Poll: When a client asks you for your rates, what else apart from the general rates do you specify? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When a client asks you for your rates, what else apart from the general rates do you specify?".
This poll was originally submitted by SSR Translation. View the poll results »
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Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 22:47
French to English
Well before mentioning any figures at all I try to determine exactly what the job involves and then when I give my rate, I'll specify whether there are any factors that could affect it (like giving me a few more days to remove the rush surcharge, or for a small job, explaining that they can give up to X number of words more by the end of the month and it will be the same price.
It also depends very much on the attitude of the person. If they are pleasant, I'm more likely to explain ... See more Well before mentioning any figures at all I try to determine exactly what the job involves and then when I give my rate, I'll specify whether there are any factors that could affect it (like giving me a few more days to remove the rush surcharge, or for a small job, explaining that they can give up to X number of words more by the end of the month and it will be the same price.
It also depends very much on the attitude of the person. If they are pleasant, I'm more likely to explain how to bring the price down. If they are unbearable, then I might just bump up the rate to scare them off.
(As a result I have a couple of very well paying, unbearable customers... I keep working for them because their texts are very interesting) ▲ Collapse
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 22:47
Member (2006)
German to English
If I am asked something specific, why should I provide other information other than if it is asked?
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All my clients know my rates (my rates haven’t changed for over 3 years). When a potential client asks for my rates, I always say that my rate for a specific job depends on the subject matter and other practical circumstances, that I need to see the document first and that I will get back to him with a non-binding price estimate ASAP (within 24 hours, at the latest, depending how busy I am).
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| Other: week-end rates | May 29, 2014 |
When the translation is 100% during the week-end (from Friday 8 pm to Monday 9 am) I ask for a 30% upgrade.
Some outsourcers ask systematically for big translations (> 4,000 words) during the week-end.
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| I don't get "rush rates" | May 29, 2014 |
Either you have time to do it or you don't, in which case you'd be doing overtime and in my book that's double time (in the unlikely event I'd take it)
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Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 05:47
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| General rates only | May 29, 2014 |
Other rates - weekend, rush and difficult or out-of-the-norm job requirements - are negotiated on an ad-hoc basis.
BTW, "I only specify my general rates" should be "I specify only my general rates." Very nitpickity today.
@Chris S
"Double time" Hmm Haven't heard that one in yonks. (Doesn't exist in Japan. sob sob) Maybe you should be our union rep. 
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| Payment terms & method | May 29, 2014 |
Here in Brazil, the official interest rate is 11%/month. PayPal deducts 6.5% in fees plus 3.5% in openly lower-than-market exchange rates.
My translation rates are always the same, however the financial costs on them may vary considerably. Therefore when I'm asked about my best rates, I take it as if they wanted to save in third-party financial services, and usually give them three options.
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| no room for words | May 29, 2014 |
I agree with Michael. If all they want to know is my rates, that's what I am gonna give. If later they show interest in working together, that's when - according to the time allotted and the kind of project - I start to explain how and why those rates might change.
If they ask you for your rates, they want to get straight to the numbers then, and we don't have much room for words in the first email.
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 14:47
Dutch to English
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I do none of the above until I have seen the document(s) and know their timeline.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:47
Spanish to English
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My collaboration conditions (workable formats, use of abbrevations/acronyms, no difficult-to-modify insertions, disclaimer...).
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 16:47
Member (2005)
German to English
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| It depends on the project | May 29, 2014 |
For example:
Is it a hand-written letter? Priced according to the difficulty of the script.
Is it a diploma? Flat document fee.
Is it a patent or other technical document? Now we're actually talking standard rates.
And I only discuss rates *after* I've looked at the document *and* know if they require a CAT tool that I don't use.
3 rounds of email and the PO comes with Trados repetitions. I don't use it: it says so right on my ProZ page (where they f... See more For example:
Is it a hand-written letter? Priced according to the difficulty of the script.
Is it a diploma? Flat document fee.
Is it a patent or other technical document? Now we're actually talking standard rates.
And I only discuss rates *after* I've looked at the document *and* know if they require a CAT tool that I don't use.
3 rounds of email and the PO comes with Trados repetitions. I don't use it: it says so right on my ProZ page (where they found me), it is stated on my CV (which they asked for and presumably read), and there was NO discussion of CAT tools during the emails.
I feel like I need to incorporate it into my sig file. ▲ Collapse
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Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 13:47
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
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| Depends on document | May 29, 2014 |
"Thank you for your interest in my translation services.
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Please note that I can quote a rate only after seeing the document to be translated."
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