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need some advice on very generous translation job offers
Thread poster: MariusV
MariusV
MariusV  Identity Verified
Lithuania
Local time: 23:30
English to Lithuanian
+ ...
Aug 30, 2013

Dear Colleagues,

Today I received a very generous proposal for cooperation. And I need your opinions and advice how to respond to it properly. Any help and assistance would be very much appreciated. Copy of the proposal email and my response "draft" below:

PROPOSAL:

Hello!


I am project manager at /company name deleted/, a
translation company located in /country name deleted/. We are currently
launching a large long-term trans
... See more
Dear Colleagues,

Today I received a very generous proposal for cooperation. And I need your opinions and advice how to respond to it properly. Any help and assistance would be very much appreciated. Copy of the proposal email and my response "draft" below:

PROPOSAL:

Hello!


I am project manager at /company name deleted/, a
translation company located in /country name deleted/. We are currently
launching a large long-term translation project from English to
several languages, including Lithuanian. We are recruiting teams
of translators for each language who would be available on a
continuous basis.


The subject field is agricultural machinery, construction
machinery and forestry equipment. We prefer translators with
technical education or proven technical background/experience, and
reviewers with linguistic education.


The CAT tool required by our client for this project is Across
which is free for translators and easy to use. We will arrange
free Across online training sessions at some point in September.


The estimated word count for one year is several million words per
language (up to 10 mln). The project will start in the beginning
of October and we would like to select a potential team of
translators and reviewers by next week, so your early reply to
this email will be greatly appreciated. The testing phase is
expected to take place in the second week of September, and the
training phase - by the end of September.


Please note that this project has been awarded though a tender and
our budget is quite tight. This means that translators will be
selected on the basis of expertise, rates and test results. The
rate we can offer is €0.02 per word for translation and €0.01
per source word for proofreading. The applicable CAT tool
discounts can be seen in the attached application form. If you are
able to accept this rate, you will be among our preferred
translators on an ongoing basis.


If you are interested in collaborating with us, please answer the
following questions:


- What is your experience and/or background in technical
translations? (if you have experience in agricultural machinery,
construction machinery and forestry equipment, it would be
considered a plus - please give details, if you have such
experience)


- Are you familiar with Across? If not, do you agree to
participate in our online training sessions?


- Are you a full-time freelance translator/reviewer? What is your
availability and capacity (words per day) for this project? Do you
work on weekends?


- What is your best rate for long-term collaboration and high
volume?


- Do you agree to take a free short test in the above-mentioned
fields?


- If necessary, can we contact you via Skype? What is your
username?


In order to apply, please send us the following:


- An updated CV;


- A list of references with contact details;


- A copy of your degree;


- The completed translators' form attached to this email;


- At least one sample technical translation (min. 250 words),
preferably in one of the mentioned fields.


I look forward to hearing from you!



Best regards,

---

MY RESPONSE:

Dear Madam/Sir,

Thank you very much for your interest in my services. I am so much interested in cooperation with you. But for this I'd also like to request some formalities – after you complete mine, I will then complete yours. Namely:

1. a notary-certified copy of your passport or ID card (if you will be a client as a person), or copy of your company registration certificate;

2. a detailed statement from your bank about your financial status (as a person or a company) signed with blue ink; and Annual Returns for the last 4 financial years;

3. a full list of projects completed by your company (if it is a translation agency) for the last 36 months clearly stating the amounts, prices, brands, and, of course, requisites (invoice copies will also do) and full contacts the clients;

4. in my next email I will send you a detailed CRF (Client Registration Form) which I will ask you to complete (it will not take more than two-three hours, as it is just 27 pages) - you will need to return these to me in 4 paper copies to me via DHL courier on your own expense;

5. you will also need to make a non-refundable test money transfer of at least 50 EUR (preferably in EUR, but can be in other currency per exchange rates) - I need to know that the person who is responsible has a minimum level of competence.

6. original updated CVs (if you are a company, then CVs from all members of the company staff will be needed, incl. office cleaner/janitor and CEO/president) - these must not be older than 3 weeks, and shall have color photos on them (size 3"4") - these shall be attached to the CVs; also original certificates from a psychiatrist (on the status of health) - they are not mandatory, but very much preferred as this would speed up the registration and selection process substantially;

Regarding the proposed rates (0.02 EUR for translation and 0.01 EUR for revision per source word) for technical translations based on your requirements, and for possible discounts for big volumes. First of all, such rates are my dream rates as I am also very tight on my budget (nowadays practicing extreme/hardcore vegan cuisine). But I can still offer you at least some 70% discount from the above-mentioned rates for your big potential projects (over 1000 000 words). Also I can assure you the best quality (I have 5 MA degrees and 3 Doctor’s degrees in the areas requested), and a very fast turnaround of up to 50 000 words per day (and even more) for urgent or very urgent translations (as my motto is “Do it Before Yesterday”). Moreover, for such translations, I will use modern software (like Google Translate, Babelfish, and similar).

I would really be happy to hear from you and to start a mutually beneficial business. If you STILL have any questions, please feel free to contact me any time.

Best regards,
Marius
Collapse


 
Tina Vonhof (X)
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 15:30
Dutch to English
+ ...
No need Aug 30, 2013

No need to quote the entire message and no need to respond - a waste of your time.

 
Uldis Liepkalns
Uldis Liepkalns  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 23:30
Member (2003)
English to Latvian
+ ...
Why? Aug 30, 2013

It's Friday evening- it's time to relax and smile. BTW, I too did receive the same offer- my answer was much shorter, though.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 21:30
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Another colleague received the same "generous" offer Aug 30, 2013

http://www.proz.com/forum/money_matters/255343-collaboration_inquiry_suicide_is_better.html

 
owhisonant (X)
owhisonant (X)  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 22:30
German to English
+ ...
Thanks for responding Aug 30, 2013

I'm glad you responded and helped bring this to people's attention. I do not believe that ignoring these distasteful practices will make them go away.

If anything, I am unpleasantly surprised that the moderators of this board allow this type of activity by a member here.


 
Uldis Liepkalns
Uldis Liepkalns  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 23:30
Member (2003)
English to Latvian
+ ...
Then we differ Aug 31, 2013

I think people need to know their heroes- and as the entity in question have spammed with this generous offer very many translators (by replies, I guess hundreds, if not thousands), all FB translators' groups are enjoying it. There are more than 1000 translation related groups on FB, Proz mods or Staff have no way to influence these, so in this case I'd say to the poster "you get what you asked for".


[Edited at 2013-08-31 00:55 GMT]


 
Lesley Clarke
Lesley Clarke  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 15:30
Spanish to English
Love your answer Aug 31, 2013

Way to go!

 
Erzsébet Czopyk
Erzsébet Czopyk  Identity Verified
Hungary
Local time: 22:30
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Marius Aug 31, 2013

Dear Marius, your answer is hilarious! If you do not keep the rights, may I use this as a template (boilerplate answer) for future low-budget and tender participation-objected project inquiries?

 
Erzsébet Czopyk
Erzsébet Czopyk  Identity Verified
Hungary
Local time: 22:30
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
So if many of us Aug 31, 2013

do I have the right to ask Proz.com or name the member right here and ask for explanation?
See some interesting points/questions in my topic as she says it was a tender.


 
inkweaver
inkweaver  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 22:30
French to German
+ ...
Thank you, Marius Aug 31, 2013

... for the good laugh this morning. Your response to this outrageous offer is brilliant!

 
Pascale Amozig-Bukszpan
Pascale Amozig-Bukszpan  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 22:30
English to French
To lqugh or to cry... Aug 31, 2013

I still don't know. But I will definitely keep your answer for future use...unfortunately.

 
Phil Hand
Phil Hand  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 05:30
Chinese to English
Love it Aug 31, 2013

The key detail, which I may have to steal, is the use of "modern software".

You should watch out, though, because you might actually get one of these jobs, and then you'll be forced to accept tens of thousands of euros every year for entering their text into GT.


 
2GT
2GT  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 22:30
English to Italian
+ ...
Great! Aug 31, 2013

MariusV:
MY RESPONSE:

Dear Madam/Sir,

Thank you very much for your interest in my services. I am so much interested in cooperation with you. But for this I'd also like to request some formalities – after you complete mine, I will then complete yours. Namely:
...
I would really be happy to hear from you and to start a mutually beneficial business. If you STILL have any questions, please feel free to contact me any time.




 
Silvia Poidimani
Silvia Poidimani  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 22:30
English to Italian
Your reply is great! Aug 31, 2013

Neat and professional. As this kind of offers deserve. (I would like to be there looking at their face, to see when they begin to understand you are just mocking them if they get it at all)

 
Suzan Hamer
Suzan Hamer  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 22:30
English
+ ...
Wonderful, Marius. Aug 31, 2013

I'm with Erzsébet, Pascal and others. Why don't we all use it (or as Phil hints at, parts of it), to reply to the many unbelievable offers that clutter up our inboxes. It seems a perfectly reasonable (if ludicrous) reply to them.

 
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need some advice on very generous translation job offers






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