Poll: A client asks you for additional hard copies. Do you charge them the same as the original printings?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Mar 15, 2023

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "A client asks you for additional hard copies. Do you charge them the same as the original printings?".

This poll was originally submitted by Veronica Rodriguez. View the poll results »



 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 17:22
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
No idea Mar 15, 2023

I almost had to look up the meaning of 'hard copy'. Who still works with hard copies these days?

Patricia Prevost
Alexandra Speirs
expressisverbis
Eleanor Odhiambo
Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Anja Hajek
Mohammad Naim
 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 17:22
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
Was never asked Mar 15, 2023

however, if it would mean sending hard copies by the post that would cost a lot extra.

expressisverbis
Christine Andersen
Tom in London
msokolow
Kay Denney
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 16:22
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
It depends Mar 15, 2023

It just happens that I did a sworn translation two weeks ago. A few days later, I was told by my client that he had made a mistake on a number. I was more than happy to correct it without any additional charge. Under different circumstances, I may charge…

Veronica Rodriguez
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 16:22
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
. Mar 15, 2023

Lieven Malaise wrote:

Who still works with hard copies these days?


Sworn translators...


Lieven Malaise
Patricia Prevost
Veronica Rodriguez
expressisverbis
Peter Dahm Robertson
Muriel Vasconcellos
Michael Newton
 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Yes Mar 15, 2023

Lieven Malaise wrote:
I almost had to look up the meaning of 'hard copy'. Who still works with hard copies these days?

Presumably, some clients who worry about security, and some translators who care about quality.

I print out all jobs for checking if I can. I will always find something I missed on screen.

Haven't delivered on paper for years, but no I wouldn't charge extra, we're talking pennies so it would be petty.


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 17:22
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
I would charge for postage Mar 15, 2023

The postage or courier might cost quite a lot, so I would certainly charge for that.

It very rarely happens, as I normally send everything by e-mail or upload a file to a server, and clients can print as many copies as they want. However, a client did ask me a couple of years ago to produce a translation with a seal and handwritten signature (as a Chartered Linguist).

As the translation itself was very small, I charged for postage and for handling time. It did not take
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The postage or courier might cost quite a lot, so I would certainly charge for that.

It very rarely happens, as I normally send everything by e-mail or upload a file to a server, and clients can print as many copies as they want. However, a client did ask me a couple of years ago to produce a translation with a seal and handwritten signature (as a Chartered Linguist).

As the translation itself was very small, I charged for postage and for handling time. It did not take me long to go down to the post office and send it as Recorded Delivery, but the time was not covered by the fee for the words!

[Edited at 2023-03-15 16:46 GMT]
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expressisverbis
 
Peter Dahm Robertson
Peter Dahm Robertson  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 17:22
Member (2022)
German to English
+ ...
Be fair to clients, they’re people too! Mar 15, 2023

I charge the client the certification fee plus postage. (This kind of situation only ever happens with certified translations, and those are rarely long enough for print costs to make a substantial difference.)

Two translations are not the same as two copies of one translation. Charging for two translations would seem awfully unprofessional to me if I were the client. Being upfront with the client and only billing for the work you actually do is much better business practice…


 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:22
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
Depends on the costs Mar 15, 2023

If the labor and material costs are less than $5, it won't make any sense to ask your client to pay for it.

 
Claudia Aguero
Claudia Aguero  Identity Verified
Costa Rica
Local time: 09:22
Spanish to English
+ ...
This has just happened to me Mar 15, 2023

Costa Rican law sets forth that each hard copy of an original translation must be charged ar 50% of the original one. We have to issue original documents; photocopies are not accepted. I have just made a translation and my client asked for an original and four additional printings.

 


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Poll: A client asks you for additional hard copies. Do you charge them the same as the original printings?






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