| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Time to Raise Translation/Interpretation Rates Thread poster: Reza Delavari
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I have been actively working in translation/interpretation/transcription/editing/proofreading areas for nearly 25 years and I see the world and life expenses have overwhelmingly changed and the prices have gone up multiple times ever since. However, while I started doing translation on the net nearly 20 years ago at the rate of 0.08/w, and I see it not only has not changed upwards and that the translator could be given the right to provide estimates in the past, yet I see now agencies or general... See more I have been actively working in translation/interpretation/transcription/editing/proofreading areas for nearly 25 years and I see the world and life expenses have overwhelmingly changed and the prices have gone up multiple times ever since. However, while I started doing translation on the net nearly 20 years ago at the rate of 0.08/w, and I see it not only has not changed upwards and that the translator could be given the right to provide estimates in the past, yet I see now agencies or generally clients have come up with new approaches-they send notifications where they include their own prices and rates. Nonetheless, there is yet the worst to come: I have seen on numerous occasions, the rates they had offered were even less than half the regular supposed-to-be rates for proofreading!
I am rather more surprised by all the translators and translation agencies remaining silent and saying nothing about this, than the crazy payment situations.
Therefore, I strongly believe it is time to raise translation rates. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jean Lachaud 
United States
Local time: 02:39
English to French
+ ...
| And, how do you propose to achieve that? | Mar 8, 2022 |
I am not disagreeing with you, but, do you have a plan?
Reza Delavari wrote:
... I strongly believe it is time to raise translation rates.
[Edited at 2022-03-08 15:18 GMT]
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Türkiye
Local time: 09:39
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
| Community Rates | Mar 8, 2022 |
As most folks know, there is a section called Community Rates at ProZ, which is under the Tools menu. Let me quote directly from Community rates:
"This page lists the average rates reported by ProZ.com's community of freelance translators and translation companies. Please be aware that this data does not necessarily reflect the average of rates actually charged and paid for real-world projects; it is only an aggregate view of the rates that users have entered into their ProZ.com pr... See more As most folks know, there is a section called Community Rates at ProZ, which is under the Tools menu. Let me quote directly from Community rates:
"This page lists the average rates reported by ProZ.com's community of freelance translators and translation companies. Please be aware that this data does not necessarily reflect the average of rates actually charged and paid for real-world projects; it is only an aggregate view of the rates that users have entered into their ProZ.com profiles. (That said, because the rates entered are used to filter notifications, etc., they can be considered relatively representative of actual fees.) Furthermore, not all users have reported rate data; please take note of the sample size when evaluating this information."
I believe there are ways to tackle this issue of translation/interpretation rates. First, it is to the advantage of translators to report their rates in their ProZ profile. As it says above, there are translators who do not do that now. When your rates are crystal clear on your profile, you naturally reduce your chances of being offered absolute low rates. Also, your rate information is then taken into account when calculating the Community Rates. Second, it is of course your right to determine and announce the rates that you will charge well in advance of doing a job. It is also being honest with yourself as well as with your clients. Needless to say, I always report my rates in my profile. That way, I know where I am going, and my potential clients know where they are going as well. If you feel the need to raise your rates for some concrete reason, then you simply do that by updating your ProZ profile. I think every translator should seriously think about reporting their rates on their ProZ profile. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Rates on profile seem to be invisible to agencies | Mar 9, 2022 |
ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
First, it is to the advantage of translators to report their rates in their ProZ profile. As it says above, there are translators who do not do that now. When your rates are crystal clear on your profile, you naturally reduce your chances of being offered absolute low rates.
I agree that it's a good idea to put your rates on your profile. However, even though I do that, it seems that many aspiring clients don't look at them, even though they're contacting me through my profile.
Just the other day I had a request for my "best rates in US dollars". Apparently this translation agency was unable to "translate" the euros on my profile page into another currency.
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 09:39
Member
English to Turkish
Reza Delavari wrote:
yet I see now agencies or generally clients have come up with new approaches-they send notifications where they include their own prices and rates. Nonetheless, there is yet the worst to come: I have seen on numerous occasions, the rates they had offered were even less than half the regular supposed-to-be rates for proofreading!
I receive such notifications from time to time (usually from the 'London based' agencies peopled by Eastern European PMs), the rates are never more than 4-5 cents per word, and the jobs never remain available for more than 2 minutes. Yes, 2 minutes (I swear I timed it). The bottom-feeders get at those jobs like piranhas devouring a hapless body in the river.
So, for as long as there are people (er 'colleagues') like this I don't quite see how you propose to raise your rates other than deciding 'it's time'.
Mind you, these 'dear colleagues' do not come from Upwork or Fiverr, they find those agencies through Proz, probably after having read and benefitted from the posts of the usual advice-givers on the Getting Established threads.
| | | | Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
Local time: 08:39
English to Romanian
+ ...
| Keep your Inbox clean | Mar 9, 2022 |
Focus on what matters.
Mental energy is a limited resource. Spend wisely.
| | | | Barbara Carrara
Italy
Local time: 08:39
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| Note to self? | Mar 9, 2022 |
Mihai Badea wrote:
Focus on what matters.
Mental energy is a limited resource. Spend wisely.
What does that even mean? How does this contribute to this thread?
Does this one fall into the note-to-self category, perhaps?
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 09:39
Member
English to Turkish
Mihai Badea wrote:
Mental energy is a limited resource. Spend wisely.
And you're setting a perfect example of that with your pearls of wisdom on these 'fora'.
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Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
Local time: 08:39
English to Romanian
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| Barbara, Baran | Mar 9, 2022 |
What do you suggest?
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Mihai Badea wrote:
What do you suggest?
... to accept the proposed 4-5 cents, right?
| | | | Barbara Carrara
Italy
Local time: 08:39
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| Reply to Mihai | Mar 9, 2022 |
Mihai Badea wrote:
What do you suggest?
If you can read between the (many, many) lines I've written to you during the (many, many) stints of you registering/leaving/joining/cancelling/re-registering on this site, you should have a pretty clear idea by now.
Apologies to Reza.
| | | | Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
Local time: 08:39
English to Romanian
+ ...
Barbara Carrara wrote:
If you can read between the (many, many) lines I've written to you during the (many, many) stints of you registering/leaving/joining/cancelling/re-registering on this site, you should have a pretty clear idea by now.
Apologies to Reza.
Thanks, Barbara. I appreciate it.
I like when people are straightforward.
Regards,
Mihai
bytranslators.com
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 09:39
Member
English to Turkish
Mihai Badea wrote:
bytranslators.com
I can't wait to avail myself of the invaluable resources this groundbreaking, breathtaking, game-changing website will provide to us.
| | | | | Don't take it too literal | Mar 9, 2022 |
Barbara Carrara wrote: Mihai Badea wrote:
Focus on what matters.
Mental energy is a limited resource. Spend wisely.
What does that even mean? How does this contribute to this thread? Does this one fall into the note-to-self category, perhaps?
It's a kind of "Don't worry, be happy" advice, but then different (I think).
| | | | Mihai Badea (X)
Luxembourg
Local time: 08:39
English to Romanian
+ ...
It's a kind of "Don't worry, be happy" advice, but then different (I think).
Thanks.
@Baran: It is a very limited initiative. Book reviews. It will be online in a couple of weeks. Thanks for raising some attention for it.
Everyone will be welcome, once it is launched.
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