ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | other

Michael Harris — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 07:36:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Michael Harris
Post title: other

I use Thunderbird as mail programme and a small window opens at the bottom right in my screen (plug a ping) whenever I receive a mail and if it is important then I generally answer quickly.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Other

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 06:12:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: Other

I'm not tethered to my cell or my computer.
If I haven't checked my e-mail, it could be quite a while.
If I'm in front of my computer and I've checked my e-mail, then right away.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | It varies a lot

Mario Freitas — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 22:48:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Mario Freitas
Post title: It varies a lot

I usually reply all emails immediately. However:
1. I'm not always sitting in front of the PC or carrying my mobile around. I take breaks regularly;
2. Sometimes I'm very concentrated on a job, and it may take an hour before I check my inbox.
3. I have clients all over the world, so I keep receiving e-mails at 3:00 am, which will obviously be replied only at around 11:00 am.
4. There are other obvious factors that can change this standard.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | 16-30 minutes

Elizabeth Tamblin (X) — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 18:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Elizabeth Tamblin (X)
Post title: 16-30 minutes

Before replying, I upload the job and see if it's something I can do for the requested deadline. I don't want to answer instantly and regret it later.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Against the trend (it seems)

Jean Dimitriadis — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 17:10:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Jean Dimitriadis
Post title: Against the trend (it seems)

I usually reply within the hour or so, only during office hours (my email client is closed during focus periods of 50 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, and my phone is in silent mode during that time). Outside office hours, the "right to disconnect"…

I’ve noticed most emails from regulars come in the morning, which is nice (most communications being concentrated within a short time span) but unfortunate because it is also my most productive time of the day.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | 5-15 min. during business hours

Liena V. — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 16:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Liena V.
Post title: 5-15 min. during business hours

[quote]Laureana Pavon wrote:
The whole point of having regular clients is that we both know and respect each other.
[/quote]

Maybe one of the reasons why they're regular is because they know they won't have to wait too long to know if I'm available.
I usually have e-mail tab open when I'm working on my computer and also receive notifications (no sound) on my phone when I'm away, so I can quickly reply to yes/no type of inquiries and continue what I was doing.

It may take longer when more information is needed or I'm too busy. I also take the liberty not to reply in the evenings or on weekends (you can adjust notification settings accordingly).

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | So far, close to 60% have said they reply within 15 minutes or less

Laureana Pavon — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 15:05:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Laureana Pavon
Post title: So far, close to 60% have said they reply within 15 minutes or less

That's amazing, specially considering that the poll wants to know how quickly we reply to our regular clients.
I'm definitely not dropping everything I'm doing to answer an email the minute I receive the notification. The whole point of having regular clients is that we both know and respect each other.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | It Depends on

diala al-ali — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:57:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: diala al-ali
Post title: It Depends on

It depends on our availability on computer while we receive the email, how much email continent is necessary to reply immediately or could be delay to reply on in free time, free not busy. Otherwise we also could be little bit non professional or formal and reply quickly via phone device (it depends on how much clients are flexible to accept replies via phone), but as it is work and clients both sides prefer to be more professional contact and reply via computer.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | .

Kay Denney — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:24:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Kay Denney
Post title: .

If they're offering work and I'm available, no more than 15 minutes between reception and answering - basically the time I need to finish whatever I'm doing, look at the file and decide whether to accept or refuse. My phone will ping when it arrives, so there's barely any time between reception and perception.
If they're answering a message about a translation under way, I'll likewise respond asap.

Unless I'm at the swimming pool or on my bike, then you add on a couple of hours.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | It depends...

Anna Herbst — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:01:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Anna Herbst
Post title: It depends...

If I am at my computer working or reading on my tablet I will generally check new e-mails and respond as soon as I take a break from what I am doing, which would be within an hour at most.

If I am away from electronic devices I will reply as soon as I am back in work mode, which may vary depending on where I am and what I am doing. I usually check my e-mails before going to bed, but I am too old to embrace the 24/7 work week, so am trying to teach my clients that late evenings, weekends and public holidays I am likely not to be on call.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Depends

Robert Rietvelt — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:36:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Robert Rietvelt
Post title: Depends

Serious, work related mails - as soon as possible.
All the rest - when I got the time for it (and feel like it).

[Edited at 2019-12-09 12:46 GMT]

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | How long since when?

Samuel Murray — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: How long since when?

[quote]neilmac wrote:
I usually respond to emails within 15 minutes of becoming aware of receiving them. [/quote]

Yes, the key phrase is "of becoming aware" of them. I'm not sure what the poll asker had in mind: how soon after the e-mail is received, or how soon after the e-mail is perceived? I try to respond within 5-15 minutes after perceiving.

It also depends on how much effort is required to reply, as some clients need you to confirm a lot of information when you reply, and if I'm quite busy and don't want to stop what I'm doing just so that I can read through the information that the client sent, I may respond only after 1-2 hours. Or, I sometimes reply by saying "I've seen your mail and will read it in 2 hours" (not those exact words!), and often the client will thank me for that, unless they are in a big hurry.

[quote]Rita Utt wrote:
If you answer in 5 to 15 min time, that means you check you are constantly checking your emails... [/quote]

No, you can install a notifier which notifies you in some way that an e-mail has arrived. The notification could be a sound, a pop-up message, or simply an icon that changes. On some notifiers you can set the level of intrusiveness -- do you want a pop-up or do you just want the icon to change?

I use Gmail for my work-related mails, and I can recommend Gmail Notifier Pro (only $25). It's not 100% intuitive to use, but it allows a pop-up to appear as soon as a mail arrives, or to show the number of unread messages in the icon.

Thunderbird (which I use for non-work related mails) shows a little mail icon in the system tray whenever there is a new message (and by "new" it means a message in a folder that you didn't check recently), and I can set it up to show a pop-up for new mails, too. Too many popups can become annoying, though.

[Edited at 2019-12-09 10:31 GMT]

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Other

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:48:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: Other

It depends! If I’m working at my computer I’ll read the email as soon as it comes in and I’ll respond according to the content: some messages are either answered immediately (new assignments from regular clients or potential jobs from new clients) or deleted immediately (mass emails, spam…). At times if I’m busy and do not want to be disturbed, it may take an hour or so. If I’m not working, I check my email every business hour during the week and morning and evening during the weekend.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Other

Thayenga — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:35:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Thayenga
Post title: Other

It all depends on whether I happen to be in my email account. In this case I might be able to reply immediately, provided I'm not busy otherwise. Otherwise it could take a few hours.

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | "Checking" emails?

Erik Freitag — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:25:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Erik Freitag
Post title: "Checking" emails?

[quote]Rita Utt wrote:

If you answer in 5 to 15 min time, that means you check you are constantly checking your emails.... [/quote]

No, it doesn't. I don't "check" my emails, in the same way that I don't "check" whether my phone rings, or whether there's someone at my door.

[Edited at 2019-12-09 14:06 GMT]

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Other

neilmac — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:39:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: neilmac
Post title: Other

I usually respond to emails within 15 minutes of becoming aware of receiving them. However, I only use free webmail services, mainly Yahoo mail and Gmail, and the former has been less than reliable lately. For example, a few weeks ago one client sent me a job via both accounts (I normally use the Gmail account as backup) on the Wednesday. I received it more or less immediately and delivered the translation within 24 hours. So, I was surprised when on the following Saturday I received the same original email via Yahoo which had been sent on Wednesday. In other words, the Gmail message reached me almost immediately, but the same message via Yahoo took three days to get there
And on another couple of occasions recently, receipt acknowledgement messages from a couple of clients were not reaching me, as I found out when I asked again if they had received my email requesting receipt confirmation.

However, I don't have my email accounts linked to my phone, as I don't think it would be useful. I already check my email accounts several times throughout the day, and if I'm away from my desk I don't really want to be pestered with alerts that I can't really do much about until I get back to the office anyway.

And before anyone pops up and cheerfully recommends me to get a bespoke, paid-for email service, I can assure you that I have looked into it and 99% of the time I get by fine already with the free services, warts and all.

[Edited at 2019-12-09 08:41 GMT]

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client? | Are you constantly checking your mails ?

Rita Utt — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:15:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: Rita Utt
Post title: Are you constantly checking your mails ?

If you answer in 5 to 15 min time, that means you check you are constantly checking your emails....

Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?

ProZ.com Staff — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:10:03 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Typically, how long does it take you to reply to an email from a regular client?".

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