Poll: What do you feel is the main risk when working with a new outsourcer? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What do you feel is the main risk when working with a new outsourcer?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | Not getting paid at all | Oct 2, 2014 |
Not getting paid at all is surely always the No. 1 risk with any job for any customer new or old.
Unless, say, you're working with the Mob and they object to your punctuation, in which case I suppose things could get a whole lot worse.
| | | | | I'm a trusting soul ... | Oct 2, 2014 |
My biggest problem is whether I can find time to fit their job in!
Of course if the mail looks the slightest bit fishy, I say sorry, I don't have time, and I have to turn down even quite promising work for the same reason.
Otherwise I check on the BB and so on, and tell the outsourcer my rates and when I can deliver.
That weeds out a few straight away, but for the last couple of months all outsourcers with offers have been willing to pay, and recommended by truste... See more My biggest problem is whether I can find time to fit their job in!
Of course if the mail looks the slightest bit fishy, I say sorry, I don't have time, and I have to turn down even quite promising work for the same reason.
Otherwise I check on the BB and so on, and tell the outsourcer my rates and when I can deliver.
That weeds out a few straight away, but for the last couple of months all outsourcers with offers have been willing to pay, and recommended by trusted colleagues.
In my pairs at least, I find that the risk of not getting paid at all is very small. Getting paid a viable rate is not always so easy, but the great majority do pay, as agreed and on time.
Only 100 others have voted in this poll so far, but it surprises me that 67 say timely payment is a problem. Are things really that bad everywhere else, or is it just a quirk of a small sample?
I know I have landed in a cushy corner of the translation world, but still.
[Edited at 2014-10-02 13:17 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I've never not been paid by a new customer but I still think it's the main risk. Well, the only risk.
That aside, part of the answer to your question is that the other options in this poll are a bit odd. Why would communication be the main risk of working with a new customer?
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Liena Vijupe 
Latvia
Local time: 00:14
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
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| Lack of communication | Oct 2, 2014 |
My experience shows that when there is a good (i.e. clear, prompt and relevant) communication, there usually are no problems with payment or anything else and, should there be some, they are resolved immediately.
It's always when the clients don't care to reply to e-mails or can't be bothered about anything once the project has been assigned that I have to chase the payments and the projects get messed up (sudden changes, wrong files etc.)
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 06:14
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Basically "None of the above" | Oct 2, 2014 |
Because I've learnt over the years to ask lots of questions and clear the air before I embark on a relationship with a new customer. And, invariably, all of the 'rules of engagement' are laid out clearly in the form of a Basic Contract which explicitly states what both parties can and can't do. Generally, if a new customer goes to these lengths to set out things in the form of a document like this, they are more than likely to abide by their own rules.
Of course, if you don't like their ru... See more Because I've learnt over the years to ask lots of questions and clear the air before I embark on a relationship with a new customer. And, invariably, all of the 'rules of engagement' are laid out clearly in the form of a Basic Contract which explicitly states what both parties can and can't do. Generally, if a new customer goes to these lengths to set out things in the form of a document like this, they are more than likely to abide by their own rules.
Of course, if you don't like their rules and regulations or you feel something is not right, either negotiate or walk away. Quite simple really
So, there really should be no cause for 'concern' per se because all of the leadup has been to allay those fears - cuts both ways.
However, there is always a nagging feeling that the Japanese PM or person-in-charge - over here in Japan, of course - is a cocky sod who thinks he knows English perfectly for having studied in a 6-month intensive in Oregon. 
@Chris
Just make dem an offer dey can't refuse. 
Make one small spelling change
[Edited at 2014-10-03 08:11 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Julian Holmes wrote:
Because I've learnt over the years to ask lots of questions and clear the air before I embark on a relationship with a new customer. And, invariably, all of the 'rules of engagement' are laid out clearly in the form of a Basic Contract which explicitly states what both parties can and can't do. Generally, if a new customer goes to these lengths to set out things in the form of a document like this, they are more than likely to abide by their own rules.
I agree... "None of the above" would have been my choice, but I voted "Other".
Basically, if I feel that anything may go wrong with a new client, I don't accept the project(s). Period.
So far, so good. Can't complain at all.
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 15:14
English to Spanish
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In memoriam | All of the above | Oct 2, 2014 |
Which is the reason I seldom work with outsourcers except a select few of the highest class.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 17:14
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Pardon my ignorance | Oct 2, 2014 |
...but do you mean customer? What is an outsourcer? Or is Business Buzzword Day again?
I think there are several risk of different degrees when working with a new client, and most would agree that not getting paid is the main one.
Another risk is having to field repetitive questions or endless requests for revisions.
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