Agencies: rates stated versus rates offered Thread poster: Usch Pilz
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Usch Pilz
Local time: 23:23
English to German
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I mostly work for long-time direct clients that have never been registered with proz.com. With them all is well. We know each others' terms and conditions, we communicate amicably and almost always come to mutually pleasing agreements.
However, lately I have been approached by some agencies. I did their tests, passed them and filled in all the required forms.
I also gave the required info about my rates. Per word, per hour, per day ... what have you. After some research I sett... See more I mostly work for long-time direct clients that have never been registered with proz.com. With them all is well. We know each others' terms and conditions, we communicate amicably and almost always come to mutually pleasing agreements.
However, lately I have been approached by some agencies. I did their tests, passed them and filled in all the required forms.
I also gave the required info about my rates. Per word, per hour, per day ... what have you. After some research I settled on what I think is the usual rate for my language-pair.
So far, so good.
In each case I was told the agency wanted to work with me.
Only now, the very same agencies send me job offers with budgets which are about 25 - 30 % below my rates.
Does this happen to everyone?
Or is it just me?
How do you usually deal with this situation?
Your input will be much appreciated!
Thanks a lot!
Usch
[Edited at 2012-12-10 22:13 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Be persistent | Dec 10, 2012 |
This is quite normal for some agencies. In cases like this, I usually write a polite reply that I would be happy to accept that job, but "as you probably know, my rate is € XY per source word. Kindly let me know if you can assign this job to me at the rate mentioned above."
| | | | Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 22:23
Member (2007)
English
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| You need to develope a "nose" | Dec 10, 2012 |
Usch Pilz wrote:
now, the very same agencies send me job offers with budgets which are about 25 - 30 % below my rates.
Does this happen to everyone?
Most likely
How do you usually deal with this situation?
First time: polite reminder of my rates
Second time: less polite reminder
Third time: request to be removed from their database
Fourth time: email address blacklisted
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 23:23
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Low, lower the lowest | Dec 11, 2012 |
This seems to be common practice among agencies, and it did happen quite often to me.
When I state my rates, they usually say: "Oh no, your rates are too high. We will assign all our work in your language pair to you, if you could lower your rate to.... This "new" rate is sometimes up to 70% lower than my rate.
My usual reply: Thank you for your interest in my services. However, I cannot afford to work for your rates. Best regards... ... See more This seems to be common practice among agencies, and it did happen quite often to me.
When I state my rates, they usually say: "Oh no, your rates are too high. We will assign all our work in your language pair to you, if you could lower your rate to.... This "new" rate is sometimes up to 70% lower than my rate.
My usual reply: Thank you for your interest in my services. However, I cannot afford to work for your rates. Best regards...
The funny thing is, especially this one agency keeps sending me job offers at their rate, knowing that I simply can't afford to work for the offered "peanuts".
Not that I wanted to. ▲ Collapse
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wonita (X)
China
Local time: 17:23
| We accept your rates, but not for the current job | Dec 11, 2012 |
Just a few days ago, an agency asked me to quote for a job. After stating my rates, I got the following e-mail from them:
0,xx cent sind in diesem Fall etwas zu hoch für uns – weil es sich hier um eine andere Agentur handelt (sonst ist Ihr Preis OK für uns).
Bitte schauen Sie sich die beiden Dateien einmal an und teilen Sie uns mit, ob Sie diesen Auftrag für 0,xx € übernehmen könnten. (ausnahmsweise)
| | | | Anne Pinaglia
Netherlands
Local time: 23:23
Italian to English
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| As you can see, it's not just you :-) | Dec 11, 2012 |
Agencies bait translators this way, assuring them work and approving translation tests... in the hopes that when it comes to rates the translator will be so happy with the possibility of getting work that they'll forget all about the fact that they'd be losing significant amounts of money.
You'll read a lot about translation tests here (the good and the bad); I personally think it's more than appropriate for an agency to ask for a small test as these relationships tend to be long-s... See more Agencies bait translators this way, assuring them work and approving translation tests... in the hopes that when it comes to rates the translator will be so happy with the possibility of getting work that they'll forget all about the fact that they'd be losing significant amounts of money.
You'll read a lot about translation tests here (the good and the bad); I personally think it's more than appropriate for an agency to ask for a small test as these relationships tend to be long-standing (and certainly can be mutually beneficial!). My go-to phrase however is always "I would be more than happy to complete the test. Feel free to send it along with a confirmation of acceptance of my rates."
Sometimes I don't hear back, and that's quite alright - it saves everyone time in the long run.
Don't worry, it's not every agency, just some. You'll hook a few good ones soon! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Usch Pilz
Local time: 23:23
English to German
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TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for your input everyone!
And thanks - Sheila - for making me laugh with your to-the-point summary.
At the moment I am quite busy with projects, but I wanted to do the wise thing and expand my client base BEFORE things slacken.
I am just a bit miffed because it takes a lot of time and effort to get registered with an agency and the results are - well ... lacking.
I don't mind the testing: It is a challenge and a learning experience. Plus I always got g... See more Thanks for your input everyone!
And thanks - Sheila - for making me laugh with your to-the-point summary.
At the moment I am quite busy with projects, but I wanted to do the wise thing and expand my client base BEFORE things slacken.
I am just a bit miffed because it takes a lot of time and effort to get registered with an agency and the results are - well ... lacking.
I don't mind the testing: It is a challenge and a learning experience. Plus I always got good feedback.
The paperwork that follows - ho-hum.
And the job offers: As Thayenga says, I can't afford them.
I was just interested if it is common practice to underbid the rates on record.
Right. Now I'll go and write Christmas cards to my direct clients ...
[Edited at 2012-12-11 10:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 00:23
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
But I'm always suspicious if an agency sends lots of forms to be signed and returned. Usually the more bureaucracy, the less they are likely to provide real work. Last month I again went for it, because the project seemed interesting. After the test they collected my signature under too statements and only then was I told, they do not pay minimal charge but would send bits of work with a few hour's deadline to be invoiced with normal word rate. I never heard from there again.
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| In my humble experience.. | Dec 11, 2012 |
... the more hassle, red tape and form-filling, the lower the (real) rate! I have had dealings with one of these "paper jockeys" recently and politely declined further business with them.
Love and cherish your old clients Usch... (as you obviously do) and hope that Father Christmas brings you another one!
Your post has just reminded me of a Christmas card that I really must send.
Merry Christmas!
Steve
| | | | | E-mail them with your current rates | Dec 11, 2012 |
I suggest that you send agencies that approach you an e-mail stating your rates as of today. This way these agencies will have no other choice other than take it or leave it.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 23:23
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Yes, it's happening with agencies that insist on tests | Dec 11, 2012 |
I have always had the same thing happening with agencies that insist on testing. Some even won't discuss the rates without me signing their NDA (which doesn't make sense if we don't agree on the rate in the first place), and of course I just turn them down.
I am not into signing NDAs without being given some of the most relevant information such as the rate.
[Edited at 2012-12-11 17:07 GMT]
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 17:23
Member (2008)
French to English
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| Specially reducing the price for one time only | Dec 11, 2012 |
Bin Tiede wrote:
Just a few days ago, an agency asked me to quote for a job. After stating my rates, I got the following e-mail from them:
0,xx cent sind in diesem Fall etwas zu hoch für uns – weil es sich hier um eine andere Agentur handelt (sonst ist Ihr Preis OK für uns).
Bitte schauen Sie sich die beiden Dateien einmal an und teilen Sie uns mit, ob Sie diesen Auftrag für 0,xx € übernehmen könnten. (ausnahmsweise)
That's happened to me a couple of times. In one case I did the job at the price they wanted, making clear it was exceptional - they had the order from the end client already so it was too late for them to quote based on my higher price. I figured it was better than a free test. When I invoiced, to make it clear I invoiced at my regular rate and added a "special, one-time" discount to match the price requested. They got the message and are now a good client, at the higher rate.
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Usch Pilz
Local time: 23:23
English to German
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TOPIC STARTER | Where is the 'I like' button? | Dec 12, 2012 |
Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts and experiences, for chipping in!
Lots of food for thought.
@ Steve: Unfortunately in my case Father Christmas seems to have a penchant for socks.
All the best to all of you!
Usch
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