| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you prefer working with local or foreign agencies? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you prefer working with local or foreign agencies?".
This poll was originally submitted by Yunaz Halim. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:52
Spanish to English
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I prefer NOT to work with agencies at all! However, if pressed, I would rather work for local agencies, mainly so that if they don't pay I can "send the boys round"...
| | | | John Cutler 
Spain
Local time: 14:52
Spanish to English
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| Local meaning national | Apr 13, 2012 |
I voted local agencies but only for lack of the option of "national" agencies and national preferably meaning from large cities within my country of residence.
I've actually sworn off dealing with what could be considered true “local” agencies (i.e., agencies from the smallish city in Spain where I live). They all had a very annoying provincial attitude and sooner or later started acting like they were my boss and I was at their beck and call. I guess I wasn't willing to put wit... See more I voted local agencies but only for lack of the option of "national" agencies and national preferably meaning from large cities within my country of residence.
I've actually sworn off dealing with what could be considered true “local” agencies (i.e., agencies from the smallish city in Spain where I live). They all had a very annoying provincial attitude and sooner or later started acting like they were my boss and I was at their beck and call. I guess I wasn't willing to put with their "big fish" in a small pond attitude.
The agencies I now deal with from larger cities within Spain have a more hands-off and less high-handed approach and I see that they have a larger world view than the local yokels I used to deal with. The projects they offer are also bigger and more interesting than anything I was offered by local agencies. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:52
English to German
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In memoriam | Domestic agencies | Apr 13, 2012 |
Because my legal power is as powerful as a herd of Tyrannosaurus Rex with individual personal lawyers in my own country, should anyone even remotely consider the mere thought of acting weird in terms of proper payment. 
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:52
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | @John Cutler | Apr 13, 2012 |
John Cutler wrote:
I voted local agencies but only for lack of the option of "national" agencies and national preferably meaning from large cities within my country of residence.
I've actually sworn off dealing with what could be considered true “local” agencies (i.e., agencies from the smallish city in Spain where I live). They all had a very annoying provincial attitude and sooner or later started acting like they were my boss and I was at their beck and call. I guess I wasn't willing to put with their "big fish" in a small pond attitude.
The agencies I now deal with from larger cities within Spain have a more hands-off and less high-handed approach and I see that they have a larger world view than the local yokels I used to deal with. The projects they offer are also bigger and more interesting than anything I was offered by local agencies.
I don't work for local clients, either. The West Coast is obsessed with IT and software. Those are not my fields. My favorite industries are located in the Midwest.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 14:52
English to French
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| Local/national | Apr 13, 2012 |
National or local/national branch of multinational agencies. Big enough but with a human dimension!
The ones I work with are good at negociating (framework contracts) with international clients, and they have the necessary structure to do it.
This does not mean that I do not work with smaller agencies on the local/national market.
For direct clients, I prefer the international type though.
| | | | | Foreign every time | Apr 13, 2012 |
In my languages, foreign agencies pay twice as much as domestic agencies. Not much more to be said really!
| | | | | Rather foreign | Apr 13, 2012 |
I don't exclude local/national agencies, but they tend to offer poorer conditions (i.e.: compared to some foreign countries, not all foreign countries)
Plus foreign agencies mean no VAT, which is also less paperwork.
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Bruno Depascale
Italy
Local time: 14:52
Member (2009)
English to Italian
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| My personal view on Italian agencies | Apr 13, 2012 |
In my personal experience, local (i.e. Italian) agencies pay very low fees and treat you most of the time as a beggar, not as a professional service provider.
This maybe is due to the fact that Italian translation agencies are often very small and have a very restricted view on the translation industry and on business in general.
Moreover, in Italy people often have a "paternalistic" approach to work: that is, "we are doing you a very big favor assigning you this job at the "very hig... See more In my personal experience, local (i.e. Italian) agencies pay very low fees and treat you most of the time as a beggar, not as a professional service provider.
This maybe is due to the fact that Italian translation agencies are often very small and have a very restricted view on the translation industry and on business in general.
Moreover, in Italy people often have a "paternalistic" approach to work: that is, "we are doing you a very big favor assigning you this job at the "very high rate of 0,04 € per source word"!
This is only my humble opinion of course.. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elena Novski
Canada
Local time: 08:52
Russian to English
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| Foreign only | Apr 13, 2012 |
That's where they are ready to do the real business!
| | | | | National as far as possible | Apr 13, 2012 |
The national agencies pay better, and I would almost go as far as to say local ones. I have had some very good business from one international agency and several colleagues who outsource - barely agencies - all within a couple of hours' driving.
But there are some lovely people further afield too, and I tend not to have time for agencies who don't pay or are a lot of trouble.
| | | | | Ideal would be an across-the-street agency | Apr 13, 2012 |
Russia, Moscow. The best paying jobs come from abroad or from foreign guests (two types of "good" guests: 1. inexperienced (or not yet "localized") 2.too enthusiastic investors or researchers). The most interesting job, however, comes from local people (either in foreign and Russian languages), because it is usually of common interest (organizing super-markets, implementing "fantastic" managerial ideas, and so on). The non-financial interest in translation is important, and it is generally "root... See more Russia, Moscow. The best paying jobs come from abroad or from foreign guests (two types of "good" guests: 1. inexperienced (or not yet "localized") 2.too enthusiastic investors or researchers). The most interesting job, however, comes from local people (either in foreign and Russian languages), because it is usually of common interest (organizing super-markets, implementing "fantastic" managerial ideas, and so on). The non-financial interest in translation is important, and it is generally "rooted" locally (where the translator resides). ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:52
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Stating the obvious | Apr 13, 2012 |
Chris S wrote:
In my languages, foreign agencies pay twice as much as domestic agencies. Not much more to be said really!
My friend, who is based here in Spain, but translating Scandinavian and German to English, says the same...
| | | | Rolf Kern
Switzerland
Local time: 14:52
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | local (Swiss) agencies | Apr 13, 2012 |
Becaus they pay at least the double of the fees foreign agencies are able to pay.
| | | | | It is not the origin of the agency, but the type of project | Apr 13, 2012 |
Most of my clients are abroad and offer interesting projects in my field. It is the type of work that I enjoy and not the fact that they are "foreign" that keeps the collaboration going.
I have few local clients, probably because I have not advertised locally. I am slowly broadening my local network, so this may eventually bring in new clients (trying not to put all my eggs in one basket).
I used to enjoy being payed in US dollars (many foreign agencies pay in USD), but... See more Most of my clients are abroad and offer interesting projects in my field. It is the type of work that I enjoy and not the fact that they are "foreign" that keeps the collaboration going.
I have few local clients, probably because I have not advertised locally. I am slowly broadening my local network, so this may eventually bring in new clients (trying not to put all my eggs in one basket).
I used to enjoy being payed in US dollars (many foreign agencies pay in USD), but with the state of the currency, working locally is becoming more advantageous. ▲ Collapse
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