ENGLISH > TRANSLATION
People often ask me for discounts on the first job, promising large volumes of work in the future. On top of not having seen any of these promises ever coming true from people who started out asking for a discount without saying what it was all about, I think it would be dishonest to give a discount just because it was asked for. This would confirm that my initial estimate was dishonest, a rip-off.
Just as I adopted the successful Japanese car makers strategy, I chose to do something along airlines' mileage plans. My constant clients get their perks every time I notice they need them. It was not only once nor twice that I gave them freebies.
Now and then I also run some promotional campaigns, and my constant clients are the first I try to benefit with these.
Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tools
Many have heard about CAT tools, the most widely known among them being Trados and WordFast, though there are many others.
Making it clear, these are computer programs. Their developers' web sites promise substantial savings in translation using these tools, which may be true... or not.
First, it's important to understand the difference between CAT (Computer Aided Translation) and MT (Machine Translation, done by computers). MT is done using a database of unknown origin, possible enriched with contribution from users. CAT tools develop a user-exclusive Translation Memory (TM), than may be specific to one job, one subject, one client, or simply "general".
What a CAT tool does is to search for something that translator has already translated, and give them the option of reusing the exact same translation with just one keystroke, instead of having to type the whole phrase again. Furthermore, when one phrase is similar (i.e. 75-99% of the characters and their order are the same), the software offers the possibility of using the resembling phrase to edit. This is a gross oversimplification of the process, however it gives a basic idea on how the process works.
Some translation agencies demand sizeable discounts on these partial matches, and I'm almost sure they don't share them with their end-clients, converting such discounts into sheer profit. I like analogies, so I compare these tools to a taxicab having automatic transmission and power steering. The owner will have paid considerably more for a vehicle having these features for their driving comfort, while earning the same per mile driven. Likewise, the translator will have paid for their CAT tools, so the client shouldn't share the gains from the translator's investment.
Payment terms
Most service providers are paid cash on delivery. Try making a plumber or electrician leave your home after having finished their work without taking a check or cash. Try getting your repaired car from the shop without having paid for the job. Simply, you can't.
For some reason that I haven't yet been able to discover, a culture of paying translators "eventually" developed, as if their bills didn't have due dates.
For sworn translations in Brazil, the law covers this issue:
NORMATIVE INSTRUCTION # 84 FROM THE NATIONAL BUSINESS RECORDS DEPARTMENT – DNRC
dated Feb. 29th, 2000 (Published in the Federal Official Gazette on Feb. 29th, 2000)
Art. 15. Fees are due after the prompt fulfillment of the duties pertinent to the assignment.
... which is exactly how it works in Brazilian notarial offices ("cartórios"). Jobs are paid at the teller's booth and retrieved immediately thereafter, right there.
However as non-sworn translations are not regulated, anything can happen. There are translation agencies that live on cash flow alone. They demand up-front or COD payment from their clients, and pay translators in 45, 60, or 90 days... with the money from the next job. If the economy goes into a recession, that next job won't be there, and they won't be able to pay.
It is normal to keep an open account with clients who send jobs all the time, in order to avoid counting pennies every day. In such cases, exclusively, the account may be closed every week, fortnight, or month, however not beyond that.
My rates always consider payment upon delivery. I may be a great translator, but I'd rather be listed among the worst money lending institutions. Each one in their own business.