Poll: With time, have you had fewer new clients compared to regular ones? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "With time, have you had fewer new clients compared to regular ones?".
This poll was originally submitted by Mariam Osmann. View the poll results »
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By the very nature of things (one cannot expand infinitely) and by choice! Over the years (I started in 1985), I have managed to build up a solid client base. I am always interested in expanding my clientele but within reason. Most of my new clients have come either by word of mouth or through ProZ.com since I became a member in 2007.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:17
Spanish to English
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In the past 2 or 3 years I've been too busy to accept most overtures from new clients. In fact, the last one I accepted grudgingly, and only because a long-standing regular direct client had recommended me to them. It's a university department from an institution where I already have two clients, although the recommendation was from a non-academic source. I was reluctant because the first time I billed this university they made me submit a certificate from Hacienda to prove that I was up to date... See more In the past 2 or 3 years I've been too busy to accept most overtures from new clients. In fact, the last one I accepted grudgingly, and only because a long-standing regular direct client had recommended me to them. It's a university department from an institution where I already have two clients, although the recommendation was from a non-academic source. I was reluctant because the first time I billed this university they made me submit a certificate from Hacienda to prove that I was up to date with my payments. This cost me two trips into the city to stand in line to get the certificate, meaning that I lost several hours of working time. Then, the next time I went to bill them they asked me to submit the same form again, upon which I lost the plot and told them to... ahem... where they could stick it. Eventually they got back to me and said I didn't need to submit it again, as "they already had a file open for me".
I've even refused a few offers of text revision lately, because the agency in question expects me to note down a comment or justification for just about every change I make to the text, and frankly life's just too short. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Regulars have a naturally regular demand | Mar 1, 2015 |
Regular clients always need translation in one way or another. Apart from translation agencies who need them all the time, there may be publishers, video distributors, international traders, etc.
As a sworn translator, I have a never-ending inflow of once-in-a-lifetime clients, who need a number of documents translated to settle a specific situation. They are moving in, moving out, settling some deceased relative's estate, submitting evidence in a lawsuit, getting married, getting d... See more Regular clients always need translation in one way or another. Apart from translation agencies who need them all the time, there may be publishers, video distributors, international traders, etc.
As a sworn translator, I have a never-ending inflow of once-in-a-lifetime clients, who need a number of documents translated to settle a specific situation. They are moving in, moving out, settling some deceased relative's estate, submitting evidence in a lawsuit, getting married, getting divorced, and so on. Some will return years later when they have another such situation, others will simply move on. ▲ Collapse
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| Meaningless question | Mar 1, 2015 |
Given enough time, new clients will always outnumber regular ones.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X) 
Local time: 11:17
English to Spanish
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| The meaning of questions | Mar 1, 2015 |
Mikhail Kropotov wrote:
Given enough time, new clients will always outnumber regular ones.
Not necessarily. Old or new, clients are not relatives or long-time friends.
As for the question itself, yes, it is meaningless, as it is often the case with yes/no questions, which come from a mind with little or no imagination.
[Edited at 2015-03-01 18:48 GMT]
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I get frequent inquiries from potential new clients, but I'm almost always committed to my regular clients. I rarely have space to squeeze them in.
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