| Páginas no tópico: < [1 2] | Off topic: Talk about a client with nerve! I dare you to top this. Tópico cartaz: Luisa Ramos, CT
|
|---|
CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 02:41
francês para inglês
+ ...
| OK it's dumb but.... | Jun 27, 2006 |
My brother's father-in-law is a big entrepreneur and one of his customers had difficulty paying his bills, so he offered a superb 25-metre yacht instead.
Well, since the guy was clearly not able to pay otherwise, the father-in-law cut his losses and took the yacht.
My brother and his family (and ourselves on a family visit) really appreciated it.
Bargaining is as old as the hills. It still exists today. It is all a question of relative values. Obviously a free meal (especially... See more My brother's father-in-law is a big entrepreneur and one of his customers had difficulty paying his bills, so he offered a superb 25-metre yacht instead.
Well, since the guy was clearly not able to pay otherwise, the father-in-law cut his losses and took the yacht.
My brother and his family (and ourselves on a family visit) really appreciated it.
Bargaining is as old as the hills. It still exists today. It is all a question of relative values. Obviously a free meal (especially if you're on a diet) will not pay your gas or electricity bills but it is a perfectly honest way of doing business.
Let's to be too naive ! The word 'no' still exists to save us! ▲ Collapse
| | | | PAS 
Local time: 02:41
polonês para inglês
+ ...
| Barter trade | Jun 27, 2006 |
CMJ_Trans wrote:
Bargaining is as old as the hills.
Barter trade, you mean...?
Sure - barter trade is fine as long as you are sensibly able to use the stuff you're offered (or if you would have or want to buy it anyway - see my post).
But offering lunch and having you pay for half of it... That reminds me of an old Calvin & Hobbes cartoon, where one of them says to the other: "Hey, if you lend me a dollar, I'll buy you a comic book."
P.A.S.
[Edited at 2006-06-27 11:39]
| | | | CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 02:41
francês para inglês
+ ...
| bartering.... | Jun 27, 2006 |
ooppsss - slip of the finger....(or was it Freudian)?
But my point remains valid - if a big car manufacturer offered me a new car in lieu of payment.... or the SNCF offered me free rail tickets for life... dream on...
| | | | Irene N
Estados Unidos
Local time: 19:41
inglês para russo
+ ...
| About lending a dollar:-) | Jun 27, 2006 |
A poor guy comes to a rich villager to borrow a dollar untill next fall.
- OK, - says the lender, - but you'll have to pay back 2.
- Well, I must get through the winter, so I have no choice
and he take a dollar and approaches the door to leave.
- Listen, I understand how hard it will be on you to pay a whole 2 dollars in fall, right?
- Sure it will be...
- I'll help you - why don't you give me a dollar now so you'll ... See more A poor guy comes to a rich villager to borrow a dollar untill next fall.
- OK, - says the lender, - but you'll have to pay back 2.
- Well, I must get through the winter, so I have no choice
and he take a dollar and approaches the door to leave.
- Listen, I understand how hard it will be on you to pay a whole 2 dollars in fall, right?
- Sure it will be...
- I'll help you - why don't you give me a dollar now so you'll only have to pay 1 in fall!
- Oh, thank you so much!
 ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
JackieMcC
Local time: 02:41
francês para inglês
| a sack of potatoes ! | Jun 27, 2006 |
Many years ago when I was starting out as a freelancer and happy to get any type of client I agreed to help a local farmer with a few phone calls and faxes to the UK.
I was pretty taken aback when he asked me whether I preferred cash or a sack of potatoes as payment !! (I took the cash)
Jackie
| | | | Özden Arıkan
Alemanha
Local time: 02:41
Membro
inglês para turco
+ ...
| Once did a barter job - didn't regret | Jun 27, 2006 |
It was a DVD player in return for a short user guide.
Still working!
| | | | tazdog (X)
Espanha
Local time: 02:41
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
| another user of the barter system | Jun 27, 2006 |
I once offered my translation services (on an as-needed basis) in exchange for a sizeable (40%) reduction in tuition fees. Best deal I ever made: the work I actually ended up doing was valued in the hundreds while the tuition discount added up to thousands...a lot better than a free lunch
| | | | | Barter, barter everywhere | Jun 27, 2006 |
I proofread a document for a client of mine for a large jar of coffee flavor ice-cream (don't laugh, I am very fond of the stuff).
Alas, I am still waiting for the ice-cream. It has been a month now. They might still need to produce it.
We all learn. Maybe I should not complain. My waistline surely thanks me.
Lucinda
| | |
|
|
|
Luisa Ramos, CT
Estados Unidos
Local time: 20:41
inglês para espanhol
CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO | My point exactly | Jun 27, 2006 |
PAS wrote:
Sure - barter trade is fine as long as you are sensibly able to use the stuff you're offered (or if you would have or want to buy it anyway - see my post).
[Edited at 2006-06-27 11:39]
I was willing to consider it; after all, I cut my rates 50% for the translations I do for a church and I do pro bono work for an attorney that represents immigrants. It must not be all about money, and I have my soft spot. But lunch with a perfect stranger? What sort of barter is that? What makes this person believe that I would benefit or experience any "pleasure" out of having lunch with her or, for that matter, that having lunch with her would equal the value of the effort, knowledge and work that I would put into her translations?
| | | | | I just want to add to Luisa's post above | Jun 27, 2006 |
Perfectly right. But to top it off, the client offers HALF a lunch. It comes down to paying for your own lunch.
So, here's basically what you get: lunch where you pay for your own food and meeting up with a stranger.
HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAAAAAAAAA!
| | | | BelkisDV
Estados Unidos
Local time: 20:41
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
Welcome to the world of professional translators Luisa. Congrats on passing the ATA exam.
Belkis
| | | | | Páginas no tópico: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Talk about a client with nerve! I dare you to top this. | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
