Poll: Do you give a discount for late delivery?
Vestluse postitaja: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SAIDI PERSONAL
Jun 5, 2006

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:
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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: http://proz.com/topic/33629
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Juan Jacob
Juan Jacob  Identity Verified
Mehhiko
Local time: 19:48
prantsuse - hispaania
+ ...
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)
Aurora Humarán (X)  Identity Verified
Argentiina
Local time: 22:48
inglise - hispaania
+ ...
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
Nicole Wulf  Identity Verified
Šveits
Local time: 03:48
prantsuse - saksa
+ ...
Too risky... Jun 6, 2006

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]


 
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)  Identity Verified
Ameerika Ühendriigid
Local time: 18:48
hispaania - inglise
+ ...
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
Ala Rabie  Identity Verified
Egiptus
Local time: 04:48
jaapani - araabia
+ ...
I waiver! Jun 6, 2006

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]
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Williamson
Williamson  Identity Verified
Suurbritannia
Local time: 02:48
flaami - inglise
+ ...
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
JaneTranslates  Identity Verified
Puerto Rico
Local time: 21:48
hispaania - inglise
+ ...
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]
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Gina W
Gina W
Ameerika Ühendriigid
Local time: 21:48
Liige (2003)
prantsuse - inglise
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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Poll: Do you give a discount for late delivery?






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