| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Translator started working without PO Thread poster: Gabriela Rivera
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Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 18:20
Member (2007)
English
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| Never from a new client | Feb 18, 2014 |
Miguel Carmona wrote:
A lot of times the question "Are you available?" implies a "go-ahead".
I have regular, long-standing clients who send an attachment to a one-line email saying "Are you available to do this for dd/mm/yy?", under a subject of "nnnn words - XXX project". Even then I still confirm my availability ("Sure, Fred. I can fit that in.") ... and then they confirm the job with an even shorter email, such as "Great! Please go ahead.". If I didn't get that confirmation, and the job was urgent, then maybe I'd risk informing them that I was starting work, and then do the job. But that's a calculated risk for a good client.
When a new client says it, it can't possibly be construed to mean "do the work". How could it? In this particular case, it became clear that they hadn't even come to a final, binding agreement on currency, so they certainly weren't at the point of doing business at that time. I'm all for initiative but this really isn't the time for it. Without confirmation, translators have absolutely no way to enforce payment for their work, so why do it? They're running a business, not helping out a friend in need. That confirmation can be a 10-page contract signed by both parties, a PO, payment in advance, or an email. Until that confirmation arrives, you don't have a job.
I'm all for making things simple, short and, above all, quick. But with a new client, all the boxes have to be ticked before I'll do anything.
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Whenever I get an inquiry, I ask for a sample. If I accept the job, I ask specifically for a PO.
If confirmation is given in "go right ahead" email, I keep in my customer folder.
That way I don't end up doing a job I wasn't actually awarded.
If the tanslator just started working without any of the above confirmation, he is definitely at fault and has to chalk that one up to experience.
| | | | nrichy (X)
France
Local time: 19:20
French to Dutch
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| Agree but... | Feb 18, 2014 |
Roy Williams wrote:
Whenever I get an inquiry, I ask for a sample. If I accept the job, I ask specifically for a PO.
If confirmation is given in "go right ahead" email, I keep in my customer folder.
That way I don't end up doing a job I wasn't actually awarded.
If the tanslator just started working without any of the above confirmation, he is definitely at fault and has to chalk that one up to experience.
Agree, but at the same time it is strange that an agency sends their file directly to several translators, and moreover, unknown translators. The translator's reaction could have been expected.
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nrichy wrote:
Agree, but at the same time it is strange that an agency sends their file directly to several translators, and moreover, unknown translators. The translator's reaction could have been expected.
In those very forums, it is often regarded as a good practice, and advised, to ask to see the text before committing to a job and fee, especially with a new customer. The OP may just have anticipated such requests.
Communication is supposed to be very easy nowadays with email, provided that both ends share a common language. I fail to understand why such events happen. If you don't know, ask. If you don't get a reply, forget it and move on.
No agency is expected to assume "If I don't hear from you translator, it means that you're OK to do the job."
Similarly, no translator is expected to assume "If I don't hear from you agency, it means that you've given me the OK to do the job."
Philippe
[Edited at 2014-02-18 16:12 GMT]
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nrichy (X)
France
Local time: 19:20
French to Dutch
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Philippe Etienne wrote:
In those very forums, it is often regarded as a good practice, and advised, to ask to see the text before committing to a job and fee, especially with a new customer. The OP may just have anticipated such requests.
And I never give a price without having seen the job, especially with new agencies, but they are always preceded by "I have XXXX words, what are your fields of specialization and are you available?", or a phone call asking who and where I am if not credentials. Sorry, from the confidentiality point of view sending out clients' files to several persons (five? ten? twenty?) and waiting who will bite is not a good point for this agency.
| | | | | The translator's fault... | Feb 18, 2014 |
From my point of view, no translator should start work on any piece before getting an explicit go-ahead, unless the customer only has one translator and the usual procedure is just sending out work for it to be completed.
A sensible email exchange is:
- Outsourcer: Can you do it?
- Translator: Yes, I can for XXX euros / by date XX / by time XX. I will wait for your confirmation.
- Outsourcer: OK, you can go ahead.
- Translator: Thank you, I start working on i... See more From my point of view, no translator should start work on any piece before getting an explicit go-ahead, unless the customer only has one translator and the usual procedure is just sending out work for it to be completed.
A sensible email exchange is:
- Outsourcer: Can you do it?
- Translator: Yes, I can for XXX euros / by date XX / by time XX. I will wait for your confirmation.
- Outsourcer: OK, you can go ahead.
- Translator: Thank you, I start working on it for a delivery by date XX / by time XX.
If this chain is not completed, a request for quotation cannot be understood as an order by neither party, since there was no agreement of the minds. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gabriela Rivera
Mexico
Local time: 11:20
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | About that... | Feb 18, 2014 |
nrichy wrote:
And I never give a price without having seen the job, especially with new agencies, but they are always preceded by "I have XXXX words, what are your fields of specialization and are you available?", or a phone call asking who and where I am if not credentials. Sorry, from the confidentiality point of view sending out clients' files to several persons (five? ten? twenty?) and waiting who will bite is not a good point for this agency.
I had told the client I could not do the translation myself and I needed to find a translator to do it and that, due to the nature of the project, it was necessary for me to share the file with possible candidates, and my client gave me written consent to do so. I was not disclosing my client's information without having written consent first.
| | | | | Happy ending | Feb 18, 2014 |
Gabriela Rivera wrote:
and he was not accepting the project. He was just informing me he was available and he was also asking if I could pay him in euros, which seems like a clear sign that we had not come to an agreement yet.
I don't think it's my fault the email went to my Junk folder. He has gotten back to me and he understands the situation. He agrees it was a misunderstanding and I have to say he was very professional about it. I would definitely like to work with him in the future, if we have the chance.
A customer and a provider have come to test each other and gain trust through a misunderstanding. It could have turned sour, but it didn't thanks to both parties' goodwill, which is always nice to hear.
This blunder could be seen as smart new marketing tactics!
Philippe
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Jane Proctor (X)
France
Local time: 19:20
French to English
| But why did his email end up in your spam folder? | Feb 18, 2014 |
Assuming he didn't reply from a different address.
If I've got this right, you contacted a translator with details of a possible/likely/pretty definite job and asked whether he was interested. He gets all excited, replies to say yes, but then unbeknown to him, the poor guy ends up, unread, in the trash can!
How come your inbox is sooooo zealous?!?
It would be very interesting to read your initial email ... See more Assuming he didn't reply from a different address.
If I've got this right, you contacted a translator with details of a possible/likely/pretty definite job and asked whether he was interested. He gets all excited, replies to say yes, but then unbeknown to him, the poor guy ends up, unread, in the trash can!
How come your inbox is sooooo zealous?!?
It would be very interesting to read your initial email ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I also think it was the translator's fault | Feb 19, 2014 |
NEVER start a translation without a clear go-ahead from the client! This does not necessarily need to be a PO, but of course when working for a new client this is highly advisable as you are in unknown territory.
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