Customer wants my translation memory Thread poster: Lucia Cantella
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Hello,
My customer is asking for my translation memory. This was never mentionned before, as i've been working with them for some years now and they have never asked me for my TM.
Should i provide them or can i just refuse as this was not mentionned in the original request? Each time their request is just for the translation work.
If i provie them, can i ask them to pay for it?
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Lucia
| | | | Marius Marai (X)
Local time: 13:47
Portuguese to Romanian
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Hello Lucia,
As far as I know the customer can align the originaltranslated files and create the TM by his own.
I personally do not agree with this kind of request. I owned a translation agency and I never asked for a TM. As you were stating the customer receives a "double" translation service by asking for the TM created.
I think that it's all about your initial agreement (if any) and the project terms and conditions that you have set prior to the project confirmation date.... See more Hello Lucia,
As far as I know the customer can align the originaltranslated files and create the TM by his own.
I personally do not agree with this kind of request. I owned a translation agency and I never asked for a TM. As you were stating the customer receives a "double" translation service by asking for the TM created.
I think that it's all about your initial agreement (if any) and the project terms and conditions that you have set prior to the project confirmation date.
One more thing: I think it's really strange that after several years of collaboration, the customer is asking you this...
Take care and all the best!
Marius ▲ Collapse
| | | | | | Jean Lachaud 
United States
Local time: 06:47
English to French
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Lucia Cantella
Local time: 12:47
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER | mine is a customer not an agency | Nov 29, 2012 |
Thanks John, i saw that discussion but had the feeling it is different when it comes to a direct customer and not an agency.
What do you think?
| | | | Omar Lobao
Italy
Local time: 12:47
Italian to Portuguese
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| In this last week... | Nov 29, 2012 |
I don't know, but maybe it´s the second or third time that this discussion was posted here (this week).
Or the "rules" are "changing" or i don´t know what's the problem?!?!
Nowadays it's very simple and easy to create TM with align documents. A question of seconds (sometimes minutes)... there are lot of tools for this.
If i'm a final client i think OF COURSE i want the TM!! So what´s the problem? (it's part of the translation process... and if someone talk abou... See more I don't know, but maybe it´s the second or third time that this discussion was posted here (this week).
Or the "rules" are "changing" or i don´t know what's the problem?!?!
Nowadays it's very simple and easy to create TM with align documents. A question of seconds (sometimes minutes)... there are lot of tools for this.
If i'm a final client i think OF COURSE i want the TM!! So what´s the problem? (it's part of the translation process... and if someone talk about it... of course it's because he use a CAT tool).
You just have to give the TM for that project (not the old ones that you have).
I work with agencies that:
-Always ask for the TM (otherwise i'm sure that if i refused they will change)
-Never ask
-Sometimes ask... sometimes don't (i think it depends on the final client).
When they ask... i give. Just don't understand... why not?
Regards
[Edited at 2012-11-29 21:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Why would it be different? | Nov 29, 2012 |
Lucia Cantella wrote:
Thanks John, i saw that discussion but had the feeling it is different when it comes to a direct customer and not an agency.
What do you think?
I don't see a difference. Anyone who has a text plus its translation can easily make the TM that corresponds to the two.
Of course I don't give out TMs that include material not related to a particular client's document, though.
A TM contains the translations I chose, but it doesn't explain why those translations were, in my opinion, the best possible choices. The result depends on the process.
| | | | OG Pete
United States
Russian to English
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| Something in the Air... | Nov 30, 2012 |
Omar Lobao wrote:
I don't know, but maybe it´s the second or third time that this discussion was posted here (this week).
Or the "rules" are "changing" or i don´t know what's the problem?!?!
Or maybe people suddenly started asking for TMs this week? Maybe they all read some magazine article or watched some industry talk? Hoarding?
Meme?
All your TM are belong to us!
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:47
Spanish to English
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If a client, whether agency or direct, asks me for a TM, I will create a specific one for them. I will not simply hand over the whole kaboodle I may have been accruing over the years. Luckily enough, I've only ever been asked for a TM once or twice.
The way I look at it is that I in principle don't mind sharing, as long as it's me that chooses what, when and with whom, not simply willy-nilly lock stock and barrel. This is why I'm extremely wary about "clouding" and "crowdsourcing" a... See more If a client, whether agency or direct, asks me for a TM, I will create a specific one for them. I will not simply hand over the whole kaboodle I may have been accruing over the years. Luckily enough, I've only ever been asked for a TM once or twice.
The way I look at it is that I in principle don't mind sharing, as long as it's me that chooses what, when and with whom, not simply willy-nilly lock stock and barrel. This is why I'm extremely wary about "clouding" and "crowdsourcing" and similar phenomena. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:47
Spanish to English
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Marius Marai wrote:
Hello Lucia,
As far as I know the customer can align the originaltranslated files and create the TM by his own.
I personally do not agree with this kind of request....
One more thing: I think it's really strange that after several years of collaboration, the customer is asking you this...
Take care and all the best!
Marius
Yes, it sounds like they are considering taking the translator out of the loop, thinking that they may be able to save costs by recycling old translations. The asker shouldn't be surprised if after receiving the TM they start to send her texts for "proofreading" or correction instead of translation...
| | | | | difference: agency vs. direct client | Nov 30, 2012 |
Hello John,
Most direct clients cannot easily create a TM - for the same reason that most direct clients don't even know what a TM is. Translation is not their business.
Of course you can sell it to them, if you want. You could also give it to them, if that seems to be the best way to manage the situation. Theoretically, you could also simply refuse to sell or give it to them, if you find the request threatening.
You have something that your customer wants ... See more Hello John,
Most direct clients cannot easily create a TM - for the same reason that most direct clients don't even know what a TM is. Translation is not their business.
Of course you can sell it to them, if you want. You could also give it to them, if that seems to be the best way to manage the situation. Theoretically, you could also simply refuse to sell or give it to them, if you find the request threatening.
You have something that your customer wants and is of value to him or her. You have not previously agreed to provide it and had no reason to expect they might even want it (previous experience). Why would it not be OK to offer it for sale?
Sincerely,
Michael ▲ Collapse
| | | | | format vs. content | Nov 30, 2012 |
Michael Wetzel wrote:
Hello John,
Most direct clients cannot easily create a TM - for the same reason that most direct clients don't even know what a TM is. Translation is not their business.
Of course you can sell it to them, if you want. You could also give it to them, if that seems to be the best way to manage the situation. Theoretically, you could also simply refuse to sell or give it to them, if you find the request threatening.
You have something that your customer wants and is of value to him or her. You have not previously agreed to provide it and had no reason to expect they might even want it (previous experience). Why would it not be OK to offer it for sale?
Sincerely,
Michael
I didn't mean to imply that it wouldn't be OK to offer TMs for sale. I think everyone should do whatever seems best in each particular situation.
What I meant to say is that I see TM as a format rather than a content, that's all.
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Lucia Cantella wrote:
Thanks John, i saw that discussion but had the feeling it is different when it comes to a direct customer and not an agency.
What do you think?
I never understood this distinction many translators make between agencies and end customers. It serves no good purpose! It anything, this argument it helps agencies pay us less.
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Omar Lobao wrote:
When they ask... i give. Just don't understand... why not?
Same here.
Transferring the TM does not transfer the expertise. If they are still interested in my expertise at the rate I charge, then everybody is happy and everything continues as usual after delivering the TM.
If they are not really interested in my expertise or cannot pay my rate anymore, they will drop me anyway, with or without delivery of my TM. By delivering my TM, at least I will have shown a cooperative attitude and they will be more prone to come back if the other resources do not work for them or they have a higher budget in the future.
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