Poll: What was the highest discount you were asked to offer after providing a quote for your service? Autor vlákna: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What was the highest discount you were asked to offer after providing a quote for your service?".
This poll was originally submitted by Iulia Parvu. View the poll results »
| | | | Iulia Parvu 
Rumunsko
Local time: 18:32
Člen (2022)
angličtina -> rumunština
+ ...
| 75% (yes, you heard me) | Sep 19, 2024 |
I recently provided a quote for a proofreading job, and since I prefer to avoid lengthy negotiations, I offered the client my 'best rate,' as requested. To my surprise, the client responded with a proposed rate that was 75% lower than my 'best rate.' The shock of this response prompted me to propose this poll.
| | | | Ana Vozone
Local time: 16:32
Člen (2010)
angličtina -> portugalština
+ ...
| The conversation ends | Sep 19, 2024 |
the moment I am asked for a discount. And I let "them" know why...
When a (usually new) client asks for a discount, that request usually comes with the promise of lots work in the future... False promises, of course.
On the other hand, I spontaneously offer discounts for small jobs from regular clients when I feel that my reduced minimum charge is excessive for the number of words I translated.
| | | | Matthieu Ledoré
Francie
Local time: 17:32
angličtina -> francouzština
+ ...
Of course, I replied with a polite "Goodbye and best of luck".
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| About 25% - as an exception | Sep 19, 2024 |
A colleague asked for a quote for translation of a certificate, and I briefly quotede my minimum rate for new agencies. My colleague pointed out that the certificate was for a private client, who would probably not pay that price, and as the job was in fact only five lines, it would seem expensive to a private individual.
I asked my colleague to suggest a rate that would cover her costs and the client would pay, and I went along with it. It was not an entirely routine job, so I ear... See more A colleague asked for a quote for translation of a certificate, and I briefly quotede my minimum rate for new agencies. My colleague pointed out that the certificate was for a private client, who would probably not pay that price, and as the job was in fact only five lines, it would seem expensive to a private individual.
I asked my colleague to suggest a rate that would cover her costs and the client would pay, and I went along with it. It was not an entirely routine job, so I earned my fee, but it meant I did get it, instead of the job being cancelled.
Normally I do not give discounts, or only very small ones. I might do one-line jobs free for good clients, but once I set my rate that is my ´best´ and only rate. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | The provider of | Sep 19, 2024 |
"first Language Operations Platform fueled by an always-on AI that empowers you to bring in human review when needed – so you can save as you go and easily uplevel quality to meet your business needs"
literally asked me to count my time in their system at my typical hourly rate, resetting the fee after each minute of "inactivity" (read: research), which in effect would result in about 20% of my rate or even less. I don't even mention NOT providing TM or QA features.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosna a Hercegovina
Local time: 17:32
angličtina -> francouzština
+ ...
A while ago, a client asked me to “shave off” my rate at the beginning of the project, it was a minor reduction so I said yes. As the project progressed, and I delivered protions of work, they asked me for another reduction, to shave it off further, claiming their increased costs for post-production processes. I said OK, but don’t contact me ever again, after the last delievery at that point.
They had issues finding another supplier ever since, kept contacting me, but their em... See more A while ago, a client asked me to “shave off” my rate at the beginning of the project, it was a minor reduction so I said yes. As the project progressed, and I delivered protions of work, they asked me for another reduction, to shave it off further, claiming their increased costs for post-production processes. I said OK, but don’t contact me ever again, after the last delievery at that point.
They had issues finding another supplier ever since, kept contacting me, but their emails remained/remain unanswered.
Both reductions were relatively minor, but extremely sneaky and unprofessional. ▲ Collapse
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I’ve never been asked for a discount. Either the client accepts my quote or not… Like Ana Vozone, I spontaneously offer discounts to my long-standing customer when I feel it’s justified.
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Liena V.
Lotyšsko
Local time: 18:32
Člen (2014)
francouzština -> lotyština
+ ...
Usually when my rate is too high for any reasonable negotiations I either get a polite reply that the client can not pay it, unfortunately, but will be hoping for a cooperation some time in future or don't hear anything back at all, but every now and then I do get a reply about "our budget" or what "other translators" are "usually" charging, offering half of my rate or less. I have been wondering why do they even ask me to provide a quote instead of stating their limits right away until it dawne... See more Usually when my rate is too high for any reasonable negotiations I either get a polite reply that the client can not pay it, unfortunately, but will be hoping for a cooperation some time in future or don't hear anything back at all, but every now and then I do get a reply about "our budget" or what "other translators" are "usually" charging, offering half of my rate or less. I have been wondering why do they even ask me to provide a quote instead of stating their limits right away until it dawned on me recently that they are probably hoping I'd ask even less than the peanuts they are happy to throw my way.
And that is without mentioning MT deductions, word count manipulations and other "standard practices in the industry" which lead to the same result while pretending to pay my rate. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rabie El Magdouli
Španělsko
Local time: 16:32
Člen (2012)
španělština -> arabština
+ ...
| Waste of time | Sep 19, 2024 |
Iulia Parvu wrote:
I recently provided a quote for a proofreading job, and since I prefer to avoid lengthy negotiations, I offered the client my 'best rate,' as requested. To my surprise, the client responded with a proposed rate that was 75% lower than my 'best rate.' The shock of this response prompted me to propose this poll.
This happens to me almost always with Egyptian and Indian agencies.
| | | | Philippe Etienne
Španělsko
Local time: 17:32
Člen
angličtina -> francouzština
+ ...
| The standard rate | Sep 19, 2024 |
"Our standard rate to other translators in your language pair is XX"
- usually 31-50% below the rate I quote, which is the reply I chose in the poll.
But after quickly leafing through my huge collection of negociation failures, it appears that I was offered 1/3 of my usual, initial, non-negotiable rate (unless the other party makes an effort as well) in 2014. That's a 67% discount.
Philippe
| | | | Mario Chávez
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 11:32
angličtina -> španělština
+ ...
| Discounts? What's that? | Sep 19, 2024 |
I rarely, if ever, talk about discounts with my customers. I might round down a figure for a project. For example, I'd quote $800 from $839 because it's practical for me. If I cut down substantially a quote, to $750 from $840, it's in the interest of earning business, not to offer a discount. I never mention the word discount in correspondence with customers.
But I come from a different generation or school of thought. These days, seems to me that much younger colleagu... See more I rarely, if ever, talk about discounts with my customers. I might round down a figure for a project. For example, I'd quote $800 from $839 because it's practical for me. If I cut down substantially a quote, to $750 from $840, it's in the interest of earning business, not to offer a discount. I never mention the word discount in correspondence with customers.
But I come from a different generation or school of thought. These days, seems to me that much younger colleagues prefer or are forced by circumstances to offer discounts on their services. ▲ Collapse
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