| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you stop replying to clients' emails after a certain time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 21:41
Member (2006)
German to English
| What sort of a question | Aug 31, 2012 |
is that?
I have answered with other as I have no idea what you mean by this.
Are you talking about bad customers that you no longer want to have anything to do with? Then I tell them not to contact me.
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:41
German to English
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| Office hours | Aug 31, 2012 |
I'm guessing the question is asking whether you respond to clients' e-mails whatever time of day they come in, to which my response would be no. If I'm around, I'll answer them!
| | | | Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:41
French to English
+ ...
| Don't understand the question, sorry | Aug 31, 2012 |
???? Like Michael, I've answered other. No idea what the question means!
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:41
Russian to English
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In memoriam | I don't understand it either | Aug 31, 2012 |
Like Mary, if it refers to what time they contact me, I'll reply as soon as I receive it. But if you mean e.g. someone who persists in trying to haggle with you after you've told them your rate, then I'll ignore such messages.
| | | | William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 21:41
Member (2009)
Italian to English
+ ...
Assuming this refers to a certain time of day, I stop answering them when I feel that I have finished on that particular day, whatever time it happens to be. This is usually quite late though.
It is not unusual for my overseas clients to write me at 3:00 am. I know from experience that some PMs for large agencies or contact personnel in large companies will answer e-mails at odd hours of the day or night (e.g. a client in California responding immediately to a message I sent at 10:0... See more Assuming this refers to a certain time of day, I stop answering them when I feel that I have finished on that particular day, whatever time it happens to be. This is usually quite late though.
It is not unusual for my overseas clients to write me at 3:00 am. I know from experience that some PMs for large agencies or contact personnel in large companies will answer e-mails at odd hours of the day or night (e.g. a client in California responding immediately to a message I sent at 10:00 am CET). I am not offering that type of dedication to any project, I'm afraid.
I also have a personal caveat about clients (usually new or unknown) who send me work at 6:00 pm or later on a Friday. In this case, I see it but I don't see it.
[Edited at 2012-08-31 08:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I always reply to my clients' e-mails! Me too, I cannot understand the question! If you are talking about bedtime, all my clients know my working schedule... They also know that sometimes I work long hours, but I do not offer a 24/7 service.
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:41
Hebrew to English
| Don't understand the question. | Aug 31, 2012 |
Totally ambiguous (not blaming the person who suggested the poll it should have been picked up at the vetting stage surely?).
I'd hazard that it probably means availability times, if so, then yes I don't answer them when I'm not at my computer regardless of the time* and I don't answer them when I'm sleeping (obviously). I have no fear of losing the first-come-first-served type clients. Good clients have patience.
*In other words, I'm not tethered to my computer/... See more Totally ambiguous (not blaming the person who suggested the poll it should have been picked up at the vetting stage surely?).
I'd hazard that it probably means availability times, if so, then yes I don't answer them when I'm not at my computer regardless of the time* and I don't answer them when I'm sleeping (obviously). I have no fear of losing the first-come-first-served type clients. Good clients have patience.
*In other words, I'm not tethered to my computer/work via a mobile device.
[Edited at 2012-08-31 09:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Although it took me some time to understand what was asked.
Amercian customers usually don't get much news from me after early afternoon American time(s).
Philippe
| | | | Kalinka Hristova
Bulgaria
Local time: 22:41
Member (2007)
English to Bulgarian
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MODERATOR | | Office hours are office hours | Aug 31, 2012 |
I'm very Germanic about these things. If they need it more quickly, they should have got it to me earlier!
| | | | Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 20:41
Member (2010)
French to English
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| another "other" | Aug 31, 2012 |
I was also unsure of what was being asked. As Ty says, these questions should be tidied and/or clarified at vetting stage.
If it is about answering at odd hours or outside office hours, then yes, I do that if I happen to be at my computer, but always within reason and certainly not 24/7
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Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 04:41
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Meaning of question | Aug 31, 2012 |
My guess is that it means the following
"Is there are a certain time of the day after which you won't reply to an e-mail from a client?"
However, with over 70% "No" answers, this would mean that 70% of pollsters reply at all times of the day and night. Hmmm We are a bunch of hard workers, aren't we! 
If my interpretation of the question is correct, I would say "Yes" at around 8 or 9 ... See more My guess is that it means the following
"Is there are a certain time of the day after which you won't reply to an e-mail from a client?"
However, with over 70% "No" answers, this would mean that 70% of pollsters reply at all times of the day and night. Hmmm We are a bunch of hard workers, aren't we!
If my interpretation of the question is correct, I would say "Yes" at around 8 or 9 pm. My customers over here work long hours and this is about the latest they'd send an inquiry. I'll generally reply there and then (assuming I'm physically in front of the computer, that is) or as soon as possible the following day unless it's urgent in which case they'd drop me a line on my cellphone, anyway. Direct cellphone access is an additional service I give to extra special customers. 
The question is ambiguous and could have done with some reworking. If you think it means something else, please feel free to add your opinion though I really can't see how discussion can develop beyond what the question actually means.
Corrected small typo and edited/expanded last line
[Edited at 2012-08-31 10:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mike Hunter (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:41
English to Flemish
+ ...
| assuming it refers to hours worked | Aug 31, 2012 |
As a translation company we normally respond to clients during normal business hours, there are exceptions to this in exceptional curcumstances. The way we relate to freelancers is that we would normally place work during office hours. If freelancers raise questions or queries out of hours, we normally try to respond if at all possible. It can get tricky with time zone differences. In general we find translators very responsive to email, what I find very difficult is when translators disappear w... See more As a translation company we normally respond to clients during normal business hours, there are exceptions to this in exceptional curcumstances. The way we relate to freelancers is that we would normally place work during office hours. If freelancers raise questions or queries out of hours, we normally try to respond if at all possible. It can get tricky with time zone differences. In general we find translators very responsive to email, what I find very difficult is when translators disappear without warning. e.g. not telling us they are going on holiday, you can then waste time on urgent projects waiting for them to respond. Hope this perspective is helpful. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 21:41
Member (2006)
German to English
Philippe Etienne wrote:
Although it took me some time to understand what was asked.
Amercian customers usually don't get much news from me after early afternoon American time(s).
Philippe
you contact them when you are "awake" again, so it does not reflect the question being asked.
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