| Pagine: [1 2] > | Should rush rates automatically be passed on? Iniziatore argomento: XXXphxxx (X)
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XXXphxxx (X) 
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
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This morning a client (agency) I have had for years contacted me to offer me some work. They wanted the job done by Thursday morning, I explained I was booked up and couldn't fit it in. They insisted they wanted me to do the job and were offering a 25% rush rate, the answer was still "Sorry, no - only so many hours in a day, I can't 'squeeze in' 8500 words". The rush rate went up to 50%. The answer, unfortunately for me, was still 'No'. Then I thought about it and felt quite cross that this rush... See more This morning a client (agency) I have had for years contacted me to offer me some work. They wanted the job done by Thursday morning, I explained I was booked up and couldn't fit it in. They insisted they wanted me to do the job and were offering a 25% rush rate, the answer was still "Sorry, no - only so many hours in a day, I can't 'squeeze in' 8500 words". The rush rate went up to 50%. The answer, unfortunately for me, was still 'No'. Then I thought about it and felt quite cross that this rush rate was not offered up front in the first e-mail. I wouldn't normally have requested a rush rate if I'd been available as I could happily fit 8500 words for Thursday. However, they're clearly applying the surcharge to their client. Is it unreasonable of me to think they've been a tad disingenuous or is business just business? ▲ Collapse
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not incredibly ethical, but they are entitled to try it on... personally, I would be a bit annoyed and would definitely consider not working for them again or maybe put my rates up quite a lot! 
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
AVVIO ARGOMENTO | Thanks Giovanni. | Dec 19, 2011 |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: not incredibly ethical, but they are entitled to try it on... personally, I would be a bit annoyed and would definitely consider not working for them again or maybe put my rates up quite a lot!
I thought I was maybe being unreasonable for feeling peeved. They used to be one of my best clients. However, for the past 2 years they've tried their very best to squeeze my rates and this feels a little like the straw that broke the camel's back.
| | | | | perfectly reasonable... | Dec 19, 2011 |
Lisa Simpson wrote:
I thought I was maybe being unreasonable for feeling peeved.
to feel peeved about it. I got a thing about only working with agencies who behave ethically and are honest and upfront about things. When agencies start dragging their feet about rates, I tend to drop them on the long term.
However, for the past 2 years they've tried their very best to squeeze my rates and this feels a little like the straw that broke the camel's back.
I suppose putting your rates up it's not an option, then...
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Lisa Simpson wrote:
Then I thought about it and felt quite cross that this rush rate was not offered up front in the first e-mail. I wouldn't normally have requested a rush rate if I'd been available as I could happily fit 8500 words for Thursday.
I assume that they offered this increased rate in the light of your information that you already have some work. Hence in order to complete this job you would need to do some serious overtime. They did not know about it when they originally sent you an offer.
Best Regards
Stanislaw
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spagna
Local time: 16:42
Membro (2007)
Inglese
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| On the contrary | Dec 19, 2011 |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote: Lisa Simpson wrote:
However, for the past 2 years they've tried their very best to squeeze my rates and this feels a little like the straw that broke the camel's back. I suppose putting your rates up it's not an option, then...
It sounds as though a general rate increase is called for here. Clients who are not really that good to work for automatically get higher, not lower, quotes from me. As Giovanni says, there's nothing to stop an agency trying it on, but they can't expect us to appreciate it, can they?
Sheila
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
AVVIO ARGOMENTO
Stanislaw Czech wrote:
I assume that they offered this increased rate in the light of your information that you already have some work. Hence in order to complete this job you would need to do some serious overtime. They did not know about it when they originally sent you an offer.
Best Regards
Stanislaw
I told them I might manage delivery for Friday afternoon but would have to see the file first. They then offered a 25% rush rate for Thursday a.m. When I told them that wouldn't be possible they increased it to a 50% rush rate, which sadly made no difference as I wouldn't even attempt knocking off 8500 words in 24 hours. Fact is that if in response to their first e-mail (with no file attached) I'd suggested delivering 8500 words by Thursday I would have done so without the 25%, let alone 50% rush rate that they were holding back.
It doesn't seem to me that they went ringing round other translators and then tried to up the rate when they got desperate. The offers came back thick and fast so they had the readies all along. Maybe I'm being oversensitive but I find it dishonest, then again, perhaps I'm not swift enough in demanding rush rates (?) It didn't cross my mind to do so as I'd already had discussions about rates with them before plus I wouldn't demand a rush rate just because I was booked up.
[Edited at 2011-12-19 15:37 GMT]
| | | | Neil Coffey
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Francese a Inglese
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| Are they actually charging a rush rate? | Dec 19, 2011 |
I don't think you can make too many presumptions without knowing more details.
They may not actually be charging the end client a "rush rate" as such. They could be charging them the normal price which is, say, twice the rate that you are paid and thus enough to absorb a 25% or 50% increase to your rate when necessary. But being a business not a charity, they'd rather take as much profit as they can when they can, so will only offer the 50% increase when pushed.
Or mayb... See more I don't think you can make too many presumptions without knowing more details.
They may not actually be charging the end client a "rush rate" as such. They could be charging them the normal price which is, say, twice the rate that you are paid and thus enough to absorb a 25% or 50% increase to your rate when necessary. But being a business not a charity, they'd rather take as much profit as they can when they can, so will only offer the 50% increase when pushed.
Or maybe the client has said "we'll pay an extra X-Y%, but would appreciate it if you'd try and negotiate X%". (Less likely, but could happen.)
I wouldn't be too perturbed, but just take it as a reminder that sometimes it's worth negotiating from your side. ▲ Collapse
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XXXphxxx (X)
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
AVVIO ARGOMENTO | They're the ones who are alway telling me the margin is too tight. | Dec 19, 2011 |
Neil Coffey wrote:
I don't think you can make too many presumptions without knowing more details.
I might be making presumptions but a) I don't think many agencies have a huge margin b) this is the very agency that has spent the last two years trying to negotiate my rate down (by 1 cent/word) and telling me that their margin is very small. I think it's fair to presume that the extra 50% didn't appear from nowhere.
| | | | | Can't always believe what you're told | Dec 19, 2011 |
They told you their margin was small, but do you have any actual evidence of that? It's not unusual for an agency to charge a direct client two or even three times what they pay their translators. Just because they negotiated your rate down by 1 cent a word doesn't mean they passed the savings on to their clients. So I'm with the others who say they were underpaying you to begin with and the 50% rush rate is something they could easily afford.
The moral of the story: Charge a... See more They told you their margin was small, but do you have any actual evidence of that? It's not unusual for an agency to charge a direct client two or even three times what they pay their translators. Just because they negotiated your rate down by 1 cent a word doesn't mean they passed the savings on to their clients. So I'm with the others who say they were underpaying you to begin with and the 50% rush rate is something they could easily afford.
The moral of the story: Charge agencies rush rates to begin with. Don't wait for them to suggest it because they won't.
[Edited at 2011-12-19 15:59 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
AVVIO ARGOMENTO | Hang on a sec | Dec 19, 2011 |
If I were a client I'd find it rather unpleasant if each time I contacted a translator they said "Well I'm booked up but I'll do it for a 50% surcharge". What would I do? I'd look elsewhere and find someone with availability. I use rush rates if the client has set a deadline that requires working late or over a weekend, whether or not I'm booked up is neither here nor there.
| | | | Russell Jones
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Italiano a Inglese
| Since no one else has mentioned it | Dec 19, 2011 |
They did keep coming back to YOU Lisa
It suggests they appreciate you at least. To my mind an appreciative (regular) client can be worth a cent or two on rates.
[Edited at 2011-12-19 16:14 GMT]
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| Phone a friend | Dec 19, 2011 |
Lisa Simpson wrote: Neil Coffey wrote:
I don't think you can make too many presumptions without knowing more details.
I might be making presumptions but a) I don't think many agencies have a huge margin b) this is the very agency that has spent the last two years trying to negotiate my rate down (by 1 cent/word) and telling me that their margin is very small. I think it's fair to presume that the extra 50% didn't appear from nowhere.
I happen to agree that Neil's probably about right, in that very, very roughly, general agencies are thought to charge end clients about double the rate they pay us mugs, hence there is easily room for a 50% increase as a one-off. Especially if they know you would do a good job, it wouldn't need any re-work, definitely deliver when you say, etc. all 2 days before crimbo, when, if anything went pear-shaped, they could well be looking at the new year before they can put it right. It could very easily be worth their while in the long run to even take a small hit on this if it keeps their end-client sweet. Who knows? It is all supposition.
You could, if you felt so inclined, one day ask a friend to make enquiries of this agency regarding a document of a similar type to those you tend to do. Then you'll know how much they charge.
| | | | | That's not how I meant it | Dec 19, 2011 |
Lisa Simpson wrote:
If I were a client I'd find it rather unpleasant if each time I contacted a translator they said "Well I'm booked up but I'll do it for a 50% surcharge". What would I do? I'd look elsewhere and find someone with availability. I use rush rates if the client has set a deadline that requires working late or over a weekend, whether or not I'm booked up is neither here nor there.
I'm not suggesting you abuse the process, Lisa. But if there's a rush job, charging a rush fee is completely reasonable. My local post office has a number of different rates depending on how fast you want your package to get there. It's the same principle.
Whether your agency does it to the client or not, you have to the right to be compensated for extra work or faster turnarounds - if you so choose.
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
Regno Unito
Local time: 16:42
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
AVVIO ARGOMENTO | It wasn't a 'rush job' | Dec 19, 2011 |
TransAfrique wrote:
I'm not suggesting you abuse the process, Lisa. But if there's a rush job, charging a rush fee is completely reasonable. My local post office has a number of different rates depending on how fast you want your package to get there. It's the same principle.
The way I saw it, it wasn't a rush job. I work on the basis of an output of 2500-3000 words a day. If I had been available this morning and for the rest of the week a deadline of Thursday a.m. would have been perfectly do-able, so quoting a rush rate in my first response didn't even come into it. As I've said above, to me a rush job is one that requires me to work overtime (i.e. evenings or weekends). Am I alone here?
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