| Stron w wątku: [1 2] > | Off topic: Are they asking for too much? Autor wątku: auragun
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auragun 
Tajlandia
Local time: 15:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2013
angielski > tajski
+ ...
Hello,
I meant to post this in Translation agencies forum but could not open the forum. So please let me post this here - money matters after all.
I was approached by a translation agency. I gave them my EnglishThai translation rate of USD0.05 per source word. They said it was so high! I said I could not lower the rate, considering my PhD qualification, being a certified ProZ.com PRO Network translator and my 17-year experience. They then sent me a test, comprising thre... See more Hello,
I meant to post this in Translation agencies forum but could not open the forum. So please let me post this here - money matters after all.
I was approached by a translation agency. I gave them my EnglishThai translation rate of USD0.05 per source word. They said it was so high! I said I could not lower the rate, considering my PhD qualification, being a certified ProZ.com PRO Network translator and my 17-year experience. They then sent me a test, comprising three parts: 1) I had to do English>Thai translation of at least 500 words, to provide my opinion on the translated contents and to write an essay, at least three paragraphs long, on a topic of good translation; 2) I had to write an English e-mail to the manager as a response to a simulated situation; and 3) I had to do another piece of English>Thai translation of 83 words. Along with the test, they said, 'Your rate is still high with us.' and 'Based on the result, we can discuss more about the rate.'!
I have decided not to respond any further. Any thoughts? Thank you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mariano Saab
Argentyna
Local time: 05:50
hiszpański > angielski
+ ...
| Don't waste your time | Sep 5, 2014 |
I think that, based on your experience, your rate should be higher. Regarding their peculiar test, I would not waste my time with such nonsense. An essay? You have a PhD, you should be testing them.
Best of luck!
| | | | John Fossey
Kanada
Local time: 04:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2008
francuski > angielski
+ ...
| Definitely asking for too much | Sep 5, 2014 |
They are not a serious agency.
$0.05 is already way too low.
http://search.proz.com/employers/rates shows the average
English > Thai rate posted by proz.com translators is $0.11
200 words is about the maximum you should do for a free test.
What does writing an essay or opinion have to do with anything?
There are other fish in the se... See more They are not a serious agency.
$0.05 is already way too low.
http://search.proz.com/employers/rates shows the average
English > Thai rate posted by proz.com translators is $0.11
200 words is about the maximum you should do for a free test.
What does writing an essay or opinion have to do with anything?
There are other fish in the sea. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Should have stopped at "your rate is too high" | Sep 5, 2014 |
Don't do any free tests or anything else at all before/until you can be reasonably sure the client can pay your rates. You'll save a lot of time and headache that way. Good luck!
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Navarut Y.
Tajlandia
Local time: 15:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2014
angielski > tajski
| The rate is too low | Sep 5, 2014 |
I have been a full member since July. I set my rate according to PROZ minimum rate ($0.08) and got many clients at this rate. Therefore, I suggest you to raise your rate. My friend having less experience than you always charges her client at $0.1 and she got many jobs as well. I strongly believe you can earn more but do less. ^^
For this customer, just ignore. This is what I normally do with a client offering very low rate.
[Edited at 2014-09-05 15:50 GMT]
| | | | | A matter of confidence? | Sep 5, 2014 |
Well, seems like everything has been said: USD0.05 is wayyyyy too low! That would be around €0.038... gosh! I'd rather clean offices for this rate!
Auragun, you are on top of the wave academically.. you should double your rate. I know one has to eat but if you don't respect yourself, who will? Don't sell yourself cheap!
Good luck!
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With your experience and qualifications you are able to provide a quality service to agencies and their clients. Professional agencies should be charging their clients accordingly (at least average rates) and pass on a decent rate to you.
I would tell this agency that they are paying way below average and that, to be honest, you were offering them a huge bargain. They need to recognise that constantly trying to increase their profit margins or undercut the competition will not pay o... See more With your experience and qualifications you are able to provide a quality service to agencies and their clients. Professional agencies should be charging their clients accordingly (at least average rates) and pass on a decent rate to you.
I would tell this agency that they are paying way below average and that, to be honest, you were offering them a huge bargain. They need to recognise that constantly trying to increase their profit margins or undercut the competition will not pay off in the long run.
Then walk away (unless they agree to pay you $0.10 a word after all). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Hiszpania
Local time: 09:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2007
angielski
+ ...
| Too much and too little | Sep 5, 2014 |
They are asking too much from you for free; far too much. I think I'd waste just a little more of my valuable time in that situation and send them a short, informative note, knowing that they'll probably bin it without reading it. I wouldn't advise you to ever consider working with them. Whatever they promise they'll always be wanting more for less.
But I imagine you know all about that type of agency. There are so many of them out there paying those rates. Scant respect for their s... See more They are asking too much from you for free; far too much. I think I'd waste just a little more of my valuable time in that situation and send them a short, informative note, knowing that they'll probably bin it without reading it. I wouldn't advise you to ever consider working with them. Whatever they promise they'll always be wanting more for less.
But I imagine you know all about that type of agency. There are so many of them out there paying those rates. Scant respect for their suppliers and nothing to offer clients apart from low prices. If you were to double your rates you'd enter the parallel world of translating. You'd find agencies and direct clients who would not only accept your rates but would treat you with the respect your education and experience call for. I think you'd find enough volume of work and a far higher quality of professional life. ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
Niemcy
Local time: 10:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2009
angielski > niemiecki
+ ...
| Good decision! | Sep 5, 2014 |
auragun wrote:
I have decided not to respond any further.
| | | | Eric Zink
Local time: 10:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2012
niemiecki > angielski
| If it is not sustainable, don't do it | Sep 5, 2014 |
I cannot imagine that you could sustain a reasonable standard of living on that rate -- if you had enough money, you'd always be working (assuming you were taking the necessary time to do a competent job). That is true of everyone else, too. This means that this firm can't be a serious one. They cannot consistently engage translators to do a competent job for them at that rate. Use that knowledge to stick to your target rate in similar future situations.
| | | | | Be respect yourself & confidence | Sep 5, 2014 |
Dear professsor
I only earned in translation a Master Degree and possess 7 years experience lesser than yours.
My standard is 0.10 and I won't except such a half lower at all.
Let's set your "reasonable" higher standard and minimum rate and fix to it.
Don't forget to consider ours is a rare and a complex.
Be respect yourself & confidence.
We can help each other level up the standard price in our market.
| | | | Chosana Thanabhumi
Niemcy
Local time: 10:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2010
niemiecki > tajski
+ ...
| Double your rate! | Sep 5, 2014 |
There are agencies and direct clients who pay well. Most of my agency clients pay $0.10 per word for English to Thai translation and pay more for German to Thai translation. A few years ago a European translation agency approached me and offered $0.06 per word for a German to Thai translation project. I declined the job and told them my standard rate which was $0.13 per word. They accepted my rate and sent me a new PO immediately. However, there are bottom-feeder agencies too, but you do not hav... See more There are agencies and direct clients who pay well. Most of my agency clients pay $0.10 per word for English to Thai translation and pay more for German to Thai translation. A few years ago a European translation agency approached me and offered $0.06 per word for a German to Thai translation project. I declined the job and told them my standard rate which was $0.13 per word. They accepted my rate and sent me a new PO immediately. However, there are bottom-feeder agencies too, but you do not have to accept works from them because there are plenty of well-paid jobs. You have to be confident to negotiate the rate and educate your clients. ▲ Collapse
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| These people clearly have too much time on their hands... | Sep 5, 2014 |
Why not send them a link to this page?
| | | | auragun
Tajlandia
Local time: 15:50
Członek ProZ.com
od 2013
angielski > tajski
+ ...
NOWY TEMAT
Thank you all! I have now realized that I have not changed my rates since 2000. Because of the low cost of living in Thailand, I have been doing fine. Will definitely change them.
I am wondering though why ProZ returns a search result as USD0.08/word being the lowest rate when at least I have lower rates on my profile.
Anyway, I am so glad that I posted this topic.
[แก้ไขที่ 2014-09-06 04:22 GMT]
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auragun wrote:
Along with the test, they said, 'Your rate is still high with us.' and 'Based on the result, we can discuss more about the rate.'!
After wasting my time in a couple of experiences like yours, I decided not to do any translation tests without first confirming that the customer is ready to pay my rate if the test is successful.
What kind of people send you a complicated test and make you waste a number of hours, knowing that they will not pay your rate in the first place? The answer is simple: people who want their problem solved -- supplying a successful test towards the end customer -- and do not care much about what the translator feels about the matter. Clearly not good business partners, if you ask me...
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