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Poll: Which of the following do you find most preferable?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 17

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which of the following do you find most preferable?".

This poll was originally submitted by Iulia Parvu. View the poll results »



Samuel Muremanyi
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 04:55
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jan 17

A job I enjoy paid at my rate one day after delivering my invoice. That’s what three of my regular customers (two agencies + 1 direct client) have been doing and I’ll do my best to keep them happy for a long time…

Jeovane Cazer
Philip Lees
The Shredder
Laura Kingdon
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 05:55
English to German
+ ...
why should the rate be tied to deadlines? Jan 17

I can't see any reason for such an assumption.
Take the proverbial plumber. Do you tell them you'll pay them less when it takes them more time to complete their work?

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Philip Lees
The Shredder
Laura Kingdon
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 04:55
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Assumptions... Jan 17

Zea_Mays wrote:

I can't see any reason for such an assumption.
Take the proverbial plumber. Do you tell them you'll pay them less when it takes them more time to complete their work?


It also assumes a scenario where it is the buyer, rather than the seller, who dictates the price of the translation.

Zea_Mays
Philip Lees
 
Gregor Trebec
Gregor Trebec
Slovenia
Local time: 05:55
English to Slovenian
+ ...
well Jan 18

Last job i had was low wolume, lousy pay and tight deadline. The reason I got the project was because I lowballed the price.
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 06:55
Greek to English
Trick question Jan 18

I suppose a well-paid job with a reasonable deadline is not among the available possibilities. But failing that, something I find interesting.
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 05:55
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Zea Jan 18

Zea_Mays wrote:
Why should the rate be tied to deadlines?
I can't see any reason for such an assumption.

You're the only one making that assumption. There is nothing in the poll question to indicate that price is tied to deadlines.

Two companies contact you with two practically identical texts on Monday. Given the size/difficulty of the job, you would normally be able to deliver by Thursday.

Company A says "I want this translation by Friday and I will pay 100% of your usual rate". Company B says "I want this translation by Wednesday and I will pay 120% of your usual rate". Company A isn't going to pay you more in exchange for you delivering the translation sooner, and company B isn't going to extend the deadline in exchange for paying you less. The rates are not tied to the deadlines.

Assuming you're not going to simply use company B's translation to "translate" company A's text, and all other things being equal, which of these two offers will you accept? Neither company has said that the deadline is tied to the rate that they're willing to pay. They each have a deadline and they each offer a rate, independent of each other.

[Edited at 2026-01-18 11:35 GMT]
 


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Poll: Which of the following do you find most preferable?






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