Poll: On average, how many exchanges do you have with a client before beginning work on a job? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "On average, how many exchanges do you have with a client before beginning work on a job?".
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It depends whether it’s a regular customer or a new client. In the first case, two or three exchanges ‒ the first one saying that I’m available, the second one delivering the translation and the third one sending the invoice at the end of the month. In the second case, there will be at least one more exchange with my quote containing all the essential data (customer name, contact name, date, file name of document(s) to be translated, language combination, format, number of words, rate per ... See more It depends whether it’s a regular customer or a new client. In the first case, two or three exchanges ‒ the first one saying that I’m available, the second one delivering the translation and the third one sending the invoice at the end of the month. In the second case, there will be at least one more exchange with my quote containing all the essential data (customer name, contact name, date, file name of document(s) to be translated, language combination, format, number of words, rate per word, total price, delivery date, payment terms) which I ask the customer to email it back to me after signing it. With some international organizations when dealing with big projects the exchanges might take months…
I avoid automated agency portals and their evil on-line invoicing systems like the plague (fortunately none of my regulars went the portal-route): I don’t want an agency to tell me how much work I have done for them within a given period, what, how and when to charge for it…
[Edited at 2019-12-08 12:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Keijo Sarv 
Естонија
Local time: 05:12
англиски на естонски
This depends on client.
For many clients, there are zero person-to-person exchanges, because job offers, accepting and delivering all go through automatic portals.
For others, there is usually 2 or 3 exchanges before beginning: a) task offer and accepting, b) receiving work files, and possibly c) PO confirmation.
| | | | Kaisa I
Канада
Local time: 23:12
англиски на фински
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two or three exchanges ‒ the first one saying that I’m available, the second one delivering the translation and the third one sending the invoice at the end of the month.
So, one exchange before beginning work on a job. Same here.
I don’t want an agency to tell me how much work I have done for them within a given period, what, how and when to charge for it...
I keep a tracker every month, so it's understandable that the client keeps one as well. Automation only makes the invoicing faster. If there are discrepancies, I let them know what's missing, and they investigate and add it.
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Elizabeth Tamblin (X)
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 03:12
француски на англиски
Usually negotiating the deadline.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Бразил
Local time: 23:12
англиски на португалски
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I usually "exchange" two or three messages with a client before the first job.
The first one is usually their e-mail, found me in ProZ, proposing a job and asking for additional information, CV, etc.
The second one is a reply to my reply, where I ask a few questions myself.
So, the third one is usually the "here is the document/first job" one.
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 19:12
шпански на англиски
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If the fee is acceptable, which might require some negotiation, I will still need to see the source document if they haven't attached it to the initial request. I never accept a job without having a look at the characteristics of the text: condition (PDFs in small print, OCRs that break up the context, etc.), nature of the text, writing style, etc. Then there's the deadline. I often find that proposed deadlines can be extended.
A new PM for one of my oldest clients has a habit of s... See more If the fee is acceptable, which might require some negotiation, I will still need to see the source document if they haven't attached it to the initial request. I never accept a job without having a look at the characteristics of the text: condition (PDFs in small print, OCRs that break up the context, etc.), nature of the text, writing style, etc. Then there's the deadline. I often find that proposed deadlines can be extended.
A new PM for one of my oldest clients has a habit of simply writing "Are you available to do a translation?" While my rate is established by contract, I'm not always willing to accept every translation that comes in over the transom. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Холандија
Local time: 04:12
Член (2006)
англиски на африканс
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ProZ.com Staff wrote:
On average, how many exchanges do you have with a client before beginning work on a job?
I think we need to distinguish between a client with whom you have an established relationship and a client that is reaching out to you for the first time. When a client is new, there may be many e-mails back and forth before the conversation turns to the actual job. And some clients send regular work without any further, "unnecessary" communication. Some clients want to assume that you accept the job unless you explicitly reject it (or unless your out-of-office reply explicitly states that you're not available), although in many cases you still need to confirm the job, just to let the client know that you're there.
Teresa Borges wrote:
I avoid automated agency portals and their evil on-line invoicing systems like the plague.
I use a program called CherryTree, an article manager, to create notes (called "nodes") for every client and how to use their online systems. It's frustrating to have to figure out how an online system works every time you work with it, but if you know how to use a system because you wrote a little how-to for yourself previously, it saves a lot of time and frustration. I use one node per client. The nodes also contain invoicing information, e.g. their invoicing preferences, their contact details, and their e-mail domain (so that I can quickly find a client by searching through all nodes for their e-mail domain), and the usernames and passwords for these online systems. You can also password-protect the database.
[Edited at 2019-12-09 10:13 GMT]
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| Two, mostly, with regular clients, but depends | Dec 9, 2019 |
The first is to answer whether I'm available, what my fee is, and by when it can be done. They will say to go ahead, and I acknowledge. That's two sets.
Sometimes a regular client will ask for a quote, and their end client decides a month later they want it done. Then I'm asked if I'm still available etc.
A client may want to find out about translation in general: I may need to know more things which they have to find out - then it's more.
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