Poll: Do you give a discount for late delivery? Iniziatore argomento: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you give a discount for late delivery?".
This poll was originally submitted by JaneTranslates
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see:... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you give a discount for late delivery?".
This poll was originally submitted by JaneTranslates
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Juan Jacob 
Messico
Local time: 12:54
Da Francese a Spagnolo
+ ...
| I'm never late. | Jun 5, 2006 |
Well, in my particular translation and subtitling services, I just can't be late: my clients and the public would kill me, and that's something I can't afford!
Sometimes, I'm finishing a translation 5 minutes before the projection of subtitles, and not because I'm late: "the VHS is not yet avaible", "we don't have the dialogue list", "we don't know exactly what movie we are going to project"... etc. Well, I love that kind of challenge, and I always go trough!
| | | | Aurora Humarán (X)
Argentina
Local time: 15:54
Da Inglese a Spagnolo
+ ...
| Within the 5.6 % that gives a discount... | Jun 5, 2006 |
In 24 years as a translator, I have been in this situation a couple of times (come to think of it, after the Internet and always for technological reasons... Ggrrrrr!...)
In such cases, I applied a unilateral discount which I then detailed on my invoice. (It was the right thing to do and my clients appreciated the gesture.)
 Au
[Edited at 2006-06-05 23:49]
| | | | Nicole Wulf
Svizzera
Local time: 20:54
Da Francese a Tedesco
+ ...
Since a lot of my customers are lawyers, I don't dare handing in a translation late. But even small companies or private customers get their translation in time. If I were the customer, I wouldn't appreciate having to wait.
If it should happen, however, I would certainly give a discount or even give the translation (if it is a small one) for free.
[Edited at 2006-06-06 07:05]
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| It depends... | Jun 6, 2006 |
Once (not too long ago!) I messed up my time zones and the client was very upset. The job was small, so I didn't charge anything.
I am rarely late. I do mostly very long jobs -- book-type documents, and usually there is no one panting at the other end. If I can see a couple of days beforehand that I might have trouble meeting the deadline, I will ask for an extension. If the extension isn't granted, I burn the midnight oil.
| | | | Ala Rabie
Egitto
Local time: 21:54
Da Giapponese a Arabo
+ ...
Although I am rigorous when it comes to deadlines, and always deliver Progress Reports and Charts every day, I have been in this situation only once. I was late 4 hours, and although it was a 5,000 words project, I waivered the entire payment.
Well, it is my policy and I do not regret having to do that
In fact, I expect clients to be as strict as I am. That is why I have a 15% late payment fee for payments after ... See more Although I am rigorous when it comes to deadlines, and always deliver Progress Reports and Charts every day, I have been in this situation only once. I was late 4 hours, and although it was a 5,000 words project, I waivered the entire payment.
Well, it is my policy and I do not regret having to do that
In fact, I expect clients to be as strict as I am. That is why I have a 15% late payment fee for payments after 15 days of invoice deadline, and 140% for payments after 30~45 days!
~Ala
alamnesis.com
[Edited at 2006-06-06 12:59] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Williamson
Regno Unito
Local time: 19:54
Da Fiammingo a Inglese
+ ...
| Money-back guarantee... | Jun 6, 2006 |
If I am not mistaken courier-companies like UPS,FedEx, DHL, have a well-defined money-back guarantee if the package arrives late.
Another question could be: would you give a money-back guarantee for late deliveries?
| | | | JaneTranslates
Portorico
Local time: 14:54
Da Spagnolo a Inglese
+ ...
| I gave a discount just last week. | Jun 6, 2006 |
I was finishing a job on a Monday morning when my keyboard died. After trying to finish via cut-and-paste (I had some letters, but not Q,A,Z,T,G,B and the space bar) I gave up and called the client. He told me not to worry, to send what I had done and the final version when I could.
Without burdening you with details, it was late Tuesday night before I could email the translation that I had promised for early Monday morning. So, on the invoice, I gave a 10% discount--5% late-delive... See more I was finishing a job on a Monday morning when my keyboard died. After trying to finish via cut-and-paste (I had some letters, but not Q,A,Z,T,G,B and the space bar) I gave up and called the client. He told me not to worry, to send what I had done and the final version when I could.
Without burdening you with details, it was late Tuesday night before I could email the translation that I had promised for early Monday morning. So, on the invoice, I gave a 10% discount--5% late-delivery fee for each day.
Then I submitted this poll, in the hopes of being better prepared if this should ever (God forbid!) happen again.
My client seemed to be very pleased, both with the translation that he finally received and with the discount. But, the few who contributed to this discussion make me feel like I should have charged much less. Any further comments?
[Edited at 2006-06-07 03:15] ▲ Collapse
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Gina W
Stati Uniti
Local time: 14:54
Membro (2003)
Da Francese a Inglese
| I think you probably did the right thing | Jun 7, 2006 |
JaneTranslates wrote:
I was finishing a job on a Monday morning when my keyboard died. After trying to finish via cut-and-paste (I had some letters, but not Q,A,Z,T,G,B and the space bar) I gave up and called the client. He told me not to worry, to send what I had done and the final version when I could.
Without burdening you with details, it was late Tuesday night before I could email the translation that I had promised for early Monday morning. So, on the invoice, I gave a 10% discount--5% late-delivery fee for each day.
Then I submitted this poll, in the hopes of being better prepared if this should every (God forbid!) happen again.
My client seemed to be very pleased, both with the translation that he finally received and with the discount. But, the few who contributed to this discussion make me feel like I should have charged much less. Any further comments?
It sounds like you probably did the right thing. No, I don't think that you should have charged much less. You need to be paid for your time and your good work. Plus you already gave a decent discount anyway, and the client is pleased in the end.:)
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