Poll: If you receive a project without the word count, do you charge extra for counting the words? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you receive a project without the word count, do you charge extra for counting the words?".
This poll was originally submitted by Mróz de León. View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:47
German to English
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But I will charge based on the target word count, which, for my combinations, works out more expensive. So it's in the client's interest to count the words!
| | | | | No, but I check with the client that we agree on invoicing | Jun 21, 2011 |
I always count the words myself to make sure we agree.
It is a quick way of checking that the job sent is as agreed. If there is a file missing, or some kind of misunderstanding or error, then the the word count will probably not be as stated.
Once in the early days, I translated the publicity for a trade fair for the previous year, which the client sent me for reference - and they had forgotten the file they actually wanted translated!
I delivered happily within... See more I always count the words myself to make sure we agree.
It is a quick way of checking that the job sent is as agreed. If there is a file missing, or some kind of misunderstanding or error, then the the word count will probably not be as stated.
Once in the early days, I translated the publicity for a trade fair for the previous year, which the client sent me for reference - and they had forgotten the file they actually wanted translated!
I delivered happily within a tight deadline... and then there was a panic! Neither the PM nor I had checked the word count.
If there is special formatting, a large number of textboxes or anything like that, it is necessary to know what the client REALLY wants! ▲ Collapse
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And I find it extremely annoying when, for example, flight companies charge me for transactions that I do myself by use of a computer/Internet program, and that mean 0:0001 seconds spent working.
If I had to count the words one by one, I would charge, the moment a machine does it, why should I charge for that?
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 08:47
English to French
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I usually work in "target lines" (easier for scanned pdf documents and the client's initial "word count" is just an indication.
I normally trust clients who use the "source word count" system, but often have a quick check of the electronic file.
I remember coming to a totally different count once: the agency had not included the (numerous) footnotes even though they had to be translated.
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 02:47
Spanish to English
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| When source document is not in MS Word, word count is based on target | Jun 21, 2011 |
But I make sure this is clear beforehand. I simply cannot imagine manually counting words in a document. If I did have to engage in such a mind-numbing activity, then I would have to find a way to charge for it.
[Edited at 2011-06-21 13:03 GMT]
| | | | | Both = 'Other' | Jun 21, 2011 |
I usually do both. The client/outsourcer and I need to be in general agreement about the size of the project before I will start on it. If they cannot provide the source material in a format that I need not count 'by hand', then I prefer to charge by the hour for that process, before adding my by-the-word charges for translating. I haven't run into this problem on editing/proofing, yet.
| | | | R. Alex Jenkins
Brazil
Local time: 03:47
Member (2006)
Portuguese to English
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No, I never charge for "counting the words".
It's a task that takes only a couple of minutes and isn't something that we can realistically charge for.
However, both agency and service provider (translator) need to be in full agreement on the price per word and how many words need to be translated. It's therefore a good idea to count your own words.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 08:47
Spanish to English
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Interlangue wrote:
I remember coming to a totally different count once: the agency had not included the (numerous) footnotes even though they had to be translated.
This has happened to me too, and once I reached the end of a job then discovered that there were footnotes (for some reason they didn't appear on my screen). Since then, I ask my clients to send me the footnotes and text body separately if poossible and they usually agree.
I don't see how I could charge for wordcounts, as I stipulate Word or compatible formats for my lowish rates, so doesn't take long. I usually charge per hour real time for other formats and once clients get their heads around it, they are usually happy with the results and quality-price ratio. It doesn't work for everybody though...
I usually do the word count myself, usually based on the source language, but as I said, my rates are quite low, and I round down in favour of the client once they accept my methods.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 08:47
Member (2009)
English to German
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Since Word does the word count for me, why should I charge the client for what the program does within seconds?
When it comes to PDFs and/or separate text fields, the client and I either agree on a flat rate for those or I charge based on the target word count.
I, too, have come across completely incorrect word counts, and have usually tried to settle this little problem, which normally works. Only once the client and I were unable to come to terms regarding the word co... See more Since Word does the word count for me, why should I charge the client for what the program does within seconds?
When it comes to PDFs and/or separate text fields, the client and I either agree on a flat rate for those or I charge based on the target word count.
I, too, have come across completely incorrect word counts, and have usually tried to settle this little problem, which normally works. Only once the client and I were unable to come to terms regarding the word count, which was clearly to my disadvantage. Well, this was later filed under "on-the-job experience". ▲ Collapse
| | | | Valeria Fuma
Argentina
Local time: 03:47
English to Spanish
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| No, I always do my own word count... | Jun 21, 2011 |
... and I confirm this information with the client first thing
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