Poll: Do you submit quotes for a job if an outsourcer does not have any Blue Board entries? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you submit quotes for a job if an outsourcer does not have any Blue Board entries?".
This poll was originally submitted by Rodrigo Bueno. View the poll results »
| | | | Julian Holmes 
Japan
Local time: 09:11
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
I don't refer to Proz's Blue Board and I don't submit quotes
since I work only with customers with whom I have exchanged a Vendor Agreement or the like that states all contractual terms and conditions in detail, including rates, which obviates the need for an estimate in the first place.
Proz.com is of very little relevance and standing in the Japanese translation market.
Small edit
[Edited at 2016-07-07 10:05 GMT]
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 02:11
Spanish to English
+ ...
I have a risk management protocol (if -> then) and it doesn't allow for this.
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These days I rarely quote on jobs because apparently posters are looking for the cheapest translator, which I’m not. In the past, I have never quoted when the potential client’s score was less than 4.7 but I have quoted at least once to a new agency with no BB record on things that really interest me (medical devices).
P.S. I must say though that since 2007 (when I became a Proz member) some of my regulars have come to me via Proz from direct inquiries.
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| It depends what I know about the outsourcer | Jul 7, 2016 |
Some come warmly recommended by colleagues, and private individuals are never on the Blue Board anyway. I may have heard of the client in other ways - including the reputation of the company etc.
I do sometimes check other scam-warning sites, but I must admit that for small jobs, if the mail looks genuine and the source text fits the story, I quote for translating a page or two without spending a lot of time checking up.
I can see in seconds from various registers wheth... See more Some come warmly recommended by colleagues, and private individuals are never on the Blue Board anyway. I may have heard of the client in other ways - including the reputation of the company etc.
I do sometimes check other scam-warning sites, but I must admit that for small jobs, if the mail looks genuine and the source text fits the story, I quote for translating a page or two without spending a lot of time checking up.
I can see in seconds from various registers whether a person or company exists in Denmark, where most of my clients come from. Then I can deal with non-payers if the problem arises. But because everyone is easily traceable, it rarely does! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Country based approach | Jul 7, 2016 |
I recently accepted a job from a client with a bad score on the BlueBoard. They assured me there was nothing to worry about in a convincing manner, and since it was a Germany company, I decided to trust them. I have since had many good jobs from them and never had any issues.
I more or less base my risk management on where the agency/poster is based. I have never had any issues with German or Scandinavian clients. English ones are also quite ok, although we don't always agree on the... See more I recently accepted a job from a client with a bad score on the BlueBoard. They assured me there was nothing to worry about in a convincing manner, and since it was a Germany company, I decided to trust them. I have since had many good jobs from them and never had any issues.
I more or less base my risk management on where the agency/poster is based. I have never had any issues with German or Scandinavian clients. English ones are also quite ok, although we don't always agree on the rate to begin with. American, Southern or Eastern European clients often have very unrealistic price expectations (and seem to care less about the quality which doesn't make for a very rewarding business relationship), and job offers from Asian agencies I wouldn't even respond to (for the same reason, only even worse rates).
Having said that, I have never experienced any problems whatsoever. Another reason why I really appreciate ProZ is the fact that I have found virtually all my clients here. I tend to get a lot of direct queries, and these clients often turn out to be great long term customers. When things are slow I sometimes quote on ProZ jobs, I guess the succes rate is around 50/50 so definitely worth doing.
Now I just hope that I haven't jinxed everything by being so overly positive! ▲ Collapse
| | | | inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 02:11
French to German
+ ...
Although the BB is not as reliable as one would hope it to be, I avoid outsourcers with no BB entries.
I also take a country-based approach and I don't work with clients from outside the EU or in Germany (for tax reasons). My most unpleasant experiences have actually been with Swiss-based clients so no matter how brilliant their BB record may appear I will not work with them.
The problem with Spanish and Italien agencies is that they seem to think that it is reasonable... See more Although the BB is not as reliable as one would hope it to be, I avoid outsourcers with no BB entries.
I also take a country-based approach and I don't work with clients from outside the EU or in Germany (for tax reasons). My most unpleasant experiences have actually been with Swiss-based clients so no matter how brilliant their BB record may appear I will not work with them.
The problem with Spanish and Italien agencies is that they seem to think that it is reasonable to pay 60 or even 90 days EOM which I find unacceptable, especially when combined with low rates. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 02:11
Member (2006)
German to English
Julian Holmes wrote:
I don't refer to Proz's Blue Board and I don't submit quotes
since I work only with customers with whom I have exchanged a Vendor Agreement or the like that states all contractual terms and conditions in detail, including rates, which obviates the need for an estimate in the first place.
Proz.com is of very little relevance and standing in the Japanese translation market.
Small edit
[Edited at 2016-07-07 10:05 GMT]
I do not use the BB any more since ProZ staff removed a negaitive posting (nothing insulting, just informative) I made about a non/very late payer.
After that, I realised that the ProZ staff are not always there for us.
[Edited at 2016-07-07 17:49 GMT]
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| In fact, I quote! | Jul 7, 2016 |
Michael Harris wrote: Julian Holmes wrote:
I don't refer to Proz's Blue Board and I don't submit quotes
since I work only with customers with whom I have exchanged a Vendor Agreement or the like that states all contractual terms and conditions in detail, including rates, which obviates the need for an estimate in the first place.
Proz.com is of very little relevance and standing in the Japanese translation market.
Small edit
[Edited at 2016-07-07 10:05 GMT] I do not use the BB any more since ProZ staff removed a negaitive posting (nothing insulting, just informative) I made about a non/very late payer. After that, I realised that the ProZ staff are not always there for us. [Edited at 2016-07-07 17:49 GMT]
Most of the jobs that I quote among Proz are delivered always into the same "task-force".
I have quote by email and win the jobs.
So, I don't care about the 'Blur Bird', the 'K2', or anything else.
The staff is not here for anyone.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 21:11
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
The Blue Board is a good resource, but certainly not the only one. If there are BB entries and the score is below 4.6, I won't bother contacting, replying or anything else. But if there are no BB entries, then there are other sources to research.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 01:11
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| The BB is just one indicator | Jul 7, 2016 |
Poor BB record (not simply one poor entry) = no quote
Good BB record = encouraging; quote
No BB record = check elsewhere; consider quoting.
I never normally accept a big job from a new client before seeing the colour of their money anyway, so the risk isn't too high. But I don't intend to work for nothing for even a short while so I normally want to be pretty sure. OTOH, I think it's shortsighted to refuse work simply because there's no online reputation.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 02:11
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Sheila Wilson wrote:
Poor BB record (not simply one poor entry) = no quote
Good BB record = encouraging; quote
No BB record = check elsewhere; consider quoting.
I never normally accept a big job from a new client before seeing the colour of their money anyway, so the risk isn't too high. But I don't intend to work for nothing for even a short while so I normally want to be pretty sure. OTOH, I think it's shortsighted to refuse work simply because there's no online reputation.
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