| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Some agencies are strange! Thread poster: Mats Wiman
|
|---|
Mats Wiman 
Sweden
Local time: 22:24
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
Дурсгалд зориулав
When you ask a freelancer to help out with a rush job it is IMHO not appropriete to haggle over price.
An example today from reality:
(my mail to an agency when my rate was rejected)
"Sorry, I was busy translating your text.
I accept your decision of course but to me it is fairly illogical to
call someone at noon and demand delivery at 5 pm
not being prepared to pay 'the savior' his/her rate.
Best
Mats"
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Türkiye
Local time: 23:24
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
I completely agree with you. In fact, it is best for both parties to agree on the price BEFORE starting the work. If the agency does not accept the price, let them call someone else.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:24
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
I can certainly see your point, Mats. On the other hand, there are always budget limits that can't be exceeded. There are also always other translators who could maybe help them out for less.
In my case, I wouldn't be prepared to haggle over the rate: if they want it quickly they should let me get on with the job for the rate I've stated, and I'm not going to lower that rate for them, however hard they push. But I would be prepared for them to reject my rate as too high. That's alwa... See more I can certainly see your point, Mats. On the other hand, there are always budget limits that can't be exceeded. There are also always other translators who could maybe help them out for less.
In my case, I wouldn't be prepared to haggle over the rate: if they want it quickly they should let me get on with the job for the rate I've stated, and I'm not going to lower that rate for them, however hard they push. But I would be prepared for them to reject my rate as too high. That's always possible. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 22:24
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER Дурсгалд зориулав | I was altruistic AND egoistic | Aug 21, 2012 |
ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
I completely agree with you. In fact, it is best for both parties to agree on the price BEFORE starting the work. If the agency does not accept the price, let them call someone else.
I agree with you but:
By starting before the confirmation and the price, I tried to save my own stress nerves (I'm not fast) in order to deliver in time.
No big deal.
It's the logic that is disturbing. You should not ask for favours unless you're prepared to pay for them.
| | |
|
|
|
Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 22:24
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER Дурсгалд зориулав | Budget limits apply in normal conditions. | Aug 21, 2012 |
Sheila Wilson wrote:
I can certainly see your point, Mats. On the other hand, there are always budget limits that can't be exceeded. There are also always other translators who could maybe help them out for less.
In my case, I wouldn't be prepared to haggle over the rate: if they want it quickly they should let me get on with the job for the rate I've stated, and I'm not going to lower that rate for them, however hard they push. But I would be prepared for them to reject my rate as too high. That's always possible.
Their rejecting my rate is perfectly OK. It's normal, but if you ask for favours..(see previous answer)
[Edited at 2012-08-21 12:38 GMT]
| | | |
Mats Wiman wrote:
When you ask a freelancer to help out with a rush job it is IMHO not appropriete to haggle over price.
An example today from reality:
(my mail to an agency when my rate was rejected)
"Sorry, I was busy translating your text.
I accept your decision of course but to me it is fairly illogical to
call someone at noon and demand delivery at 5 pm
not being prepared to pay 'the savior' his/her rate.
Best
Mats"
I absolutely agree with you, Mats. If they cannot afford it, they should not be running a translation agency. There are many other fields which require a lower level of professionalism where lower rates could be paid for certain types of work. They could always open a typing agency.
| | | | | Not sure why you started without confirmation | Aug 21, 2012 |
Mats Wiman wrote: ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
I completely agree with you. In fact, it is best for both parties to agree on the price BEFORE starting the work. If the agency does not accept the price, let them call someone else. I agree with you but: By starting before the confirmation and the price, I tried to save my own stress nerves (I'm not fast) in order to deliver in time. No big deal. It's the logic that is disturbing. You should not ask for favours unless you're prepared to pay for them.
I agree that haggling over price on a rush job is out of order (mental note to self: never working for you guys again), but I wouldn't have started without confirmation of the job and price. Every hour they delay, you delay. In your case, it didn't make good business sense to start. You could have said "I need x hours to do this job" and then it's up to them to make a quick decision or 5 p.m. is in their dreams!
FWIW,
Catherine
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 22:24
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Budget and other "handicaps" | Aug 21, 2012 |
I agree with Sheila that most agencies have budget limits that cannot be exceeded.
However, most agencies have also been in business for more than just a week or two and should, therefore, know that there is a surcharge for rushed jobs. And like Sheila, I state my rates (normal and rushed delivery) which the agency either accepts or rejects.
On a side note (with a wink), there's one agency which keeps sending me medium sized jobs, oftentimes with a same day delivery dea... See more I agree with Sheila that most agencies have budget limits that cannot be exceeded.
However, most agencies have also been in business for more than just a week or two and should, therefore, know that there is a surcharge for rushed jobs. And like Sheila, I state my rates (normal and rushed delivery) which the agency either accepts or rejects.
On a side note (with a wink), there's one agency which keeps sending me medium sized jobs, oftentimes with a same day delivery deadline, for USD 0,02 - 0,04/per word...as if I had never sent them my rates, especially my minimum rate which is, of course, higher than what they offer.
Back to Mats's post, it seems that some agencies are simply testing their luck to see if a translator will lower her/his price. That's their prerogative...as it's ours to accept or decline. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| To save what? | Aug 21, 2012 |
A same-day delivery would mean about 2000 words, or say 300 euros with urgency markup?
Are their time so cheap (or their sales people so bad) that an agency can afford to spend 2-3 more hours and save 100-200 euros to find somebody out of the blue (no vetting, no check, no nothing) ready to work for peanuts, with an outcome more prone to big trouble as it would need to be done with even less time?
To me, these people are not agencies. They are just us, pretending to be compani... See more A same-day delivery would mean about 2000 words, or say 300 euros with urgency markup?
Are their time so cheap (or their sales people so bad) that an agency can afford to spend 2-3 more hours and save 100-200 euros to find somebody out of the blue (no vetting, no check, no nothing) ready to work for peanuts, with an outcome more prone to big trouble as it would need to be done with even less time?
To me, these people are not agencies. They are just us, pretending to be companies because they subcontract.
The logic for a small one-off at a discounted price is beyond me. If they can't afford a no-profit deal now and then for a good customer, they probably don't have enough cashflow to be of proper standing (ie pay their translators even "when the customer hasn't paid yet").
Good luck to them all.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Philippe Etienne wrote:
A same-day delivery would mean about 2000 words, or say 300 euros with urgency markup?
Assuming this job was EN > SV, EUR0.15 is a more like a standard rate. I would add at least another 20-30% for the required urgency.
If the job was DE > SV, I would use a higher standard rate as many DE words equal 2-3 EN words (please note that I don't work in this pair).
| | | | | You're your boss | Aug 21, 2012 |
Madeleine MacRae Klintebo wrote:
Assuming this job was EN > SV, EUR0.15 is a more like a standard rate. I would add at least another 20-30% for the required urgency.
I was in ENFR mode, sorry, and I was born in a southern, poorer country, but European number one for making babies. Anyway these figures were for illustrative purposes only to try and make my point.
I wouldn't have quoted if it had been a new agency. Too much overhead/vetting research for too little hypothetical money. My established customers don't play such tricks.
| | | | Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 22:24
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER Дурсгалд зориулав | Encouraging comment, Madelaine! | Aug 21, 2012 |
Madeleine MacRae Klintebo wrote: Philippe Etienne wrote:
A same-day delivery would mean about 2000 words, or say 300 euros with urgency markup? Assuming this job was EN > SV, EUR0.15 is a more like a standard rate. I would add at least another 20-30% for the required urgency. If the job was DE > SV, I would use a higher standard rate as many DE words equal 2-3 EN words (please note that I don't work in this pair).
The text was 1500 words and my rate was given as EUR 0,15/source word, which I wouldn't call standard rate. (In most cases it's turned down).
It was a press release where one needs to weigh words and phrases with gold scales, so I argued that the rate is justified.
I was only 15 minutes into the translation so I was not too disappointed.
What disturbs me is the principle, which seems mainly due to the fact that the are inexperienced.
They seem to have understood and bought my arguments. (The question is only: Will the cheaper savior's translation be good enough and on time?)
All's well that ends well! (On my part) OR:
Am I too cheap?
Mats
[Edited at 2012-08-21 16:37 GMT]
| | |
|
|
|
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:24
Russian to English
+ ...
Дурсгалд зориулав | I had an odd one today too. | Aug 21, 2012 |
An agency contacted me offering me a job of 4000+ words, a contract concerning oil wells, and asked for my CV and rate. I gave them, and half an hour later they sent me the original. After spending some time looking at it, I replied saying I could do it and asking if I could start on it.
Then they said my rate was much too high and offered me a rate of about two thirds what I was asking. So of course I refused the job. But they had known my rate long before they sent it. So why did th... See more An agency contacted me offering me a job of 4000+ words, a contract concerning oil wells, and asked for my CV and rate. I gave them, and half an hour later they sent me the original. After spending some time looking at it, I replied saying I could do it and asking if I could start on it.
Then they said my rate was much too high and offered me a rate of about two thirds what I was asking. So of course I refused the job. But they had known my rate long before they sent it. So why did they bother to send it at all? Total waste of time! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 22:24
French to German
+ ...
| Always trying... | Aug 21, 2012 |
Jack Doughty wrote:
An agency contacted me offering me a job of 4000+ words, a contract concerning oil wells, and asked for my CV and rate. I gave them, and half an hour later they sent me the original. After spending some time looking at it, I replied saying I could do it and asking if I could start on it.
Then they said my rate was much too high and offered me a rate of about two thirds what I was asking. So of course I refused the job. But they had known my rate long before they sent it. So why did they bother to send it at all? Total waste of time!
Many agencies nowadays are trying to push rates down and to get a bargain.
I believe that answering "Your rate is too high" after sending you the text is a psychological ploy to lure you into doing the job because you are a specialist and like what you do.
I was contacted many times by agencies who thought I'd give in and accept as I was enthusiastic about the project and must admit I fell into the trap once or twice.
| | | | ivanamdb
Local time: 21:24
Croatian to English
+ ...
| a test or what? | Aug 22, 2012 |
I got an "urgent" email from an agency (I have recently sent them my cv) with "TEST" in the subject line yesterday afternoon at 4 PM (same timezone as the agency). The PManager was asking me whether I was available for a test and there was a 300 word document attached. (I had indeed said in my cover letter that I was available for test translation up to a maximum of 300 words).
I replied within 20 minutes saying "yes, but I'm finishing a project for another client, would next day early aft... See more I got an "urgent" email from an agency (I have recently sent them my cv) with "TEST" in the subject line yesterday afternoon at 4 PM (same timezone as the agency). The PManager was asking me whether I was available for a test and there was a 300 word document attached. (I had indeed said in my cover letter that I was available for test translation up to a maximum of 300 words).
I replied within 20 minutes saying "yes, but I'm finishing a project for another client, would next day early afternoon be fine for delivery?".
Got a reply from the PM saying just "already done".... as I didn't quite get the meaning I wrote back saying "would 2.30PM tomorrow be an acceptable deadline, please let me know if I can proceed".... and then got a reply saying "I've already found another translator for this job, but if you still want to do it, no problem with me."
What????
I am still a bit perplexed at this exchange of emails...did I get something wrong?
with regards to Jack Doughty's question - yes, I've had similar experiences (not many fortunately) and I have always refused, as certain fields and language combinations are quite specific, so if you want quality you pay, otherwise you can use google translate and see where it gets you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Some agencies are strange! | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
