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Saying No feels empowering Thread poster: Mikhail Kropotov
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Paulinho Fonseca 
Brazil
Local time: 06:47
Member (2011)
English to Portuguese
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| Saying No feels empowering | Sep 2, 2014 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Max Deryagin wrote:
I used to do that when I just started working as a freelancer, and it indeed felt empowering, but soon I realized that there is absolutely no need to be rude to potential clients, as it doesn't bear fruit. There's just nothing to be gained from such approach. I agree. A full reply as to what made you reject the proposal is better for the industry. It helps teaching the customer what is wrong about their proposal. Even if it does not pay to you personally in a short run, gradually educating and advising customers against a low-rate-low-quality world does pay in the long run to the translation community as a whole.
Well put.
If rate is low or does not meet my job expectations, I'd rather write back saying why I can't accept the job. Even if that sounds rude or whatever supplier might think, in the end they will know my reasons.
Opinions vary.
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Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 05:47
Spanish to English
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| "Rudeness" is not out of place in responding to ridiculous offers | Sep 2, 2014 |
Although I generally agree that a reasoned rejection is better than a plain "no," I don't think one need be overly concerned about coming across as "rude" in one's response. After all, anyone representing a translation agency can be expected to have a general sense of the range of acceptable rates for translation in a particular pair. In other words, if they are making a lowball offer, they are most likely to be well aware that they are doing so....
[Edited at 2014-09-02 13:38 GMT]
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finnword1
United States
Local time: 05:47
English to Finnish
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| somebody will likely accept the offer | Sep 2, 2014 |
What is ridiculous to you, might not be that to others.
[Edited at 2014-09-02 14:18 GMT]
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 03:47
Dutch to English
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| Name vs. no name | Sep 2, 2014 |
If it is a mass email, not addressed to me by name - you can usually see that at the top - I don't respond. Otherwise I respond briefly, thank them for the inquiry but say I am not interested in the job. An existing or potential client, regardless of whether or not they address me by name, would not offer me such low rates.
On one occasion I explained to the sender but he assumed that I was asking for more money. He offered me 2 cents more and I had to decline again. So now I don't... See more If it is a mass email, not addressed to me by name - you can usually see that at the top - I don't respond. Otherwise I respond briefly, thank them for the inquiry but say I am not interested in the job. An existing or potential client, regardless of whether or not they address me by name, would not offer me such low rates.
On one occasion I explained to the sender but he assumed that I was asking for more money. He offered me 2 cents more and I had to decline again. So now I don't get into a discussion about rates anymore.
[Edited at 2014-09-02 15:27 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 10:47
Member (2007)
English
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| I prefer a 3-line reply to a single word | Sep 2, 2014 |
A one-word reply isn't my way - as others have said, it could be taken in so many ways. It could even give the impression that you're too stressed out at the moment doing jobs at that rate to take on any more, i.e. you're the sort of word-churning machine they're looking for.
My normal response is:
a) a brief thanks for the interest in my services
b) a statement of my rate and other terms
c) an invitation to make contact again if ever they have a need for my servic... See more A one-word reply isn't my way - as others have said, it could be taken in so many ways. It could even give the impression that you're too stressed out at the moment doing jobs at that rate to take on any more, i.e. you're the sort of word-churning machine they're looking for.
My normal response is:
a) a brief thanks for the interest in my services
b) a statement of my rate and other terms
c) an invitation to make contact again if ever they have a need for my services, at my rate.
Once or twice that's resulted in a second offer, maybe increasing from a third of my rate to a half. That gets a much colder and shorter reply reminding them that I've given my rate. Not long ago an agency sent me three separate jobs all for the same derisory rate. The third time, they were told that if I ever received a similar email I would report them to ProZ.com as a spammer (they came via my profile here) - haven't heard from them since. I've also had the old chestnut about other translators' rates. But that's easy to counter - how about other clients' budgets? ▲ Collapse
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Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 11:47
English to Russian
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TOPIC STARTER | Being sensible vs. carefree | Sep 2, 2014 |
Lingua 5B wrote:
You must have your reasons why it's so important for you to prove points using logic while the OP is quite emotional...
Thanks, Lingua 5B! That was exactly my point. I didn't mean to argue at all. I don't advocate or practice this curt approach as a rule, which is precisely why sometimes an emphatic rejection just 'hits the spot.'
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Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 11:47
English to Russian
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TOPIC STARTER
Tomás, the person behind this mass mailing knew exactly what was wrong with their offer:
they wrote:
We can only offer 0,04€ per word...
[Edited at 2014-09-02 17:21 GMT]
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finnword1 wrote:
What is ridiculous to you, might not be that to others.
[Edited at 2014-09-02 14:18 GMT]
Some people are fortunate to have a steady stream of well-paid translation work. Some of us are not. Some of us would be glad to be offered a job, even if the pay rate is low.
The reality is, there are many of us out here who are not earning the rates recommended by the ProZ guidelines.
[Edited at 2014-09-02 18:05 GMT]
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Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 11:47
English to Russian
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TOPIC STARTER
finnword1 wrote:
What is ridiculous to you, might not be that to others.
Sure, no one would argue with that. But that's not what my post is about. I'm not even ranting about low rates, nor am I 'showing off' my own rates or steady stream of work. I'm talking about saying No when you feel like it. It's good for your psyche!
Would it change anything for you if the rate in the email were 0.01 EUR/word? Then imagine that rate if it's easier.
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Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 11:47
English to Russian
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TOPIC STARTER | I hope your situation improves | Sep 2, 2014 |
Elizabeth Tamblin wrote:
Some people are fortunate to have a steady stream of well-paid translation work. Some of us are not. Some of us would be glad to be offered a job, even if the pay rate is low.
The reality is, there are many of us out here who are not earning the rates recommended by the ProZ guidelines.
I didn't mean to offend anyone not loaded with work at decent rates. If I did, please accept my apologies. But I'm not boasting. That's not what this post is about. It's about not bending over backwards for someone trying to take advantage of you, when all you have to do is just say No. The rates, subject matters, etc. mentioned in the email are immaterial.
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| Nothing wrong with saying no ... | Sep 2, 2014 |
… but 'no, thank you' is even better.
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Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 11:47
English to Russian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Elizabeth Tamblin wrote:
… but 'no, thank you' is even better.
There's a saying, "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice." There's another, too: "Nice guys come last." Gotta take a stand once in a while.
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| I agree with the concept... | Sep 2, 2014 |
Mikhail Kropotov wrote: Elizabeth Tamblin wrote:
… but 'no, thank you' is even better. There's a saying, "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice." There's another, too: "Nice guys come last." Gotta take a stand once in a while.
… but the single word 'no' doesn't really have enough impact to convey the whole weight of your moral objection. They might just think you're lazy or inarticulate
Just my opinion - I like your topic!
[Edited at 2014-09-02 18:22 GMT]
[Edited at 2014-09-02 18:23 GMT]
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Max Deryagin
Russian Federation
Local time: 14:47
Member (2013)
English to Russian
| Actually, yes | Sep 2, 2014 |
Elizabeth Tamblin wrote:
… but 'no, thank you' is even better.
I concur. It sounds stronger.
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| Don't forget: "No" | Sep 2, 2014 |
is a complete sentence.
Maybe curtailed - as is the rate.
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