| 话题中的页数: [1 2 3] > | Poll: How do you decline when a client requests a quote for a job which doesn't interest you? 论题张贴者: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you decline when a client requests a quote for a job which doesn't interest you?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
英国
Local time: 13:51
German德语译成English英语
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If it doesn't interest me merely because I don't fancy it, it's probably not within the areas I generally work in, so I'll say it's not really my field and leave it at that.
If it doesn't interest me because the rates are insulting, I'll normally just ignore.
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Mary Worby wrote:
If it doesn't interest me merely because I don't fancy it, it's probably not within the areas I generally work in, so I'll say it's not really my field and leave it at that.
If it doesn't interest me because the rates are insulting, I'll normally just ignore.
| | | | Sarah Brodacz
Local time: 14:51
正式会员 (自2010)
English英语译成German德语
+ ...
| Not available/not my specialist area | Jul 6, 2012 |
As a freelancer, it is actually very easy to decline job requests.
If a job request does not interest me, I either say that I do not have any capacities at the moment or that the text to be translated does not fall in my specialist field.
If a job request is uninteresting because of the rate offered, I usually tell the client that or - if the rate is extremely below my usual rates, I just ignore the offer.
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| Decline--always politely | Jul 6, 2012 |
If it's outside my field, I tell them so.
If I'm already booked, I tell them so and thank them for thinking of me.
If I'm already booked and would like to work with them when I'm available, I add a note asking them to remember me in the future.
If the rate is a little low for me, I simply decline.
If the rate is really insulting, I may add something like: "Unfortunately, the rate you are proposing is less than what I was charging in 1970." (I actually said that recently.)... See more If it's outside my field, I tell them so.
If I'm already booked, I tell them so and thank them for thinking of me.
If I'm already booked and would like to work with them when I'm available, I add a note asking them to remember me in the future.
If the rate is a little low for me, I simply decline.
If the rate is really insulting, I may add something like: "Unfortunately, the rate you are proposing is less than what I was charging in 1970." (I actually said that recently.)
If a regular client sends me a job I'm not interested in, I usually have to get a little more creative with my excuse. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Honesty not reciprocated | Jul 6, 2012 |
If out of the domain of my specialization, I tell them so and decline politely. If the offer is too low, I inform them of my current rates inform them of the reason for declining. I always reply. None of my incoming emails go unanswered.
And in spite of that, I come across PM's from major agencies who bulk mail multiple translators and do not care to reply if the job is already given, till asked.
| | | | David Wright
奥地利
Local time: 14:51
German德语译成English英语
+ ...
If it is a client, i-.e someone I have a working relationship with, then I will decline it by mail., If it is a request out of the blue from someone I have never heard of and who doesn't indicate that they are contacting me because one of my clients recommended them (i.e. most of the job queries from ProZ, in particular those that begin "dear Sir" or "dear translator") I ignore it.
[Edited at 2012-07-06 08:50 GMT]
| | | | Miriam Neidhardt (X)
德国
Local time: 14:51
English英语译成German德语
I thank for the inquiry and answer with a very high quote. If the client - against all odds - accepts my quote, I pass the job on to someone who's interested in it. Win-Win-Win.
Have a nice weekend!
Miriam
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Ty Kendall
英国
Local time: 13:51
Hebrew希伯来语译成English英语
| I don't decline.... | Jul 6, 2012 |
If I only took on interesting jobs......I wouldn't eat very often.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Besides, does a professional really need to find something interesting to perform their role?
Saying that, I've just finished a really interesting project, if only all my projects were so unique.
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If it comes from a potential client and I'm not interested for whatever reason, I will thank him and decline politely.
If it comes from a repeat client and I'm not interested for whatever reason, I will try passing it to a trustful colleague.
PS. Regarding insulting rates, I might add from now on something on the line of what Muriel suggests: "Unfortunately, the rate you are proposing is less than what I was charging in 19xx." (I started translating later than 1970). Th... See more If it comes from a potential client and I'm not interested for whatever reason, I will thank him and decline politely.
If it comes from a repeat client and I'm not interested for whatever reason, I will try passing it to a trustful colleague.
PS. Regarding insulting rates, I might add from now on something on the line of what Muriel suggests: "Unfortunately, the rate you are proposing is less than what I was charging in 19xx." (I started translating later than 1970). Thanks, Muriel!
[Edited at 2012-07-06 11:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Julian Holmes
日本
Local time: 21:51
正式会员 (自2011)
Japanese日语译成English英语
Ty Kendall wrote:
Besides, does a professional really need to find something interesting to perform their role?
Yep, agree here. Professionals decline jobs professionally, and perform well under the worst of conditions. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
| | | | | Like Mary and Muriel | Jul 6, 2012 |
@Ty and Julian:
Agreed also but, then again, if you are accepting the work, it means that the job is, in the end, interesting to you....
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Ty Kendall wrote:
Beggars can't be choosers.
Since when were we beggars?
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In the long run recommending a colleague is the better bid despite the poll results, because it shows customer orientation and might just cause the customer to return to you one day.
Maria
| | | | Julian Holmes
日本
Local time: 21:51
正式会员 (自2011)
Japanese日语译成English英语
| To decline or not to decline. That is the question | Jul 6, 2012 |
Robert Forstag wrote:
@Ty and Julian:
Agreed also but, then again, if you are accepting the work, it means that the job is, in the end, interesting to you....
@Robert, thanks for your input!
There are occasions and mitigating economic circumstances in which you have to accept jobs or projects that ordinarily you'd decline as being not so interesting or just plain boring.
Hopefully, by the end of the project, I will have come to embrace the thing before I lovingly deliver it to the customer.
For example, I have had three operations on my right hand for a severed tendon. For 4 out of the past 12 or so months I have had my hand/forearm in a cast and I have effectively been out of action for the past year, i.e. not being able to earn. So, declining work right now is not a desirable or preferred option. I have bills to pay, including my mortgage and my daughter's university tuition fees, etc.
Fortunately, work is beginning to pick up and returning to decent levels, and I am getting enough leeway to choose a little more. However, there is a limit to how many projects you decline from a particular customer before you're shuffled to bottom of the pack.
So, interest is not the only factor that dictates whether or not we should accept/decline projects.
Hope to see more of you, Robert. 
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