Poll: Do you prefer working directly with an end client or through an agency? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you prefer working directly with an end client or through an agency?".
This poll was originally submitted by Murad AWAD
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you prefer working directly with an end client or through an agency?".
This poll was originally submitted by Murad AWAD
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | |
| It all depends..... | Oct 17, 2009 |
It all depends on who is my first contact. If it's the agency, I won't betray it by contacting it's direct clients, because I know, it will affect it's business and it will be cheating to that company. However, if that company forgets me (because of rates), then surely, I will search for new clients and it can include that direct client as well.
However, if direct client is the first contact for me, I will work for it and see that he/she doesn't go elsewhere for any reason to look out for ... See more It all depends on who is my first contact. If it's the agency, I won't betray it by contacting it's direct clients, because I know, it will affect it's business and it will be cheating to that company. However, if that company forgets me (because of rates), then surely, I will search for new clients and it can include that direct client as well.
However, if direct client is the first contact for me, I will work for it and see that he/she doesn't go elsewhere for any reason to look out for more options in my language pairs.
It has happened few times, that I had to decline offers from direct clients as they were clients of the agencies with whom I was working for. Business wise, it's not at all a good tactic or practice, but I would like my agencies also to grow, who have shown faith upon myself.
Hope you all agree?
PRAKAASH
FREELANCE TRANSLATOR OF HINDI, NEPALI, SANSKRIT AND ENGLISH TO FOUR OF THE SAME LANGUAGES ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 10:43
English to French
+ ...
Some end customers are just too big for me to handle alone AND they (even when smaller) tend not to come back often if I have to decline work for them. They sometimes pay more but payments require to be monitored carefully as they are not necessarily in a hurry.
The agencies I work with take care of the general coordination for me (keeping informed about my availabilities for instance) and I know I can depend on their timely payments.
| | | |
| No preference | Oct 17, 2009 |
I don't mind at all with whom I work, as long as I get paid what I expect.
| | |
|
|
|
Direct client don't understand anything of our business and I find it much easier to let an agency lose time explaining them rather than do it myself...
| | | |
Özden Arıkan 
Germany
Local time: 10:43
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
| I prefer agencies | Oct 17, 2009 |
For reasons more or less the same as Sophie's, I much prefer working with agencies who let me focus on translation alone making up for my two big personal weaknesses: 1. total lack of cajoling skills in impersonal relations, which would be necessary to create a market with direct clients, and 2. impatience, which is a huge disadvantage in the so-called client education.
[Edited at 2009-10-17 16:48 GMT]
| | | |
Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 04:43
Member (2009)
French to English
I agree that the money can be better with direct clients, but there is also more work that needs to be done. Direct clients do not always understand what they need, or what format. I also had a problem with chasing down the one person in the office who can write the checks.
| | | |
in general it's easier and i'd rather let them do the negotiating...as long as i get paid properly, then it's no problem.
| | |
|
|
|
Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 10:43
Member (2006)
German to English
End customers pay more but sometimes take much longer to pay. Those that I do have always pay within due time.
| | | |
TCN6YR
Japan
Local time: 17:43
Russian to Japanese
+ ...
They are professionals we can rely on. There are more risks to work with end users directly if we do not know them well.
[Edited at 2009-10-17 23:32 GMT]
| | | |
Ken Fagan (X)
Local time: 10:43
French to English
| gigantic preference | Oct 18, 2009 |
I'll let you guess...
| | | |
Because:
- they pay better;
- it's easier to communicate about awkward passages - the author or an expert is usually on tap, eager to explain the text;
- they appreciate the final product;
- you get to meet interesting people!
The whole process is more human.
| | | |
Login to reply/comment 
