Poll: Is being undercut by other service providers an issue in the sector in which you work? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Is being undercut by other service providers an issue in the sector in which you work?".
View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:19
Spanish to English
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Although I'm usually lucky enough not to be affected personally, it is definitely "an issue in the sector" in my main ES-EN pair.
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I know that some translators of the same language combinations charge much less than me (50% + repetitions discounts), but over the years I’ve built a solid and happy client base (agencies and direct clients) willing to pay my rates. Anyway, at this stage of my professional career I should be more interested on reducing my working hours than my rates…
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X) 
United States
Local time: 04:19
Spanish to English
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The issue plays out in many ways. In my humble opinion, it is the biggest problem in the profession. Between agencies pushing to lower rates and people willing to work for them, we are seeing rates that not only haven't moved up but are going backwards. I recall that translators were getting 10 cents a word in 1974. That would be 45 years ago.
A freelancer should be able to should be earn enough to live on. Otherwise the profession will devolve into a sideline for people who mainly... See more The issue plays out in many ways. In my humble opinion, it is the biggest problem in the profession. Between agencies pushing to lower rates and people willing to work for them, we are seeing rates that not only haven't moved up but are going backwards. I recall that translators were getting 10 cents a word in 1974. That would be 45 years ago.
A freelancer should be able to should be earn enough to live on. Otherwise the profession will devolve into a sideline for people who mainly rely on income from other sources. ▲ Collapse
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| Yes: just have a quick look at the response to job postings on this site | Jan 7, 2019 |
Jobs posted at ridiculous rates by dubious outsourcers get flooded with 'bids' in at least one of my pairs, especially when the field advertised is tourism, legal, business, financial, marketing and any other domain now regarded as 'anyone can do it'.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 13:19
Member (2009)
English to German
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I've noticed that some translators of literature and poetry offer amazing rates that nobody could really live on.
Any translator association has a business conduct requirement. One point is not to underbid colleagues because it might force them to go out of business or find another field to work in. Another is to honor and respect the profession.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 13:19
French to English
Recently an agency tried to get me to lower my rate "just this once".
I mentioned this to a friend who had just told me that she'd be willing to help out if ever I had too much work. She said "oh I'll do it for them".
Right. Hmm if you're intending to undercut me, I don't think I will recommend you to agencies when I have to turn them down.
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I can only assume that it happens, but if it's really an "issue", who can tell? Not for me. As long as I have more work than I can handle anyway, I don't care very much if I'm being under-cut, or over-cut, or whatever. The sector I work in allows me to charge good rates, and that means that anyone who charges less is just plain stupid, since any individual translator has only so much time and capacity to sell, so why not charge the highest rates they can get? I am sure that there are other secto... See more I can only assume that it happens, but if it's really an "issue", who can tell? Not for me. As long as I have more work than I can handle anyway, I don't care very much if I'm being under-cut, or over-cut, or whatever. The sector I work in allows me to charge good rates, and that means that anyone who charges less is just plain stupid, since any individual translator has only so much time and capacity to sell, so why not charge the highest rates they can get? I am sure that there are other sectors and language pairs where the situation is very different, but it seems to me that the market for specialized EN>DE translation is strongly in favor of the translators. ▲ Collapse
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Amir Arzani
Iran
Local time: 15:49
English to Persian (Farsi)
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| Yes, especially if ... | Jan 7, 2019 |
you're in a country with high inflation and an unprofitable local market, so some fellows would rather undercut others and get paid 2 cents (for a service worth 5 or 7 cents per word) just for a day's pay. All the while ruining the ecosystem for those starting out as freelancers by setting a bad precedent.
*Not to mention the fellows who accept all kinds of jobs and outsource them (without the client's consent) to other translators for even less pay in their own currency. (This one really ... See more you're in a country with high inflation and an unprofitable local market, so some fellows would rather undercut others and get paid 2 cents (for a service worth 5 or 7 cents per word) just for a day's pay. All the while ruining the ecosystem for those starting out as freelancers by setting a bad precedent.
*Not to mention the fellows who accept all kinds of jobs and outsource them (without the client's consent) to other translators for even less pay in their own currency. (This one really grinds my gears and I wish I had the power to stop it) ▲ Collapse
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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| Selective advantage | Jan 7, 2019 |
Besides generous rates, desirable turnover, and flexible hours and terms, working with local direct clients grants me preferences to hold the position, disregarding the translation market trends and rivalry
| | | | | Wrong question | Jan 7, 2019 |
It's not a sector thing, it's your choice – to compete on price or on quality. Keep perfecting your work, and you will be able to raise prices well above the market average.
| | | | | Don't think so | Jan 7, 2019 |
I certainly get contacted by agencies from time to time who claim that other translators charge way less than I do, usually ones contacting me via platforms, but my regular clients (end clients and translation companies) have never made such references. Their priority seems to be quality, and price is only discussed in terms of "what is your fee?"
Somebody referred to job postings. True, but one can decide to stay out of that particular area of the market. These tend to be based... See more I certainly get contacted by agencies from time to time who claim that other translators charge way less than I do, usually ones contacting me via platforms, but my regular clients (end clients and translation companies) have never made such references. Their priority seems to be quality, and price is only discussed in terms of "what is your fee?"
Somebody referred to job postings. True, but one can decide to stay out of that particular area of the market. These tend to be based on bidding system, which is a duck of a different colour. ▲ Collapse
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 09:19
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| Indeed, Anton | Jan 7, 2019 |
As I always mention here, there are clearly two different translation markets. One of them is increasing in volume, and decreasing in quality and rates. Machine translations will take over this market, and there will only be post-editing jobs there.
The other market remains the same, grows very slowly, but keeps the rates and the quality at a decent level. A minority among translators is able to belong to this market, and to preserve that position.
However, it's still OUR choice to r... See more As I always mention here, there are clearly two different translation markets. One of them is increasing in volume, and decreasing in quality and rates. Machine translations will take over this market, and there will only be post-editing jobs there.
The other market remains the same, grows very slowly, but keeps the rates and the quality at a decent level. A minority among translators is able to belong to this market, and to preserve that position.
However, it's still OUR choice to remain in this market and resist, or to give up and "accept" moving to the other one.
Most people in ProZ and who participate in the Quick Polls will not migrate to the "bad" market. Leave it for those who deserve and fit into it.
[Edited at 2019-01-07 19:31 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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