| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Bad work ethic: "very very low budget" OR "very limited budget" emails Thread poster: Erkan Dogan
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Brandis (X)
Local time: 16:37
English to German
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| Shall I then consider myself to be lucky... | Jul 27, 2009 |
Jacqueline Sieben wrote: Yeah, and they would probably find 49 other DU>EN translators (excuse me- slaves), so that they would pay 1/20 of the price they would get paid  Gosh, I don't know how far can their greed go!
Are there truly that many translators who are willing to do this job within such a narrow time frame for $ 0.02 per source word? This is not a comforting thought. [/quote]Hi! I think I know this agency. They came with a half a million word load and offering USD 0,03. bone breaking work. They also had said that the reviewer costs about USD 0,08. I said I reserve full right on all my work, then the offer is around USD 0,11. As far as I can see, they are a ISO company. Guess that certification was a purchased issue. BR Brandis
| | | | | What happens when...? | Jul 27, 2009 |
Jacqueline Sieben wrote:
These situations can be avoided by demanding a sample translation.
What happens when the sample translation is fine but it was't done by the same person as the one who will carry out the translation? Or when a so-called translator takes care to provide a good test translation, but once they get the job, they screw it up by outsourcing part or all of it (with mediocre results)? Or by accepting a job s/he knows has a deadline so tight that it will be impossible to provide a translation that matches the quality of the test translation? These are all issues that concern professionalism, and I am afraid a simple test won't do.
I once spoke to a person who needed his website translated. He said he looked all over the place for a translator, and that, to begin with, half of the people he contacted never called back. Then, he tested a few and the results were so bad that he decided to translate his site on his own, using a dictionary. He said it seems that there are no competent, professional translators around. He also said he was willing to pay whatever a translator would charge, provided he gets his money's worth (a quality translation), but that he doesn't feel the people he tested deserve the rates they charge when they submit work that has grammar issues and which takes wild guesses at technical terms.
P.S.: In my opinion, tests shouldn't be demanded--they should be requested...
[Edited at 2009-07-28 03:33 GMT]
| | | | Uldis Liepkalns 
Latvia
Local time: 17:37
Member (2003)
English to Latvian
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| Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 16:37
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
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Thanks for sharing, I had a great laugh.
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Erkan Dogan
United States
Local time: 09:37
English to Turkish
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TOPIC STARTER
Hello all,
I've created [email protected]
Please shoot me an email ([email protected]) if you wish to be included in the group. The idea is that we can share all information regarding agencies asking for very low rates and thus inform others about the possibility of bad business practices. If they can dare to ask for such low rates, God forbid, I don't even want to think what would ha... See more Hello all,
I've created [email protected]
Please shoot me an email ([email protected]) if you wish to be included in the group. The idea is that we can share all information regarding agencies asking for very low rates and thus inform others about the possibility of bad business practices. If they can dare to ask for such low rates, God forbid, I don't even want to think what would happen when the payment time comes. Even though such agencies may raise their rates in the future, I believe we all should be aware of the fact that the very same agencies may potentiall give us hard time. I don't think they could be educated overnight, so please keep that in mind.
Best, ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Vindaloo translations | Jul 28, 2009 |
Uldis, your web page is great. It conveys the message very efficiently, it is indeed a pity that your prospective clients do not bother replying
It might be offending to our colleagues in India though, bear this in mind. The Borat effect, in a sense..
| | | | Uldis Liepkalns
Latvia
Local time: 17:37
Member (2003)
English to Latvian
+ ...
| The page is not mine | Jul 28, 2009 |
Hi Michael,
I have nothing to do with that page. It's a joke page:
http://www.eurozonetranslations.com/
and I don't have any idea who owns it.
Uldis
Michael Mestre wrote: Uldis, your web page is great. It conveys the message very efficiently, it is indeed a pity that your prospective clients do not bother replying It might be offending to our colleagues in India though, bear this in mind. The Borat effect, in a sense..
| | | | CCW
English to Spanish
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| We should always reply... | Jul 29, 2009 |
Hello everybody!
I have thought of this matter quite a lot, since I see an increasing tendency for lower rates worldwide. These low budget offers come not only from low-income countries, but also from the US and Europe as well. There are many well-established, respected and renowned agencies trying to push rates down. Why? Many argue that it is because of the financial crisis, but I think they are just trying to make a larger profit. Again, why? Simply because they are greedy and th... See more Hello everybody!
I have thought of this matter quite a lot, since I see an increasing tendency for lower rates worldwide. These low budget offers come not only from low-income countries, but also from the US and Europe as well. There are many well-established, respected and renowned agencies trying to push rates down. Why? Many argue that it is because of the financial crisis, but I think they are just trying to make a larger profit. Again, why? Simply because they are greedy and there are thousands of unprofessional "so-called" translators out there willing to work for $0.02. As ViktoriaG said, I am sure that these people cannot be professional translators. Even in low-income countries, university education, computers, software applications, Internet connections, dictionaries, etc. cost money, and usually more than in developed countries due to the reduced number of people who can buy these goods. Therefore, there is no doubt that these persons cannot really make a living from translation.
So what can we do about it? Blacklisting these agencies might help, but I do not see it as a solution in the long run, since they always can change their name, website, location, etc. (just as non-payers do).
As many of you have said, until now I never bothered replying to such job offers, but I think it is here where the big mistake lies. We should always reply to such job offers – we should let these greedy agencies (or whatever they are) know that we find their rates unfair and unrealistic. No need to be impolite or offensive, but a little bit of irony will not hurt. What would happen if hundreds, or hopefully thousands, of translators replied to these postings each time, making it clear that the rates offered are ridiculous and that no quality work should be expected from people who accept working for these rates? I have come to the conclusion that this is the only way in which we can influence rates and educate potential employers.
Am I being naïve?
Cheers ▲ Collapse
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conejo
United States
Local time: 09:37
Japanese to English
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| Chinese & Indian agencies | Jul 30, 2009 |
Most of the time, when I get those low-rate emails, they are coming from China or India. Usually I can 'smell' it... I just ask them up front what they are offering and don't waste anyone's time.
| | | | | All things differ... | Jul 30, 2009 |
conejo wrote:
Most of the time, when I get those low-rate emails, they are coming from China or India. Usually I can 'smell' it... I just ask them up front what they are offering and don't waste anyone's time.
There are different agencies in India, too, you know. I have once worked for an Idian agency for a very decent rate.
| | | | | Sample translations | Aug 1, 2009 |
ViktoriaG wrote: Jacqueline Sieben wrote:
These situations can be avoided by demanding a sample translation. What happens when the sample translation is fine but it was't done by the same person as the one who will carry out the translation? Or when a so-called translator takes care to provide a good test translation, but once they get the job, they screw it up by outsourcing part or all of it (with mediocre results)? Or by accepting a job s/he knows has a deadline so tight that it will be impossible to provide a translation that matches the quality of the test translation? These are all issues that concern professionalism, and I am afraid a simple test won't do. I once spoke to a person who needed his website translated. He said he looked all over the place for a translator, and that, to begin with, half of the people he contacted never called back. Then, he tested a few and the results were so bad that he decided to translate his site on his own, using a dictionary. He said it seems that there are no competent, professional translators around. He also said he was willing to pay whatever a translator would charge, provided he gets his money's worth (a quality translation), but that he doesn't feel the people he tested deserve the rates they charge when they submit work that has grammar issues and which takes wild guesses at technical terms. P.S.: In my opinion, tests shouldn't be demanded--they should be requested... [Edited at 2009-07-28 03:33 GMT]
I see your point. In my case, I make it clear that I am working alone and I guarantee that the work will not be outsourced to another translator or agency.
| | | | Erkan Dogan
United States
Local time: 09:37
English to Turkish
+ ...
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