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Poll: How do you typically respond to low-rate job offers?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Apr 2, 2025

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you typically respond to low-rate job offers?".

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Liena V.
Liena V.  Identity Verified
Latvia
Local time: 07:21
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
Ignore Apr 2, 2025

Reading them is enough time wasted already. Below a certain threshold there is no point to negotiate or accept, even if I don't have too much work at the time I surely have better things to do.

Lieven Malaise
Alex Lichanow
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
TanjaO
ipv
Federica Scaccabarozzi
Sandra Boca
 
Alex Lichanow
Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 06:21
English to German
+ ...
Ignore Apr 2, 2025

To quote the great Robert California: Do I look like someone who would waste my own time?

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Sandra Boca
Claudio Machado Junior
Jorge Payan
Philip Lees
Daryo
 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 06:21
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Ignore Apr 2, 2025

I ignore every single one of them because I receive enough offers from customers that accept my conditions. I might try to negotiate if I would be short of work some day, but I would never accept work below my minimum profitable rate. I would rather quit.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Philip Lees
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 05:21
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Ignore Apr 2, 2025

Typically, I ignore them. I have a good bunch of regular customers who pay my rate. But let’s say that it depends on how low is low. If we are talking about some Asian agencies (mainly Indian and Chinese) of course I ignore them, but many years ago, I did accept a very interesting large volume (over 200,000 words) at a low rate (50% my usual rate).

Sandra Boca
Dan Lucas
Philip Lees
 
Lingua 5B
Lingua 5B  Identity Verified
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 06:21
English to French
+ ...
I don’t Apr 2, 2025

I don’t respond to these and also launch them in a specially-labaled folder in my inbox. This way I have records and lists of low payers and jokers all in one place, much better strategy than sending them to trash. With each new offer, I first check the company against my “special label”, and if they already have a history in this list, I don’t respond (regardless of the offer).

Claudio Machado Junior
Maria Laura Curzi
Sabrina Bruna
Philip Lees
Charlotte Spinetta
Daryo
 
Oscar Núñez Alfaro
Oscar Núñez Alfaro  Identity Verified
Costa Rica
Local time: 22:21
Spanish
+ ...
All the options are valid for me. Apr 2, 2025

When I started, I have to say that I accepted low-rate jobs, but I am more experienced today. Therefore, I only try to negotiate more competitive rates for those who offer me low rate offers. If they do not respond or accept my conditions, I continue looking for better client offers, indeed.

Charlotte Spinetta
 
Johan Beyens (X)
Johan Beyens (X)
Belgium
Local time: 06:21
French to Dutch
+ ...
Name and shame baby Apr 2, 2025

I post them on LinkedIn for a laugh.

[Edited at 2025-04-02 17:22 GMT]

Charlotte Spinetta
Alex Lichanow
 


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Poll: How do you typically respond to low-rate job offers?






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