| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you offer a discount for early payments? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Do clients offer me a higher rate for early deliveries?
| | | | Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 04:45
Turkish to English
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| Not early payment as such ... | Jan 27, 2010 |
I advertise a 10% discount for advance payment.
| | | | | Agree with Markus | Jan 27, 2010 |
As Markus says, there's no bonus for the translator for fulfilling their part of the deal early, and the due date stated on my invoices (generally 30 days from date of invoice) is the latest date by which payment should be received, rather than the date to aim for. However 'early' payment is received, it is still going to mean the translator upholding their end of the bargain before the client does theirs. As far as I'm concerned, in a fair world, payment would be made on completion of the job a... See more As Markus says, there's no bonus for the translator for fulfilling their part of the deal early, and the due date stated on my invoices (generally 30 days from date of invoice) is the latest date by which payment should be received, rather than the date to aim for. However 'early' payment is received, it is still going to mean the translator upholding their end of the bargain before the client does theirs. As far as I'm concerned, in a fair world, payment would be made on completion of the job at the latest, but hey ho....
[Edited at 2010-01-27 10:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 03:45
Spanish to English
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Very seldom, but unless they have negotiated one already, I will offer new clients the chance of a discount if they pay quickly on the first job, or if it is a one-off order, to see how they behave (some clients in Spain are particularly slow, and Administrations can take over a year to stump up).
Usually no, the market rates are tight enough already...
Any clients I find being economical with the truth ("the accountant's on holiday/away/busy" is a favourite) when excus... See more Very seldom, but unless they have negotiated one already, I will offer new clients the chance of a discount if they pay quickly on the first job, or if it is a one-off order, to see how they behave (some clients in Spain are particularly slow, and Administrations can take over a year to stump up).
Usually no, the market rates are tight enough already...
Any clients I find being economical with the truth ("the accountant's on holiday/away/busy" is a favourite) when excusing their tardiness get dumped ASAP. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 03:45
English to French
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I agreed to that once, for a direct customer who was going to pay each section delivered (about 300 pages all in all) within 10 days.
We ended up in court because I had received no payment at all after 4 months - I won
| | | | | Do many take you up on it? | Jan 27, 2010 |
Tim Drayton wrote:
I advertise a 10% discount for advance payment.
Interesting. This was something I was considering trying. Do many take you up on it?
| | | | | Call it a discount... | Jan 27, 2010 |
But I would suggest that this price should be your normal one, and the "later" price should factor in a surcharge for late payment!
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| No, but some clients pay immediately anyway | Jan 27, 2010 |
Generally my Brazilian clients are end clients rather than outsourcers and I give 5 days for payment after delivery. Most people pay within a day or two. In Brazil it is very easy to make transfers between bank accounts or pay cash into someone's account using cash machines or online.
I find agencies either have set payment terms of 30 or 60 days, or a set day of the following month for settling accounts. Some, perhaps the smaller ones, operate on a 'when I'm paid, I'll pay you' bas... See more Generally my Brazilian clients are end clients rather than outsourcers and I give 5 days for payment after delivery. Most people pay within a day or two. In Brazil it is very easy to make transfers between bank accounts or pay cash into someone's account using cash machines or online.
I find agencies either have set payment terms of 30 or 60 days, or a set day of the following month for settling accounts. Some, perhaps the smaller ones, operate on a 'when I'm paid, I'll pay you' basis. This can mean payments take a long time to arrive, which doesn't bother me too much as long as I am kept informed. What I don't like are promised dates passing and having to chase payment.
Perhaps offering a discount would encourage earlier payment, but I doubt it. Also, I see little point, unless the discount is less than I would make by putting the money in a savings account for however many weeks I get it early giving me a profit on the deal - but with the low returns on savings accounts these days, that means the discount would be negligible.
Otherwise the only reason I can see for pressing for early payments is due to cash flow difficulties and the best way to avoid those is to try to maintain a reserve in your account so you never have to go overdrawn. Easy to say, but not always possible, I know. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Definitely no reason for that | Jan 27, 2010 |
Markus Perndl wrote:
Do clients offer me a higher rate for early deliveries?
Exactly my thought. As translation providers, we can decide to deliver right on deadline, or earlier, but I wouldn't ask for a higher rate. Our clients can decide themselves if they want to pay earlier or the day the invoice was due (though some clients need much longer). But it's their decision.
I would like to know, if there is anybody around offering discounts for early payments, do you immediately charge extra (for other clients) if the invoice hasn't been paid the day it was due for payment?
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 04:45
Turkish to English
+ ...
Sarah Ferrara wrote: Tim Drayton wrote:
I advertise a 10% discount for advance payment. Interesting. This was something I was considering trying. Do many take you up on it?
Private individuals have to, because I will only work on an advance payment basis with them. Only one corporate client has ever taken up the offer.
| | | | Sebastian Witte
Germany
Local time: 03:45
Member (2004)
English to German
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| I voted other | Jan 27, 2010 |
With clients where I had a gut feeling they might not pay at all unless being given such a discount, I did indeed offer it and would do so again. This was the case in less than 3% of all jobs. One client still defaulted, even after having talked me into giving this kind of discount.
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| No - I see no rationale for doing so | Jan 27, 2010 |
I can't even get my mind around the concept.
Sebastian said he offered a discount when he wasn't sure the client was going to pay.
In those cases, I ask for a 50% deposit. That arrangement has worked for me. I do this when the client is an individual with no payment history that can be checked. I'm the one who is taking the risk. My performance can be verified.
| | | | | What is early? | Jan 27, 2010 |
I voted no I have not yet had the need to ask for payment up front so any work is done before i get paid. I have never thought about offering a discount for early payment ie quick payment, as i don't see the need. I have thought it would be a good idea to suggest payment outside the 30 day terms would attract a late payment penalty. Most of my clients are pretty good i have only had to chase one recently and that was only 2 1/2 months so I suppose i can't complain too much
| | | | | Stacked against the translator | Jan 28, 2010 |
Terms are increasingly stacked against the translator, starting with the ridiculous practice of counting words in ways that reduce the price, to discounting for so called fuzzy matches, to competing with unskilled vendors, to reverse auctions, to farming out the so-called "editing" process to competitor linguists ... the list goes on and on.
As far as I am concerned, furnishing a translation before payment (on credit, essentially) and waiting upwards of 30 days to receive payment ... See more Terms are increasingly stacked against the translator, starting with the ridiculous practice of counting words in ways that reduce the price, to discounting for so called fuzzy matches, to competing with unskilled vendors, to reverse auctions, to farming out the so-called "editing" process to competitor linguists ... the list goes on and on.
As far as I am concerned, furnishing a translation before payment (on credit, essentially) and waiting upwards of 30 days to receive payment is sufficient courtesy and incentive.
I don't work with people who cannot pay for my work.
[Edited at 2010-01-28 00:16 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-01-28 00:17 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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