Off topic: The nice guys Thread poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
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I couldn't resist sharing with you guys...
About seven months ago, I got this offer, right out of the blue (unknown outsourcer):
We have a divorce contract to be translated into English, see
details below:
Source language: Portuguese
Target language: English Word count: 500 words
Source format: PDF
Delivery format: MS Word
Payment: $27 by PayPal, 30 days from invoice.
Deadline: in the next 5-6 hours please.
Please advise availability and I shall send you the file.
They assumed it would be only a matter of my availability, upon such a generous offer.
So my reply was unusually blunt:
The two acceptable words on this job are: PDF and MS Word.
Everything else in your offer is insulting.
Today, seven months later, I got it back with:
Thank you for replying. We have found the resources to complete that particular project, however I would appreciate if you register on our website for us to be able to work with you on future jobs.
My take is that they are now attempting to add injury to insult (sic!).
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Corporate minions are trained to be assertive and negotiation-enabled, which means they're going to behave in all sorts of unnatural ways devised by psychologists who sold out. They will often act in hilarious ways to preserve a commercial relationship that's headed downhill (down the toilet, more like), in spite of all the rational and emotional factors that speak against. To them, that's business.
With the proviso th... See more Corporate minions are trained to be assertive and negotiation-enabled, which means they're going to behave in all sorts of unnatural ways devised by psychologists who sold out. They will often act in hilarious ways to preserve a commercial relationship that's headed downhill (down the toilet, more like), in spite of all the rational and emotional factors that speak against. To them, that's business.
With the proviso that I wouldn't normally provide assistance in the procurement or implementation of a divorce for religious reasons, I'm particularly opposed to the notion of immediate turnaround simply because someone wants it. Such a request can only be justified by either a very urgent, legitimate, real need that makes it okay to ask, or the sort of huge overpayment that prevents a purely convenience-based request from being rude. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jean Lachaud 
United States
Local time: 03:14
English to French
+ ...
| "resources"?! | Mar 22, 2016 |
I am not a "resource." This has to be the most insulting term of the entire exchange.
| | | | Woodstock (X)
Germany
Local time: 09:14
German to English
+ ...
| Goodness, how could you refuse such a tempting offer? | Mar 22, 2016 |
Heh.
Usually I don't bother replying, but sometimes if a rate isn't specified, I can't resist and write them that if they are willing to pay my rate of x,xx @ per word, then we can continue the discussion. Otherwise no.
Oddly enough, I have even received a couple of polite replies to those somewhat curt responses, acknowledging that the rate was too high, but thanks anyway. Those were nice surprises and restored my faith in the industry...somewhat.
Have a nice Easter, J... See more Heh.
Usually I don't bother replying, but sometimes if a rate isn't specified, I can't resist and write them that if they are willing to pay my rate of x,xx @ per word, then we can continue the discussion. Otherwise no.
Oddly enough, I have even received a couple of polite replies to those somewhat curt responses, acknowledging that the rate was too high, but thanks anyway. Those were nice surprises and restored my faith in the industry...somewhat.
Have a nice Easter, José! ▲ Collapse
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Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 10:14
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
| Tempting but | Mar 23, 2016 |
Of course it makes you feel better when you answer sarcastically to unfair offers. but for how long?
If the job would interest me but the offered rate is too low I state my rate, if the job does not interest me I keep silent.
| | | | | Not uncommon... | Mar 23, 2016 |
JL01 wrote:
I am not a "resource." This has to be the most insulting term of the entire exchange.
I'm afraid that's a pretty "standard" term in agency lingo to refer to human beings doing their bidding... I guess "slave" (still) is a tad too politically incorrect to be used openly, but I'm sure we'll do away with such gratuitous niceties, in time.
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 03:14
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
| Human "Resources" | Mar 23, 2016 |
Mirko Mainardi wrote: JL01 wrote:
I am not a "resource." This has to be the most insulting term of the entire exchange. I'm afraid that's a pretty "standard" term in agency lingo to refer to human beings doing their bidding... I guess "slave" (still) is a tad too politically incorrect to be used openly, but I'm sure we'll do away with such gratuitous niceties, in time.
Not just agencies, but the entire corporate world. "Human resources" is corporate-speak for "people".
[Edited at 2016-03-23 19:05 GMT]
| | | | | Yes, but ... | Mar 23, 2016 |
John Fossey wrote: Mirko Mainardi wrote: JL01 wrote:
I am not a "resource." This has to be the most insulting term of the entire exchange. I'm afraid that's a pretty "standard" term in agency lingo to refer to human beings doing their bidding... I guess "slave" (still) is a tad too politically incorrect to be used openly, but I'm sure we'll do away with such gratuitous niceties, in time. Not just agencies, but the entire corporate world. "Human resources" is corporate-speak for "people". [Edited at 2016-03-23 19:05 GMT]
only when you speak about people to get a job done, but you don't call anyone "resource".
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MollyRose
United States
Local time: 02:14
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Yes, we ARE people | Mar 23, 2016 |
Even more insulting is what they have officially called our personnel department now: Human Capital. YUCKY!!!! We're not money, although it seems that is how "they" deal with us.
| | | | | To whom it may concern... | Mar 24, 2016 |
Well, José. At least the offer was addressed to you. I receive, almost on a daily basis, offers from splendid companies with very elegant opening:
"To whom it may concern" (sometimes: "To Whom It May Concern")
Up until now, I did not know the answer to this (what I considered a) question. Now I know that it may concern to a "resource".
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 09:14
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| It'd be nice to be treated like humans, sure. | Mar 24, 2016 |
How do we expect it to happen when for them we are just a bunch of megapixels on the screen they will never even get a chance to look in the eye in person?
[Edited at 2016-03-24 08:33 GMT]
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 09:14
French to English
| Hey I can top that! | Mar 24, 2016 |
A while back I had an interview with a prestigious agency for an in-house job. When I asked about salary, they said I would first have to work for a few days to show what I was capable of, then we could discuss it. I grabbed my bag and sailed out with my head held high, saying that it was out of the question.
Few months later, I get a frantic e-mail from a secretary saying she had been trying to call me all week (I must have forgotten to send them the update on my contact details, ... See more A while back I had an interview with a prestigious agency for an in-house job. When I asked about salary, they said I would first have to work for a few days to show what I was capable of, then we could discuss it. I grabbed my bag and sailed out with my head held high, saying that it was out of the question.
Few months later, I get a frantic e-mail from a secretary saying she had been trying to call me all week (I must have forgotten to send them the update on my contact details, silly me!) and please could I call back, because an interesting job opportunity had come up. I expect the person they hired had just quit. I took great pleasure in explaining why I was never having anything to do with that agency for the rest of my life, and I'm pretty sure I referred to myself as a human being. ▲ Collapse
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Peter Leeflang
United States
Local time: 03:14
Member (2014)
French to English
+ ...
| I actually love such requests :-) | Mar 24, 2016 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote: ....My take is that they are now attempting to add injury to insult (sic!).
Why take things personal with any quote request?
I think it is just business, albeit in that case bad business.
Big benefit of such processes is that I can move such companies to my black list and never waste my time on them in the future.
So I love dumb requests like that.
[Edited at 2016-03-24 16:07 GMT]
| | | | | I meant it literally | Mar 24, 2016 |
Peter Leeflang wrote: José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote: ....My take is that they are now attempting to add injury to insult (sic!). Why take things personal with any quote request? I think it is just business, albeit in that case bad business. Big benefit of such processes is that I can move such companies to my black list and never waste my time on them in the future. So I love dumb requests like that.
Their first job offer was insulting.
Now they want to add injury (money loss) by attempting to lure me into doing business with them.
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