| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Please give non-paying members time to make job bids! Thread poster: Paul Dixon
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Paul Dixon 
Brazil
Local time: 17:02
Portuguese to English
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I think ProZ should do something to give non-paying users time to make bids for jobs.
What I have seen is that jobs are posted with the restriction "non-members may only quote after 24 hours" and then closed after 12 hours or even less - thus discriminating against non-payers and also giving them the false hope of being able to place a bid.
My opinion is that if the job poster wants to give a time period of XX hours before non-payers can place bids, then the poster shou... See more I think ProZ should do something to give non-paying users time to make bids for jobs.
What I have seen is that jobs are posted with the restriction "non-members may only quote after 24 hours" and then closed after 12 hours or even less - thus discriminating against non-payers and also giving them the false hope of being able to place a bid.
My opinion is that if the job poster wants to give a time period of XX hours before non-payers can place bids, then the poster should not be allowed to close the job before, say, (XX + 25%) hours have passed. For example, a job "non-members may only quote after 24 hours" could only be closed 30 hours after the posting, which would give 6 hours for non-payers to quote.
I am also horrified at the increasing frequency of member-only jobs. How can non-payers expect to get jobs if they can't even bid for most of them?
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2009-06-02 14:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Maybe this is a stupid question... | Jun 2, 2009 |
...but why not join, Paul? The membership pays for itself many times over.
| | | | | Agree in principle | Jun 2, 2009 |
It sounds all good on paper, but let's say the agency found the translator they want in the first 12-24 hours, what interest do they have getting more quotes that they don't need. The same goes for the translators, why should you lose time writing a quote to an agency that already found someone and will not consider your quote anyway?
It only saves time for both parties in a job if removed when the right person(s) has been found. Also there might be rush jobs where the agency cannot... See more It sounds all good on paper, but let's say the agency found the translator they want in the first 12-24 hours, what interest do they have getting more quotes that they don't need. The same goes for the translators, why should you lose time writing a quote to an agency that already found someone and will not consider your quote anyway?
It only saves time for both parties in a job if removed when the right person(s) has been found. Also there might be rush jobs where the agency cannot wait 36 hours to get all quotes, in that case, yes, it is unfortunate, but paying members are advantaged.
I am not a paying member, I don't think I will become one in the near future, but I'm thinking that if an agency really wants to get more quotes/has the time to do so, they will wait for the 24 hour period to end. ▲ Collapse
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Mikhail Kropotov wrote:
...but why not join, Paul? The membership pays for itself many times over.
Exactly. Plus, the best jobs on Proz are the ones you get through direct contact from the clients, not through the job board... and clients are way more inclined to contact paying members.
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Harald Roald
Spain
Local time: 22:02
English to Norwegian
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| ....and check the blueboard | Jun 2, 2009 |
as a paying member you can check the Blueboard history of the outsourcer. An important and very useful as a tool when you decide whether you want to bid at all!
| | | | | Early birds get the worm | Jun 2, 2009 |
I just recently posted a job myself and received so many qualified applications in the first 2 hours that I had several excellent applicants to choose from. When the translator accepted the job I closed the posting, because it would have been a waste of time for others responding to the post as well as for myself vetting even more excellent applications if I was able to place the job right away.
ProZ offers so many benefits to the translators community most of which are free of cha... See more I just recently posted a job myself and received so many qualified applications in the first 2 hours that I had several excellent applicants to choose from. When the translator accepted the job I closed the posting, because it would have been a waste of time for others responding to the post as well as for myself vetting even more excellent applications if I was able to place the job right away.
ProZ offers so many benefits to the translators community most of which are free of charge. If you are interested to profit more from the site's services, you should consider paying the relatively low membership which then gives you free reign to respond to quotes as soon as you see them. The full membership is worth the investment and pays for itself quickly.
[Edited at 2009-06-02 13:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | The option is there | Jun 2, 2009 |
Hi all,
I just wanted to point out that an outsourcer, when posting a classic job, has the following options from which to choose:
Limit this job to (paying) members of ProZ.com?
Yes, limit job to paying members
No, allow non-members to express interest
Allow non-members to express interest after 12 hours
Allow non-members to express interest after 24 hours
Best regards,
Jared
| | | | | Being a paying member REALLY pays | Jun 2, 2009 |
Hi!
I have got to say that I was an unpaying member for more than a year and in that time I got two clients, both of them weren´t paying so well and now one of them has gone bankrupt owing me about 800 GBP. I then became a paying member and have been that for about 9 months. In that time I have gotten more than new 10 clients, most of them paying really well and usually on time. In addition to that I reject at least one new client every month based on either what I read on Blue Boa... See more Hi!
I have got to say that I was an unpaying member for more than a year and in that time I got two clients, both of them weren´t paying so well and now one of them has gone bankrupt owing me about 800 GBP. I then became a paying member and have been that for about 9 months. In that time I have gotten more than new 10 clients, most of them paying really well and usually on time. In addition to that I reject at least one new client every month based on either what I read on Blue Board OR that I am simply too busy to take on more projects.
Honestly, the only thing I regret related to becoming a paying member is that I didn´t do it much earlier! ▲ Collapse
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Claudia Catena
Italy
Local time: 22:02
Member (2008)
English to Italian
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| TOTALLY agree | Jun 2, 2009 |
Maria Drangel wrote:
Honestly, the only thing I regret related to becoming a paying member is that I didn´t do it much earlier!
I was very sceptical when I joined Proz in December last year, but a friend/colleague convinced me, and I have to say that being a member really pays!
I have found some 4 or 5 new clients (good payers) in just 5 months of membership, even if my pairs are very common!
I will certainly renew my membership!
Claudia
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 22:02
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Paul Dixon wrote:
I am also horrified at the increasing frequency of member-only jobs. How can non-payers expect to get jobs if they can't even bid for most of them?
Answer me this: If the only thing paying members got in exchange for their payment was a little icon next to their name, would you have paid for membership?
| | | | Laura Tridico
United States
Local time: 16:02
French to English
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| I doesn't make any sense to require this. | Jun 2, 2009 |
Outsourcers are usually working on a tight timeline. They often don't have the time to wait 12 or 24 hours to assign a job.
There's a real benefit to membership if you use the job boards. I've established some excellent client relationships based my accepted quotes, but more importantly, as a paying member I believe that outsourcers are far more likely to contact me directly for work. Remember, most of the job activity on ProZ.com takes place outside of the job postings, via direct... See more Outsourcers are usually working on a tight timeline. They often don't have the time to wait 12 or 24 hours to assign a job.
There's a real benefit to membership if you use the job boards. I've established some excellent client relationships based my accepted quotes, but more importantly, as a paying member I believe that outsourcers are far more likely to contact me directly for work. Remember, most of the job activity on ProZ.com takes place outside of the job postings, via direct contacts between outsourcers and freelancers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Simple answer? | Jun 2, 2009 |
Paul Dixon wrote:
How can non-payers expect to get jobs if they can't even bid for most of them?
They can't (and, quite frankly, they shouldn't).
So, if you're interested in jobs, the solution is quite straightforward: 'put up or shut up', as they say. Even at lower-end PT»EN rates, you can surely make back the investment in a morning's work?
[Edited at 2009-06-03 08:44 GMT]
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jacana54 (X)
Uruguay
English to Spanish
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| I started to pay for that very same reason | Jun 2, 2009 |
Paul,
I started to pay the membership fee because I didn't want to be left out of many job opportunities. After doing it, I discovered other features for paying users which turned out to be much more useful than making early bids.
Why don't you give it a try? You can always decline to renew your membership if it doesn't turn out to be good for you. The amount you "bet" isn't that big.
... See more Paul,
I started to pay the membership fee because I didn't want to be left out of many job opportunities. After doing it, I discovered other features for paying users which turned out to be much more useful than making early bids.
Why don't you give it a try? You can always decline to renew your membership if it doesn't turn out to be good for you. The amount you "bet" isn't that big.
Lucía ▲ Collapse
| | | | Alp Berker
United States
Local time: 16:02
Turkish to English
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In memoriam | Wise investment | Jun 2, 2009 |
Between the actual jobs, Blueboard and direct mail jobs I have paid my membership many times over. I have been satisfied with clients and the work.
Would highly recommend being a member, it isn't that much if you put it in perspective and are a active user of the site.
| | | | Nigel Greenwood (X)
Spain
Local time: 22:02
Spanish to English
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Yes I quite agree, being a paying memeber is well worth its and you get back your 'investment' in a mroning's work.
Not only that, it also compels you to be and ACTIVE member, participating in KUDOZ, checking the Blue Board, etc.
Well worth the small effort.
Nigel.
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