Patterns...

[alexpgp]

I got an email from an on-again, off-again client asking me to reduce my rate "even further," which sort of surprised me, because I don't recall having previously agreed to work at a reduced rate for this client, but that doesn't really matter. A quick scan of my records shows my last assignment for them to have been a farily small job done for them in mid-February of 2014.

My "high" rate may explain why I've stopped getting frantic emails several times a week from these folks, typically offering some part of Yet Another Rush Job™ that I could not take because—thank Providence—I was already busy with The Routine Stuff™ and its related offspring.

The proffered reason for asking me to reduce my rate is the poor economy, and my feelers in the community confirm that indeed, it's a fairly thin season for translators who work in Russian. However, the only problem with reducing one's rate—which IMO is the same as offering to work at a low rate to begin with—is getting the client to agree to a rate boost "later."

For the nonce, I have been fortunate not to have been visited by the full-on drought (although I suppose I've caught the edge this past month). We'll see what the future holds.

Cheers...

Comments

[adoptedwriter.livejournal.com]

My freelance tutoring work is down. I hate dropping my rate. My plumber, mechanic or electrician don't drop their rates.
AW

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Stupid politicians interfering we normal people's lives.

I hope it won't really get down to 'паны дерутся, у холопов чубы трещат'.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, if you sent an email back stating that your rates have actually _risen_, you could deter this particular client from carping at you. Geez.

Is this a time-of-year lull, or a larger trend in current economics?