ProZ.com Translation Forums

Christmas crunch? | cards and emails...

Marlene Blanshay — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:01:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Marlene Blanshay
Post title: cards and emails...

a plenty. And like Josee, lots of greetings from translators who have never sent me any work!!!! i'd rather have gotten work from them!

I did get a nice check today, xmas eve...not a huge one but I was happy because this is the last mail delivery for a couple of days at least, and i was anticipating a bit of a squeeze at the end of the month. So at least the cheque fairy came through!!! or santa....

however i had to buy my own plonk.

Christmas crunch? | Mervyn always makes me smile...

Juliana Brown — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:24:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Juliana Brown
Post title: Mervyn always makes me smile...

In my imagi-hamper I was pleased to find piles and piles of wonderful cheeses and several bottles of my favourite red wines...and in the real world, apart from a couple of nice cards, I got an e-mail from a sometime customer of the sort who always says "I can sort of read XX(read- language), and I can tell you it's an easy text". Hmmm...This year Mr. Languages decided to cheer me up by sending round an e-mail (long, very long) explaining to his translators how they can get more work from him in the New Year.

Read it an weep (or laugh):

"I thought I would take this time to give everyone some pointers on the best practices for getting translation work from us. We currently have a number of projects flowing through our system and we\'re trying to give everyone a chance to prove themselves to us. Here are some things you can do that will help.

1) Be available - Translators that are easy to contact and available for on the spot and rush translations are more likely to receive more frequent work.

2) Take pride in your work - Translators that return translated documents to us properly formatted rather than just straight word text, take the time to go over it for mistakes or even have a second pair of eyes look it over will hear from us more often.

3) Price - This is what it always comes down to :) Translators that have higher per word prices than other similarly qualified translators in their language pair are less likely to be contacted on a regular basis. If you believe that this is the case with yourself you can send an email to XXX"

I find it beyond crass he feels the need to spell any of this out and can only guess he imagines there will be a rush of us to his door begging to drop our rates. I particularly object to the :) he added in no.3 and can only reply- :p.

Happy holidays everyone! Those of us celebrating Chanuka starting next week are hoping our children do not accidentally burn the house down during eight nights of candle-lighting!

Christmas crunch? | Xmas hamper

Mervyn Henderson (X) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Mervyn Henderson (X)
Post title: Xmas hamper

Like Debs, I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge hamper waiting for me on the steps the other day. It had Joselito ham, champers, red plonk, white plonk, rosé plonk, tins of foie, asparagus, turrón, the works. And a big thank-you note from my bestest bestest customer. "Thanks for everything", they gurgled. "It's a mystery to us how we get through life without you."

... How I chuckled as I eagerly informed my long-suffering other half. She rolled over. "Time to wake up, get the coffee on, and earn some dosh for Xmas presents to other people," she told me, sighing a little ...

So no, no cards or prezzies yet. But that's like any other year, so it doesn't seem to have anything to do with battening down hatches in the post-Madoff era.

Christmas crunch? | Christmas cards

Jeff Whittaker — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:10:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Jeff Whittaker
Post title: Christmas cards

I send out cards every year (along with my business card).

Christmas crunch? | I do

Marion van Venrooij-Rooijmans — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Marion van Venrooij-Rooijmans
Post title: I do

[quote]Justine Fischbach wrote:

although I was complaining about not receiving anything, does anyone here actually send cards or presents to their clients (eg. agencies). Can't say I have ever done so. [/quote]

Yes, I do. I usually send cards to all clients that have sent me work in that year, even though if it was just one tiny job. Perhaps when they receive the card, they remember my name and that tiny job I did for them and will send me more work if anything in my pair and field comes up. Even if it has no effect, I still think it's nice to add a personal touch to a business relation.

I thought about sending chocolates to one of my best clients in 2007. However, that client is from Belgium and Belgian chocolate is waaaaaay better than Dutch chocolate, so it didn't make much sense and I only sent them a nice card.

Christmas crunch? | do you send cards?

Justine Sherwood (X) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:57:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Justine Sherwood (X)
Post title: do you send cards?

although I was complaining about not receiving anything, does anyone here actually send cards or presents to their clients (eg. agencies). Can't say I have ever done so.

Christmas crunch? | Lucky you

Justine Sherwood (X) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:38:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Justine Sherwood (X)
Post title: Lucky you

[quote]Lawyer-Linguist wrote:

I returned home from the notary this afternoon, rather irritated after what was a rather long-drawn-out affair, as most bureaucratic things tend to be here in Portugal, to find a present on my doorstep - yes, that's right, in my small town the postman just leaves it on your doorstep if you're out!

Anyhow, I eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper to find a lovely crate of quality wine, cheese and crackers from one of the agencies I do a lot of work for in the Netherlands.

This same agency pays excellent rates, never haggles about CAT discounts and the like, and if I submit an invoice at the end of the month, it's paid by the 5th of the following month. Like clockwork.

On top of that, the staff are full of fun in their emails and over the phone, quick to respond to emails and great when it comes to providing reference material, glossaries and general support.

I thought it was a lovely gesture - one I was very used to in practice as a lawyer, but haven't experienced much of since taking up full-time translation - and just wanted to share a good-news story for a change, particularly after all the doom and gloom that's been going around the forums lately.

Now, where's that corkscrew ...?

[Edited at 2008-12-16 21:56 GMT] [/quote]

I've also never received a present from a client in my life, save a pack of sparklers a few years ago. Maybe it's not such a good idea to send stuff like that through the post anymore though.

Even if someone did send me something I'd probably never receive it thanks to the Canarian postal service. Have had plenty of e-cards though.

Christmas crunch? | Some of my clients

Speranza — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:32:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Speranza
Post title: Some of my clients

are sending cards by email explaining they will donate the money saved on physical postcards to charities. That is what they did in previous years, too.

Christmas crunch? | Do they need more translators?

Marion van Venrooij-Rooijmans — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:23:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Marion van Venrooij-Rooijmans
Post title: Do they need more translators?

[quote]Lawyer-Linguist wrote:

Anyhow, I eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper to find a lovely crate of quality wine, cheese and crackers from one of the agencies I do a lot of work for in the Netherlands.

This same agency pays excellent rates, never haggles about CAT discounts and the like, and if I submit an invoice at the end of the month, it's paid by the 5th of the following month. Like clockwork.

On top of that, the staff are full of fun in their emails and over the phone, quick to respond to emails and great when it comes to providing reference material, glossaries and general support.

[Edited at 2008-12-16 21:56 GMT] [/quote]

Could you give them my contact details, just in case they need a EN-NL translator? ;-)

I've received some cards, but no presents (yet).

Christmas crunch? | The same for me

Silvia Barra (X) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:17:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Silvia Barra (X)
Post title: The same for me

[quote]Josée Desbiens wrote:

I am receiving Christmas wishes by mail from agencies that never gave me work!!! I would rather have nice projects offered to me than being on a stupid wishes list!!!!

[Modifié le 2008-12-16 17:35 GMT] [/quote]

It's the same for me. Many cards, even from agencies that never gave me a cent of work, but no work :-(

Best wishes
Silvia

Christmas crunch? | No presents so far...

NancyLynn — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:19:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: NancyLynn
Post title: No presents so far...

...but lots of cards.
Gotta get busy myself! Last year I simply did not have time. This year, again, not really...

Best wishes to all for a fruitful 2009!
Nancy

Christmas crunch? | Funny you should mention this ...

Deborah do Carmo (X) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:49:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Deborah do Carmo (X)
Post title: Funny you should mention this ...

I returned home from the notary this afternoon, rather irritated after what was a rather long-drawn-out affair, as most bureaucratic things tend to be here in Portugal, to find a present on my doorstep - yes, that's right, in my small town the postman just leaves it on your doorstep if you're out!

Anyhow, I eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper to find a lovely crate of quality wine, cheese and crackers from one of the agencies I do a lot of work for in the Netherlands.

This same agency pays excellent rates, never haggles about CAT discounts and the like, and if I submit an invoice at the end of the month, it's paid by the 5th of the following month. Like clockwork.

On top of that, the staff are full of fun in their emails and over the phone, quick to respond to emails and great when it comes to providing reference material, glossaries and general support.

I thought it was a lovely gesture - one I was very used to in practice as a lawyer, but haven't experienced much of since taking up full-time translation - and just wanted to share a good-news story for a change, particularly after all the doom and gloom that's been going around the forums lately.

Now, where's that corkscrew ...?

[Edited at 2008-12-16 21:56 GMT]

Christmas crunch? | Things as usual

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:43:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Post title: Things as usual

We are usually the ones who love to share some Spanish Christmas goodies around. But this year we are quite happy as we already have three boxes of fine chocolates from customers and friends. Lovely! :-)

Christmas crunch? | I am receiving the same Christmas cards as usual

liz askew — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:01:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: liz askew
Post title: I am receiving the same Christmas cards as usual

No change here....

Never received presents from ANY employer I have ever worked for!

Sad isn't it??

I shall survive :-)

Liz

Christmas crunch? | Christmas email, but no offer!

Josée Desbiens — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:35:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Josée Desbiens
Post title: Christmas email, but no offer!

I am receiving Christmas wishes by mail from agencies that never gave me work!!! I would rather have nice projects offered to me than being on a stupid wishes list!!!!

[Modifié le 2008-12-16 17:35 GMT]

Christmas crunch? | A few cards

Angela Dickson (X) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:33:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Angela Dickson (X)
Post title: A few cards

I've had a few cards (physical ones) from regular clients, as in previous years, but no presents - I did get a couple of wedding presents earlier in the year, so maybe they don't want to spend any more on me this year :-)

Christmas crunch?

Tina Colquhoun — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Christmas crunch?
Poster: Tina Colquhoun

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed a tightening of belts on the Christmas front?

I seem to remember physical Christmas cards from clients plonking through the door in previous years, Christmas puddings, even 'real' presents. Now everyone just seems to be sending out round-robins by e-mail.

Or perhaps they are just too busy firing staff...

Bob Cratchit