| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do your clients usually ask for discounts? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 04:15
Member (2006)
German to English
not my regular customers.
New ones do tend to ask, but get the normal answer, No!
Even one customer that I threw out and gave a terrible blue Board feedback rang me the other day asking if I would start back with them, but at conditions from for 7 years ago! Politely said No!
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 05:15
Turkish to English
+ ...
No, not usually, but it has happened. I am prepared to take such requests into consideration for large volumes. I would rather have one months' solid work at a ten percent discount than sit around twiddling my thumbs.
On the other hand, I often quote a fixed price for translating a given text, and I take length into consideration when doing so.
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They know better
Well actually I don't think it would even cross their minds
[Edited at 2014-05-16 08:42 GMT]
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if that includes match percentages.
However, if someone expects a lower rate due to large volume, the answer is no.
This notion of the higher volumes/lower rates may stem from wholesale business,
it does not apply to translators, who normally have enough work, as far as I am concerned.
[Edited at 2014-05-16 08:53 GMT]
| | | | Marjolein Snippe
Netherlands
Local time: 04:15
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| Not the regulars | May 16, 2014 |
Chris S wrote:
They know better
Well actually I don't think it would even cross their minds
Exactly. I would also be surprised at professional agencies asking their regular suppliers for a discount. I would need a good reason to grant them one.
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I have 2 long-standing clients (20 and 15 years, respectively) who give me work almost every month and have been prompt payers. They never asked for a discount but due to the fact that their work often have repetitive blocks of text I have decided, by my own volition, to offer a discount…
P.S. I DO not use a CAT tool!
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My regular clients know my rates.
If a new client asks for a discount after they have received my rates then it depends on the project.
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Liena Vijupe
Latvia
Local time: 05:15
French to Latvian
+ ...
My regular clients have never asked that.
Some "potential" ones do though and, even when I've agreed to that on certain occasions (assuming that large volumes would pay off anyway), I've never heard back from them, not to mention receiving any work. Can't say that I miss them.
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Fortunately, I have enough work from clients that are willing to pay my rates. Accepting a job for a lower rate would force me to reject other, better paid jobs. So why should I?
| | | | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 19:15
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
I have also eliminated my former largest client (!) of many years who was the only one to apply a discount scheme for CAT tools.
CAT tool + no discount = full and uncastrated income
I also never, ever gave any volume discount in my life.
Potential clients who insist on discounts have to go elsewhere, I am afraid.
Discounts are the worst habit in our industry. Asking for discounts - there is nothing to it. Allowing discounts, however, is a di... See more I have also eliminated my former largest client (!) of many years who was the only one to apply a discount scheme for CAT tools.
CAT tool + no discount = full and uncastrated income
I also never, ever gave any volume discount in my life.
Potential clients who insist on discounts have to go elsewhere, I am afraid.
Discounts are the worst habit in our industry. Asking for discounts - there is nothing to it. Allowing discounts, however, is a different story. ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:15
Spanish to English
+ ...
Not "usually", but occasionally. My regulars know my rates and rarely ask for discounts.
On the other hand, I do sometimes allow discounts as a sort of gesture. For example, last week I gave one good long-standing regular client an unsolicited reduction of 30% on one 7K job, because much of the text was very similar to earlier documents translated and stored in my TM. I've also done about 5K for the same client already this month at the full rate - so we're both happy.
[Edited at 2... See more Not "usually", but occasionally. My regulars know my rates and rarely ask for discounts.
On the other hand, I do sometimes allow discounts as a sort of gesture. For example, last week I gave one good long-standing regular client an unsolicited reduction of 30% on one 7K job, because much of the text was very similar to earlier documents translated and stored in my TM. I've also done about 5K for the same client already this month at the full rate - so we're both happy.
[Edited at 2014-05-16 16:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 22:15
English to Spanish
+ ...
Markus Perndl wrote:
Fortunately, I have enough work from clients that are willing to pay my rates. Accepting a job for a lower rate would force me to reject other, better paid jobs. So why should I?
Well said, Markus, a logical comment.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 22:15
English to Spanish
+ ...
| The discount mentality | May 16, 2014 |
...belongs in the sale in bulk industry, not in translation.
Since I don't believe in commoditization of professional services (not just translation), I don't offer discounts. Plus, I don't attract clients who are fishing for discounts anyway.
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