How *Not* to Discuss Rates with a Translator.flv

How *Not* to Discuss Rates with a Translator!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• translator
• translation
• freelance

[NoPeanuts4Trnslators]

sabryndy: You certainly do believe at lot of utter nonsense. You should have enough cash in your accounts at all times to pay your freelancers when their bills are due. If you're such a lousy businessperson that you don't make your clients pay YOU on time, that's no one's fault but yours, and suggests you should probably get out of the business. As for rates: when you cut-rate agencies all arrive at paying 1 cent/word & profit isn't possible, your market will crash. I can't wait.

[vickyarmendariz]

Exellent. This is EXACTLY what is going on with companies who hire translators. My latest: "We do not need a professional translator, we just need someone who can speak Spanish and English a little bit, so as to help us in our Champion's League ceremony....we can only pay 200 euros a week....to work with us 6 days...full time....but its a GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

hahaha don't make me laugh. Go to hell instead.

[NoPeanuts4Trnslators]

@vickyarmendariz: Brava! It's hard to say no sometimes! What I notice is that in certain fields - television, cinema, sports, show business in general - businesses blatantly exploit the desperation of inexperienced translators who'd "do anything" do be in TV/Sports/Movies/you name it. It's disrespectful of translators and it's disrespectful of the end consumer of the translation, who usually gets bad quality. Resist! (And join No Peanuts! for Translators.)

[grisznik]

The only words that come to mind are 'fuck you!'

Maybe the companies should see this, maybe the analogy would make them realize how ridiculous their rates negotiations are.

[sabryndy]

As an agency, the reason why I cannot pay much sooner than 30days after receipt of invoice is because the client or requestor does not pay me until at least 30days after thus the lag time can make it very difficult financially. As for translators who ask for higher rates, well, you can ask for as much as you want, but if it is ridiculously higher than the going rate, the agencies will not request your services no matter how great you may be in your field. FYI.

[daniela70]

@chiiiicchetta I hope you can make it some day. Try to grasp as much experience as you can, and deliver the best work possible always, so that you can go up in the pyramid, sort of speak.

[chiiiicchetta]

@daniela70 because that's the way it is, that's the way agencies work and if you want to work with them you have to accept and play by their rules. I've garaduated last year, did 1 year of internships (almost for free), just started working as a freelancer.I have no"contractual power",but in a year or so, when I have a bit more experience and will qualify as a pro I will raise my rates and have my own conditions. I know it's outrageous, but I'm not in the conditions to ask for more,unfortunately

[daniela70]

That's outrageous! Now I only work for agencies that pay 30 days after the invoice is issued and that's the best I can. Other service providers only accept payment right after completion of service. Try to find a plumber, for instance, that accepts payment 30 days after the service is done. Why should we, translators, behave differently??

[chiiiicchetta]

@daniela70 are you kiddin??? you're lucky! i get paid 90 days after issue of invoice!

[blacklance22]

But translation is so easy, right? I mean, you already know both languages...so, you just like, have to read in one language and write it out in the other. I mean, it's just like re-typing the same text, right? So easy...right?

[squall2002]

I did not get it. Nor had I read any comments at the time of this post.