Poll: Do you charge the same rate for each field/language combination that you work in? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you charge the same rate for each field/language combination that you work in?".
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| | | | neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 09:48
шпански на англиски
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Multiple rates are just too much work, so we charge a flat rate for everything. Some jobs go quickly, some take longer, but it all averages out in the end.
True, end-customers care only about the end-price and not how we arrive at it, but agencies definitely prefer a flat rate.
[Edited at 2013-02-04 12:52 GMT]
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Each new project is quoted individually, based on language combination, field of expertise, number of words, technicality, deadline, document type and other practical criteria.
For agencies with whom I have been working for I use the flat rate approved at the time of the agreement.
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In most cases, I am not going to accept a lower rate that I might accept for a reasonably easy manual for a more complex paper about a completely new scientific breakthrough. As far as possible, I try to set my rates to match difficulty of content.
Now, if I could charge a high flat rate for all types of documents, I'd be a very happy bloke. However, the market doesn't work that way.  Like Teresa, I have to us... See more In most cases, I am not going to accept a lower rate that I might accept for a reasonably easy manual for a more complex paper about a completely new scientific breakthrough. As far as possible, I try to set my rates to match difficulty of content.
Now, if I could charge a high flat rate for all types of documents, I'd be a very happy bloke. However, the market doesn't work that way. Like Teresa, I have to use the flat rate approved when I have signed an agreement with an agency. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Allison Wright (X) 
Португалија
Local time: 08:48
Same rate, sometimes extra if warranted because of considerable extra effort on my part, or taps into odd pockets of specialist knowledge I seem to have acquired.
For the most part, I used the same rate for everything, based on an Chris S's idea that what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 03:48
Член (2005)
германски на англиски
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| Not even in the same language | Feb 4, 2013 |
I have clients that I have been with for years, and who receive a lower rate than newer clients. It's easy enough to calculate, as the spread sheet does most of the work anyway.
I also work on handwritten documents, for which I have a sliding scale based on clarity of scan and difficulty of hand. There is no way to charge a flat fee for those.
I do, however, reduce my rates significantly for personal letters written during WWII, regardless of textual quality.
But... See more I have clients that I have been with for years, and who receive a lower rate than newer clients. It's easy enough to calculate, as the spread sheet does most of the work anyway.
I also work on handwritten documents, for which I have a sliding scale based on clarity of scan and difficulty of hand. There is no way to charge a flat fee for those.
I do, however, reduce my rates significantly for personal letters written during WWII, regardless of textual quality.
But that is my personal gift to the survivors' families, and not a decision made with my business calculations in mind. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Spanish lower | Feb 4, 2013 |
There is more competition for Spanish to English, so generally I have to charge less for Spanish. Needless to say, I mainly work with German ...
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| Yes and Other | Feb 4, 2013 |
I mainly work for agencies, and as others have mentioned, they usually prefer flat rates.
However, some agencies specialise in particular subject areas, and I tend to get higher rates from agencies with a lot of medical work.
I hesitate to write better rates, because the work can be a lot slower per thousand words than other fields, but that is the whole point of differentiating where you can.
I bargain with clients before I start working for them, and try ... See more I mainly work for agencies, and as others have mentioned, they usually prefer flat rates.
However, some agencies specialise in particular subject areas, and I tend to get higher rates from agencies with a lot of medical work.
I hesitate to write better rates, because the work can be a lot slower per thousand words than other fields, but that is the whole point of differentiating where you can.
I bargain with clients before I start working for them, and try to push my average up gradually. Many clients are short-term acquaintances - they do not always have regular work in my language pairs - and I do take the subject field into consideration when quoting for a particular job.
I quote the same rates for all three language pairs, but simply turn down jobs I am not qualified to take on from Norwegian and Swedish. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Шпанија
Local time: 09:48
шпански на англиски
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Some of my combinations compress in target, others expand and take longer. There are approximate factors to reckon whether you're quoting source or target. That's to begin with, without looking at the text.
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 00:48
шпански на англиски
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That's the way it works with the international organizations, and they are my main customers. In some cases there's a category for "Technical," but most of the documents don't meet that standard, and some organizations don't break it down.
It evens out in the end. I only get hot under the collar when there's a lot of extra formatting to do, and a surcharge is allowed for that, but sometimes the PMs don't want to apply it.
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