Poll: Over the past year, the rates I charge have Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Over the past year, the rates I charge have".
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| | | | | My rates have stayed the same, but I have made some concessions | Oct 22, 2009 |
This year, for the first time, I have made some concessions to clients that I wanted to cultivate. They were new clients, and in both cases it was work that I like to do and the conditions were optimum - long deadlines, etc.
| | | | | On average rates have risen | Oct 22, 2009 |
I have deliberately neglected offers from potential clients which were below my target-rates and I have dropped several clients which only pay after several reminders or extremly late, also I have reduced the number of clients for whom I accept work without minumum rate to very few (which are really big clients and normally give me large quantities of work).
This resulted in that I had little work this spring, but now I have as much work as before, only now the (remaining) clients ... See more I have deliberately neglected offers from potential clients which were below my target-rates and I have dropped several clients which only pay after several reminders or extremly late, also I have reduced the number of clients for whom I accept work without minumum rate to very few (which are really big clients and normally give me large quantities of work).
This resulted in that I had little work this spring, but now I have as much work as before, only now the (remaining) clients pay better (on average) for the work I do. I am very glad that I didn´t give in to clients which cause more trouble than money as I could use the time when I was not translating to learn new computer programs and make my administration cheaper and more effective! ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:34
Spanish to English
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The "economic crisis" is worse here in Spain than in other parts of Western Europe, so I have kept my basic rates at the same, market average price as the past few years.
I notice that the amount of work coming in from some of my regular clients has dropped, for example one of them is sending the "less important" texts to their UK subsidiary to be translated and as a result I have had about 70% less work from them this year so far compared with 2008. I have simply removed them from my CV,... See more The "economic crisis" is worse here in Spain than in other parts of Western Europe, so I have kept my basic rates at the same, market average price as the past few years.
I notice that the amount of work coming in from some of my regular clients has dropped, for example one of them is sending the "less important" texts to their UK subsidiary to be translated and as a result I have had about 70% less work from them this year so far compared with 2008. I have simply removed them from my CV, as the quality of the texts translated in the UK by their (native!) staff is not up to the standard I usually provide for them and this is visible on their website.
The situation has led to me having to consider more offers from new clients and agencies and curb my tendency to send them packing when their rates, formats or deadlines are not to my liking. Needs must, ho hum... ▲ Collapse
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Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 05:34
Turkish to English
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| No change in euro terms | Oct 22, 2009 |
I have made no change in euro terms so far, but this amounts to a de facto rate increase for most of my clients, who are located in English-speaking countries where the local currencies have all lost value against the European common currency. This has cost me a lot of business, and I do not know how much longer this can continue. In theory I think the euro is a great thing, but the adoption of this currency at the beginning of last year by my country of residence has dealt quite a blow t... See more I have made no change in euro terms so far, but this amounts to a de facto rate increase for most of my clients, who are located in English-speaking countries where the local currencies have all lost value against the European common currency. This has cost me a lot of business, and I do not know how much longer this can continue. In theory I think the euro is a great thing, but the adoption of this currency at the beginning of last year by my country of residence has dealt quite a blow to my freelance business. ▲ Collapse
| | | | David Russi
United States
Local time: 20:34
English to Spanish
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| Effectively dropped | Oct 22, 2009 |
The same is really misleading, when rates stay the same, they effectively drop.
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 05:34
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
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| The same ... but effective drop for me and increase for many clients | Oct 22, 2009 |
I have kept my rates the same for existing clients, which means I am comparatively more expensive for some and comparatively cheaper for others (EU / UK / US based) . I am charging either the same or a slightly higher rate for new customers too.
I guess this means that those who pay in US dollars/GB pounds get the best deal here, but I have only a handfull of (long-term clients) paying me dollars - these clients have pretty much been with me since I started, so I have good solid ... See more I have kept my rates the same for existing clients, which means I am comparatively more expensive for some and comparatively cheaper for others (EU / UK / US based) . I am charging either the same or a slightly higher rate for new customers too.
I guess this means that those who pay in US dollars/GB pounds get the best deal here, but I have only a handfull of (long-term clients) paying me dollars - these clients have pretty much been with me since I started, so I have good solid relations with them.
I guess though, that even by keeping my rates at the same level I am de facto getting comparatively cheaper ... while, my work has a higher value (better from experience, produced at higher cost due to rising prices, etc.)
I just keep a positive attitude about it and firmly believe that at some point in the future I'll be gaining on the swings again (instead of losing on those roundabouts).
[Edited at 2009-10-22 17:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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For clients with whom I negotiate rates on a per-project basis I have managed to nudge the rate up a bit, and my newer clients also usually pay better than the older ones.
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| pretty much the same | Oct 22, 2009 |
as last year. I also no longer accept low rates from US clients since these days, CAN-US currency is nearly on par. The economic crisis has resulted in a reduction of work the last few months, so it would have been great to INCREASE rates to make up for it. Alas, it doesn't work that way...so it remains the same.
| | | | Murad AWAD
Germany
Local time: 04:34
English to Arabic
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MODERATOR | Over the past year, the rates I have charge are the same, but the volume of the work has dropped | Oct 22, 2009 |
Over the past year, the rates I have charge are the same, but the volume of the work has dropped, why? I think that there are many reasons for this, some reasons are local others are international, but at the end I can say that translation rates are the same but the volume of the work is going down and if it keeps like this, than it will effect rates negatively.
Best regards.
Murad AWAD
[Edited at 2009-10-22 20:12 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-10-22 20:13 GMT]
| | | | | Depends on currency | Oct 22, 2009 |
My domestic rates in BRL have remained the same.
Meanwhile as foreign currencies' exchange rates (USD, GBP, EUR) have significantly dropped in Brazil, my unchanged rates represent less money now. So I'm raising my international rates - at least for new clients - now in 20%, though I'm offering really quick payers a chance with the old rates.
| | | | m_temmer
Local time: 20:34
English to Dutch
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| adjusted for inflation | Oct 23, 2009 |
Beginning of 2009 I adjusted my rates for inflation for existing customers. New customers are charged the highest rate that is paid by my existing customers.
It's way better to stick to higher rates, than to always give in. You have less work for a certain amount of time, but very soon, you start making quite a bit more money than you used to.
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