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Half a cent translations?
Thread poster: Joost Elshoff (X)
Joost Elshoff (X)
Joost Elshoff (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:53
Spanish to Dutch
+ ...
Aug 6, 2009

Hi!

Is there any rule or guideline for a minimum rate per word for translating? Currently there are two jobs on offer in the English-Dutch pair (although they are the same if you don't look at the use of CAT-tool) for 13.000 words @ 0.005 € a word.

Is that a serious offer, or a mistake made by the outsourcer? Not sure whether to quote or not, because as I reckon even my breathing costs more than that.
 
Mohamed Kamel
Mohamed Kamel  Identity Verified
Egypt
Local time: 09:53
English to Arabic
I think it is a mistake Aug 6, 2009

Dear Joost,

I think it is just a typing mistake. I suggest that you quote with your actual rates and see the results, this is only if the client has a good BB.

Good luck,
Mohamed Kamel
 
Madeleine MacRae Klintebo
Madeleine MacRae Klintebo  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:53
Swedish to English
+ ...
Even if you remove a zero Aug 6, 2009

It's still a ridiculous rate for quality EN/NL translation.

Edited because I and my new keyboard don't as yet agree.

[Edited at 2009-08-06 19:26 GMT]
 
Juliana Brown
Juliana Brown  Identity Verified
Israel
Local time: 02:53
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I just posted today Aug 6, 2009

on the Hebrew forum about a Hebrew-English job which was 16 pages of text for a whopping total of 27 euros!!
 
Joost Elshoff (X)
Joost Elshoff (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:53
Spanish to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Is there anyone crazy enough Aug 6, 2009

To go for such a low offer and still provide good quality?

I think it's insane to even approve such jobs, even if we're in an economic crisis.

and the outsourcer has 5 out of 5 for his feedback, sounds silly if he doesn't respond to my message
 
Amal Al-Arfaj
Amal Al-Arfaj
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 10:53
Member (2005)
English to Arabic
+ ...
Maybe a mistake Aug 6, 2009

and the actual rate is 0.50 € a word! j/k


I've always wondered how many translators are willing to work with such a low rate.

[Edited at 2009-08-06 22:13 GMT]
 
Natasa Grubor
Natasa Grubor  Identity Verified
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 08:53
Member
English to Serbian
+ ...
One more mistake? Apr 1, 2010

Just got it now:


From: ProZ.com PRO Jobs
..
..
Volume: 6437 words
Rate offered for translation: 0.01 USD per source word (x 6437 = 64.37 USD)
..
..

and this outsourcer has 4.9 on LWA

much happier with non-PRO jobs!

mad n

edit: just received reply from the agency - there was mistake, it should be 0.10 USD.

[Edited at 2010-04-02 07:00 GMT]
 


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Half a cent translations?






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