Poll: Do you check out your clients' addresses via Google Earth? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you check out your clients' addresses via Google Earth?".
This poll was originally submitted by Nicole Schnell
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you check out your clients' addresses via Google Earth?".
This poll was originally submitted by Nicole Schnell
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
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Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:10
German to English
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and why would I? What would it tell me?
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 20:10
English to French
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Or sometimes are missing in this all or nothing list...
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Mary Worby wrote:
and why would I? What would it tell me?
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Sebastian Witte
Germany
Local time: 20:10
Member (2004)
English to German
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Like my colleagues pointed out, checking addresses via Google Earth is no use but I often check addresses of people who don't have a corporate website nor appear in the Yellow Pages - both of which imply a considerable degree of verifiability IMO - (e.g. individuals) in the online version of the White Pages. Within the EU, having someone's "verified" address substantially raises the likeliness of getting my hard-earned money in case the debor is in default. If they're located outside the EU, pro... See more Like my colleagues pointed out, checking addresses via Google Earth is no use but I often check addresses of people who don't have a corporate website nor appear in the Yellow Pages - both of which imply a considerable degree of verifiability IMO - (e.g. individuals) in the online version of the White Pages. Within the EU, having someone's "verified" address substantially raises the likeliness of getting my hard-earned money in case the debor is in default. If they're located outside the EU, probability decreases a lot because I think in that case I can't take legal action but would have to resort to commissioning a collection agency instead. From what I "heard" (read) on ProZ, that sucks because of high charges deducted and a rather low success ratio. ▲ Collapse
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Russell Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:10
Italian to English
Interlangue wrote:
Or sometimes are missing in this all or nothing list...
I have used it once or twice when other information about an agency is minimal.
Once I found that the address was a small flat above a bicycle shop; the client proved to be perfectly bona-fide - but it can give you an idea of who you are dealing with.
Another one was a dockside carpark - that was all I wanted to know!
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| Sometimes via Google Maps | Nov 1, 2009 |
I sometimes check on the adress if I just feel like doing so out of interest or maybe because something indicates it's at bit fishy.
But I don't do so on a regular basis and not via Google Earth but Google Maps.
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Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 20:10
English
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| Send Google out to check it out | Nov 1, 2009 |
How does one make the request to Google to have them send out one of their Google vans to take pictures in the windows?
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I don't, because I usually know where in the world they are. Zooming into their specific locations is not really useful unless you plan on paying them an in-the-flesh visit. What is useful for me to know is what time zone they are in and what climate and society they live in--this information allows me to better serve my client and helps to have a pleasant relationship. As for their exact location, other than visiting, I see no purpose to seeing it. But I can imagine some of us having fun creati... See more I don't, because I usually know where in the world they are. Zooming into their specific locations is not really useful unless you plan on paying them an in-the-flesh visit. What is useful for me to know is what time zone they are in and what climate and society they live in--this information allows me to better serve my client and helps to have a pleasant relationship. As for their exact location, other than visiting, I see no purpose to seeing it. But I can imagine some of us having fun creating and watching customized Google Earth tours of their clients' offices. ▲ Collapse
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Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 12:10
English to Spanish
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In memoriam | No, I know where they are | Nov 1, 2009 |
Not far away... most of my clients are local and I know them personally.
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Mary Worby wrote:
and why would I? What would it tell me?
I agree entirely, Mary!
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 11:10
English to German
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In memoriam | Reason for this poll | Nov 1, 2009 |
A while ago I read in the forums about a colleague who got ripped of by a non-paying customer. He then checked their address with Google World and noticed that the address was fake and nonexistent. Had he done this earlier, this ugly story wouldn't have happened.
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| Looks can be deceiving | Nov 2, 2009 |
If the translation agency is a mom-and-pop affair in someone's home, they still might be a better client than a big agency that pays ridiculously low rates and doesn't really respect the work involved in translating.
Looks can be deceiving. The Organization of American States has a fabulously beautiful campus, yet I waited 2 years for $9,000 they owed to me and only finally got paid when I contacted the Secretary General in person.
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