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Blueboard: Please stop misusing it!
Thread poster: Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:54
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Nov 3, 2017

Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?

A customer owes me over US$ 1000 for months and their Blueboard score is now artificially high because several people who did one single small job for this person decided that their tiny, but positive experience was worth sharing with everyone.

Please, stop entering Blueboard entries about compan
... See more
Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?

A customer owes me over US$ 1000 for months and their Blueboard score is now artificially high because several people who did one single small job for this person decided that their tiny, but positive experience was worth sharing with everyone.

Please, stop entering Blueboard entries about companies you have no history with! It really does not help! High scores for tiny jobs paid quickly launder the record of companies that pay small jobs quickly, but big jobs very slowly, if at all!

Best,
Tomás
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Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.)
Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.)  Identity Verified
Thailand
Local time: 18:54
English to Thai
+ ...
My earlier comments Nov 3, 2017

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT wrote:

Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?

A customer owes me over US$ 1000 for months and their Blueboard score is now artificially high because several people who did one single small job for this person decided that their tiny, but positive experience was worth sharing with everyone.

Please, stop entering Blueboard entries about companies you have no history with! It really does not help! High scores for tiny jobs paid quickly launder the record of companies that pay small jobs quickly, but big jobs very slowly, if at all!

Best,
Tomás


If you search for my earlier comments on Blueboard here, I already raised questions about conflict of interest regarding the posts to refer to.

Soonthon L.


 
Maria Teresa Sammarco
Maria Teresa Sammarco  Identity Verified
Romania
English to Italian
+ ...
Very usuful piece of advice Nov 3, 2017

Dear Tomas,

thanks for the useful observation.

I hope most of us will look after it

Rgds
Maria Teresa


 
Jan Truper
Jan Truper  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 12:54
Member (2016)
English to German
... Nov 3, 2017

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT wrote:

Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?


I assume lots of our esteemed colleagues use the Blueboard as a brown-nosing platform, hoping to be awarded another job.


 
Daniel Frisano
Daniel Frisano  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 12:54
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
No way Nov 3, 2017

Whether a client sends me 50k every month or 500 words once a year, they deserve the same commitment while doing the job and the same appreciation about their professionalism (or lack thereof).

The complete blue board is for all to see, and anyone of us is able to form a judgment over an outsourcer with, say, a 4.9 average made of all 5s with a couple of 1s.


 
Christel Zipfel
Christel Zipfel  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:54
Member (2004)
Italian to German
+ ...
Yes please, this is completely ridiculous! Nov 3, 2017

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT wrote:

Please, stop entering Blueboard entries about companies you have no history with! It really does not help! High scores for tiny jobs paid quickly launder the record of companies that pay small jobs quickly, but big jobs very slowly, if at all!

Best,
Tomás


Indeed, a 500 word job, albeit promptly and fully paid, doesn't mean anything at all and does never justify a BB entry, nor is it useful to judge an outsourcer!


 
Maija Cirule
Maija Cirule  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 13:54
German to English
+ ...
Yes Nov 3, 2017

Jan Truper wrote:

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT wrote:

Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?


I assume lots of our esteemed colleagues use the Blueboard as a brown-nosing platform, hoping to be awarded another job.


that's my assumption too and, after our colleague's score "1" was outrageously removed without any substantiation, I don't think that the current Blue Board is something more than a twisted joke.

[Edited at 2017-11-03 11:41 GMT]


 
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:54
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Appreciation for what? Nov 3, 2017

Daniel Frisano wrote:
Whether a client sends me 50k every month or 500 words once a year, they deserve the same commitment while doing the job and the same appreciation about their professionalism (or lack thereof).

Sorry, Daniel: I would agree with you if we were talking about a company that sends you regular work. I have entered some 5's in the Blueboard for companies who have used my services regularly for years and have had an excellent payment track.

If you only do 500 words a year for a company, how can you evaluate their behaviour? Statistically, your experience is negligible, but your 5 can mislead other people who put big money and many hours of work at risk.

Entering a 5 for someone you really know nothing about sounds like those neighbours who, interviewed by a TV reporter about whether they had any suspicion that their neighbour was a serial killer, they say "Oh he/she was a very nice person: he always said hello and took the next elevator when he/she was carrying any garbage!".


 
Maija Cirule
Maija Cirule  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 13:54
German to English
+ ...
Yes Nov 3, 2017

Jan Truper wrote:

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT wrote:

Dear fellow colleagues,

May I kindly ask everyone to reconsider posting positive Blueboard entries when you have only done one small job for a certain customer?


I assume lots of our esteemed colleagues use the Blueboard as a brown-nosing platform, hoping to be awarded another job.


that's my assumption too and, after our colleague's rating "1" was outrageously removed without any substantiation, I don't think that the current Blue Board is something more than a twisted joke.


 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:54
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Well said, Tomás Nov 3, 2017

I agree that a BB comment and score made after doing only one job for an outsourcer is not very meaningful.

As Proz is at present introducing all kinds of "improvements" to its various facilities, I'm sure that an improvement to this aspect of the BB would not be beyond its capabilities.

For example, people making BB entries could be asked to indicate how many jobs they have done for the outsourcer according to a range such as:

* 1
* 2
* 5 to 10
... See more
I agree that a BB comment and score made after doing only one job for an outsourcer is not very meaningful.

As Proz is at present introducing all kinds of "improvements" to its various facilities, I'm sure that an improvement to this aspect of the BB would not be beyond its capabilities.

For example, people making BB entries could be asked to indicate how many jobs they have done for the outsourcer according to a range such as:

* 1
* 2
* 5 to 10
* More than 10.

Another platform concerning the payment practices of outsourcers requires something of that kind when entries are made.

It would certainly make BB entries, both positive and negative, more meaningful and hence make the BB a more useful and reliable guide.

What about it, Proz hackathoners?
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2GT
2GT  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 12:54
English to Italian
+ ...
Conditions for making an entry Nov 3, 2017

From Proz.com FAQ:
- You may only make entries for clients with whom you have worked on a project and to whom you have delivered work on time and without complaints related to quality
- You may make one entry per outsourcer per year--provided that you have worked for the outsourcer again before adding an additional entry

So, you can make an entry after one proj
... See more
From Proz.com FAQ:
- You may only make entries for clients with whom you have worked on a project and to whom you have delivered work on time and without complaints related to quality
- You may make one entry per outsourcer per year--provided that you have worked for the outsourcer again before adding an additional entry

So, you can make an entry after one project and can review your opinion about the same outsourcer once a year.

Cheers
Gianni
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Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:54
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
One project... Nov 3, 2017

2G Trad wrote:
- You may only make entries for clients with whom you have worked on a project and to whom you have delivered work on time and without complaints related to quality

OK, but if we are sensible, what is the use of entering a 5 when you do not know much about the outsourcer? We should use our tools with good sense! Adding a 5 after one tiny job completely defeats the purpose of the Blueboard.


 
Christel Zipfel
Christel Zipfel  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:54
Member (2004)
Italian to German
+ ...
Another consideration Nov 3, 2017

Remember, you can make *only one* entry per outsourcer per year!

What if, after your first tiny job has been paid within 2 days and you gave immediately an enthusiastic 5 to the agency, with the next - bigger - jobs you have payment problems? You cannot make another entry until twelve months have passed!
So the first entry is not only useless but also misleading, which is still worse; it stays there until you are entitled to make another rating (maybe this time you think 1 w
... See more
Remember, you can make *only one* entry per outsourcer per year!

What if, after your first tiny job has been paid within 2 days and you gave immediately an enthusiastic 5 to the agency, with the next - bigger - jobs you have payment problems? You cannot make another entry until twelve months have passed!
So the first entry is not only useless but also misleading, which is still worse; it stays there until you are entitled to make another rating (maybe this time you think 1 would be more appropriate... but you have your hands tied).

[Bearbeitet am 2017-11-03 17:55 GMT]
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Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:54
Spanish to English
+ ...
At the very least, the basis of the rating should be clear Nov 3, 2017

Daniel Frisano wrote:

Whether a client sends me 50k every month or 500 words once a year, they deserve the same commitment while doing the job and the same appreciation about their professionalism (or lack thereof).

The complete blue board is for all to see, and anyone of us is able to form a judgment over an outsourcer with, say, a 4.9 average made of all 5s with a couple of 1s.


While it is indeed immensely heartening to know that you adhere to the highest standards of diligence and professionalism (I am so sick and tired of colleagues who habitually flaunt their lazy and unprofessional behavior) you are confusing two very different issues: general work attitude and the fair rating of an ousourcer.

I am in complete agreement with Tomás here that ratings should not be provided on the basis of a single small job. And if you do make such an entry, you should at least make clear what the basis of your rating is, with an accompanying comment along the following lines:
“I translated a 50-word driver’s license for - and I was positively tickled pink when I received prompt payment 90 days later, as agreed. I can’t wait to work for - again!!!”



[Edited at 2017-11-03 13:58 GMT]


 
2GT
2GT  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 12:54
English to Italian
+ ...
Crystal ball Nov 3, 2017

How can one know an entry was made after one small job and not a big one? And how can one assume an entry was made after one job instead of 10 jobs?

Cheers
Gianni

[Edited at 2017-11-04 12:49 GMT]


 
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Blueboard: Please stop misusing it!







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