Translation - art & business » Business issues »
Undercutting?
Thread poster: Spencer Allman
Spencer Allman
Spencer Allman
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:55
Finnish to English
May 3, 2011

I am wondering if other translators feel that their rates are being undercut 'out there'?

I expect the immediate answer is 'yes', but let me explain one case that has arisen with me.

An agency in the UK recently told me that they were only able to pay me a rate that was around 66% of mine, and at a level that I have never actually charged in almost 20 years of operations (so low it was). I do a fairly rare pairing and told them that their offer was unheard of. And yet, ... See more
I am wondering if other translators feel that their rates are being undercut 'out there'?

I expect the immediate answer is 'yes', but let me explain one case that has arisen with me.

An agency in the UK recently told me that they were only able to pay me a rate that was around 66% of mine, and at a level that I have never actually charged in almost 20 years of operations (so low it was). I do a fairly rare pairing and told them that their offer was unheard of. And yet, I imagine the job will go / has gone ahead.

Are standards dropping or do I lower my rate to what it might have been (but wasn't) 20 years ago?

Or drive a taxi maybe? ▲ Collapse
 
Michele Fauble
Michele Fauble  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:55
Norwegian to English
+ ...
Provide better quality at better rates May 3, 2011

Spencer Allman wrote:


Are standards dropping ...?


Yes



... or do I lower my rate to what it might have been (but wasn't) 20 years ago?


No
 
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:55
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
My two cents May 4, 2011

Spencer Allman wrote:
Are standards dropping...

No. Some agencies are just cheekier.
Spencer Allman wrote:
...or do I lower my rate to what it might have been (but wasn't) 20 years ago?

No. Keep business as usual. If the agency does not want to pay your rate, let them go elsewhere and keep a positive, friendly attitude. They might come back later after a bad experience with a cheaper (in all senses) translator.
 
Carole Paquis
Carole Paquis  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:55
Member (2007)
English to French
Bluff May 4, 2011

Beware of negotating bluff. It is a commercial tool like any other.

Outsourcers deal with with freelancers working in isolation (thanks to Proz, this is less true!)... some of them think it is only normal to use such arguments.

Yes, there are some people working cheaply... but probably not as many outsourcers would have us believe (if it were true, what do they keep coming back to us, who allegedly charge such high rates?).

There is a very fine balance to... See more
Beware of negotating bluff. It is a commercial tool like any other.

Outsourcers deal with with freelancers working in isolation (thanks to Proz, this is less true!)... some of them think it is only normal to use such arguments.

Yes, there are some people working cheaply... but probably not as many outsourcers would have us believe (if it were true, what do they keep coming back to us, who allegedly charge such high rates?).

There is a very fine balance to be achieved between price, quality, reliability, etc...




Carole ▲ Collapse
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Margarita[Call to this topic]
James Heppe-Smith[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Undercutting?







Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »