You get what you pay for! Thread poster: Korana Lasić
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Common practice, by some (but fortunately not all) PMs and when it comes to my language pair, is to hire people who work for the lowest of rates. Naturally, these "translators" are, more or less, some type of a hack. These aren't exactly professionals or qualified translators. Lately, I am getting more and more requests for proofreading tasks that turn out to be very poor translations that need to be re-translated. Mostly of medical reports or drug studies — clearly translated by people who ca... See more Common practice, by some (but fortunately not all) PMs and when it comes to my language pair, is to hire people who work for the lowest of rates. Naturally, these "translators" are, more or less, some type of a hack. These aren't exactly professionals or qualified translators. Lately, I am getting more and more requests for proofreading tasks that turn out to be very poor translations that need to be re-translated. Mostly of medical reports or drug studies — clearly translated by people who cannot and absolutely should not translate anything into English or translate medical reports/studies into Croatian either.
The rates are usually very ridiculous even if it were a simple proofreading job and deadlines are given by people who, clearly, do not understand that it takes longer to proofread super specialised translations like these than a general article about fashion. Given the fact that these are re-translations both the rates and the deadlines are insane, and of course they are since these agencies do not charge enough to the end client and the deadline was already wasted on a hack translator trying to "get er done".
This is not a question. Just an observation. We get what we pay for, generally in life and when it comes to translation work, and no qualified translator will take on re-translating the hack jobs you end up with, by scraping the bottom of the rate barrel, not even for a proper proofreading rate and especially not for what the PMs from such agencies offer. If you need something to be re-translated pay the full translation rate. Better yet, hire someone professional in the first place and pay them a decent rate. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Professionals vs amateurs | Jul 30, 2021 |
If you think a professional is expensive, wait 'til you try an amateur.
© Paul Neal "Red" Adair (June 18th, 1915 - August 7th 2004).
He was a renowned oil well firefighter. He specialised in extinguishing the most dangerous oil fires in history.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
© Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790).
An American polymath active as a writer, scientist, i... See more If you think a professional is expensive, wait 'til you try an amateur.
© Paul Neal "Red" Adair (June 18th, 1915 - August 7th 2004).
He was a renowned oil well firefighter. He specialised in extinguishing the most dangerous oil fires in history.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
© Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790).
An American polymath active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first United States Postmaster General. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Brilliant quotes! | Jul 30, 2021 |
Vladimir Pochinov wrote:
If you think a professional is expensive, wait 'til you try an amateur.
© Paul Neal "Red" Adair (June 18th, 1915 - August 7th 2004).
He was a renowned oil well firefighter. He specialised in extinguishing the most dangerous oil fires in history.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
© Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790).
An American polymath active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first United States Postmaster General.
Thank you for those.
| | | | | @Korana -- More brilliant quotes for you :) | Jul 30, 2021 |
Do not compromise on the quality and your customers will not negotiate on the price.
© Amit Kalantri.
Born in 1988 in Akola (India), he is the author of three books " I Love You Too", "5 Feet 5 Inch Run Machine - Sachin Tendulkar" and "One Bucket of Tears". He is also a professional magician and mentalist.
Find the right price for an irresistible offer, which, by the way, isn’t necessarily the lower price.
© W. Chan Kim
Born in 1951 in South... See more Do not compromise on the quality and your customers will not negotiate on the price.
© Amit Kalantri.
Born in 1988 in Akola (India), he is the author of three books " I Love You Too", "5 Feet 5 Inch Run Machine - Sachin Tendulkar" and "One Bucket of Tears". He is also a professional magician and mentalist.
Find the right price for an irresistible offer, which, by the way, isn’t necessarily the lower price.
© W. Chan Kim
Born in 1951 in South Korea, he is a business theorist. He is a Professor of Strategy and Management at INSEAD, a co-director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute in Fontainebleau, France, and a co-author of the 2005 book Blue Ocean Strategy.
Low prices attract cheap customers with luxurious demands.
© Mac Duke The Strategist
He is a personal branding strategist for healthcare professionals.
Don't price to please, price to match your performance, experience and worth.
© Ned Bryan Abakah.
CEO, Humble Beginners Company. ▲ Collapse
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Vladimir Pochinov wrote:
Do not compromise on the quality and your customers will not negotiate on the price.
© Amit Kalantri.
Born in 1988 in Akola (India), he is the author of three books " I Love You Too", "5 Feet 5 Inch Run Machine - Sachin Tendulkar" and "One Bucket of Tears". He is also a professional magician and mentalist.
Find the right price for an irresistible offer, which, by the way, isn’t necessarily the lower price.
© W. Chan Kim
Born in 1951 in South Korea, he is a business theorist. He is a Professor of Strategy and Management at INSEAD, a co-director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute in Fontainebleau, France, and a co-author of the 2005 book Blue Ocean Strategy.
Low prices attract cheap customers with luxurious demands.
© Mac Duke The Strategist
He is a personal branding strategist for healthcare professionals.
Don't price to please, price to match your performance, experience and worth.
© Ned Bryan Abakah.
CEO, Humble Beginners Company.
Brilliant reminders for all of us, but especially those of us relatively new to freelancing who negotiate with new clients and LSPs on regular basis, to stand our ground when it comes to rates.
| | | | Adieu 
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
It's a circus. I recently did one that managed to turn mmHg into ppNsomething (iirc).
If it is wearing you out, set a high minimum fee for proofreading and then only cherrypick offers that are deeply subsidized by your minimum.
Or specialize and ONLY take specific topics. I don't even touch anything except pharma or marketing, takes way too long to switch gears.
| | | | Abba Storgen (X)
United States
Local time: 07:24
Greek to English
+ ...
| What they think of us | Aug 2, 2021 |
You will not often see Lawyers or Dentists or veteran Financial Professionals having their rates negotiated downwards. It happens, but rarely, and even when it happens, they always find ways around it. If you attend their seminars and meetings, if you read their magazines, 90% of material revolves around "how to make more money".
Or even in unregulated sectors (such as car repairs), prices and rates go up.
In our industry, Proz publishes forum questions such as "what's ... See more You will not often see Lawyers or Dentists or veteran Financial Professionals having their rates negotiated downwards. It happens, but rarely, and even when it happens, they always find ways around it. If you attend their seminars and meetings, if you read their magazines, 90% of material revolves around "how to make more money".
Or even in unregulated sectors (such as car repairs), prices and rates go up.
In our industry, Proz publishes forum questions such as "what's your pet name". And the ATA thinks we work in some Starbucks.
It's obvious that they consider us losers waiting for a good marriage to pay our credit cards. Agencies have about the same opinion.
It wasn't like that in the US about 20 years ago, but now it is. It's translators themselves who let this happen. Too late now.
[Edited at 2021-08-02 10:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tony Keily
Local time: 14:24
Italian to English
+ ...
| MTPE on the sly | Aug 2, 2021 |
Most of these request are really for MTPE - the service that dares not speak its name - from agencies that have just discovered new improved MT apps. Hopefully in coming years this market will be sorted out a bit, with agencies coming clean on what they're really after, establishing appropriate rates and probably also realising that rose rarely comes without the prick, here in the form of the limitations of MT as raw material.
And for the Nth time, it's not "proofreading", regardles... See more Most of these request are really for MTPE - the service that dares not speak its name - from agencies that have just discovered new improved MT apps. Hopefully in coming years this market will be sorted out a bit, with agencies coming clean on what they're really after, establishing appropriate rates and probably also realising that rose rarely comes without the prick, here in the form of the limitations of MT as raw material.
And for the Nth time, it's not "proofreading", regardless, it's "revision"! ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:24
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Always refuse | Aug 2, 2021 |
Korana Lasić wrote:
...... proofreading tasks that turn out to be very poor translations that need to be re-translated.....
I always refuse those jobs.
| | | | | Yes, of course I do too | Aug 2, 2021 |
Tom in London wrote:
Korana Lasić wrote:
...... proofreading tasks that turn out to be very poor translations that need to be re-translated.....
I always refuse those jobs.
First I ask for my translation rate and, after the PM scoffs at me, we part ways.
[Edited at 2021-08-02 14:37 GMT]
| | | | | To be fair to those who think poorly of us | Aug 2, 2021 |
Eleftherios Kritikakis wrote:
You will not often see Lawyers or Dentists or veteran Financial Professionals having their rates negotiated downwards. It happens, but rarely, and even when it happens, they always find ways around it. If you attend their seminars and meetings, if you read their magazines, 90% of material revolves around "how to make more money".
Or even in unregulated sectors (such as car repairs), prices and rates go up.
In our industry, Proz publishes forum questions such as "what's your pet name". And the ATA thinks we work in some Starbucks.
It's obvious that they consider us losers waiting for a good marriage to pay our credit cards. Agencies have about the same opinion.
It wasn't like that in the US about 20 years ago, but now it is. It's translators themselves who let this happen. Too late now.
[Edited at 2021-08-02 10:24 GMT]
I am waiting for my good marriage and I am putting a clause by which my husband will have to take care of me for the rest of my life, if he ever leaves me, in our prenup. Lol
Joking aside, as well as my 10-year engagement, I understand what you mean. Some 20 years ago things were overall better in the translation industry and I agree that our biggest problem is that the kind of people, temperamentally, who go into translation (collectively) aren't as good at negotiating as lawyers, doctors and dentists are.
I am in my early 40s and have only in the last decade learned to not be a walkover myself. At 22 when I started working, aw my God, I was part of the problem.
[Edited at 2021-08-02 14:36 GMT]
| | | | | Ah, The Task That Must Not Be Named | Aug 2, 2021 |
Tony Keily wrote:
Most of these request are really for MTPE - the service that dares not speak its name - from agencies that have just discovered new improved MT apps. Hopefully in coming years this market will be sorted out a bit, with agencies coming clean on what they're really after, establishing appropriate rates and probably also realising that rose rarely comes without the prick, here in the form of the limitations of MT as raw material.
And for the Nth time, it's not "proofreading", regardless, it's "revision"!
Yup. There is (some) agencies trying to cut corners and then there is PMs trying to pass off a machine translation as a translation ready to be proofread. A whole other level of hell these PMs must live in that no sensible translator should partake in.
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