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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/16/2010 2:43:23 AM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 45
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Every time you take a job offering a few paltry pennies a word, that is one less job that should have paid a more living wage, more word of mouth advertising among clients that the rock-bottom rate-paying agencies deliver and less future work at a decent scale.
The solution? Just say no to these bottom-feeders. Don't help drive down your own rates elsewhere.
Stick together and show soldiarity to your colleagues. The tempting thought "No one will know if I take this one $0.04 per word job" is wrong, because you strengthen that market and weaken the better market.
So stop bidding against yourself. Always negotiate for a better rate, and never hesitiate to protect your ultimate carreer by saying "No!"
Don't be a willing victim in the race to the bottom. Supply-sdie economics is dead; what stimulates an economy is higher disposable income, and that means higher pay.
We are in a fight for our economic future and we have to act in concert for the benefit of all in order to help ourselves.
Just say no to low-paying work, becuase accepting it, cuts your own throat.
-Scott
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Post #2193
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/28/2009 9:59:50 AM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 14
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Hello,
I share your view 100%. The problem is that agencies are outsourcing in developing markets, and they get away with cut-throat rates that enable them to pay for a professional editor to fix quality of a poor translation.
The same goes for consulting rates, whether business, legal, architectural or engineering... Man-hour rates are dropping dramatically, everywhere!
Do you know of any serious collective effort to (legally) improve man-hour rates on a global scale?
Best,
Mike
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Post #2198
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/8/2010 9:41:56 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 258
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I totally agree with you. Is there a way we can have a chart or a list of the standard rate per word ? That would certainly help us.
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Post #2199
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/20/2009 3:11:15 PM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 21
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I think it's about knowing your own skills and value of the work you produce, and being able to rightfully convince your clients that, in general, they get what they pay for (at least in my own case). I've asked around regarding fair rates to charge, and I stick to that margin. My customers In Canada (Quebec) and Norway are satisfied and return to me as a result. I am not a pig about it, but will certainly not work for pennies. I value quality, which is the message my rates convey. Forget about those insulting outsourcing offers from India paying 4 or 5 cents a word. My education and experience are from first-world countries, and I produce first-rate work. You only dig your own grave if you set the losing precedent of working for peanuts. It may take guts and strength to stand by your quoted rate the first few times (or with new customers), but once you've established a relationship of confidence with them (i.e., they like the results), then I believe you will keep these customers and even garner referrals through them. I am absolutely certain that garbage rates reflect garbage-quality translations.
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Post #2202
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/17/2010 4:05:13 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 1
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Hi, everyone!
I'm very much of the same mind: we shouldn't accept underpaid jobs because they're degrading and ruin our self-esteem. Still, as an English to French translator, I was surprised to see that many colleagues' rates are cheaper than mine: some of them ask for O.06 USD/word, while I usually charge 0.10 USD/word. Given the economic setback, what do you suggest we should do? Offer a very specific rate right from the start or just quote a minimum rate per word and agree to negotiate the price afterwards, once we have full details about the project?
All your suggestions and feedback are very welcome!
All the best,
Mina
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Post #2430
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/13/2009 4:43:53 AM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 4
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I agree with you... Look at this:
A document about patent of 16872 words needs to be translated from English to Italian. Our budget is within 500 pounds. The lower, the more competitive. Native speaker translators are preferred. And a sample translation is also required as in attached file (must finish before 10:00am GMT June 14 for us to make decision). Please send us your CV, sample translation and rate (unit rate or total rate).Thank you!
I think Translatorsbase.com should do something in order to avoid this lack of respect towards translators. I think it shouldn't allow these messages and explain that translators impose their rates...
How come the translation company imposes its rates? I have my rates, I offer the translation service. Does it happen that you go to the doctor and you say: for your service I can offer 30USD? Or you go to a lawyer for advice and you say "for your consultancy I can offer you 50USD"? Surely not. Then I don't know why the case is with translators...
All for one, one for all!
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Post #2433
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/2/2009 8:37:10 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 110
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Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to thank you for opening my eyes on this issue!
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Post #2435
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/7/2010 6:44:54 AM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 1
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your right about low cost bidding Scott.
a beginner (from Cameroon)
Tsela
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Post #2455
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