How to Charge for Fuzzy Matches, 100% Matches in Trados
Thread poster: Roxane Dow
Roxane Dow
Roxane Dow  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:43
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Nov 1, 2001

Can anyone give me some general guidelines about what percentage discount to give agencies for Trados fuzzy matches and 100% matches? They seem to expect this, although I\'d rather not give it. I don\'t need specific prices, just percentages or guidelines to follow, so I\'m not completely out of synch with the market.



Thank you!


 
Clarisa Moraña
Clarisa Moraña  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 20:43
Member (2002)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Charge per hour Nov 2, 2001

Why don\'t you apply a charge per hour? If you spend, let\'s say, two hours doing the job, just charge them for those two hours...



Regards, Clarisa


 
Heike
Heike  Identity Verified
Local time: 03:43
English to German
Trados matches Nov 3, 2001

Why don\'t you just offer a price reduction of 50% on 100%-matches and 20% on all fuzzy matches?

 
Jesús Paredes
Jesús Paredes
Local time: 21:43
English to Spanish
+ ...
Charge a percentage Nov 3, 2001

Roxane,



Last time I did a very big job for a European agency I charged the following:



100% match: 30% since I have to read the whole sentence and make corrections depending on context.

No match: 100%

Under 75% match: 100% Since it is usually easier to translate a whole phrase than to correct it.

Between 76-85% match: 70%

Between 85-99% match: 50%



I know that many agencies try to pay less than t
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Roxane,



Last time I did a very big job for a European agency I charged the following:



100% match: 30% since I have to read the whole sentence and make corrections depending on context.

No match: 100%

Under 75% match: 100% Since it is usually easier to translate a whole phrase than to correct it.

Between 76-85% match: 70%

Between 85-99% match: 50%



I know that many agencies try to pay less than this but I always manage to convince them giving a correct explanation.



I hope this helps.



Jesús Paredes
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Roxane Dow
Roxane Dow  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 21:43
Portuguese to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for Fuzzy Match Guidelines Nov 3, 2001

Dear Jesus,



Thank you for replying. Now I have some idea of what to charge. The information that many companies try to pay less is also helpful, because I\'ll be prepared to explain to them what is involved, as you said.



Thanks!



Roxane Daw
[addsig]


 
Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO) (X)
Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO) (X)
Local time: 21:43
German to English
+ ...
Do not lower your rates! Nov 4, 2001

This is only my personal approach and opinion, but I never reduce my price or rates because of fuzzy matches, etc. Some agencies only use these CAT features to take advantage of translators, that\'s all. The real purpose of these features is to help the translator work a bit faster (which is also questionable - in my own experience); that \"abuse\" of trying to lower rates because of matches, translation memory, etc. is just a scheme to download more work for less pay on to unsuspecting translat... See more
This is only my personal approach and opinion, but I never reduce my price or rates because of fuzzy matches, etc. Some agencies only use these CAT features to take advantage of translators, that\'s all. The real purpose of these features is to help the translator work a bit faster (which is also questionable - in my own experience); that \"abuse\" of trying to lower rates because of matches, translation memory, etc. is just a scheme to download more work for less pay on to unsuspecting translators.



If you keep lowering your rates, you\'ll never be able to cover the costs of your CAT software package(s).



Just my own personal humble opinion.
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Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO) (X)
Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO) (X)
Local time: 21:43
German to English
+ ...
Consider this: Nov 5, 2001

Does a lawyer reduce his rate for repetitive cases (having already done all the relevant research into case law, etc.)?



Does a notary public reduce his rates for the nth birth certificate?



Does a surgeon reduce his rate for the 27th routine hernia operation?



Does a plumber reduce his rate for the millionth faucet he installs?



Does a dentist reduce his rate for the umpteenth filling?



The answe
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Does a lawyer reduce his rate for repetitive cases (having already done all the relevant research into case law, etc.)?



Does a notary public reduce his rates for the nth birth certificate?



Does a surgeon reduce his rate for the 27th routine hernia operation?



Does a plumber reduce his rate for the millionth faucet he installs?



Does a dentist reduce his rate for the umpteenth filling?



The answer to all these questions is a resounding NO.



We as translators are just as professional as those people, and I don\'t see why we should lower our rates. Any matches resulting from translation memories are based on our own work and effort! A translation memory is a work product that you cannot afford to give away at dumping prices or even for free.
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Alessandra Marrucci
 


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How to Charge for Fuzzy Matches, 100% Matches in Trados







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