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Poll: How long after sending a price quote do you follow up on it?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 19, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long after sending a price quote do you follow up on it?".

This poll was originally submitted by Catharine Cellier-Smart. View the poll results »



 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:44
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jul 19, 2017

I actually responded that I don't issue price quotes, however that's not strictly true. If someone asks for one, I'll usually quote a figure based on my normal rates, perhaps higher if I want to dissuade the potential client, or perhaps with a small discount for a particularly favoured one. However, after that, it's up to them to contact me. I certainly wouldn't like to have to be chasing after potential clients.

 
Jack Doughty
Jack Doughty  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:44
Russian to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Another option needed Jul 19, 2017

Namely: "I don't follow up price quotes". If there is no reply to a price quote I assume the job has gone to someone else. I agree with Neilmac.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:44
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Same as Jack Jul 19, 2017

I don't follow up. If the client agrees, they will get back to me. I don't chase after them.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 19:44
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Ditto Jul 19, 2017

Either the client gets back to me fairly promptly, or I assume they have found someone else cheaper or faster to do the job. Once I have given a quote and stated my terms, which often include my earliest feasible delivery date, it is entirely up to the client.

 
Agneta Pallinder
Agneta Pallinder  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:44
Member (2014)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Same here Jul 19, 2017

I don't follow up price quotes either - the silence from the other end equals a negative.

 
Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 19:44
Member (2006)
German to English
Same here Jul 19, 2017

Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:

I don't follow up. If the client agrees, they will get back to me. I don't chase after them.


 
Morano El-Kholy
Morano El-Kholy  Identity Verified
Egypt
Local time: 20:44
Member (2011)
English to Arabic
+ ...
I do not follow up! Jul 19, 2017

Agneta wrote:

I don't follow up price quotes either - the silence from the other end equals a negative.


That's true. You can not spend your life chasing clients


 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 19:44
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
Other Jul 19, 2017

Waste of time to follow up

 
Sebastian Witte
Sebastian Witte  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 19:44
Member (2004)
English to German
+ ...
Other Jul 19, 2017

We only follow up price quotes about once a year, and then obviously only once. It is a thing of the past, I believe, at least in the translation industry with its special features. Customers do not appreciate it all that much, I think.

[Edited at 2017-07-19 10:37 GMT]


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 18:44
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Ditto! Jul 19, 2017

Christine Andersen wrote:

Either the client gets back to me fairly promptly, or I assume they have found someone else cheaper or faster to do the job. Once I have given a quote and stated my terms, which often include my earliest feasible delivery date, it is entirely up to the client.



 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 15:44
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Usually never... Jul 19, 2017

Usually never, unless the prospect has clearly expressed some urgency, deadline, and/or a firm intent of having me do it. If they are merely scouting the market for the lowest price, I don't bother following up.

Nevertheless, I keep the files they sent on my computer for one month. About once a week I check my hard drive for prospects' files that are older than a month, and shred them. If it takes longer for them to make a positive decision, they should be able to re-send them.


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 19:44
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other = Never Jul 19, 2017

If the client is comfortable with my rate, then s/he will get back with me. Therefore, I don't follow up at all. But it does happen that clients get back with me, having cut my rate in half. Well, this usually generates a friendly, thank you, but no, thank you.

 
Natalia Postrigan
Natalia Postrigan  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:44
Member (2016)
English to Russian
+ ...
I don't follow up... Jul 19, 2017

I, too, assume that the lack of the response equals a refusal of the quote.

 
Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 14:44
Spanish to English
+ ...
Professional self-esteem 101 Jul 19, 2017

Given that it seems a common MO among many of us, I am surprised that "I don't follow up" was not offered as an option.

Like those who have previously commented, I think following up is a waste of time. To those who do follow up, I ask what purpose you think it serves. Do you think the PM in charge of the project somehow forgot to assign it? Do you want to distinguish yourself from your non-following-up colleagues by appearing especially eager and interested? Or do you just want to
... See more
Given that it seems a common MO among many of us, I am surprised that "I don't follow up" was not offered as an option.

Like those who have previously commented, I think following up is a waste of time. To those who do follow up, I ask what purpose you think it serves. Do you think the PM in charge of the project somehow forgot to assign it? Do you want to distinguish yourself from your non-following-up colleagues by appearing especially eager and interested? Or do you just want to come across as extra nicey-nice?

I personally think that such actions are not only a waste of time, but come across as unprofessional, and have a whiff of desperation.
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Poll: How long after sending a price quote do you follow up on it?






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