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Low-priced job posted on ProZ.com
Thread poster: Lietta Warren-Granato
Lietta Warren-Granato
Lietta Warren-Granato  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
Italian to English
+ ...
Feb 12, 2009

I just wanted to point out that a job offer advertised here on ProZ for a small project (500 words) from English to Italian, for 0,025 EU per word, has received 159 replies.
I think this is very, very sad.

[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2009-02-12 14:07 GMT]


 
Adriana Grigorescu
Adriana Grigorescu  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
English to Italian
+ ...
Very sad indeed Feb 12, 2009

It is very sad indeed, Lietta. Thank you for pointing that out. I saw that job post yesterday but I refrained from commenting it. Besides that, I had already seen another one, a technical translation (!!!) which was paid 0,011 EU per word. It got 23 replies...
This is more than sad, it is depre
... See more
It is very sad indeed, Lietta. Thank you for pointing that out. I saw that job post yesterday but I refrained from commenting it. Besides that, I had already seen another one, a technical translation (!!!) which was paid 0,011 EU per word. It got 23 replies...
This is more than sad, it is depressing.
Will we soon work for free??? Should we just be grateful that we've got work and something to fill our useless time with? I may be exaggerating but this is my impression reading this kind of posts.
Collapse


 
Eleonora Timmons Militano
Eleonora Timmons Militano  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:37
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
I saw them too... Feb 12, 2009

I saw the technical job for 30 Euros. I couldn't believe my eyes and I was almost going to send the poster an e-mail about it. Then I decided not too.
Well, point one, she will probably not get quality
Point two I bet that if somebody has taken on the job, he/she might not even complete it, because he/she will find out that it's not worth it.

Man, I wonder, is there really so little work out there for us translators?


 
writeaway
writeaway  Identity Verified
French to English
+ ...
That's why such jobs are constantly posted Feb 12, 2009

Lietta Warren-Granato wrote:

I just wanted to point out that a job offer advertised here on ProZ for a small project (500 words) from English to Italian, for 0,025 EU per word, has received 159 replies.
I think this is very, very sad.

[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2009-02-12 14:07 GMT]


Outsourcers must smile with glee when they post such jobs, because they know they will find translators to fill them. We've seen it before. It's a fact of life.
Around 2 years ago, ie before the current "crisis", a Proz translator cheerfully posted jobs for fellow translators at 3 to 4 US$ cents a word. 133 hopefuls bid. As long as people can get others to do the work at dumping prices, they would be silly to pay a decent rate. After all, it means they can pocket most of the profits without having to lift a finger. And continue to smile all the way to the bank.


 
Gisela Greenlee
Gisela Greenlee  Identity Verified
Local time: 07:37
German to English
+ ...
Replies Feb 12, 2009

All you can see is that translators sent a reply, which doesn't mean that they actually bid on the job. They may well have sent a scathing reply on the low offer!

 
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 13:37
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Who said all bidders accepted the rate? Feb 12, 2009

Maybe a big amount of them is bidding at a higher rate or just using the opportunity to convey their CV and offer their services. I sometimes do that. Of course these firms never accept my rate, but at least they know what the true price of such a job is in the market.

 
Ralf Lemster
Ralf Lemster  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:37
English to German
+ ...
Not unless you take the offer Feb 12, 2009

Hi Lietta,
I think this is very, very sad.

Not unless you actually take that offer.

Have a look through the forums - there's a significant number of discussions mentioning "a (dire) warning", "a threat to our profession", "insulting offers", etc. But such discussions are based on a misconception: there is no such thing as one market, but various segments with differing expectations regarding skills, qualifications, quality etc., and corresponding differences in pricing.

The global market is multifaceted. ProZ.com simply offers a virtual platform where offer and demand meet. Choosing the right segment to target is a crucial factor for running a successful business. May yours be successful!

Best regards,
Ralf


 
Oleg Rudavin
Oleg Rudavin  Identity Verified
Ukraine
Local time: 14:37
Member (2003)
English to Ukrainian
+ ...
Can it be a good sign? Feb 12, 2009

I imagine car manufacturers who use the cheapest spare parts to make their cars. Guess how long they will stay in business?

Hopefully the law will work here, too.


 
Vanda Nissen
Vanda Nissen  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 22:37
Member (2008)
English to Russian
+ ...
+1 Feb 12, 2009

Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:

Maybe a big amount of them is bidding at a higher rate or just using the opportunity to convey their CV and offer their services. I sometimes do that.

I do not know if we are talking about the same job but rate seems to be the same. I sent an e-mail to the outsourcer saying that his rate was too low and offered my one. Of course, I did not get an answer but I made my point.


 
Barbara Turchetto
Barbara Turchetto  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
Member (2008)
German to Italian
+ ...
I think you are right Feb 12, 2009

Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:

Maybe a big amount of them is bidding at a higher rate or just using the opportunity to convey their CV and offer their services. I sometimes do that. Of course these firms never accept my rate, but at least they know what the true price of such a job is in the market.


That's what I actually do sometimes...and that's why nobody ever contacts me!!!


 
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:37
English to German
+ ...
They will Feb 12, 2009

Oleg Rudavin wrote:

I imagine car manufacturers who use the cheapest spare parts to make their cars. Guess how long they will stay in business?

Hopefully the law will work here, too.


stay in business as long as there is a market for cheap products.


 
Cristina Lo Bianco
Cristina Lo Bianco  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
We should all answer Feb 12, 2009

giselrike wrote:

All you can see is that translators sent a reply, which doesn't mean that they actually bid on the job. They may well have sent a scathing reply on the low offer!


Thats' a good idea! We should all quote for those job and tell these people what we think about their low rates! Imagine the happy face of one of them when he sees 300 replys. And then he has a look at the first one and it says "no way", and so the second, and the third... maybe that will teach him!.

Bye,
Cristina


 
Milena Bosco (X)
Milena Bosco (X)  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
English to Italian
+ ...
I replied Feb 12, 2009

I did reply, complaining about the rate, and stating my rate per word.

I am not expecting to be contacted, of course, but I think that ranting among us does not help. We should all take a stance. Next time please join me (and others for sure), and let's show clients that the majority of us shares the same ideas.

Regards,

Milena


 
Paola Dentifrigi
Paola Dentifrigi  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
Member (2003)
English to Italian
+ ...
I quoted Feb 12, 2009

I partly* agree with Ralf, but I quoted for my pair (EN>IT) @ 0.12 stating:

You need an appalling web site if you want to stay in business. No one will contact a school whose website is poorly written. And for your rate, I am afraid that is what you'll get.
Good luck,

* No time to explain it now why "partly":-)


 
Lietta Warren-Granato
Lietta Warren-Granato  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 13:37
Italian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
appalling or appealing? Feb 12, 2009

Paola Dentifrigi wrote:



You need an appalling web site if you want to stay in business.






YOU MEANT 'APPEALING', I HOPE...


 
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