| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] > | Are these rates real?! Thread poster: Dimitrije Janic
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Robert Forstag 
United States
Local time: 14:33
Spanish to English
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| Keeping it real | Mar 25, 2022 |
Gerard de Noord wrote:
I'm 61 and refuse to negotiate based on the going rates those poor creatures are obliged to offer people like me after their TikTok trainings. Some big and several small agencies are willing to pay a bit extra to translators they can rely on. But of course, I'll keep their names a secret.
Let’s be entirely honest here: “a bit extra” on top of rates of 5 or 6 euro cents p.w. doesn’t exactly sound like one is functioning on an infinitely higher plane of professional and financial prestige….
That said, I agree with you here, and I have the same contempt for lowball offers, and the often clueless (and/or condescending) PMs who make such offers. And I do not accept the average rates offered in my language pair.
But as long as a critical mass of translators accept a particular rate - well, that is the rate that will be “the going rate.”
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 20:33
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Gerard de Noord wrote: I violated my own rules. 
Your post contained food for thought, nonetheless.
| | | | | Potentially dangerous? | Mar 25, 2022 |
Baran Keki wrote:
It's kind of pointless, and potentially dangerous, to continue this discussion.
Maybe a bit OTT?
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:33
Member
English to Turkish
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: Maybe a bit OTT?
Apparently we (freelancers) are not the only ones reading these forums. It occurred to me after reading Gerard de Noord's post on the second page that whenever a topic containing the word 'rates' is posted it gets a curiously high number of views. People are very interested in them, and it stands to reason that not all of those people are freelancers looking to get tips.
Mr. Murray here has already provided a good deal of 'inside info' about the 'going rates' in his native SA (perhaps at the detriment of his compatriots back at home who do not wish to abide by what he considers as 'normal rates').
Call me paranoid, but I just thought it'd be prudent to do a bit of 'damage control', if you like.
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| Countermeasures | Mar 25, 2022 |
Baran Keki wrote:
Apparently we (freelancers) are not the only ones reading these forums. It occurred to me after reading Gerard de Noord's post on the second page that whenever a topic containing the word 'rates' is posted it gets a curiously high number of views. People are very interested in them, and it stands to reason that not all of those people are freelancers looking to get tips.
Mr. Murray here has already provided a good deal of 'inside info' about the 'going rates' in his native SA (perhaps at the detriment of his compatriots back at home who do not wish to abide by what he considers as 'normal rates').
Call me paranoid, but I just thought it'd be prudent to do a bit of 'damage control', if you like.
Shall we spam the forums with fake rates then?
The going rate for English to Turkish is 30 cents a word.
FIFY!
(Actually I think any reputable agency will know from experience exactly what the going rates are for both run-of-the-mill and more specialised translations in most languages. Whereas direct clients don't, which means that they can be fleeced mercilessly should we so wish.)
| | | | | Why so surprised? | Mar 25, 2022 |
While some offers can make one raise an eyebrow, is it really surprising that some agencies or translators offer much lower rates than you yourself accept?
Past the hurdle of figuring out how to appropriate price and market your services (which does not include "listening" to such offers or market impressions), you just stay the course.
You are a freelancer, an independent professional. You don't need to cater to everyone. Your shop is a boutique and your output is limi... See more While some offers can make one raise an eyebrow, is it really surprising that some agencies or translators offer much lower rates than you yourself accept?
Past the hurdle of figuring out how to appropriate price and market your services (which does not include "listening" to such offers or market impressions), you just stay the course.
You are a freelancer, an independent professional. You don't need to cater to everyone. Your shop is a boutique and your output is limited by your own productivity. Delivering value/quality is a better strategy and brings repeat business.
Just ignore these offers and keep valuing your time and life-energy.
On a forum level, I agree there is no much point (and it is actually counterproductive) to spend time openly discussing rates.
To paraphase George Brassens, yes "Rome is burning. It always did and will always do."
[Edited at 2022-03-25 23:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Of fools and hints! | Mar 26, 2022 |
Hardly anyone who matters is reading the forum at this point, because it devolved into few boastful individuals, with a sensibility of a preteen bully, posting nonsense and, occasionally, some sensible person, in this thread Samuel, trying to talk some sense into them!
When a truth bearer points out their nonsense — whether it's reflected in their poor knowledge of linguistics and how language actually works, in their appalling treatment of other professionals on the forum, or try... See more Hardly anyone who matters is reading the forum at this point, because it devolved into few boastful individuals, with a sensibility of a preteen bully, posting nonsense and, occasionally, some sensible person, in this thread Samuel, trying to talk some sense into them!
When a truth bearer points out their nonsense — whether it's reflected in their poor knowledge of linguistics and how language actually works, in their appalling treatment of other professionals on the forum, or trying to scam the kudos system and/or getting points for their scammy ways and often poor linguistics — the few then, in their infinite lack of linguistic, moral, or intellectual arguments, run to their buddy moderator who then suddenly remembers to moderate and "what's on" and "what's off-topic". This is befitting of a circus!
In any case, participating in a "discussion" forum where one of the rules is: "No guessing of other people's opinions and writing along the lines of 'Jenny seems to think...' is banned!" Defeats the purpose of any adult discussion, so it's just as well!
The notion that anyone stating the rates they work for or merely discussing them will affect anyone else's ability to negotiate rates is just as devoid of critical thinking as most things on this forum! What affects our ability to negotiate higher rates is the actual rate most people work for but hide it and then come to the forum and pretend they work for more than they actually do!
Speaking of rates and going back to the topic of the thread — BTW, still waiting for some moderator Karen type to remove everyone else's posts that strayed off-topic in this and other threads — I would just want to say that the calculation of 0.06, flat (for every word) comes up to 0.12 cents with fuzzy match discounts. I am still learning the fine art of calculating my rates with ever new variables I come across as a freelance translator, so my initial post that claimed it comes up to 0.08 was wrong. It never comes up to 0.08 and it comes up to 0.12 in the fairest of the fuzzy match discounts grids!
This means that after two years of some of us trying to discuss the rates here, we still have little idea what any of us mean when we say "rates". Is it rates per word for every word, because I have a number of wonderful LSP clients like that, or are you boasting about your 0.12 cents done on Memsource with a fuzzy match discount grid programmed in an ultra rip-off way, that really means that in comparison to anyone getting paid 0.06 for every word you work for 0.03 cents a word!
So you see, this forum has become a place where a new member can only learn what not to do and how not to be an unprofessional deluded fool! I suppose that's valuable as well, but it would be much better if this was a forum for sensible adults and professionals, which it most certainly isn't! I do feel bad for the new members inexperienced in being freelancers as they will be left utterly confused regarding anything practical they came here to ask about and eventually realise tha this is but a social media place for the few middle-aged preteens!
I shall stop here because censoring my posts on bogus excuses is a clear hint and, unlike Chris, I can take a hint and I do try to (sooner rather than later) leave places, virtual or otherwise where I am not wanted! But honestly, we can shoot the messenger but the message, provided it's a truthful one and based in reality, will keep on reverberating everywhere we go! Once read posts cannot be unread. Also, I am at peace with this circus of a forum/kudos because everywhere we go we take our characters and IQs with us and these are the best punishment or reward for any of us, as well as the best tools for negotiating our rates! I am writing this because, on more than one level of understanding, I can! Removing my post will not make it unread in the minds of anyone who takes time to read it!
Have a good one everyone, the weekend, a life, a cry. Whatever anyone is up for!
[Edited at 2022-03-27 04:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 22:33
English to Arabic
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Prime seems to have changed outfit, a lot scarier nowadays really. 😊
If that's prime, I want out of time. 😊
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Dimitrije Janic wrote:
Hello guys,
Are these rates normal in your opinion?
Those rates were clients suggestion. Almost 50% of my usual rates.
Manual (classic) translation: 0,060 €/word
MT post-editing: 0,040 €/word
Revision: 0,025 €/word
MT light review: 0,025 €/word
Proofreading: 0,010€/word
... check the following source below?
https://search.proz.com/?sp=pfe/rates
The above source is possibly the most prominent one for all freelance translators. At least I don't know any other which could be of any more use. And you won't find a place either* (at least not on the internet, publically visible to us), where LSPs openly discuss the prices they take from their clients and they are willing to pay for their "resources". Perhaps it could help you to mention the above source to the LSP you are negotiating with, as long as it is favorable for you and does not mention a lower price you expect or would like to invoice. Please also note how the prices were collected and that they do not reflect something like a fixed tariff, which does not exist at all.
*Either, because Korana is right: You cannot count on the prices or statements of the most participants in this thread here, as they do not represent the majority of translators, who don't discuss on proz at all and/or who can live with very low prices, at least for a while or because they don't pay taxes and social insurances, who still live with their parents, who are married and spend the day bored at home and just want earn some money for a cruise trip with their partner who earns the main income, who [name it] or who have abandoned freelance life and work in their "true" profession again.
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Baran Keki wrote: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: Maybe a bit OTT? Apparently we (freelancers) are not the only ones reading these forums. It occurred to me after reading Gerard de Noord's post on the second page that whenever a topic containing the word 'rates' is posted it gets a curiously high number of views. People are very interested in them, and it stands to reason that not all of those people are freelancers looking to get tips. Mr. Murray here has already provided a good deal of 'inside info' about the 'going rates' in his native SA (perhaps at the detriment of his compatriots back at home who do not wish to abide by what he considers as 'normal rates'). Call me paranoid, but I just thought it'd be prudent to do a bit of 'damage control', if you like.
damaging? Not really dangerous... but I'm nitpicking and it's not that important... matter of semantics, I guess.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:33
Member
English to Turkish
| | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:33
Member
English to Turkish
Ice Scream wrote:
Whereas direct clients don't, which means that they can be fleeced mercilessly should we so wish.
If only I could find direct clients from Europe... Domestic ones are not worth the hassle. I built a website to that end, but it only attracted translators looking for work.
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 22:33
English to Arabic
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| Machine and Templates pts. caused some beneficiaries panic. That's the thing with real truth-bearer | Mar 27, 2022 |
So, here is another panic-maker.
I didn't even mention the fact that even if the translator accepts $0.03, not $0.06, the company still won't agree to CONTRACTUALLY allocate "enough projects" to that translator to put their mind at ease that they will remain "in the market."
That's one of the reasons why this industry is drastically failing. Because, one party is sailing scratch-free with loaded pockets, while the other party is taking all the risks.
This i... See more So, here is another panic-maker.
I didn't even mention the fact that even if the translator accepts $0.03, not $0.06, the company still won't agree to CONTRACTUALLY allocate "enough projects" to that translator to put their mind at ease that they will remain "in the market."
That's one of the reasons why this industry is drastically failing. Because, one party is sailing scratch-free with loaded pockets, while the other party is taking all the risks.
This is why the least favor any translator would do themselves is charging high rates! ▲ Collapse
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