| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: Would you reduce your rates if a client asked for it? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you reduce your rates if a client asked for it?".
This poll was originally submitted by rifkind
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you reduce your rates if a client asked for it?".
This poll was originally submitted by rifkind
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No, I am a professional | Feb 5, 2009 |
I cannot reduce my rates, because I need a particular amount of time to carry out the job to the appropriate standard, and I need to be paid for the entire time required, not only for a part of it. I wish to stay in business.
| | | | | Basically, no. | Feb 5, 2009 |
I don't basically reduce my rates if a client asks for it, since I provide quality translation meeting my rates. I hear many bad experiences from clients who use low-rate translators who are usually of low quality. Consequently, those clients come back and after learning the lesson "You get what you pay for".
| | | | m_temmer 
Local time: 23:02
English to Dutch
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| what a crazy idea | Feb 5, 2009 |
I have my standard rate, so it's take it or leave it.
Excellent quality has its price. Why would anybody lower his or her rate?
If you have to lower your rate to survive, perhaps it's better to look for another job.
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But I answered "it depends on the client", because what I accepted a couple of time over the past months is to lower my minimum fee to a half fee for tiny jobs, for very good clients.
But basically, I would not lower my word price.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 07:02
English to French
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Never again!
I did it once, 12 years ago ("very large job", teamwork) and had to refuse plenty of work at regular rates while doing it
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... I might consider it though, IF all my bills and rent would be significantly lowered too. Do you think it's possible?
Anni
| | | | Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:02
English to Arabic
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| You mean "...if the client asked nicely"? | Feb 5, 2009 |
and said "pretty please"? No, that's not a good enough reason. But I have lowered my rates before, when a good and trusted client gave me good reasons to bring my price down slightly just this once.
To be honest, I think I may have lowered my prices once or twice because I really liked the client and they asked nicely
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| Depends on the client | Feb 5, 2009 |
I still work for two agencies who gave me my first break and if they asked me to reduce my current rates for some specific project, I would. I would earn lower, but then they have done a lot of handholding and so I am prepared to make an exception. (sometimes, not always).
| | | | Paul Adie (X)
Germany
Spanish to English
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No no no no no no no no no no no.
Get the point?
Paul
| | | | | Depends on the client AND on the job | Feb 5, 2009 |
I respect what colleagues have posted about being professionals, needing to be paid for the time and effort they put in and so on, and I feel similarly myself.
However I (and I am sure most other colleagues) do not always work only for a livelihood or to make money. I can remember at least a couple of occasions where individual clients in dire need of translation services could certainly not have been able to afford my regular rates. On these occasions, I have accepted whatever they... See more I respect what colleagues have posted about being professionals, needing to be paid for the time and effort they put in and so on, and I feel similarly myself.
However I (and I am sure most other colleagues) do not always work only for a livelihood or to make money. I can remember at least a couple of occasions where individual clients in dire need of translation services could certainly not have been able to afford my regular rates. On these occasions, I have accepted whatever they said they could afford to pay - actually a tiny fraction of what I would demand normally. I have known of very renowned surgeons and doctors treating needy people for free or just a fraction of their regular fees too.
But exceptions apart, I definitely am not in favour of reducing rates just because a client asks for it or promises 'a lot of work'. As another colleague has pointed out, she id so once and had to refuse plenty of work at regular rates while doing it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Would not reduce rates | Feb 5, 2009 |
No, we're running a business not a charity.
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John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 07:02
Spanish to English
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| neilmac
Spain
Local time: 07:02
Spanish to English
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| Depends on the client... | Feb 5, 2009 |
and my relationship with them... and the job, volume, format, flexible delivery period, etc.
However, normally I stick to my standard "flat" rates, which are reasonable, i.e. average by market standards.
Nevertheless, when I was increasing my basic rate by roughly 14% at the beginning of last year, after a few years at the same level, I was asked to reduce my rates by two of my long standing clients. I agreed to leave the rates as they were for each of them, since I have a friendly r... See more and my relationship with them... and the job, volume, format, flexible delivery period, etc.
However, normally I stick to my standard "flat" rates, which are reasonable, i.e. average by market standards.
Nevertheless, when I was increasing my basic rate by roughly 14% at the beginning of last year, after a few years at the same level, I was asked to reduce my rates by two of my long standing clients. I agreed to leave the rates as they were for each of them, since I have a friendly relationship with them, they have provided me with a lot of work over the years and always pay on time. Interestingly enough, both of these clients were female bosses. Sometimes you just can't say "no" !
PS I am keeping my rates steady for all clients this year, despite the economic "crisis", although I know that some of my higher charging colleagues (25-50% more than me) are currently under pressure to lower theirs. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Els Spin
Netherlands
Local time: 07:02
Dutch to English
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| No, I just... | Feb 5, 2009 |
No, stop, sorry. I am not going to tell you my secret. Suffice it to say that I never lower my rates, but some clients think I do.
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