Pages in topic:   < [1 2]
Poll: Would you agree to do a free translation for a client you've known for years?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
Marlene Blanshay
Marlene Blanshay  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 07:27
Member (2009)
French to English
+ ...
yes but Oct 25, 2012

only for clients who are very well established and provide me with regular work. I just did a small review for a charity benefit concert. I would have done it for nothing but it only ended up taking about an hour, which isn't that much more than nothing, really, but he did pay me. In cases like this, where it's a charity they support and ask for my help, I'm willing to help.

 
Audrey Pate
Audrey Pate
Italy
Local time: 12:27
Italian to English
yes, as an investment Oct 25, 2012

Once or twice I translated the (short) websites, or brochures of some of my bigger agency clients and although they did offer me payment, I refused it as I see this kind of thing as an investment. If they have a successful website and it brings in more work and I get some of that then it works in my favour too!

 
Martha Schwan
Martha Schwan  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 08:27
Member
English to Portuguese
+ ...
FREE TRANSLATIONS Oct 25, 2012

I actually have been doing many very small translations to an agency that I have been working with for one year and a half.

As a matter of fact, they do not have any respect or consideration towards me. They owe me money and they just ignore every single message I send.

I will definitely not be nice to anyone else!!


 
Evans (X)
Evans (X)
Local time: 11:27
Spanish to English
+ ...
Once bitten... Oct 25, 2012

I was once asked by an agency I had never worked for if I would do a small job for them free of charge. I was so astonished that I did it. I think it was their sheer cheek that caused me momentary madness. Needless to say I never heard from them again. No reciprocation there. I'd see them coming a mile away now.

 
Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:27
Spanish to English
+ ...
As others have said... Oct 25, 2012

...very short pieces and only for regular clients that have provided a lot of paid work.

By "very short pieces," I mean less than 200 words.

I think I'd be inclined to refuse to do anything for free if actually asked to do so.

I would only recommend that the practice be applied sparingly. If you do it too much, you risk encouraging a perception that what you do isn't really worth much.


 
Yaotl Altan
Yaotl Altan  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 05:27
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
No Oct 25, 2012

Will the government cancel my taxes this years? I have been paying taxes since 1998.

That logic is kinda strange


 
Jose Arnoldo Rodriguez-Carrington
Jose Arnoldo Rodriguez-Carrington  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 05:27
English to Spanish
+ ...
It depends Oct 25, 2012

John Cutler wrote:

Actually, I've been doing small free translations, corrections, queries, etc. for one client for years.

It should be mentioned though that they provide a substantial chunk of my income.

I see it as a "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" policy.


Exactly. I have a client for whom I have worked for about fifteen years, and they occasionally ask me a question or two or three sentences for something. I answer the question or do the small translation and say "There is no charge". Two or three minutes of free work for someone who has provided you thousands of dollars in income are gladly done.


 
Joan Berglund
Joan Berglund  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:27
Member (2008)
French to English
It depends Oct 25, 2012

I have done very small jobs for a regular client without charge. This client never complains about paying minimums, so I charge a minimum for some things and some small things go - I think it all works out even in the end. I also do pro bono work for nonprofits, and I would probably agree to do pro bono work for an agency I knew and trusted if they told me it was for a nonprofit, and everything seemed to be in order. In this case, I would expect the deadline to be somewhat generous, as is usu... See more
I have done very small jobs for a regular client without charge. This client never complains about paying minimums, so I charge a minimum for some things and some small things go - I think it all works out even in the end. I also do pro bono work for nonprofits, and I would probably agree to do pro bono work for an agency I knew and trusted if they told me it was for a nonprofit, and everything seemed to be in order. In this case, I would expect the deadline to be somewhat generous, as is usually the case when I work directly for nonprofits. I don't think I would do any commercial free translation - I hear startups ask for it once in a while. Maybe if they looked really promising, and gave me lots of stock...Collapse


 
Elena Novski
Elena Novski
Canada
Local time: 07:27
Russian to English
+ ...
Probably Not Oct 26, 2012


I would only recommend that the practice be applied sparingly. If you do it too much, you risk encouraging a perception that what you do isn't really worth much.

Toooo right! 100 words maximum, only for long-standing direct clients, from a language which is not the official project language.
Helping fellow translators - yes, always, but this will be off-topic here.


 
Pages in topic:   < [1 2]


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Would you agree to do a free translation for a client you've known for years?






Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »
TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »