China Romance

General Discussion and Useful Links => Ask An Experienced Member => Topic started by: shaun on April 12, 2010, 08:28:32 pm

Title: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 12, 2010, 08:28:32 pm
I read as much as I could about how much to pay a translator on this site.  I thought the consensus was that 200RMB was a fair price.  Now I am hearing that 300RMB to 400RMB is good.

This has become a real issue between Peggy and her neighbor.

And a few people mentioned this on my trip thread.

Negotiate before you allow them to work. You will avoid issues down the road.

Peggy and I both were under the assumption that she was doing this out of the kindness of her heart.  WRONG!!!!!!


So tell me what you think a good hourly or daily rate should me.

Shaun
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Josh Markley on April 12, 2010, 10:01:09 pm
I was lucky in this sense when I visited Xu Le.  She had taken care of all the negotiation before I had arrived.  I am not sure what the going rate is, but the 100 rmb I thought was low.  So I gave her a gift at the end of our time using her services.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Neil on April 12, 2010, 10:17:09 pm
I was quoted 800 per day, but when Nina caught wind of that, it was down to 400 per day (300 and a 100 tip).
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Buzz on April 12, 2010, 10:22:06 pm
Paid 400 per day back in November.  Was happy with our lady.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Irishman on April 12, 2010, 10:28:45 pm
400 Is the going rate in GZ .....
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: rockycoon on April 12, 2010, 10:55:18 pm
First of all, how much is 400 RMB in US Dollars.???   :huh:
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 12, 2010, 11:31:56 pm
as Irishman said 400 per day is a good rate here in Guangzhou
its a very delicate situation for Peggy that needs to be resolved
for her Shaun. otherwise it will probably get worse for her with her
neighbor
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Willy The Londoner on April 13, 2010, 10:03:45 am
Quote from: 'Neil' pid='36748' dateline='1271125029'

I was quoted 800 per day, [align=left]but when Nina caught wind of that, it was down to 400 per day (300 and a 100 tip).


But you were probably were dealing with Mini!!!!  

Willy[/align]
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 13, 2010, 10:53:43 am
Thanks all who commented.

I sent Peggy a message this morning telling her I was willing to pay the 1200RMB.  I will wait and see what she says.  She only wanted me to pay 100RMB as a gift and I said 600RMB when I was there.  She may say she does not want me to send it but I want to make sure we are not making an enemy here.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Hans on April 13, 2010, 12:18:56 pm
The agency billed me with 100 RMB for every hour (and half during our time at the office of the agency)...!! Luckily we did not use their services that much. I told them the rate was silly, but they did not yield an inch.

400 per day seems like a much more reasonable price.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Scottish_Rob on April 13, 2010, 12:29:55 pm
Being a TIGHT SCOTMAN :icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin: I would say that 300 RMB would be sufficiant.

Or there is the ROB'S method...

Point... then look stupid as she talks her language to you.   When you keep replying BU MING BAI, it don't have make the atmosphere more relaxed and she always laughs...through frustration...:icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: David5o on April 13, 2010, 12:30:56 pm
Hans,

Your right, that's just crazy rates!!! In the office there should have been no charge whatsoever, There they would have still been under contract with their client your lady!!!
I don't think i've ever heard of anyone here on the Forum being charged for translation while in the agency premises.... Some of these agencies really do try and milk the cow dry. They never seem to be able to see the bigger picture, ...just the here and now!!!!


David......
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Hans on April 13, 2010, 12:46:00 pm
David5o,

Yeah, I was a bit annoyed at that time. We had discussed the translation rates before I arrived but they they just said this was what they had always charged. Sitting there holding my lady's hand I did not wish to quarrel with them. Which, I'm sure, they already knew. Other than that, they were most helpful, and before I left the head of the agency gave me a big fancy vase of some sort. But I gave it to my lady saying it was too big to fit in the luggage anyway...

Luckily we will not meet in her home town this summer but in Foshan and Guangzhou, far away from the agency. :D
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 13, 2010, 06:23:12 pm
a majority of these agencies are like David said. clueless to the
 way of what could happen in the future. they are more interested
 in chasing pennies rather than dollars. but then again they think they
 are chasing dollars and dont really have a clue as to what could have
 been in regard to the business.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 13, 2010, 06:46:17 pm
I talked with Peggy around midnight.  The translator decided to accept my 600RMB offer yesterday.  The good news is that they are on speaking terms again.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 13, 2010, 06:49:43 pm
well there you are Shaun all things came to a happy ending.
 thats good news for Peggy since she was living there and so
 close to the lady in question
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: David5o on April 13, 2010, 06:50:16 pm
Shaun,


'' Result '' !!! ....hahaha!!!

David.....
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: Willy The Londoner on April 14, 2010, 02:59:48 am
Quote from: 'David5o' pid='36813' dateline='1271199016'

Shaun,


'' Result '' !!! ....hahaha!!!

David.....


Does this mean that this will be yet another thread that gets suddenly closed and locked away never to be seen again.   Seems to be happening a lot these days.  Is there a major spring cleaning going on here?

Willy
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 14, 2010, 12:19:17 pm
dead threads need to be closed my freind  i think its a good idea
 if it needs to be opened again let the fresh people open it lol!!!!
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: rockycoon on April 15, 2010, 02:43:16 am
Well 58 dollars a day isn't too bad, and she translated for four days? is this correct?  and how many hours did she
translate ?  comes out to 8.00 bucks per hour for an 8 hour day.  That is a little better than minium pay here in
US.  I don't consider that bad for an employee.  But I could be wrong....:-/
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 15, 2010, 04:44:54 am
Don 4 hours tops followed by a very nice meal at an expensive retaurant. 100RMB to 150RMB for 3 people.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 15, 2010, 12:06:39 pm
so for 3 days she made about 300 rmb for the day a little steep for the time
involved but when you think of it really not bad in regards to the hurt feelings
or anger that might have gone on for a while. just a lesson learned for the future
here. as we have all been there. get all the cards on the table in China when in
business short term or long term. we have all been there and done this Shaun
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 15, 2010, 07:42:38 pm
Ted,

That is 3 days for a total of 600RMB.  She finally agreed to the 600RMB rather than the 1200RMB.  I hope this finishes all of the problems with her.  Next time contract first.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: ttwjr32 on April 15, 2010, 09:46:47 pm
oh well thats different then i think that what your paying her
 is very well for her for the amount of time she spent translating
 and a dinner also included? there should be no more problems with
 her as that is the norm here for translating. although they do try and
 squeeze as much as they can.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 15, 2010, 10:04:50 pm
As I am well learning.
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: rockycoon on April 16, 2010, 01:21:20 am
Well from what you guys are saying...  4 hours a day @ 8.00 bucks per hour =  32.00   Which isn't bad for a days work.  It's like
working at a day labor place. And the meal costs about the same as a mcdonalds here.  So it was very cheap labor as I see it.  Shaun
the guys pouring concrete and doing my foundation are costing me 200.00 a day, so the numbers above are cheap to me.  Wish I
could find cheap labor like that....:icon_cheesygrin:
Title: RE: Translator Pay
Post by: shaun on April 16, 2010, 05:17:16 am
Quote from: 'rockycoon' pid='37031' dateline='1271395280'

Well from what you guys are saying...  4 hours a day @ 8.00 bucks per hour =  32.00   Which isn't bad for a days work.  It's like
working at a day labor place. And the meal costs about the same as a mcdonalds here.  So it was very cheap labor as I see it.  Shaun
the guys pouring concrete and doing my foundation are costing me 200.00 a day, so the numbers above are cheap to me.  Wish I
could find cheap labor like that....:icon_cheesygrin:


Yes but there is this rich American idea and they think our pockets are endless when it comes to money.  I do not want to help that image along.  Peggy has that concept even though I have told her I am not rich but after being there I can see how to her I am.  I do not have to scratch to get by like she does and my home is much nicer.