| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Have you ever stopped working with a client because you just couldn't accept their rates anymore? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| Agree with Oliver | Mar 11, 2010 |
Oliver Lawrence wrote:
Rates which were acceptable in the first place may become unacceptable as time passes, if they do not rise to reflect enhancements in my service and, at least, inflation. I have parted company with several clients who have not accepted my increases for these reasons.
[Edited at 2010-03-11 10:28 GMT]
This has certainly been the situation for me.
| | | | | Mine was a repetitions issue | Mar 11, 2010 |
The word rate agreed with a particular agency wasn't brilliant, but adequate for the jobs, which were easily. Hourly earnings were fine.
Then came a 30,000 word job, 20,000 words of which were 100% matches or repetitions. For which this agency proposed they would pay 10,000 words at the usual rate, and precisely nothing whatsoever for the remaining 20,000. Which they still expected me to "process". For nothing.
We came to an arrangement where I translated a couple of do... See more The word rate agreed with a particular agency wasn't brilliant, but adequate for the jobs, which were easily. Hourly earnings were fine.
Then came a 30,000 word job, 20,000 words of which were 100% matches or repetitions. For which this agency proposed they would pay 10,000 words at the usual rate, and precisely nothing whatsoever for the remaining 20,000. Which they still expected me to "process". For nothing.
We came to an arrangement where I translated a couple of documents that had about 8,500 of the "new" text in, and they used those as the basis for the remaining documents full of repetitions/matches. One assumes they refused to accept their PM salary for those hours of work.
Since then, I have had no contact with them.
And I'm not anti-reductions for matches, but I do like to get paid for time I'm working, even if it is just watching an auto-translate or moving from 100% match segment to 100% match segment... ▲ Collapse
| | | | John Cutler 
Spain
Local time: 06:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
| The most normal thing in the world. | Mar 11, 2010 |
I think it's the most normal thing in the world. I'd obviously try to negotiate the issue with the client, but if they're not willing to pay what other clients are for my services, why would I want to hang onto them?
I'm friendly and cordial with all my clients, but they're not my pals; I don't feel like I owe them anything.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:50
Spanish to English
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| Not that I can remember | Mar 11, 2010 |
Susanne Tigano wrote:
Today I received the following message from my client:
Dear Translator,
Due to the incoming crisis and cost reduction we need to be able to offer to beat the prices our clients are currently offered by the other translation provider and therefore we ask you to decrease your current rate per word to 0,04 Euro (with Trados discounts).
I'm stunned in disbelief. In Germany? 4 cents a word? AFAIK that's about 50% of the lower going rate for German-English. I'd tell them in no uncertain terms to "find another monkey" (as in "if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"). And where to stick their "Trados discounts".
There are a lot of Eastern Europeans offering low rates in the European market nowadays, for several language pairs, but I don't think the quality can be up to scratch. See "Yugoslavia"...
I havent lowered my rates, but kept them steady at 2007 rates when asked to by two different clients, who provide me with a lot of work over the years and pay on time. Funnily enough, both company bosses were women...
I have, however, dropped clients for late payments, mendacious behaviour, showing a lack or respect for my work or blaming me for their lack of efficiency...
PS does anyone else dislike being continually asked for "best rates" by agencies?
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| 'Best rates' | Mar 11, 2010 |
neilmac wrote:
PS does anyone else dislike being continually asked for "best rates" by agencies?
I find it quite amusing. How many times do I have to quote the same "best" (=standard) rate to someone before they accept my standard rate without quibbling ?
| | | | Cristina Munari
Italy
Local time: 06:50
Member (2008)
English to Italian
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| Agree on negotiating, whenever possible | Mar 11, 2010 |
Ivana Kahle wrote: You can always try to negotiate. I negotiated better rates for myself By that I mean that I simply sent my clients a polite e-mail about my new (higher) rates. No client ever said "No" because I never exaggerated. Good luck with negotiations, Ivana.
Usually agencies accept reasonable increases.
In one particular case, a client refused a very small increase after 3 years of collaboration.
That was disappointing, but I had by then realized that most service providers were willing to offer more than they did. So we went separate ways.
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Cristina Munari wrote:
Usually agencies accept reasonable increases.
That's interesting, because in a poll I ran not so long ago, only a very small percentage of people said that increasing rates to existing customers had been significant in helping them raise their income. I guess unless you're already on an agency's maximum rate, there is always scope for modest increases, yet modest increases won't make a major difference to your overall income.
| | | | Cristina Munari
Italy
Local time: 06:50
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| Overall income | Mar 11, 2010 |
Oliver Lawrence wrote: Cristina Munari wrote:
Usually agencies accept reasonable increases.
That's interesting, because in a poll I ran not so long ago, only a very small percentage of people said that increasing rates to existing customers had been significant in helping them raise their income. I guess unless you're already on an agency's maximum rate, there is always scope for modest increases, yet modest increases won't make a major difference to your overall income.
Well, if an agency guarantees a constant translation volume each month, i.e. 20,000 words monthly, then even a reasonable increase of 0.005 Eur per word makes a difference!
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biankonera
Latvia
Local time: 07:50
Italian to Latvian
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I havent done that yet but as a matter of fact am thinking of such a possibility at the moment, and the reason is not so much their rates (which are ridiculous, but problem is - how can you say no to your dream job, huh?) as their attitude.
| | | | | Usually it's a matter of not accepting my rate increases, but... | Mar 11, 2010 |
...last year I gave a client a special rate because it was a subject I believe in passionately. I explained to the PM that I was making a huge exception (in fact, it was the result of a long negotiation, during which she appealed to my soft spot once too often and I couldn't resist). They expected me to continue at that rate, and I told them I couldn't accept that. They don't contact me any more.
| | | | | This is unbelievable! | Mar 11, 2010 |
What is our world coming to!?!
Susanne Tigano wrote:
Today I received the following message from my client:
Dear Translator,
Due to the incoming crisis and cost reduction we need to be able to offer to beat the prices our clients are currently offered by the other translation provider and therefore we ask you to decrease your current rate per word to 0,04 Euro (with Trados discounts).
While United Nations agencies are paying US$ 0.187 per word!!!
Susanne, comfort yourself with the knowledge that they will be getting what they pay for.
| | | | | Celebration! | Mar 12, 2010 |
One highly reputed agency had me in their system in the beginning of 2009, and I did work for them several times. As I translate between PT-BR and EN-US, my international rates are always in USD, they wouldn't make much sense otherwise.
Nevertheless, this agency is headquartered in the UK, hence they immediately converted that initial rate of mine into GBP and froze it so. As it happened, throughout 2009 the GBP exchange rate dropped considerably relative to my local currency - BRL ... See more One highly reputed agency had me in their system in the beginning of 2009, and I did work for them several times. As I translate between PT-BR and EN-US, my international rates are always in USD, they wouldn't make much sense otherwise.
Nevertheless, this agency is headquartered in the UK, hence they immediately converted that initial rate of mine into GBP and froze it so. As it happened, throughout 2009 the GBP exchange rate dropped considerably relative to my local currency - BRL - in which I pay all my bills. I noticed that the rates they paid me were quickly approaching half of what they really should be on account of that ailing exchange rate.
Their job offers always include a phrase from the PM: "If you want to negotiate any of the terms (deadline, rate, etc.) please just let me know." Well, I let them know often enough, but never got a reply on this specific issue. I even phoned their CEO, but we didn't get anywhere on that matter.
To add insult to injury, if I get assertive enough at paytime, they pay only a few days late. Not so many days, but always late.
So today a PM from them made a transatlantic call to my mobile. They needed some proofreading work done within the next couple of hours. I felt sort of happy to tell them the truth: that on account of other commitments my earliest chance to start working on their stuff would be about two hours later. That made the call end quickly. ▲ Collapse
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 21:50
English to German
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In memoriam | Yes, I had to drop a client | Mar 12, 2010 |
My very first one. They trained me from the very beginning. It hurt because we have been working together very closely for several years. But the dollar crashed, and my rates went up. I do miss those guys.
| | | | | But not much | Mar 12, 2010 |
Cristina Munari wrote:
Well, if an agency guarantees a constant translation volume each month, i.e. 20,000 words monthly, then even a reasonable increase of 0.005 Eur per word makes a difference!
That's only 100 euros a month, though, not a big difference.
| | | | William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 06:50
Member (2009)
Italian to English
+ ...
| Just Business | Mar 12, 2010 |
John Cutler wrote:
I think it's the most normal thing in the world. I'd obviously try to negotiate the issue with the client, but if they're not willing to pay what other clients are for my services, why would I want to hang onto them?
I'm friendly and cordial with all my clients, but they're not my pals; I don't feel like I owe them anything.
There are so many situations here that others have written about that have had me saying: "Amen." or, "Yep, been there.", that I realize how much I simply love having the thoughts of my fellow translators as a resource and comfort in this all too often solo enterprise.
But an enterprise or business is what it is and I find myself most in agreement with John's perspective that clients are not friends - they are business partners.
As such, when the deal is not right you have to bail. I wouldn't feel bad about it for a moment.
Most of us have probably taken on lower paying jobs for one reason or another over the years. This does not mean that we are bound to continue to do so.
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