As I have recently updated my prices, I have also thought about publishing my price lists on my website. I haven’t, so there’s no need to rush on over to www.a-z-translations.com although I do appreciate traffic there, of course. 🙂 But the thought does pop up now and then, especially when I visit colleagues’ or agency’s websites who do actually give figures.
I am torn about this topic, and I think most of you are, as well.
On the one hand, it would be nice for costumers if they could get at least an idea about how much their particular translation will cost them. Plus, it might in many instances even ward off those low-balling inquiries, saving me time when it comes to clearing my inbox.
On the other hand, we are, as a colleague says, craftsmen and women, and no self-respecting car mechanic would tell you how much repairing your car will cost you without having seen and checked it. So giving even a ballpark figure can be potentially problematic if the “2 pages of mostly general text” turn out to be in size 8 font, single-line and full of obscure tech-speak.
So what do you do? Give ranges? Always insist on seeing the translation first?
Please tell me in the comments below, I really am curious!
Ciao Anke,
DANKE fürs Verlinken!
Genau dieselben Gedanken habe ich mir bei meiner Website gemacht – und schlussendlich habe ich mich dafür entschieden, meine Preise doch offenzulegen. Denn ich finde es nur recht, wenn ich als Kunde wenigstens ansatzweise erfahre, mit welchem Kostenrahmen ich zu rechnen habe. Sicher kann das auch "abschrecken", weil meine Preise nicht billig sind, aber auf der anderen Seite spare ich mir Anfragen von Billigheimern und natürlich ist alles eine VErhandlungsbasis… Mich haben Vollprofis aus dem Marketingsektor inspiriert, die genau so vorgehen: Tagessätze, die durchaus saftig ausfallen, werden ganz selbstverständlich angegeben. Schließlich weiß ich, was ich wert bin? Aber mich würde sehr interessieren, was andere Kollegen meinen… Schönen Tag noch!
Alessandra
I only indicate my lowest line or word price, pointing out that the final price cannot be quoted until I have seen the actual text.