Poll: Do you check the Blueboard rating of the client before quoting for a job? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you check the Blueboard rating of the client before quoting for a job?".
This poll was originally submitted by Aakash5555. View the poll results »
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 12:47
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
Some basic background checks are a must in an industry full of late-payers, low-payers and non-payers. I also tend to ignore any accumulation of 5-star ratings over a short period of time, since those are most likely bought or otherwise faked if there are other ratings contradicting these suspicious accumulations of praise.
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It's the very first thing I check. I am extremely careful. When I’m contacted by a potential new client, I always look at their BB and I read carefully all comments (positive and negative). I always take good scores with a pinch of salt and I pay special attention to the entries date (a sequence of good entries on the same day is rather suspicious). If the potential client doesn’t have a BB rating, I check elsewhere (LinkedIn, Payment Practices, TC, etc.).
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 12:47
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
I would check it if I would quote for a job. The Blue Board is probably the most interesting feature of this website and the main reason why I'm prepared to pay for a subscription.
I agree, though, that the Blue Board isn't something to be followed blindly.
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Zea_Mays 
Italy
Local time: 12:47
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
It's one of the best features here at ProZ.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:47
Member (2008)
Italian to English
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you check the Blueboard rating of the client before quoting for a job?". This poll was originally submitted by Aakash5555. View the poll results »
Yes but I keep a large bowl of salt by my elbow because the BB can be manipulated.
I also check to see if any of the ratings come from people I know.
Whether I know them or not, sometimes I contact them privately to ask what their actual experience was.
I also visit the client's website. It's easy to spot the websites that were made using templates with stock photographs of dynamic-looking business people. That's sometimes a red flag because it suggests that they may actually be operating from their back bedroom at home.
If there is a postal address, I will look for it on Google Earth. It's always interesting, and sometimes surprising, to see the place where the client operates from. This might be a factor in deciding whether they are trustworthy or not.
Above all, it's wise to be sceptical. "Fidarsi è bene. Non fidarsi è meglio."
[Edited at 2024-01-24 09:05 GMT]
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 12:47
French to English
Google Earth is great, I agree, Tom. I once saw that the client was apparently operating out of a barn, which made their need for a very interesting translation on inclusive banking for "training purposes" seem rather incongruous.
| | | | Quentin NEVEN
Belgium
Local time: 12:47
Member (Jan 2024)
English to French
+ ...
Yes I do use it and I refrain from quoting for jobs with low ratings sometimes.
It happened recently on Proz.com.
The agency had mixed reviews so I was a bit uncertain. I am not exactly drowning in work so I decided to give it a go.
Once I visited their portal, I noticed they required me to record myself (audio + video) talking about a movie I like.
I find it really fishy, that's a poor way of evaluating the skills of a translator. It just ... See more Yes I do use it and I refrain from quoting for jobs with low ratings sometimes.
It happened recently on Proz.com.
The agency had mixed reviews so I was a bit uncertain. I am not exactly drowning in work so I decided to give it a go.
Once I visited their portal, I noticed they required me to record myself (audio + video) talking about a movie I like.
I find it really fishy, that's a poor way of evaluating the skills of a translator. It just looks like school homework...
Long story short, I think the BB is a really cool tool. ▲ Collapse
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Edward Potter
Spain
Local time: 12:47
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
The Blue Board is my go-to source for evaluating potential new customers.
I'll never completely write off a potential new customer despite a low Blue Board rating. Sometimes a company earnestly seeks to pay their debts and recover their credibility.
One particular time a company with a very low rating offered me some interesting work. I said I'll take it, but we are doing my conditions. My way or the highway, as they say. You will pay in full, up front, and only then I... See more The Blue Board is my go-to source for evaluating potential new customers.
I'll never completely write off a potential new customer despite a low Blue Board rating. Sometimes a company earnestly seeks to pay their debts and recover their credibility.
One particular time a company with a very low rating offered me some interesting work. I said I'll take it, but we are doing my conditions. My way or the highway, as they say. You will pay in full, up front, and only then I will get busy. They did all I asked and ended up being a customer for several years.
Then there were all the others who took a hike the moment I demanded up front payment. ▲ Collapse
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