| Páginas no tópico: [1 2] > | Responding to unsolicited offers of excessively low rates Tópico cartaz: Richard McDorman
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Richard McDorman 
Estados Unidos
Local time: 19:57
Membro (2009)
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
Good afternoon, fellow translators.
Although I have been a proz.com user and member for several years, this is the first time I have ever posted a new forum topic. I am so dismayed at the content of an e-mail I received earlier today that I feel compelled to express my angst publicly.
Earlier today, I (and I presume many other proz.com users who work in my primary language pair) received an unsolicited offer from a translation agency located on the east cost of the Un... See more Good afternoon, fellow translators.
Although I have been a proz.com user and member for several years, this is the first time I have ever posted a new forum topic. I am so dismayed at the content of an e-mail I received earlier today that I feel compelled to express my angst publicly.
Earlier today, I (and I presume many other proz.com users who work in my primary language pair) received an unsolicited offer from a translation agency located on the east cost of the United States to enter my personal information into its online database and take a "translation test" that consists of translating a "test" document of unspecified length in fewer than 24 hours without compensation, all for the privilege of translating medical documents for the agency at the rate of 5.5 cents per word (US $ 0.055) with no minimum document fee for small jobs. The only qualification for this privilege, other than passing the "test" and providing two or three references, was valid authorization to work in the United States.
I realize that most of us receive these kinds of ridiculous low-ball offers all the time and usually just ignore them. In my experience, however, most of them originate from parts of the world with generally low wages or questionable government oversight of businesses. However, this is the first time in my many years of working as a professional translator that I have received such an unsolicited offer at shockingly low rates for work in a highly technical specialty from a translation agency in the United States that promises on its website to "stand behind [its] work and do whatever is necessary to meet [its] clients’ translation services [sic] requirements." Apparently, this promise does not extend to doing more than paying about half the going rate for the work and I feel quite certain that if the agency's customers were aware of how much the actual translators doing their work were being paid, those customers would be outraged at how severely they are being ripped off by the agency.
I almost always just click "delete" before even getting to the end of these types of e-mails, but this time I felt compelled to reply. Perhaps if the work in question consisted of something other than carefully translating documents that often have real life-and-death consequences for their end users, I would have. But this time, I was unable to restrain my contempt and replied to the sender that I would be declining her offer to work at rates that are so low as to nearly shock the conscience, especially for work that can affect the health and welfare of the agency's clients.
I realize that my reply to the agency will almost certainly have no effect on its business practices, but perhaps if everyone who receives the message responds in a similar fashion, the company may get the point. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues who receive similar offers to send an earnest response to the message's sender. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jan Willem van Dormolen (X)
Holanda
Local time: 01:57
inglês para holandês
+ ...
First time you receive a badly paid job offer from an agency in the USA? Or any other rich, first world country for that matter? Then you've just been lucky. I cannot (and won't) count them.
The only thing that still slightly stirs me about your story is, indeed, the fact that lives might depend on the quality of the translation.
| | | | Richard McDorman
Estados Unidos
Local time: 19:57
Membro (2009)
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO | Not the first time | Jun 28, 2011 |
No, it definitely was not the first time I've received such an offer from an agency located in the U.S. but it was the first time I received one for medical translation, which is what really bothers me.
| | | | | My response... | Jun 28, 2011 |
If I have the time, I respond to such proposals with my current rate, with no other considerations about the way they handle business.
Of course they either don't answer or say that my rate is outrageous, but at least I have made a point that if they want to work with me it will be at or around my usual rate, or it will not happen.
Insisting in charging my rate has brought some very interesting and sensible customers to me, and has kept me protected from companies whos... See more If I have the time, I respond to such proposals with my current rate, with no other considerations about the way they handle business.
Of course they either don't answer or say that my rate is outrageous, but at least I have made a point that if they want to work with me it will be at or around my usual rate, or it will not happen.
Insisting in charging my rate has brought some very interesting and sensible customers to me, and has kept me protected from companies whose concept I don't agree with. ▲ Collapse
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Jan Willem van Dormolen (X)
Holanda
Local time: 01:57
inglês para holandês
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Sorry, I misread you there.
In that case, we're definitely on the same side here.
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
Reino Unido
Local time: 00:57
português para inglês
+ ...
| Good for you | Jun 28, 2011 |
I hit 'Delete' every time and maybe shouldn't. I fear that I might THINK I'm putting them in their place but there'll always be someone else out there who WILL accept.
[Edited at 2011-06-28 19:58 GMT]
| | | | Kathi Stock
Estados Unidos
Local time: 18:57
Membro (2002)
inglês para alemão
+ ...
| Received it too | Jun 28, 2011 |
I received the same lengthly email with the same content. I guess I am lucky that they are offering $0.06 per word for medical translations in my language pairs.
I did take the time to respond and telling them that I do not intent to work for low-budget companies.
I checked up on them on the blueboard and surprise, surprise, they have an almost perfect score (4.9). Wonder how they got there....
Kathi
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Richard McDorman wrote:
But this time, I was unable to restrain my contempt and replied to the sender that I would be declining her offer to work at rates that are so low as to nearly shock the conscience, especially for work that can affect the health and welfare of the agency's clients.
I realize that my reply to the agency will almost certainly have no effect on its business practices, but perhaps if everyone who receives the message responds in a similar fashion, the company may get the point. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues who receive similar offers to send an earnest response to the message's sender.
Maybe the agency won't mind about your reply, but better reply in these terms than not reply.
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Sonja Köppen
Alemanha
Membro (2008)
inglês para alemão
+ ...
Of course it does not change them. I think most individuals taking something at someone else's cost as a habit are pretty aware of what they are actually doing. Which is why they put their perspective slightly/notably/bastante beside the reality of the individuals they feed on, to be out of reach. There they read your message.
Up to them what they make of it, up to you to write it or not.
I would have written it, too.
| | | | Robert Forstag
Estados Unidos
Local time: 19:57
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
| Are fuzzy wuzzy discounts and payment in 90 days part of the package? | Jun 28, 2011 |
I personally think that taking a stand against such practices is necessary and good, not just in private responses but in public forums.
We must do what we can to prevent a slide into the abyss....
[Edited at 2011-06-28 22:15 GMT]
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I always reply with mock politeness and say they may have more luck contacting translators in India or China.
| | | | | "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." | Jun 28, 2011 |
Robert Forstag wrote:
I personally think that taking a stand against such practices is necessary and good, not just in private responses but in public forums.
We must do what we can to prevent a slide into the abyss....
[Edited at 2011-06-28 22:15 GMT]
Edmund Burke said that. OK, maybe "evil" is a little strong to use in this situation, but the principle is the same.
[Edited at 2011-06-28 22:50 GMT]
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| Agency may offer the market rate to translators who manage a polite but firm reply | Jun 28, 2011 |
I respond to such e-mails with a polite but very brief reply stating (baldly) that the rates are, unfortunately, inacceptable. Once I've spent 30 seconds doing that, I can forget all about it. If I hit the delete button instead, I might find myself still shaking my head half an hour later. I delete phishing e-mails, but other people get an answer, however terse.
The last time I sent off one of these polite-but-terse replies, the agency got back to me quickly with a rate 60% higher ... See more I respond to such e-mails with a polite but very brief reply stating (baldly) that the rates are, unfortunately, inacceptable. Once I've spent 30 seconds doing that, I can forget all about it. If I hit the delete button instead, I might find myself still shaking my head half an hour later. I delete phishing e-mails, but other people get an answer, however terse.
The last time I sent off one of these polite-but-terse replies, the agency got back to me quickly with a rate 60% higher than the one they had started out with. Still not a great rate - and their approach doesn't exactly suggest that they must be fantastic to work with - but it reminded me that a given agency may opt to pay different freelancers wildly different rates, with the difference - in some cases - clearly resting as much on what individual translators have the temerity to demand as on what they actually have to offer. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Richard McDorman
Estados Unidos
Local time: 19:57
Membro (2009)
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO | 90 day payment terms | Jun 28, 2011 |
@Robert:
Thanks for your reply and support. In fact, I work with an agency in Singapore on an occasional basis (a few times per year) in an uncommon language pair. So far, all of the jobs have been very short (one-page university diplomas and one short certificate of ordination), for which I have charged my minimum rate for short, simple documents. This agency pays 90 days after receiving my invoice. I'm not in love with net 90 payment terms, but I can live with it if the payment is... See more @Robert:
Thanks for your reply and support. In fact, I work with an agency in Singapore on an occasional basis (a few times per year) in an uncommon language pair. So far, all of the jobs have been very short (one-page university diplomas and one short certificate of ordination), for which I have charged my minimum rate for short, simple documents. This agency pays 90 days after receiving my invoice. I'm not in love with net 90 payment terms, but I can live with it if the payment is always on time (it has been) and the rate is fair.
I, like most of us, can deal with honest but persnickety. It's the blatant attempts at exploitation that cause my cork to pop. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Andy Watkinson
Espanha
Local time: 01:57
Membro
catalão para inglês
+ ...
philgoddard wrote:
I always reply with mock politeness and say they may have more luck contacting translators in India or China.
I take it "How to Make Friends and Influence People" wasn't your favourite bedtime reading?
But I'm sure your colleagues in those countries will be most understanding.
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