature à le fidéliser.

Am I to understand this "tonte" as "cutting back" (as they had already hinted at the service being lacking) or does this mean being "squeezed" (with more of a concern for prices going up).

xxx

Discussion

Francois Boye Jul 5, 2019:

tondre = Dépouiller de l'argent.
Synonymes : démunir, déposséder, dépouiller

https://www.linternaute.fr/dictionnaire/fr/definition/tondre...

Proposed translations

+5
7 mins
Selected

Being milked

Yes, it’s the second of your suggestions. They’re always “grazing” off their existing customers.
Note from asker:
That was exactly the insight I needed.
I should have seen it myself!
Peer comment(s):

agree Tony M : Well, surely the analogy is more about "fleecing sheep"?
7 mins
Yes, that’s the one! Although, on reflection, being fleeced is more dramatic - it’s having everything taken off you in one go. Being milked is more like a constant, ongoing process - so perhaps fits better with the notion of “tonte permanente”?
agree Nicolas Gambardella
52 mins
agree Charles Davis : Spot on, I think. "Fleeced" is more literal but less suitable, I think, not only because it's more dramatic and less gradual, but because it tends to imply being ripped off, and I don't think the original quite means that.
4 hrs
agree Stephanie Benoist : offhand, tonte comes from "tondre", like mowing the lawn or getting a crewcut. so not fleeced but something implying a sharp reduction.
6 hrs
neutral Francois Boye : look beyond the metaphor and understand that rent gouging is being practiced.
7 hrs
agree David Hayes : "Fleeced" is fine too. ( https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleece; https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fleece)
11 hrs
neutral Daryo : I find it too mild for "la tonte"
14 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "You were great, thanks."
-1
7 hrs

rent gouging

Peer comment(s):

disagree Daryo : maybe better start by being sure what's in the ST? https://www.consortium-immobilier.fr/guide/achat-vente/4/20/... => it is a kind of rip-off but it's not about "rent"!// have you noticed "le lotisseur" in the ST? Context a swear word?
7 hrs
https://www.linternaute.fr/dictionnaire/fr/definition/tondre...
Something went wrong...
+1
14 hrs
French term (edited): la tonte permanente des clients

continuous fleecing / ongoing rip-off / persistently ripping-off clients

la tonte des clients - like fleecing sheep, about as strong as "a rip-off"

la tonte permanente n’est pas de nature à le fidéliser.
=
persistently ripping-off your clients is not going to make them stay with you.
Peer comment(s):

agree SafeTex : Best ideas in my opinion.
1 day 18 hrs
Thanks!
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